Silent disco?

To many ads? Support ODJT and see no ads!

rickryan.com

DJ Extraordinaire
ODJT Supporter
Dec 9, 2009
19,237
17,321
59
Hendersonville, TN
www.rickryan.com
At the gig last night, one of the sponsors was telling me about another dance they did recently. He called it a "silent disco". It was a headphone event, 300 guests and he said each headphone had 3 separate audio feeds. He said it was hysterical, watching all those kids, dancing to different songs and singing all these different songs to the top of their lungs. I just couldn't imagine trying to keep up with 300 sets of battery-operated phones. Have any of you guys looked into this type of setup?
 
I think Brian @adj2ent has done them
 
Yes, I have a set of the silent disco headphones. I use them for my Headphone Outdoor Movie events but could also use them for silent disco if I choose. But my headphones don't have the LED lights which illuminates specifying which channel. So with the clients in my market that would be a must unless there on a budget. The responsibility for Headphones is specified in the contract rider with the client. They hand them out, collect them and make sure each is accounted for. So far none of my headphones have come up missing. The clients I work for are used these type of things. In the College market silent disco is been popular for least the past 5 years. I have been to one of the showcase event for the major companies doing silent disco headphone parties. I found the whole extremely fun and fascinating to watch. Since I had control of the volume in the headphones and what channel I listened actually more enjoyable than listening to a regular DJ blast music. For some reason give these college kids Headphones they tend to dance, sing & act silly as they have fun. Steve, Bryan is my son, he acts like he owns everything. Lol but it's all me. Bryan actually like my father and really doesn't want me to invest in new stuff. Convincing him is the project. Justifications and relisted projections have to be shown. I think Mix might need to have my son standing over his shoulder.
 
At the gig last night, one of the sponsors was telling me about another dance they did recently. He called it a "silent disco". It was a headphone event, 300 guests and he said each headphone had 3 separate audio feeds. He said it was hysterical, watching all those kids, dancing to different songs and singing all these different songs to the top of their lungs. I just couldn't imagine trying to keep up with 300 sets of battery-operated phones. Have any of you guys looked into this type of setup?

Wait....are you saying they don't all listen to the same song at the same time?
I always thought it was a DJ playing songs
but every listens thru headphones, not speakers.
 
Wait....are you saying they don't all listen to the same song at the same time?
I always thought it was a DJ playing songs
but every listens thru headphones, not speakers.

3 different channels (transmitters). The guy on the video said you could have 3 different DJs entirely. The user has a switch on their headphones that lets them choose which channel they want to listen to.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
Yes, I have a set of the silent disco headphones. I use them for my Headphone Outdoor Movie events but could also use them for silent disco if I choose. But my headphones don't have the LED lights which illuminates specifying which channel. So with the clients in my market that would be a must unless there on a budget. The responsibility for Headphones is specified in the contract rider with the client. They hand them out, collect them and make sure each is accounted for. So far none of my headphones have come up missing. The clients I work for are used these type of things. In the College market silent disco is been popular for least the past 5 years. I have been to one of the showcase event for the major companies doing silent disco headphone parties. I found the whole extremely fun and fascinating to watch. Since I had control of the volume in the headphones and what channel I listened actually more enjoyable than listening to a regular DJ blast music. For some reason give these college kids Headphones they tend to dance, sing & act silly as they have fun. Steve, Bryan is my son, he acts like he owns everything. Lol but it's all me. Bryan actually like my father and really doesn't want me to invest in new stuff. Convincing him is the project. Justifications and relisted projections have to be shown. I think Mix might need to have my son standing over his shoulder.

So, if you won't mind me asking, how many sets of headphones do you have and how much investment have you made into this system? How much can you typically fetch for a gig? Trying to see if there's any way it's worth it from an ROI perspective.
 
3 different channels (transmitters). The guy on the video said you could have 3 different DJs entirely. The user has a switch on their headphones that lets them choose which channel they want to listen to.

That sounds much more expensive than doing it the old fashioned way.
 
Yes, I have a set of the silent disco headphones. I use them for my Headphone Outdoor Movie events but could also use them for silent disco if I choose. But my headphones don't have the LED lights which illuminates specifying which channel. So with the clients in my market that would be a must unless there on a budget. The responsibility for Headphones is specified in the contract rider with the client. They hand them out, collect them and make sure each is accounted for. So far none of my headphones have come up missing. The clients I work for are used these type of things. In the College market silent disco is been popular for least the past 5 years. I have been to one of the showcase event for the major companies doing silent disco headphone parties. I found the whole extremely fun and fascinating to watch. Since I had control of the volume in the headphones and what channel I listened actually more enjoyable than listening to a regular DJ blast music. For some reason give these college kids Headphones they tend to dance, sing & act silly as they have fun. Steve, Bryan is my son, he acts like he owns everything. Lol but it's all me. Bryan actually like my father and really doesn't want me to invest in new stuff. Convincing him is the project. Justifications and relisted projections have to be shown. I think Mix might need to have my son standing over his shoulder.
Sorry Kevin .. I think I mix your 2 names 50% of the time ...
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
In my case with the events I do they can't use a regular audio system done to noise restrictions. So, if I didn't have the system the wouldn't even happen. I sold them the idea for the Headphones for the movies creating a new market & income stream which didn't exist 4 years ago. I did the same thing in the early 1980's with Video Dance Parties, created a market to compete with bands who at that time were the big dollar items.
For the silent disco DJ parties it's something different and also opens up other possibilities as far as location and times you can have parties. But I've found the singing get loud.
I have 125 headphones on a two channel system which I got 5 years ago. It took me a year or so to prove out the system. I established a connect overseas as I also work as a rep. Now you should have the three channel systems with LED headphones, pricing depends on how many you order but I say around $25 ea plus shipping. The issue now is the with all the tariffs I am not sure what the pricing would be or how much you would have to pay in customs coming into the states.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
I am currently at a college Conference and the national company which does the silent disco parties is here. I really can't say if it worth while in other markets. I have heard of them being used at some weddings, clubs, schools and not counting the numerous events I see sponsored by two companies which háve almost weekly events at various locations throughout the city. I guess it depends as much on what the price range your clients are in and are the clients able to handle using returning the Headphones. In the college market there college ID is used as collateral. I'm sure how you would handle it at a school. If a lot of headphones aren't returned they would be hit with one big bill. Here is a shoot of their pricing for single events. For me yes it was worth it but I do travel throughout the whole Northeast. The only states I haven't worked it yet in is Vermont & Maine.

IMG_9898.JPG
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
To go the Versa Sound route could get pretty expensive. At $3,845 for 60 headphones and a single transmitter, that means around $60 per set of headphones. In order to have headphones for a 200 person event, that’s more than a $15K investment. Then you have to transport, distribute and collect the headphones. Kind of a PITA, but a very cool concept.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
That is the incorrect version of the headphones they using now. I tested out a pair of those 4 years ago, they just flashed to the beat. They don't show By color which channel is selected. And are way, way overpriced I guess for those which don't know better.
To handle my headphones all are numbered and stored in containers of 25. That facilitates handing out, collection and accounting. For the events I do one or two people provided by the client handle distribution and collection. Since everyone doesn't arrive and leave at the same time even one person can handle it. Not having to move any speakers, amp, wires & related stuff is great. But like I said before in my cases using speakers isn't a option. As usually classes or houses are close by and the event would be shutdown in minutes using traditional equipment .
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
Surely there must be a way to do it with the kids phones and a streaming app .. stream from your DJ(s) to the app and then back to the kids .. maybe you'd need to give out cheap crap buds to those that forget.
 
Surely there must be a way to do it with the kids phones and a streaming app .. stream from your DJ(s) to the app and then back to the kids .. maybe you'd need to give out cheap crap buds to those that forget.

^^^^ That thar is usin’ yer noggin![emoji1]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
You missed the whole point of silent disco. It's not just about receiving the music through headphones . Its about have multiple DJs playing on separate channel so you have a Choice of Music, then each DJs has a color associated with them that lights up in the headphone who everyone knows what channels you are listening to. A simple press of one button selects the channels. Since they have a short attention span its perfect for kids. When one group reacts you can see the flow changing via the LED lights on the Headphones. Trying to jury rig something won't get you the same results. Even for what I do I could have used my FM transmitter and had everyone use FM Headphones. It was not seamless and much more complicated on the users end.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger