MANofAUSTIN.com snaps up Dj Seth Cooper.  One of music’s rising dj stars dishes on bringing Splash Days to Austin and the rest of the country.

Seth: Yes all of the Splash Days producers and myself have been working, year round, to make this year better then the last. Ha! I’m only getting about 5 hours most weeknights since this is one of the busiest times of the year.

Seth: Our main goal in 2008 was to bring a fun, music-filled weekend of events back to the city of Austin. It was a great learning experience to work with friends and the community and create a events that people from all over the nation can enjoy. We really want this weekend to be fun and about the music.

Seth: Just 4 people are involved in the producing of Splash Days but as a group, we work with many different advertisers, sponsors, promotional partners, and volunteers from both in-state and all over the country.

We actually begin planning a little over a year in advance so that we can try to bring the best possible party weekend to Austin. To be brief, it takes a lot of planning and operational management that includes the contracting and scheduling of venues, DJ’s, host hotel, advertising, promotional partners, and sponsors [ like MANofAUSTIN.com ;) ].

Seth: Within our first year, we received 11 nominations in the JustCircuit Awards for 2008. Of those 11, we won categories “Best New Circuit Event” and “Best Value at a Circuit Event.”

The biggest challenge this year was to plan the return of a boat party at Hippie Hollow and to plan for increased attendance for this year’s parties. We’ve had a lot of national exposure in the last year and are very excited to introduce Austin to many out-of-state party go-ers later this year!

Seth: Splash Days features a weekend of dance events (that now includes a boat party at Hippie Hollow). There is some confusion because Hippie Hollow is one of the most unique events in the country and everyone immediately thinks of the lake.

We didn’t want to take this away from people which is why we created the addition of nightly dance events from some of the nation’s best DJ’s at Austin’s best venues.

Seth: This year’s Get Wet! boat party on Saturday, September 5th, features Chad Guidry (Houston) and is expected to sell out quickly. Ticket price includes alcoholic beverages, provided by our new sponsor SKYY Vodka, beer on tap, and food for the duration of the party.

We are bringing in Joe Gauthreaux (New York City) to headline Splash Dance (Main Event) on Saturday night, September 5th. The venue will return to Monarch Event Center (6406 North IH-35 @ Lincoln Village) but this year we have added FREE shuttle buses, that will be running continuously, to take you to and from: the main event, Embassy Suites Austin at Town Lake/Downtown, and the local bar area (4th street).

The last of the “new” for 2009 is Splash Days’ first CD compilation with Centaur Music. This will be great publicity for Splash Days, and for Austin, as a premier tourist destination. The Centaur Music Party Groove CD will be sold at the Splash Days events and SplashDays.com is currently taking pre-sale orders for $15 + $4 shipping. The CD will also be available for purchase at the main event.

Seth: My first International gig was in Shanghai, China on August 15th to debut at Club D2 (China’s largest gay club). Tony Moran and Kimberly S. have both spun there and am very excited to follow in their footsteps!

I will return for Splash Days to do the Saturday Night after hours party during Labor Day Weekend at Sky Lounge from 3am-7am. This will kick-off my nationwide “Splash Days Tour” with stops in and out of Texas.

I’ve been finalizing tour dates and will begin promoting the tour in late August and throughout Splash Days weekend. More information on the tour will be posted soon at DJSethCooper.com and at SplashDays.com

It is the most exciting feeling in the world! For 7 years, I’ve been hoping to experience a CD release and when I first approached from Centaur Music and the other Splash Days producers, I was awestruck! I don’t want to give any songs away just yet, but you can expect both fun and energetic, vocal tracks.

More info and tickets for SPLASH DAYS WEEKEND EVENTS at SplashDays.com

>> photography by PatrickMark Photography