Where to see DJ sets on Long Island this summer
The scene at The Boat Yard at Tobay Beach on Wednesday nights in the summer brings the energy with weekly sets by DJ Theo.
Long Islanders from near and far line up to join the weekday dance party, so people don't have to wait for the weekend to let loose.
"Theo and I always worked together," says Scottie Campbell, owner, operator and entertainment director of The Boat Yard. "We decided to do a slower day like Wednesday."
Theo Pisani, of East Islip, whose career spans decades, has performed at several Long Island venues throughout his career, as well as club sets in NYC, Miami, Las Vegas, and even in Spain, on the island of Ibiza, one of the most dance music-friendly locations in the world.
The DJ has been able to adapt to the ever-changing musical tastes of each generation.
"DJs like Theo, with help from social media, bring bigger crowds," Campbell explains. "At my other venues we bring big-name DJs in, and it always seems to work."
The summer dance party continues across the Great South Bay in Ocean Bay Park, Fire Island. Flynn's hosts live music on weekends and holidays like Memorial Day, July Fourth and Labor Day weekend. The summer hot spot features themed parties with DJ sets like "Christmas in July" on July 27 and Flynn's Rocket Fest on Aug. 16.
DJ City, left, and Fotsbeats spin music at Flynn’s Fire Island in Ocean Bay Park. Credit: Linda Rosier
"Our industry is changing and evolving," says Luke LaPenna, manager of Flynn’s.. "We’re trying to put entertainment in place that other venues across the country have been successful with, but we also have a need to curate a good party atmosphere."
The DJ sets consist of an "open format," where they play a wide range of musical genres rather than just electronic dance music, which is played at festivals and other venues across the country.
"A lot of DJs want to play EDM and house music, which is great but it’s not necessarily right for a bar environment," he says. "Where we are, people really like to hear popular, sing-along, Top 40 stuff." And that’s why one of the DJs he brings in frequently is Zach Silverman, of Huntington, who goes by the stage name Fotsbeats.
"He is an "open-format DJ," and the type of venues he plays at are happy to have him because he curates a really good experience," says LaPenna.
Fotsbeats has been DJing for about 15 years, and aside from playing venues around Long Island, he also works in Manhattan and Atlantic City.
"My job is just to keep up with the music, figure out what those people want to listen to," Fotsbeats continues, and to get people to make the trip to Flynn’s.
Fotsbeats agrees with the notion that nightlife evolves and morphs as crowds age and change, but "at the end of the day, everybody wants to have fun. Younger people now have fun differently than those who were 21, 22, 23, 10 years ago, but I’m not really doing anything any different," he says.
The DJ frequently works with his friends and crew, DJ's Bad and City, so don't be surprised to see one, two or all three behind the switches and knobs.
"If you go down to Main Street in your town, you can check out a couple of bars, it’s not a big investment. In Flynn’s, people are investing their entire day, waking up at 10 a.m. and taking the ferry, they want to make it count," Fotsbeats says.
When it comes to what he spins, he feels "we’re just mindful of what people want to hear." That means both new music and throwbacks and singalong-friendly songs. "It’s about keeping people engaged," Fotsbeats says.
If you're looking for DJ sets with water views and high-energy vibes, head to these local spots this summer offering weekday and weekend sets:
The Boat Yard
1 Ocean Pkwy., Massapequa
DJ Theo spins at The Boat Yard on Wednesday nights throughout the summer. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
THE SCENE: Located directly along South Oyster Bay, there’s a ground-level dance floor and bar, wrapped on two sides by a row of dining counters that serve a variety of grilled foods, salads, seafood and pizza.
Friends take pictures together in the photo booth at The Boat Yard during DJ Theo's weekly set. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
DJ SESSION: Wednesdays starting at 7:30 p.m.
COVER: $10-$20, depending on the date
MORE INFO: 516-324-8474, theboatyardny.com
Flynn's Fire Island
1 Cayuga St., Ocean Bay Park
Visitors dance as DJ City spins music at Flynn’s. Credit: Linda Rosier
GETTING THERE: Take the ferry from Bay Shore Marina (99 Maple Ave. Bay Shore; 631-665-3600, fireislandferries.com, $25 for a round-trip ticket) to Ocean Bay Park
THE SCENE: Located on Great South Bay, the dance floor faces a DJ booth with the bay behind it, with a covered structure over the bar space.
DJ City, left, Fotsbeats and DJ Bad, spin music at Flynn's in Ocean Bay Park. Credit: Linda Rosier
DJ SESSION: Fridays after 5 p.m., Saturdays after noon, Sundays after 2 p.m. (Fotsbeats will be back July 27, Aug. 10; Theo is slated to spin there Aug. 3.
COVER: $10-$25, depending on the date
MORE INFO: 631-583-5000, flynnsfireislandny.com
The Montauk Beach House
55 S. Elmwood Ave., Montauk
The Montauk Beach House in Montauk features an outdoor pool area. Credit: Randee Daddona
THE SCENE: This luxury hotel in downtown Montauk has a pool at the center of its courtyard, and it’s known for hosting touring DJs as part of its programming.
DJ SESSIONS: "Palma Day Club" runs Saturdays through Aug. 31 from noon to 6 p.m.
ADMISSION: General admission is paid in advance online, starting at $75 for general admission. Poolside service, cabanas and table service is available.
MORE INFO: 631-668-2112, thembh.com
