Comments on: Dance Party Without Sound: Bonnaroo 2008’s Silent Disco

By: Dr.Schnauzer

Dr.Schnauzer — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:00:07 +0000

Apparently this was invented in 2002 at ‘de Parade’ -a dutch theater festival. Dozens of headphones were hanging on the ceiling for your grabs back then. Since then these guys launched a worldwide tour and went the wireless route.
Truly awesome idea.
http://www.silentdisco.com

By: ocp

ocp — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:49:46 +0000

BTW, look up this link for a DIY project on the subject: http://www.broadcastyourpodcast.com/
Who knows, you might be throwing such a party some time soon ( ;

By: ocp

ocp — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:46:42 +0000

I’d say this is just one of many sorts of music listening habits; there’s always room for other sorts.
The great advantage is you won’t bother neighbors with loud music spat by huge PA systems.
Also, you’re free to listen to whatever style suits you best (if given the option).
And this doesn’t mean the end of shared listening, just the evolution…

By: simon

simon — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:45:47 +0000

I’ve read about these silent discos taking place in my home town Brighton and just up the road in London. I’ve never tried it but to be honest it sounds kind of like defeating the object of going out and sharing in listening to music. That is what makes clubs, live music so cool - the shared experience. I can listen to my own selection of music at home on my own and even dance to it if I want to. The reason I go out is to hear someone elses playlist or selection of music, stuff I might not have heard before.

Saying that I do understand that there is something interesting about the concept.

By: philll

philll — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:00:50 +0000

:D it´s often used for advertisement in tv, you see a lot of people dancing, i even did that for a tv spot, dancing in a nice bar,having fun,and no music at all :D

By: Polite

Polite — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:54:24 +0000

I believe they’ve had this at the glastonbury (spelling?) festival in the UK for a few years as well. I heard that kylie or madonna or someone had their main act in this ’silent’ way as well.

Didn’t know they had it at big day out, I’m obviously watching the wrong acts.. or maybe it doesn’t happen in Perth.

I don’t really understand the point though, unless you are throwing an event somewhere with noise restrictions. Part of an event is hearing everyone cheering, singing along, etc. Plus surely it must cost a bundle to provide wireless headphones for everyone, and I bet they don’t get back most of them in a usable fashion.

Of course I’d probably feel different if I’ve ever seen anyone that does it.

By: Luke Dodd

Luke Dodd — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:47:51 +0000

Spotted something like this in London a while back (about 6 months I would guess) on a flyer, sadly I forget when/where it was or who was organising.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:24:01 +0000

Here in the Netherlands TNO is working on a suit which is meant for several purposes, one of them being letting deaf people experience (dance)music as it is for us, the hearing.
The vest is made out of a lot of tiny vibrators which can be turned on and off.

I can’t find anything (in english) on it now, although it has been featured on television here in the netherlands and in the UK (recently saw it on Stupid Science)

Some people from my faculcy are involved in the music to vibrating-vest experience.

By: cosmonaut

cosmonaut — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:18:34 +0000

just curious if any one did this before the apple commercial? :) Seems like a fun idea to try anyway ..

By: Jacko

Jacko — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:59:59 +0000

They have had this the last few years in Australia as part of the Big Day Out festival. Only I think the difference was that every headset had a different song playing out of them, so everyone was dancing a completley unique way.
Great to watch and paticipate in, Fantastic Concept!