Music

Silent dance parties banned because of noise complaints

by Jeremy Mersereau

At first glance, the idea of a silent disco is both ridiculous on its face but also kind of genius: both quiet-loving locals and party-liking dancers get their kicks, and the only real downside is the expense and technological logistics of transmitting a DJ’s turntables to wireless headphones. It’s just like Good Samaritan: everybody wins!

But in another, more accurate way: not everyone wins, particularly one prospective silent disco organizer in Switzerland.

The BBC reports that authorities in the Swiss city of Lausanne have denied an application for a series of silent disco events due to concerns about noise. Organizer Oliver Meylan planned to stage a series of silent discos on the rooftops of Lausanne’s bistros, but those dreams of noise-restrained revelry were dashed by the business regulation department.

The department cited numerous complaints from locals since 2014 concerning noise problems due to rooftop events in the city’s Flon neighbourhood, and the fact that ‘silent’ discos are often anything but, with attendees singing/shouting along, presumably more off-key than Axl at that benefit show.

“Given our experience in the neighbouring municipality of Pully, we should have been able to at least try a test in the centre of Lausanne and take stock afterward, but no,” said the organizer. “There is now a lack of original events in this city that are, however, popular with young adults.”

Dude, tell me about it. We feel your pain.