Silent discos. silent party
On November 4, 2017, in Moscow, on the territory of the Khlebny Dom in the Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve, an extremely unusual hype noiseless musical event "Silent Disco with Silent Disco Headphones" was held.
A party with headphones is no worse and no better than ordinary discos. Partying with headphones is a completely different experience. Everyone should try at least once.
Moscow is one of the best places to test new event formats. Silent parties have long flooded Europe and America. We are glad that we are one of those who promote the Silent Disco format in Russia.
A quiet disco in the center of Moscow is a unique case. Noise pollution follows us everywhere. Now there is so much sound in the metropolis that you want to go somewhere where it does not exist.
Silent Disco is an opportunity to enjoy music in silence. Although not quite like that. A quiet disco allows you to turn off the music at the festival exactly when each participant wants. You just take off your headphones and head to the bar to the sound of lounge music. Or just start a conversation with your friend without shouting. In a club, this is hardly possible.
The format of quiet discos in Moscow provides a unique opportunity to plunge into the world of music. Individual audio has a special impact on participants. Music seems to be transmitted only to you. At the same time, on the dance floor you see other people listening to the same wave. A silent party in clubs is an opportunity to go beyond the usual music shows. People put on their headphones and find themselves in their own world.
3 headphone channels allow you to switch to the desired music format without leaving the dance floor. Sometimes it's rock and techno, sometimes it's pop and deep. Everyone will find what they are looking for. A silent party with headphones on is a unique experience.
Headphone parties are just beginning to gain popularity in Moscow and Russia. Now more and more companies are turning to us for organizing silent events. Although, if you think about it, just 5 years ago this format did not exist in Russia at all. Headphones can be used not only for quiet discos, but also for silent cinemas.
4 reasons to fall in love with Silent Disco format:
- 3 channels = 3 genres.
Headphones Silent Disco three-channel. Thanks to this feature, you can broadcast 3 different types of music at once on one dance floor. - Capacious battery.
The battery of the Silent Disco headphones will withstand even the longest silent disco in Moscow. 10 hours without recharging. - No wires.
With Silent Disco wireless headphones, you will feel true freedom of movement. The signal is stable for as much as 100 meters. - Color illumination.
Bright lighting lifts the mood. Each of the 3 channels glows in one of the colors: red, green or blue. Customize with party branding.
People used to wear headphones for personal audio, but now to listen to music together. Awesome!
Independent Stage Company "AKSIOMA" performed the technical provision of lighting and stage equipment for the event "Silent Disco with Silent Disco Headphones", which took place on November 04, 2017 in Moscow on the territory of the Bread House in the Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve.
Alexey Voronin first saw silent disco - a silent party - at a festival in Serbia. The people in the headphones danced to different rhythms, because everyone chose the music from the stage of the festival that they liked. Interested in this format, Alexey ordered a speaker system and 100 headphones from China to arrange parties for friends. A year later, Alexander Yaroslavtsev called him, who was already in the business of arranging silent events. Together they began to arrange silent film screenings and discos - in two years they managed to hold about 100 events. Last year, the company's revenue reached 1.2 million rubles. Voronin told The Village about the peculiarities of making money in silence.
How it all began
Alexey Voronin, co-founder of Silent Space: I have been going to the Exit music festival in Serbia for many years. On different stages, musicians perform completely heterogeneous music. And one of the sites was given over to silent disco. The difference is that several thousand people are dancing in complete silence, and the sound from the remotes is not fed into the speakers, but into the wireless headphones. You can choose the music yourself from what sounds on different stages. I liked this story - before that I could not imagine that I could have so much fun with headphones. Returning to Moscow, I decided to buy myself such a system. At that time, I had (and still have) a business: I sell greenhouses and goods for summer cottages. Plus I was a director in a musical group. I decided to start arranging silent concerts and apartment houses. So I ordered my first hundred headphones.
At that time, in 2011, my future business partner Alexander Yaroslavtsev had already begun to hold silent events. Together with his friend, they did several projects. Among the successful ones is a silent cinema on the territory of the Flakon design factory. But in the spring of 2013, the partners parted, and Alexander was left with nothing: no equipment and no website. But Sasha decided to find a new business partner. Therefore, I began to write to Chinese suppliers and ask who else from Moscow ordered such headphones. Sasha is a punchy person, he will get through to anyone. Under his pressure, the Chinese surrendered after a week and gave him my phone number.
When Sasha called with a proposal for cooperation, I was skeptical about him. But at the meeting he changed his mind. Sasha was convinced that it was possible to make money on silent events. "Why not?" - I thought, and we decided to try.
First projects
The preparatory and routine work began: the creation of a website, price lists, presentations. At the same time, we worked on the concept and thought about what other services we can offer. The site initially cost us 30 thousand rubles, but we constantly make updates and additional sections to it, so now, probably, it has already exceeded 100 thousand. The biggest investment is the purchase of headphones. At that time, one pair cost a little over a thousand rubles, plus wires and transmitters. We also bought the first projector, it cost us 70 thousand rubles. (We currently have two professional projectors - one mid-level and one small for road presentations.)
Our first large-scale project was launched in the summer of 2013 in Sokolniki Park. In it, we installed a silent cinema for 100 people, where they showed cartoons from the 2x2 channel. For this event, I had to rent a large inflatable screen. It was installed in front of the pool, and people watched cartoons from the sun loungers. After this film screening, we bought an even larger screen, on which we spent almost 120 thousand rubles. The event turned out to be not very profitable: they earned about 30 thousand rubles.
In August, we were invited to hold an open-air Silence in Stavropol. And it still remains the largest in our portfolio: it was visited by a thousand people. For this event, we bought another 200 headphones. But working with the Chinese was difficult. You explain to them which model you want, pay $200 for sample delivery, and get something completely different. You write to them that the goods need to be replaced, you pay for the delivery again, and in return you get again not what you need. And so not once.
We decided to rent the rest of the headphones, so we wrote to everyone who has them. As a result, they were transported, for example, from Naberezhnye Chelny and Kazan. So they collected 700 pieces of headphones. It turned out that not all are compatible with our equipment. I had to figure out how to switch them on the spot. There were also difficulties with wires, because the organizers did not warn that their length should be 40-50 meters. There I soldered for the first time in the last 10-15 years: I had to repair the power supply. But the problems didn't end there.
Firstly, the organizers started promoting the open-air just two weeks before the start. Of course, they convinced us that the city is small, and everyone will recognize it anyway. Secondly, for some reason they made, in addition to the sound in the headphones, a quiet main sound. Thirdly, the organizers made two entrances: one for those with headphones, the other for those without. As a result, half of Stavropol came just to look at people dancing in headphones. And the entry price - 800 rubles - is not quite adequate money. As a result, not 700 people came to the festival, but 300-400. The whole event cost us around 60 thousand rubles, half of which went to rent a minibus. On it, we drove from Moscow for almost a day, alternately driving.
Another new format - silent cinema at the exhibition - appeared last January, when the Geek Picnic science and technology festival came to us. They offered us a small area in one of the VDNH pavilions. We covered it with artificial grass, put ottomans on top and installed a screen. We broadcast science fiction, films about robots and space on it. Participation was free for us, besides, the organizers provided us with ottomans. We brought 50 headphones - several thousand people watched the movie in a few days.
Organization of a silent event
The minimum cost of operating a silent cinema for 50 people costs the customer around 50 thousand rubles a day. At all events we work ourselves, but if over time we block up, then we attract hired administrators from outside. Headphones sometimes disappear during events. Surprisingly, most of all was stolen at the opening of the yacht club, where far from poor people gathered. Moreover, before the start of the event, we always try to warn that headphones without special chargers and transmitters are a useless thing. But they take it, apparently, as a keepsake, and nothing can be done about it. At mass events, we try to take a small deposit - 500 rubles, for example. Of course, he, in case of theft, will not cover the costs, but people may not have a large amount with them.
The system connects quickly, literally in 5 minutes. The signal is transmitted over FM frequencies, so sometimes interference from cell towers, for example, can creep into them. Therefore, we always go to the site in advance and set up the desired channel. At the same time, we are planning where it is better to install a DJ console or transmitter. The event can be done anywhere - in a field, forest, on the roof of a building. You can move away from the transmitter in headphones by 100-150 meters. But load-bearing walls do not transmit the signal well, so the distance in the building can be reduced. Headphones used to run on batteries, now they run on batteries. Therefore, if it is cold on the site, then their charge will be used up faster.
Sale of equipment
We never thought we'd be selling wireless equipment. But at the end of this year, the Alexandrinsky Theater turned to us with a request to help them buy headphones and transmitters. The technique is needed for the new play "Noise", which uses complex sound effects. First, we installed our equipment for them so that they could understand how it works. And then they bought a new one through suppliers from China. Now we have several planetariums who want to purchase equipment through us.
This winter we launched a new format - silent discos on skating rinks. There have been four of them so far, all at the Meteor skating rink near the Arc de Triomphe. We agreed with the administration of the rink that we do not pay for rent, but if there are more than 50 people at the disco, then we divide all the proceeds in half. We made the entrance to the disco zone paid - 200 rubles. The work of two DJs is not paid, because our friends or enthusiasts who are interested in an unusual format usually work. But the first disco turned out to be a failure: it was minus 19 outside, and there were 40 people on the whole ice, of which only nine came to us. Then it went on increasing and already at the last disco, 50 people were dancing in headphones. We think to develop this format further.
We also have private clients, but rarely. For example, recently Sasha went to Chelyabinsk for his birthday, where we arranged a silent disco. The people were adults, over 40, but they were so hot that Sasha barely took off their headphones. As a result, instead of an agreement for two hours, they danced for three.
Market
The market for silent events in Russia has not yet been formed. Therefore, we ourselves come up with what we can offer customers. But not all ideas come true. For example, we somehow burned with the idea of a network of silent cinemas at train stations and airports. But it is very difficult to move this colossus that makes decisions.
There is no competition as such. There are people with such headphones in Nizhny Novgorod, St. Petersburg, Naberezhnye Chelny, they have 100-200 headphones each. But, for example, a company from Nizhny Novgorod considers us their elder brother and turns to us for advice or help. We are for the culture of silent events to develop and become more and more popular in Russia. 90% of those who contact us learned about us through word of mouth. The silent disco format is very popular in Europe. Let's say there is a company Silentarena, which has 20,000 headphones in its arsenal. And events for a thousand people are a common story for them. For example, in Serbia everyone knows what silent disco is. We probably have one in ten at best. For a person to understand how cool it is, he must get to some large-scale event. We will try to make this happen.
Income and plans
In our company, Sasha is engaged in sales, we go to meetings with clients together. I am in charge of finances: I invest everything that I earn here and in the greenhouse business, because I like this project. If we consider the financial component, then Silent Space is still unprofitable for me. But we do not spend money on a warehouse: for example, I use the one that I need for another business. In this two-story room at 400 meters, Silent Space items occupy a small corner. There is also a truck, so you do not need to rent it additionally.
Now, taking into account the recently purchased prefabricated pavilion for 5 thousand dollars and the next batch of headphones, investments have reached 2.5 million rubles. Revenue for the past year amounted to approximately 1.2 million rubles. For all the time we have held about 100 events. Of these, half are large. Demand is growing: 2/3 of the events took place in 2014. Now there are preliminary agreements with several major festivals across the country for street film screenings and silent disco, in May we start working on cruise ships.
Alexey Voronin talks about how events are held and monetized in headphones
The format of silent events appeared and became popular in Europe and the USA in the 2000s - film screenings and dance parties in the fresh air, the participants of which are wearing headphones, were enjoyed by residents of big cities. And then events without sound penetrated into the corporate sector. In Russia, one of the pioneers of the new format was Silent Space, an agency for silent events. Aleksey Voronin, co-owner of the agency, told Biz360 about how to make money on silence.
Alexey Voronin, serial entrepreneur, co-owner of the silent events agency Silent Space. In addition to this project, the entrepreneur is developing several other businesses (an iron casting company, a company selling equipment for summer cottages, etc.). The agency holds events, the main distinguishing feature of which is the absence of noise, since all participants are in special headphones. Film screenings, dance parties, presentations, exhibitions, conferences, performances, etc. are held in this format. Among the agency's clients are the shopping and entertainment center "Rio", Levis, Lamoda, the yacht club "Neptune", the TV channel "2x2" and other well-known companies.
"At first I just laughed"
I saw this format in Europe at a major music festival in Serbia in 2011. Two years later, I decided to bring a batch of headphones to Russia, where there was no such format at that time. I didn’t plan to do any business out of this at that moment: I just bought headphones for myself and friends to have silent parties.
Then a partner appeared - Alexander Yaroslavtsev, who was already doing something similar on a commercial basis. They broke up with a former colleague, and he was looking for a business partner. When I first heard about this idea, I just laughed, not imagining how a profitable business could be made from such a hobby. But Alexander was quite optimistic, and I agreed. In addition, my current partner had experience hosting such parties.
The first silent commercial event took place in Sokolniki Park in 2013: it was a “Bali-style” party, where we watched cartoons from the 2×2 TV channel on a large inflatable screen on The Pool. Everything took place at night, we did not interfere with anyone in the headphones. Quite a lot of people gathered. Well, we got paid for this event.
"Headphones are consumables"
We earn on two services. First, it is equipment rental. That is, some event company comes up with an event, and we provide equipment for rent. Thus, for example, a silent master class was organized at S7 Airlines. Equipment rental costs about 500 rubles per set. In Europe, prices are higher - about 10 euros per set, but we have left the old prices for now.
The second option is when we invent and conduct the event ourselves. For example, we equip a cinema with two screens, organize a dance party, etc. There is silent yoga - a project that we spied on in the USA, we consulted with an American company on the nuances of its organization. Moreover, they came to us themselves. They said that we were the only ones in Russia whom they could find. The first silent yoga took place in the Empire Tower, where 150 people gathered. Now we plan to develop this direction more actively.
At some events we act only as technical partners. For example, now there is Mozart Inside in Metropolis, where we provide headphones.
Headphones are consumables for us. They are stolen, broken, and in general - what only happens to them. After each event, we lose a few pieces, so the cost of them is quite large.
"Parents - melodrama, children - cartoons"
The main driving force in the company is three people. This is me, my partner Alexander Yaroslavtsev and Alexandra Pushkareva. For example, Alexander is an excellent salesperson. He is moderately persistent, and sometimes it’s easier for him to say “yes” than to refuse and explain the reasons for his decision. Alexandra is engaged in promotion and interaction with the press. We do everything ourselves, but sometimes, on complex projects, we involve friends and partners.
We have quite a lot of equipment. First, the transmitters to which the sound source is connected. There may be one or more of these. Secondly, the sound source itself is needed - even a mobile phone can act as it. And, of course, the headphones themselves, which are made by special order.
Headphones work in the FM band. With the help of Silent technology, we can output sound at several frequencies. For example, a DJ with electronic music plays on one, and rock on the other. By the same principle, we can make a cinema on two screens: for example, a family version: a melodrama for parents, and cartoons for children.
We now have two inflatable pavilions, which allow us to make a normal picture on the projector in an hour and a half with a small amount of electricity. There are DJ equipment, film projectors. But I want more, I always want to somehow improve.
I cannot say that economic sanctions have had a significant impact on us. But it's a shame for the country.
Due to the dollar exchange rate, headphones have risen in price: if earlier they cost us a little more than a thousand rubles, now they are much more expensive than two thousand. But for me, this is not a business that should bring global profit, so I do not have a strong frustration. For me, this is more of a business hobby, and you need to invest in hobbies. So, the starting capital was originally mine, with this money we bought 120 headphones and held the first party.
The cost of some corporate services of Silent Space: film screening (up to 100 people) - from 33,000 rubles; conferences and trainings (up to 200 people) - from 20,000 rubles; dance party (up to 150 people) - from 25,000 rubles.
We have parallel business projects, and this makes life much easier. For example, we can use a warehouse, a truck, etc. for free. There are some reserves, a financial cushion that allows you to do this for your own pleasure.
Of course, we earn some money on this project, the project pays off even despite all the jumps in the dollar exchange rate.
Once I happened to attend an unusual party. I was relaxing on Palolem Beach, which is located in South Goa (India), and walking along the beach, I saw an unusual drawing on a rock. The picture was of a cow wearing headphones. At first I just thought it was funny, and I did not attach much importance to it. In India, the cow is considered a sacred animal, and therefore I assumed that some unknown artist simply decided to depict this animal in such an unusual form. But when I was in a local bar in the evening, I found out that, it turns out, every Saturday there is a party in headphones on Palolem. I have never been to such parties, and, of course, I decided to visit it.
In the evening I was seized with a slight excitement. I could not imagine how you can dance in a crowd of people to music in headphones. In this regard, the question immediately arose - is the music the same for everyone? You can imagine how funny it looks from the outside when all people move to different rhythms. At the very least, it would be comical. That's what I thought as I walked to the beach, where this unusual disco was held. Fortunately, my fears were not justified - everyone didn't care what music you dance to. People came to rest, not to observe the movements of other people.
So how does such an unusual party go? When you arrive at a party, you wait in line to get your headphones. They are handed out at the entrance. Once they land on your ears, you become part of those who hear the sound. As soon as you hear the music, you are overcome by a feeling of euphoria, you begin to feel that you are "in the know." It's quite an exciting and pleasant feeling. Just imagine yourself in a silent crowd of dancing people. Someone sings, someone closes his eyes and just enjoys. Emotions from a quiet disco are difficult to describe in words. You just enjoy the music and involuntarily move to the beat. All your movements become smooth, harmonious. You look at the people around and mentally understand what kind of music is playing in their ears. When you meet the dancing people's eyes, you exchange smiles - as if you know something that other people who don't have headphones don't. It's both funny and very funny at the same time. Therefore, based on my experience, I would like to give several reasons why I recommend everyone to visit at least once such a party. Such parties are held not only on the Indian beach Palolem, but also at many music festivals around the world.
- The quiet disco is very convenient. At many music festivals where a headphone party is held, you have the option to switch multiple channels with different music. On Palolem, I also had the opportunity to change the channels of music in the headphones. There were three in total. My friends who went to the headphone party in Holland told me that they also had this opportunity and it was a lot of fun because there were a lot of people at the festival.
- Easy casual acquaintance. It's no secret that music enhances feelings. Particularly good music. Light flirting with your eyes, mutual exchange of smiles with each other - and you are already sitting at the bar, sipping a cocktail and getting to know each other better. Very romantic, isn't it?
- Possibility of communication. In a typical club party with loud music playing, even if you want to talk to someone, you have to yell or find a quieter place. At a party with headphones, everything is much easier. You take off your headphones and, hanging them around your neck for convenience, you can calmly communicate anywhere on the dance floor without shouting.
- The possibility of holding a party anywhere. Recently, the state of Goa banned night parties on the beaches, which greatly upset tourists and fans of noisy discos. But, fortunately, thanks to such an alternative as parties in headphones, this format of entertainment has again become available on Indian beaches at any time of the day. This party ban applies not only in India, but also in many other countries, so a party with headphones is a great way to attract new tourists and not lose regular music lovers.
After visiting such a party, I became interested in whether it is possible to organize such a disco on my own, and what is required for this. It turns out that headphone parties are rapidly gaining popularity all over the world, and in order to have such a party at home, Silent Disco wireless headphones are required. They can be purchased at almost every music store or ordered online. Silent Disco has become a generic term for a disco where people dance to music through wireless headphones. Instead of using a speaker system, music is streamed through an FM transmitter to wireless receivers built into the headphones. Those not wearing headphones cannot hear the music, giving the effect of a room full of people dancing in silence. It is not necessary to purchase several sets of headphones to arrange a similar party at home, they can be rented. It is very convenient and does not hit the pocket.
I began to search for information about silent parties on the Internet and found out that, it turns out, there are whole flash mobs of such parties. There are even concerts and theaters that hold their performances with headphones. Silent disco technology has also been used in the past few years for silent film events, including film premieres and rooftop theaters. There are even silent operas. The silent disco technology was also used by sportswear chain Lululemon to promote their Christmas sale by installing a silent disco screen.
I was delighted that I learned so much new things, having just visited a silent disco once. For those who have never attended such events, I definitely recommend visiting at least once. It is very fun, unusual and interesting.
As you may have read in our blog, the history of Silent Disco begins at the end of the last century.
Disco in headphones It's no better or worse than regular parties.
is a new format of events that will give you new sensations.
Just imagine yourself in a silent crowd of dancing people. Someone sings, someone closes his eyes and just enjoys. Emotions from a quiet disco are difficult to describe in words. And yet I would like to describe a few points why you simply must visit at least disco with headphones.
6 reasons to visit a silent disco with headphones:
1) Feeling that you are "in the know"
You wait your turn to get the headphones. Once they land on your ears, you become part of those who hear the sound. Oh, yes 🙂 That very feeling that you are “in the know”, and others do not know “what are you dancing about here”.
2) Several dance floors in one
Silent disco- it's amazingly comfortable! After all, with Silent EVE 2-channel headphones, you can switch from one music to another with just one short press of a button on the headphones. I remember how at the EXIT festival in Serbia 2 DJs danced and played music in front of me. Just not in tune with each other. Funny. Switching from the wave of one DJ to another, you can bypass tracks that you don’t like.
3) Easy acquaintance
It's no secret that music enhances feelings. Especially good music. Imagine how you caught a super juicy track on the “red” wave and noticed that the girl you liked was listening to the “green” one. Smile and show visually that she urgently needs to hear what you hear. She switches and ... now you are already wrapped in the melody of your acquaintance. Silent disco unites hearts 🙂
4) Calm communication without headphones
You can continue your impetuous sympathy without headphones. Take them around your neck and in silence get to know each other better. For your comfort, other people are immersed headlong into the music from the headphones: no one will embarrass you.
5) Easy to talk on the phone
Are you lost and can't find a friend at the disco? What will happen at a regular party: You will start screaming into the phone and get annoyed by loud music. On quiet disco with headphones this will not happen. At the right time, remove the headphones and start a conversation. After the discussion, just put on your headphones and you are back on track.
6) Best singer at the festival
Remember what a wonderful voice you have when you sing with headphones? The voice merges with the singer, becoming one. Also on quiet disco. Only dozens of you. There are hundreds of you. Take off your “ears” and you will find out what it means to enjoy singing in the absence of hearing 🙂
Outcome
- This is not a replacement for standard hangouts. This is a different format that delivers different emotions and solves technical issues in the face of sound volume restrictions.
With the Silent EVE headphones, you can quiet disco even in a museum! Not to mention the apartment building after 23:00 🙂
Last but not least, the transmitter can be connected to any audio source via a 3.5mm mini-jack. Well, the transmitter itself does not need power from the outlet. Dance in the park and by the lake.
Try new things and don't be stingy with expressing your emotions.
Silent EVE - high-profile events without unnecessary noise.
Semyon Kibalo - Founder of Silent EVE
Want to try?
We are ready to rent our sound system for your corporate events. We can also easily arrange for you a quiet disco in Moscow or any other city in Russia. With wireless headphones, you can easily organize watching a video or a seminar within a large noisy exhibition. I'd love to hear your creative ideas 🙂
