Outdoor cinema. Help-don't want to piss off neighbours.

[user1471530109]

I'm hoping someone can help or have done similar.

I'd like to set up a film on a projector for the kids and their friends in the back garden. It's a very big garden and very few neighbours to consider (rural) but even so, I don't want to disturb them.

In my head, I'd like them to use headphones to watch the film. Is that possible and how do I do it? I'm not useless when it comes to technology but I've noticed recently I'm not as hot on stuff like this as I used to be! I've been googling and I'm a bit stumped.

Has anyone done a set up like this?

Just to add before I get loads of 'you're being selfish' comments, the projector wouldn't disturb any of the few neighbours and I want to make sure the sound wouldn't too. We've all had a shit few years and I'm trying to treat my children this summer as we can't go away. I wouldn't do it if there is no chance of them wearing headphones.

There might be. But I'd just do it without headphones. Start relatively early - so you might need a shade or awning. And so you aren't running it really late.

If you know your neighbours let them known - it'll be over by 10 pm say...

www.silentdiscoking.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIs7u3jrqA8gIV6ujtCh2fqQ2pEAAYAiAAEgIFTvD_BwE

As a one off and with some warning/examination and a box of chocs to smooth the way - I would not be bothered at all if a neighbour did this. Even without headphones.

Oh my god, no! Definitely only with headphones as op said. This would be my idea of hell.

Well, what time are you taking aboit? Sunset isn't until after 9pm in Cornwall, so much later in most of the UK - will it be visible earlier?

Presumably you just connect blue tooth headphones to whatever you play the film on-though that may be the issue.

I wouldn’t bother with headphones, they are very popular here and houses closes together, nobody bothers with headphones. As long as it’s finished by 11pm it’s fine.

I don't think it would be visible until after 9? We went to an outdoor cinema a few years ago and watched a kids film at an event in a park. But it didn't start until really late, definitely when it was dark.

I'm hoping someone will be able to say that there is a way to connect their phones or devices to the projector and then connect headphones (either wires or Bluetooth) to their phones to hear the audio...in my head it sounds doable but I really don't have a clue

I've got a couple of neighbours who are elderly (other set's kids would be joining us) and it just feels a bit intrusive....

@Carrott21

Oh my god, no! Definitely only with headphones as op said. This would be my idea of hell.

It's probably 2 hours at most

We did something similar at Easter and hired silent disco headphones. They were really easy to set up.

That sounds like an idea! Were they expensive to hire? I'm guessing there would be less than 10 needed.

I was kind of hoping someone would say it's really easy to sort and they could all bring their own headphones and connect up.

If you don't mind wired could you not just use a headphone splitter, this one for example has 5 ports

amazon.co.uk/dp/B01M0ML66I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_TFP6KZ4A5VZDY6X6STAP?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1]]

I don't have any other ideas though although I'm sure there would be a way to get multiple sets of Bluetooth head sets connected I'm not techie enough to work that out.

Personally, if our neighbours decided to do this and let us know in advance, it really wouldn’t bother me.

Of a film blaring out?? No thanks. I would never even think of doing this, or have ever known it. I guess it's like I read in here with people congregating around bars in their gardens and outdoor tvs. Socialising is fine, but tv and films outside is bloody mental! There are lots of organised outdoor cinemas on this summer, I'd just go to one of those. It's the whole experience isn't it.

Anyway, I'm allowed my opinion.

They have a set up like this at Butlins. Anyone else walking past can’t hear the film, only those in the audience with headphones on. It’s great

You could get male to female aux cables to extend the distance needed and I can't see why you couldn't plug a splitter into a splitter to increase the amount of headphones connected. The audio quality isn't going to be amazing but it's not really going to matter.

Personally though I wouldn't have a problem with the noise either if it was my neighbour providing it wasn't blasting and late every night.

Sorry, that was in reply to ChunkySloth, not the op, who wants to use headphones

@user1471530109

That sounds like an idea! Were they expensive to hire? I'm guessing there would be less than 10 needed. I was kind of hoping someone would say it's really easy to sort and they could all bring their own headphones and connect up.

I don’t know how much it was as my mum organised it all (it was for my sister’s 30th) but this is a website that does it:

headphonedisco.co.uk/silent-disco-headphones/

There are loads of companies that do it.

A couple of people have suggested splitters but each set of headphones divides the sound volume and quality. It’s not a great experience that way.

In the real world I don’t think this would really bother anyone if only done occasionally.

I think the only way this is appropriate is with headphones. Do you own a projector already? I think you need a projector that has bluetooth, the bit that I wouldn't be sure of is how to connect multiple headphones at once. I'd just ring somewhere like currys and ask tbh, or do a specific search. I'm not sure if bluetooth can connect more than one sound output so maybe something different? But given the popularity of things like this at the moment I am sure there's a solution.

Please only with headphones.

Thank you. Looks like it's possible to hire multiple sets of headphones but seems very expensive for a film (£80+). If it was possible to buy at that price I'd still need convincing!

I don't have a projector but a friend does. I'm tempted to purchase one though if I can find a solution to the sound issue.

I wouldn’t bother with headphones, they are very popular here and houses closes together, nobody bothers with headphones. As long as it’s finished by 11pm it’s fine.

That sounds hellish.