The Standard

Swimming With Sharks: 2011 Teaser from The Video Mouse on Vimeo.

Even though it’s not technically until June 21, most people mark the beginning of summer with Memorial Day. For us, it doesn’t truly feel like summer until the Swimming With Sharks crew shows up, so we’re excited to announce that we’ll be kicking off the season this Saturday, June 4, with Swimming With Sharks on The Rooftop!

As we gear up for Saturday, host Matt Goldman gives us a little peek behind the curtain. Read more for a Q&A with the leader of the pack…

The Standard: What was the initial idea behind the party and how has it evolved?

Matt Goldman: The initial idea was to bring together all the different DJ and nightlife cliques of LA in a playful versus party.  We wanted a way to work with everybody; especially the people who played the kind of music that didn’t already fit into our other parties around Los Angeles.

How is hosting this event at the hotel different than hosting it at another venue?

Having this event at the Standard in DTLA added an air of the parents are away and the kids are at play.  When we started the party, we had not established ourselves very much in LA yet and we were very excited to have such a stylish and beautiful setting for a fun, light party which is contrary to the norm..

What’s coming up for SWS 2011? Can you tell us about about one of this summer’s DJs or something else new you’re excited about?

This weekend we have Money Mark and Mario C! Also, we’re launching our party at The Standard, New York on June 11.

Tell us an embarrassing or funny story about something that’s happened at SWS. 

Well there’s countless stories of fully clothed friends in the water, tragedies related to a day of running, drinking, and water-gunning in the sun, and of course, making extensive plans to hang out with a new friend after the party only to completely pass out after I got home never to get that date - but the funniest memories are all from the pie-eating contest we had giving away these awesome incase backpacks.  People REALLY needed backpacks and were willing to humiliate themselves, the winner, just to give you a taste, being covered from head to toe in shaving cream…

Now that you’re taking the show on the road to NY, tell us about the one secret travel item you can’t live without.

It’s a sign of getting older, but I have just discovered the tote bag.  I think years of a manly desire to not want to admit the usefulness of a purse have melted away to finally having a way to always have my tickets, passport, books, cell phone, and iPads in an easy bag that definitely doesn’t go in the overhead compartment.  I hope it’s not TMI but I totally travel with a dorky tote bag now and am considering bringing it on walks with me in the future.