There is a new craze sweeping through Europe and it is starting to take hold of music festivals internationally- the silent disco. Say you want to get together with a group of people: some will want to stand around and talk; some will want a dance floor. A hot spot that won't attract confrontations with police or nearby residents disturbed by loud music will not only make everyone's life easier and provide a place to hang out, but it will offer something new and completely different to try. Thus, the silent disco comes into play.

According to the website for silent disco events, (http://www.silentdisco.com) what started from the idea of entertaining people preparing for an act, evolved into a plan for an illegal disco party using wireless headphones. The silent disco founders, Nico Okkerse and Michael Minten, birthed the idea and unveiled it in 2002 at the traveling music festival in the Netherlands called De Parade. This brilliant way of pleasing everyone without contributing to noise pollution simply involves grabbing some wireless headphones, a dance partner and heading to the dance floor. The headphones allow for comfortable music transmission only those wearing them can hear. This is without a doubt a considerate way to party but it is kind of odd and funky.

The July/August 2008 edition of Ode magazine featured a story on the silent disco which mentions, "everyone raises their hands in the air, simultaneously shouting, Ooh ooooh!' The odd thing is, you don't hear any music." The accompanying picture, though, shows extremely jubilant and excited dancers all wearing headphones. So these party goers are clearly not embarrassed to be seen dancing to what looks like silence. The founder of Camping Rotterdam, Rini Biemans, is quoted in the same issue of Ode as initially finding the notion of the silent disco as "quite funny." Yet he too was obviously intrigued by the idea enough to incorporate the silent disco into his summer festival layout.

Festivals, concerts and various other musical venues are all promoting the silent disco as a good time for all. However, the quiet concept really exploded in popularity in 2005 when all eyes were on the extremely renowned performing arts festival of Glastonbury, England. Loud music penetrating the Glastonbury air through the wee hours of the morning could have potentially ruined the festival experience not just for festival organizers and the local Glastonbury residents who get tired of the concerts from time to time, but for the festival attendees who went to the shows to do more than just hear music. It's hard to meet new people, converse with pals and get the latest souvenirs and memorabilia if the music all around you is drowning out your words.

With such booming success, there will be a silent disco option local to you before you know it. In fact, there won't just be a silent disco nearby. Technology companies are supplying this same wireless technology to music companies and events across the globe so that soon quiet clubbing will be a reality. Residence of densely populated cities will hold music festivals and concerts while being able to sit back and enjoy the silence.

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