Holy Ship is not known for holding back. The three-day EDM cruise, on a massive Italian yacht, packs in the world’s best talent and craziest characters. Private beach parties, multiple onboard stages, luxury cabins and hotels all make for a once in a lifetime experience. And what’s better than one life-changing experience? How about two?
In an interview with the Miami New Times, Hard Events owner Gary Richards talks about expanding on an already wildly successful production. Filling a massive cruise ship with people, gear, artists, and planning the logistics around it can be a nightmare. And as the success grows, fans and investors want more. Richards explains, “That’s the tricky part, because everybody wants me to expand everything, sell more, make more money.”
“The goal is to grow and still keep it dope and special.” – Gary Richards
Not that anyone could claim Holy Ship makes no money. After a successful but messy first outing, the combination of word-of-mouth and a simple but effective aftermovie cemented Holy Ship 2013’s success. “We were able to show people on the second one, so we sold it out right away. And when you know you’re going to sell the tickets, then you can really focus on making it amazing.”
In 2015, Hard is looking to cement their legacy and blow Holy Ship, ahem, out of the water. The events team is setting the stage for a second Holy Ship to be added to the fleet. While possibly in Miami with the flagship, the Mediterranean or coastal Brazil have also been raised as options. Richards seems to recognize the need for growth, even while maintaining the purity of the events that have made his name.
[quote style=”1″ author=”Gary Richards”]I love the Ship Fam and the people, [but] I also want to get a taste of the new. I used to think you had to be in a dirty warehouse at 4 in the morning to hear electronic music, and that’s a selfish thing. Electronic music is good… you realize, if it’s good, everyone should be able to hear it.”[/quote]
We can be sure that 2015 will be a huge year for Holy Ship. Even with some crazy meltdowns, the event has proven over and over that dragging 3,000 people onto a boat is a home run. Partying with greats like Skrillex, Diplo, Pharrell, Fatboy Slim, and Justice, on a boozy cruise ship, island-hopping for three days? Two ships might not be enough.
Have you been to Holy Ship? Tell us about your experiences in the comments! What artists would you want to see in 2015? Where do you think the second yacht should sail
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