Matt Weinberger’s NYC Nightlife Survival Guide
It seems like photographer Matt Weinberger is everywhere these days, and that’s because he actually is. If you’ve gone out in New York City over the last few years, you’ve probably seen him blitzing around the venue with his cameras, firing off quick shots of audiences and talent alike.
Weinberger’s latest solo show, NEW YORK IS, opened July 11 at The Sitting Room Gallery and is on view until July 16. The show features a wide range of Weinberger’s work, including candids of stars like Julia Fox, Charli xcx, Gabriette and plenty of other NYC familiar faces (many of which have been published here on PAPER).
Weinberger somehow manages to be at all the coolest parties — and we do mean all of them. Ahead of the launch of NEW YORK IS, PAPER caught up with Matt Weinberger to find out his best tips for hitting all the right NYC parties without too much of a comedown.
You’re an expert NYC party-hopper. Walk us through how you get started in planning a busy night.
I’m a huge calendar guy. I try to stay incredibly organized, and whenever I hear about an event I want to attend or get hired for a shoot, I add it to my calendar. I’ll look up the addresses of everywhere I need to go in a night and then figure out the optimal course of action in terms of the order of where to go to minimize unneeded travel time. I also always make sure to pack enough film and extra batteries to keep me through the night.
And is it better to plan out your party schedule ahead of time, or is some sense of spontaneity important, too?
A sense of spontaneity is always great. While I always try to plan in advance, I’m a huge lover of side quests and am always down to follow my heart if the night begs me to go in a different direction. Much of what I do is improvised and I take things as they come. It’s more fun that way.
What’s a sweet spot for number of parties to hit in one night?
Depends on the night! I think if I make it to three events that feels like a good balance between covering a lot of ground and not being too drained. There are some nights I will hit five or more events, and that can feel like a lot, but also sometimes makes for the best adventures. There are other nights it’s most rewarding to just go to one thing and really take it all in. There’s really no right or wrong way to go about things.
What are your top tips for continuing to enjoy a busy night out as you get deep into it?
Surround yourself around good people. Positive people. People who make you feel happy and inspired. People with good energy that builds you up rather than drains you. Also finding the little things that give you happiness. Enjoying seeing what people are wearing, or learning the latest news, or hearing about what people are up to can always keep things interesting. When bored, ask questions. Everyone always seems to have a lot to say. That keep things entertaining.
Is it better to go out with friends or hit parties solo and find people to hang out with there?
A bit of both! I love my friends and some of my closest homies are keen to bounce around from thing to thing with me. That being said, if I’m on a super hardcore work grind I will prefer to go solo so I can do everything on my own time. It’s always fun to find new people to hang with when you arrive regardless of if you pull up solo or with friends.
Do you have any secrets you can share to taking better party pics?
Yes. You must drink lots of lemon juice. Just kidding. Not really a secret, but I think my special sauce is persistence. Just shoot a lot. Take lots of photos. Like, a lot of photos. You’re bound to have some good ones in there. Point your camera at cool things happening and click the button. It’s that simple. Also shoot with your ears. It’s not just about what you see. You need to be aware of your surroundings and listen. When you hear a laugh or a cheer, your camera should already be swinging in that direction regardless of whether you have seen the moment. If you already saw the moment, you’re probably too late.
Are there any absolute must-attend new parties in the city that you’ve found?
I’m a bit biased, but I love Tuesday nights at Bowery Electric where Bad Head is doing a residency. Also the Cherry Bomb series by Devil’s Workshop has been great. We Take Manhattan is always fun. Dojo Pomodoro is great. Club Cringe does fun things. Any Telescreens show will be a total rager. Also, any party Jackson Walker Lewis is DJing is bound to be a blast. The Polo parties that Knives does are very fun. I love Dese Escobar. She knows how to throw a good party. A lot of the best parties are one-offs. Fashion Week parties always deliver.
What’s your recovery routine once you’ve made it home?
Hydration. Drink lots of water. Seriously. Also I don’t really drink alcohol that much, so luckily don’t need to worry about hangovers, but still, drinking water and keeping yourself well fed makes a big different. Also, binge watching YouTube videos makes for a great wind down before going to sleep. Read a good book. That works wonders. Sleep is paramount. Try to get 8 hours of sleep every night!
NEW YORK IS is on view at The Sitting Room through July 16.
Photography: Mark Hunter/The Cobrasnake
It seems like photographer Matt Weinberger is everywhere these days, and that’s because he actually is. If you’ve gone out in New York City over the last few years, you’ve probably seen him blitzing around the venue with his cameras, firing off quick shots of audiences and talent alike. Weinberger’s latest solo show, NEW YORK…