Silent Disco's Are The Future

[JTRS]

According to todays press silent disco's are the future apparently.

Apparently, all the guests who want to dance or enjoy the music wear wireless headphones so they can hear the music, anyone else doesn't hear the music. The article stated that there are already 2 big players in this emerging market, which has the advantages of no noise complaints from venue neighbours, no problem with a set switch off time for the music and also allows people to have conversations in the same room as the disco.

Anyone seen one of these functions at first hand?

I would imagine that seeing people on the dance floor dancing to something you cannot hear looks a bit strange!!!!

JTRS

[gaza]

According to todays press silent disco's are the future apparently.

Apparently, all the guests who want to dance or enjoy the music wear wireless headphones so they can hear the music, anyone else doesn't hear the music. The article stated that there are already 2 big players in this emerging market, which has the advantages of no noise complaints from venue neighbours, no problem with a set switch off time for the music and also allows people to have conversations in the same room as the disco.

Anyone seen one of these functions at first hand?

I would imagine that seeing people on the dance floor dancing to something you cannot hear looks a bit strange!!!!

JTRS


I remember Vectis talking about this and i think he was thinking of investing in some wireless headphones, i think :confused:

[JTRS]

The idea has been around since the mid 90's but it was always aimed at clubbers, and typiclly there would be two DJ's playing contrasting music and people wearing the headphones could switch frequencies at will to listen to either DJ and dance accordingly.

Seems the idea is now moving into the more traditional parties such as weddings and birthday parties at private venues.

I'm hoping this is a novelty idea that doesn't take off, making sure you have sufficient headphones available and handing them out (and more importantly getting them back) sounds like a lot of hassle to me.

JTRS

[WWDJ]

People will also look more stupid then they do talking to their bluetooth headset in the supermarket!

[Adam_F]

You'll get the chance to experience this at BPM this year!

[Vectis]

Yep. Looked into this about 18 months ago and the sums didn't stack up.

Great idea in practice, and the other aspect is that most of the headsets can be set to a choice of frequencies, so you could, in theory, be playing out different sets on different 'channels' to different parts of the audience :o

Leave it to the big boys.

[Paul Thompson]

I work in a Students' Union and this has been big in the student market for one off events eg Freshers week or Summer Balls. Costs make it prohibitive for your average DJ but it's one of the funniest sights seeing 500-600 people dancing around in silence.

[Twinspin]

Tbh personally i think the silent disco approach is a waste of money im not saying it to be arrogant.

But what i am saying is when looking into setting up a silent disco. The main problem would be giving just anybody a pair of headphones to listen in and thats where problems will start to happen.

for example when people have had a few to drink and lets face it your always going to get someone who's a complete idiot at any function.

the things that would put me off. Would be people might vandalise the headphones break them or even walk out of the venue with them on.

You could stop them from been stolen by having a member of staff by the doors to take the headphones off that person but then its the inconvenience of having to pay extra staff to deal with that but it might cause that idiot to start on you.

but still i dont know how you can stop them getting broken. So when i think silent disco. Im thinking it would be very costly to maintain.

[rossken]

Theres a company which hires out the wireless headphones along with a transmitter in Cardiff I think.

I emailed them a couple of months ago about a quote, mainly just out of interest, and it was around £300 for 200 headphones and transmitter. Delivery included!

I could only see it working at a festival type environment where people are charged like £10 to get in. Then it may be profitable.

[StarZSoundS]

I started this 6 years ago.

I thought I was invincible and turned up at a wedding with only one amplifier....and no mates in the area with a spare.

Learnt my lesson..... bet i'm not the only one??

[djsteve10]

Well to be honest it's going to be a waste of time I think. Doing it this way is just taking away the atmosphere of a live enviroment and also there is a lot of outgoings such as replacing broken or stolen units, Setting up the optional extra of a silent disco.

[huma]

As part of a crowd I would hate this idea because I would like to feel the music as well as hear it but as a dj i think it would be pretty cool, no carrying of heavey speakers and amps, just your decks/laptop or what ever you use and you can party till whenever without disturbing anyone (the drunks might be a different story)

To counter the problem i've seen people running these parties charging a £5 fee to use the headphones, you get it back afterward or charge your client a a deposit fee that they get back on successful return of all your headphones (still a hassle)

[rob1963]

I have no problem with all discos becoming silent discos in the very near future.....












































.....just as long as it's after I've retired.

I've never heard of anything so ridiculous.

They'll also have to come up with a new name for it....maybe a headphone party?

:shrug:

[Larry B Entertainment]

But what i am saying is when looking into setting up a silent disco. The main problem would be giving just anybody a pair of headphones to listen in and thats where problems will start to happen.



Not to mention the H&S risk of ear infections being transmitted by headphones passed from one person to another. I caught an ear infection once from a studio I was working at by using the in house cans. I would never use other peoples phones again.

Plus would the PLI cover you if a member of the public claimed that your headphones have given them an ear infection or tinitus ?

We use silent practice methods at the college and it was a nightmare going through the health and safety stuff regarding the public using headphones. Completely different ball game to using speakers and amplifiers.

[rob1963]

Not to mention the H&S risk of ear infections being transmitted by headphones passed from one person to another.

The same thing occurred to me.

I wouldn't want to be wearing headphones that had been worn by a number of unknown people before me.

Hardly hygenic. :sick:

This could also lead to the added problem of people getting ear infections & saying YOU were responsible.

[Larry B Entertainment]

Hardly hygenic. :sick:



Exactly ! The headphones would have to be cleaned after every use.

[DazzyD]

I know a couple of local operators who are operating an invisible disco.

Or maybe it's just that they don't bother turning up!

[sleah]

I recently DJ'ed at and helped run a silent disco at a local Festival. It was a fun night!
Great novelty, but that's where it ends IMHO, for all the reasons stated above.
Costs, H&S etc.
It is also quite anti-social, you can't just say a couple of words to your mates without taking them off or moving them to one side, so there is significantly less interaction with fellow wearers.
Again it is a short term novelty for spectators. Fun at first watching people dance in silence, but you'd soon get board if all your mates are wearing headphones and you can't hear the music, just the shuffling and singing along - which is rather amusing!

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Be funny as hell to have random tracks appearing in different bands...your knocking Big Fish little fish out to some top trance tune...and the guy next to you is doing the YMCA :D

[sleah]

Be funny as hell to have random tracks appearing in different bands...your knocking Big Fish little fish out to some top trance tune...and the guy next to you is doing the YMCA :D


Oh it is! We had YMCA on one and Living on a Prayer on the other...... one group doing the actions, others on air guitar and singing along.
You realise just how bad the singing is when there's no loud music:eek:

[yourdj]

They do it in a club in southampton. the main issue is the insurance and the initial outlay for equipment. damage would be a problem.

I love the idea of using one room and have three dj's playing different music so you can switch. Surely that would treble your target audience.

would not do it as mobile though more for club nights.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I think if this was going to be succesful it would be alot more common in the clubs than it is. Only one club does it in cheltenham and its very rarely its on, in fact Ive stopped getting invities to it on facebook so may not be going on.

I'd love to go to one though just for the experience, try have a convesation to your mates with the headphones on :D

[rob1963]

I'd love to go to one though just for the experience, try have a convesation to your mates with the headphones on :D

Indeed.

You could discuss the ear infection you were both getting!

[DJMaxG]

If you were DJing, you're likely to use a moniter anyway, so it's not strictly silent.

I don't know how many people would be seen Dancing with cup headphones on, especially a lot of the Younger Crowds would feel embarrased to, and the phones are likely to get broken - People Drink at Partys.

[sleah]

If you were DJing, you're likely to use a moniter anyway, so it's not strictly silent.


:bang:

[mike8863]

I started this 6 years ago.

I thought I was invincible and turned up at a wedding with only one amplifier....and no mates in the area with a spare.

Learnt my lesson..... bet i'm not the only one??

now thats funny!!!, a little too close to the bone but funny none the less:beer1: :beer1: :beer1:

[StarZSoundS]

now thats funny!!!, a little too close to the bone but funny none the less:beer1: :beer1: :beer1:


Appreciate your comments.

You've seen the symptoms.Fevered brow...snapping at everyone.....hiding in case anyone approaches you......blaming the Electricity Supply Company for supplying the venue with faulty electric....Buttocks squeezed so close together you couldn't get a fag paper between them.....

You only go to that situation once....


How come there always happens to be a general electician in the crowd who thinks he might be able to help with our much more expensive equipment:bang:

[StarZSoundS]

They do it in a club in southampton. the main issue is the insurance and the initial outlay for equipment. damage would be a problem.

I love the idea of using one room and have three dj's playing different music so you can switch. Surely that would treble your target audience.

would not do it as mobile though more for club nights.


Tell me I shouldn't have this vision of ....

Tracey doing Agadoo
Sharon doing the Cha Cha Slide
Julie doing YMCA

In a little circle trying to tune into each other frequencies......:eek:

Hideous

[BeerFunk]

If you were DJing, you're likely to use a moniter anyway, so it's not strictly silent.Although I've never been to one (nor would I want to, mind you), I would imagine that the DJ monitors everything in the headphones, using the cue/master dial which is on most mixers. That's how I would do it anyway.

[Starlight]

I know a couple of local operators who are operating an invisible disco.

Or maybe it's just that they don't bother turning up!
:lol:

[DJNutter]

Suppose it would be funny to watch for about 15 mins...:confused:

But the thought of 5 hours of bad singing, shuffling of feet, people shouting at each other with headphones on, poor sound quality, ear infections, lack of atmosphere, clonking of high heels and that sound at the end of the night of 100+ different conversations when the amp is switched off during the whole 5 hours. Extremely boring.:(
How would you tell the people without headsets on that the buffet was open or that you were playing a massive tune !:what:
100% Not for me – I’d rather pull my eye out with a rusty nail !:eek:

[rob1963]

Just thought of another negative about these.

What about deaf people who currently feel the vibrations of the music through the floor?

Presumably they wouldn't feel the vibrations through a small low powered paid of headphones?

:shrug:

[StarZSoundS]

Suppose it would be funny to watch for about 15 mins...:confused:

But the thought of 5 hours of bad singing, shuffling of feet, people shouting at each other with headphones on, poor sound quality, ear infections, lack of atmosphere, clonking of high heels and that sound at the end of the night of 100+ different conversations when the amp is switched off during the whole 5 hours. Extremely boring.:(
How would you tell the people without headsets on that the buffet was open or that you were playing a massive tune !:what:
100% Not for me – I’d rather pull my eye out with a rusty nail !:eek:


God has created us very badly.....If we are listening and singing along to say Jon Bon Jovi with headphones on our brain convinces us that we are equal or even better than the singer on the phones.......WRONG.Why can't we hear what we are singing...we would soon stop then.....


You would never sing with phones on if you could hear what others were listening too:bang: