How Do You DJ Silent Disco? (Explained)

When it comes to DJing for a silent disco, it is not as straightforward as you may first think. To begin with, the music is heard all through headphones rather than out loud, which creates an entirely different experience and dynamic on the dance floor or in a club.

Given this, it can be difficult to know how to navigate this, especially if it is something you have not done before. It can be even tougher if there are multiple DJs.

Not only do you have to think about your own mixes and set list, but you also have to share your space with others.

It can be daunting to do for the first time. However, when you know how to DJ a silent disco, it is a fantastic and enjoyable opportunity. While it is slightly different to the norm, it is not overly complicated.

In this article, I will be talking you through the best ways to DJ a silent disco, and some of the things that will be expected of you. I will also be sharing some of my tips on how you can make it a success.

What Is A Silent Disco?

As I have already touched upon, DJing a silent disco is not an easy task. This is because it is different from a typical DJ set. Instead of the music being played through speakers for everyone to hear, it is played through individual headphones instead.

Everyone that is participating in the silent disco is given a set of headphones so they can listen to, and enjoy, the music. It is a completely unique experience that can be great fun when the correct music is played.

While everyone can hear through the headphones, when the headphones are taken off, and you can hear everyone singing along to the music, it can be quite an amusing experience. 

In the vast majority of cases, there are a number of different channels that people can choose between to listen to. As a result of this, there needs to be a DJ for every channel that is available.

One DJ would not be able to mix the songs for each channel live, so more than one DJ is needed.

While some silent discos will only have one channel, this is not always the case. The headphones provided are wireless, to allow people to enjoy the music, without having to worry about any wires. The music is then transmitted via radio to the headphones. 

How Do You DJ Silent Disco?

When it comes to DJing, it can be more difficult in some ways to engage the crowd because everyone has their own headphones, rather than the music being played through large speakers.

In some cases, this means it can be more difficult to encourage the people at the silent disco.

However, you will want to use the headphones to your advantage, and remember that the crowd will still be able to hear you. You can then use this to your advantage. 

Make Your Channel Interesting

As there are typically more than one channel available, you will need to ensure that you put everything into your set and mixes. You want to keep people listening to your channel as much as possible, instead of listening to another DJ’s set. 

You will be able to  see whether or not the crowd is listening to your channel to some extent. Listen and look out for people singing along. If there are not many people listening, maybe you need to switch up your mix slightly to make it more interesting and engaging. 

In some cases, you will be able to see what people are listening to by the color of the LED light present on their headphones, but this is not always the case.

While you are there to have a good time, it is a slight competition between DJs to see who has the most popular set. Even so, don’t be discouraged if some of the songs you have mixed are not as popular, remember that not every song is going to be for everyone.

Your Energy And Engagement

Just because the room is mostly silent, this doesn’t mean you have to be subdued. You will still want to connect with the audience, and encourage them to sing along and dance. The more fun you are having, the more fun the crowd will have. 

After all, you want to be proud of the set you have put together. The happier and more energetic you are about your music, the more likely people will be to listen to it themselves.

Have fun with your set, and the crowd. You can do this by prolonging the drop in a song, or lowering and hiring the volume as you would if the sound was being played through the speakers. 

Your Mixes And Song Choices

A silent disco does bring a different vibe to the crowd. As a result of this, people will engage with the music in a different way to how they would when it is played through the main speakers. This is something you can use to your advantage. 

When thinking about your song choices and mixes, you will want to consider whether it sounds good when listened to with headphones. Through the headphones, a song can have a completely different vibe.

This is why you will want to test out the songs before you decide on them. 

Silent Disco Headphones

When it comes to the headphones, at night, you will want to have access to your own pair of the silent disco headphones.

While you primarily want to use your own headphones, having the second pair allows you to hear exactly what the crowd is hearing. It will give you a better idea of the overall sound and quality.

Summary

I hope you have found this article useful. While there are different aspects that need to be taken into consideration when thinking about a silent disco, it doesn’t have to be too complicated.

The most important thing to remember is the change in dynamic. But, once you have practiced the mixes and the set for headphones, it does become easier.

Remember to engage with the crowd, and make your set list interesting so that more people will want to keep on listening to it.