KAYSVILLE—It can be annoying to listen to other people’s choice in music at a wedding or party but what if it was possible to tune into one station at the same place that is different from everyone else’s? That’s what “silent disco” is all about. Guests put on a set of headphones color coded to match one of the DJs and they can switch from station to station listening to whatever one they like the most.

“It’s unique,” said Mark Christiansen, a DJ with Beat Hive and owner of SwissMixx audio. “You can have silent parties like weddings. Sometimes there is a noise ordinance that won’t allow playing music too late. Or mom and dad and grandma don’t want to listen to music they don’t approve of.”

It’s fun at a multicultural event, he said. “For Latin marriages in Utah they are passionate about their music. For the average Utahn maybe not so much. With silent disco you can listen to Latin performers on one channel and with three different genres you can tap into what you like. Just flip a switch and change the music.”

The system could also be used for other events, he said. “For example during a conference breakout session the presenter could be at his booth and give his speech like a podcast. People could walk around and listen to him and flip the channel and listen to someone else.”

It’s hard to attend all of the sessions, said Christiansen. “You don’t want to get up in the middle of it and leave. Listening to different ones is much more interesting. It can even be used for translation services and you could be in the same room listening to it in the actual language.”

Christiansen formed Beat Hive two years ago with another DJ, Cam Reeve who goes by “DJ Cam” and is also the owner of Reverb. “We got together because we realized we needed a better quality of DJ,” he said. “DJs are not always looked upon favorably. We wanted to offer training for DJs as a whole and mold them into quality DJs. It’s frustrating when DJs defame our business.”

Beat Hive is a play on the beehive state, said Christiansen. “Creating this silent disco group is a way to find young, up and coming DJs.”

Christiansen got involved with music in high school. “I was in a history class and this girl wanted me to join the theater class,” he said. “I said ‘that’s not for me.’ But the teacher asked if I’d run the sound board. I fell in love with it. I got involved in community theater and sat on the board of directors.”

In 2017, Christiansen started Swiss Mixx Audio. “We do event production and mix live bands,” he said. “We have done the cowboy poetry event on Antelope Island. It was kind of a dying art. I fell in love with it. It’s mostly older cowboys. Most grew up riding on the back of a horse singing this music.”

During COVID, Christiansen said he pleaded his case to the state about what was happening to them and their industry. “We requested a large amount of headsets to partner for larger events.”

DJs have type A personalities, he said. “So it’s not always easy to work together. We have to have some cooperation instead of competition. You’re always so connected. We all know each other. Everybody knows everybody. It’s a tight-knit community.”

Beat Hive performed at the Davis Chamber of Commerce Business Expo last week during the pre party. “It was so much fun,” said Christiansen. “There were colored lights behind each DJ that coordinated with a channel. I was working on the control sound of the headphones. A competition started between DJs and they were saying ‘hey come over to my channel.’ A lot of people were singing off key.” 

For more information about Beat Hive visit beathivedjs.com.