On Friday night around 9:30 p.m., the Vaughn lobby was a musicless rave with students dancing, clapping and occasionally singing to the songs playing in their heads–literally.
Through Student Productions, the Headphone Disco came to UT, bringing with it hundreds of headphones to pass out to the so-called “silent party people,” and of course, pink and blue sunglasses with disco balls on them. The lobby turned into a nightclub. There was a technicolored dance floor, complete with decorated high-top tables where students could enjoy the hot food and drinks provided. Shirley Temples and sherbet punch were the crowd favorites. Two DJs played two totally different sets of music, and the songs could only be heard through a set of wireless two-channel headphones. The crowd was able to switch between the stations by simply flipping a switch on their individual “disco-muffs.” “I started the silent disco in Scotland,” said DJ Bryan Roseman, in a heavy Scottish accent.
“I was inspired by a Dutch art installation I saw in Holland. You kind of walked through the exhibit and everyone had headphones on.”
The following year, Roseman took the idea of a silent headphone disco party to the Glastonbury music fest, which is similar to Bonnaroo in the U.S. “We had about 50 people at this first one in 2007,” Roseman says. “The next year, we passed out over 1,000 headphones.”
The overwhelming success of this second disco prompted Roseman to take things to the next level.
“After that, we got an agent in London and it really took off from there,” says Roseman.
“We’re open to suggestions about different clubs to play at, but for now we’re focusing on the student circuit and doing a U.S. tour.”Proving to be a useful party alternative for places with noise restrictions, a headphone disco is perfect for on-campus dance parties.
UT sophomore international business and marketing major PK Creedon first experienced Headphone Disco when he was studying abroad in London at Roehampton University.
“When I heard UT was having one,” said Creedon, “I wanted to check it out. I’ve had a great time dancing tonight!”
Although this is UT’s first experience, students across the pond are no stranger to the Headphone Disco.
“These are extremely popular over in Europe,” says Creedon. “About once a month, they had a silent disco at the student union bar. Hundreds of kids came out for it every time.”
UT junior Ashleigh Johnson danced all night with her friends at the disco. “It’s like dancing in your room in front of the mirror before your roommate busts in,” Johnson says.
But the silent disco is also like having your roommate jump in and dance with you. For songs like “The Cupid Shuffle” and “The YMCA,” everyone tuned into the same channel on their headphones and started singing and dancing together.
“I like to mix it up and play goofy stuff sometimes, like ‘[The] Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,’” says Roseman. “It’s best when people can sing along.”
But Roseman wasn’t the only one spinning tracks at the disco. Wherever the party goes, a local DJ is recruited to play on the second station.
UT junior Dave Wistocki was the guest DJ on March 16.
“Bryan found me on my website. The first silent disco I did with him was at St. Leo’s a few months ago; it was a great first time.”
UT senior marine biology major Hannah Perkins brought UCF junior Rowlan Bevan to the party.“It’s so funny watching everyone dance to different beats,” Perkins said.
Their favorite songs of the night were “Eye of the Tiger,” “Mambo #5” and “Twist n’ Shout.” Bevan says the best part is the difference in stations. “You’ve got pop and hip-hop on one, and then 80‘s and 90’s on the other; [there’s] definitely nothing like this happening at UCF!”
UT was lucky to have the original Headphone Disco DJ play at the event and although there’s not currently another Headphone Disco planned on the UT campus, it’s certainly a possibility for a future Student Productions event.
“Bringing a certain event back to campus is always possible,” said Recreation Chair Anna Vallery. “If we get enough interest in having another headphone disco, then we would love to be able to bring it back to campus.” I think it’s safe to say that the silent party phenomenon is just getting started.
Sophie Erber can be reached at serber@spartans.ut.edu.