Last Friday night, Celebrate Brooklyn began a summer of music and art at Brooklyn’s Prospect Park Bandshell with a show from the magical and mysterious Andrew Bird.  For the most part, the evening was a huge success.  The music was great, the accommodations were great, the sound was even great.  That is, if you made it into the amphitheater.

If you plan on seeing any music at Prospect Park this summer, I highly suggest you read the following list of suggestions.  They will help you plan your summer accordingly and will undoubtedly leave you feeling grateful that you took five minutes that ended up saving you hours of your time.

This list will be updated all summer long so keep checking back for updates.

(1) Bring a blanket, food, and friends instead of finding a chair in the seated area.  You will be far more comfortable and the sound will be just as good.

(2) Leave room for ice cream at the Ample Hills Creamery cart.  With flavors such as maple bacon, strawberries n’ cream, and root beer float, you’ll be very happy you did.

(3) Bring your own booze.  They aren’t very strict and it will save you from paying near-baseball park prices for beer.  My suggestion?  A thermos of icy gin and tonic or Irish whiskey and coke of course!

(4) Get to the park at least two hours before the show is slated to begin.  I know this is tough for weekday shows, but you’ll be happy once you are inside on your blanket and take a glance at the nearly mile long line outside.  Plus, you won’t get a great spot on the soft grass unless you do get there in a timely fashion.

(5) Dress right and bring an umbrella.  It’s summertime in New York City.  That means it’s going to be brutally hot during the day and storm at night.  You don’t want to let a little rain ruin an amazing night.  Also, bring an extra shirt.  You don’t want to end up like this dude do you?

(6) See The Books, Junip, and Doveman on June 16, The Feelies, Real Estate, and Times New Viking on July 23, Ra Ra Riot, Delicate Steve, and Buke and Gass on August 5 all for free.

(7)  Shell out some dough to see The Decembrists on June 14, Animal Collective on July 12, Sufjan Stevens on August 2, Bon Iver on August 10, and Cut Copy with Foster The People and Midnight Magic on August 11.  At this point you’ll probably have to search Craigslist.  I’ve already done the search for you though!  All you have to do it click the artist you want to see and a new window will pop up.  You’re very welcome.

(1) Rely on your phone to meet up with people if you are an AT&T subscriber.  You’ll end up getting voicemails and texts about 30 minutes after they’re sent.

(2) Smoke cigarettes.  I couldn’t care less, but the park police are strictly enforcing the new smoking ban.  Watch your back.

(3) Settle and sit past the fence.  Sure, you can hear the faint sound of what you think is music, but if you’re setting up shop beyond the road, you won’t hear a thing.  At that point, people are just there for the atmosphere.

(4) Cut the line.  You’re a douche and not cool enough to do that.

(5) Sign anything the people with clipboards give you without first reading it.  They may have a good cause, but it may also be for the city to invest thousands of dollars to build bird houses and ferret sanctuaries.

(6) Bring glow sticks.  Obviously this guy thought that Andrew Birds fans enjoyed a good rave.

(7) Get to the venue right when the act is about to go on stage.  I know I sort of covered this in the ‘Dos’ section, but it’s worth reiterating.  You will not get in.  Even if you get there an hour before, you’ll end up waiting on an excruciatingly long line.