Feet screech against the floor, bright UV lights flash around the room, people dance and jam out — but there is no music to be heard. That’s because this is the scene of a silent disco, where the music plays through headphones and event-goers jam out to their own choice of music.

Charley Orlando, the talent buyer for the Syracuse restaurant, Funk ’n Waffles, said he chose to bring a silent disco to the restaurant because it is a different type of venue for such an event. He said he feels everyone should have the opportunity to experience a silent disco for themselves.

Orlando has been working with SE2 Silent Disco Company of Buffalo over the past few months to bring its “Silent Disco of the Decades” event to the breakfast joint. The 21 and older disco will take place on Sept. 28 at 9 p.m. and its waffles will be available throughout the event.

Kevin Bell, the owner of SE2 Silent Disco, said he finds silent discos are unlike any other sound event.

Attendees can expect a high energy experience and a night full of the best music from the ’80s, ’90s and ’00s, Bell said. He added that UV lighting decorations designed to fit each decade will light up the restaurant, as well as any clothing that attracts ultraviolet light.

At silent discos, guests pick and choose what they want to listen to, whereas at sound events there’s typically only one type of music. With such a wide range of music, Bell said silent discos often attract a wide range of ages.

“I feel like people act differently at a silent disco than they do at a sound event, people dance more, people sing more and people engage more with other people,” Bell said. “And just being able to see that is pretty awesome.”

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This past June, SE2 Silent Disco worked with Photo City Improv: Comedy and Music Venue to bring another “Disco of the Decades” themed silent disco to its Rochester-based bar. Danny Nielsen, the owner of Photo City Improv, and his “right-hand man,” Bob Canfield, worked with Bell to organize the event. He said the 400-person capacity venue sold out and was “packed to the brim” with guests having a great time.

“The dynamic was great because it’s just so different that it breaks down everybody’s barrier, and it just kind of makes everyone feel super excited, and everyone’s laughing,” Nielsen said. “You could just see the enjoyment of this show.”

Canfield had the opportunity to spectate and dance at Photo City Improv’s silent disco. The event was Canfield’s first time experiencing a silent disco, and he said he found it entertaining to step back and watch people dance and interact as an outsider.

For Canfield, the best part of the night was getting to be part of the crowd and rock out with the guests, he said.

“I’d say that the coolest part for me was having three DJs and having the headphones themselves be color coded to each DJ,” Canfield said. “Watching how dancing to the music I’m listening to, and watching what other people are doing to the music. It was a lot of fun.”

Based on the success rate of SE2’s past silent discos, Bell and Nielsen said that the upcoming silent disco at the restaurant is expected to be a fun experience like no other, and just as successful. Orlando said he encourages everyone to check out a silent disco to experience it for themselves.

Bell also said he encourages anyone interested in the event to purchase tickets before the event sells out, as Funk ’n Waffles is a smaller venue with a capacity of 200 people.

“I just think it’s important for people who have never been to a silent disco to check it out because it’s something that I don’t think anyone really understands what it is until they attend one. Don’t judge it until you enjoy it,” said Orlando.

Published on September 26, 2019 at 12:19 am

Contact Gavi: gavi@dailyorange.com | @gavi_azoff