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The Next Generation of Drive-In Theaters

By | Drive-in Audio | No Comments

Did you know that drive-in theaters have been around for more than 100 years? The first drive-ins are thought to have started as early as the 1910s; however, the first official patented drive-in theater was established by Richard Hollingshead in New Jersey on June 6th,1933. 

After testing the concept in his driveway from small crowds, Hollingshead’s drive-in theater location allowed for 400 cars and advertised with the slogan: “The whole family is welcome, regardless of how noisy the children are.” (Thankfully, we’re all a bit more polite these days!)

For the most part, the core elements of the drive-in have remained intact all these years–movies are projected to a large outdoor screen from a projection booth, allowing customers to view the film from their vehicles and enjoy snacks from a concession stand. And while the central aspects and charm of drive-ins haven’t changed, the audio-visual technology that makes it possible has. 

Modern-Day Drive-In Theaters

Today, drive-in theaters are often more boutique in nature, typically only permitting 30 to 50 vehicles. Many are forgoing the “drive-in” part and instead of showing films in parks, fields, farms, backyards, warehouses, alleyways–anywhere viewers can pull up a chair or blanket and relax in front of the screen. 

Food trucks have replaced the concession stands and films are often selected based on their nostalgia or cult status. Because you often don’t actually drive to these theaters, the name is sometimes changed to “open-air cinema” or “outdoor theaters.”

New Technology for the New Drive-Ins

The audio-visual technology used to power drive-in theaters is the biggest change to the format. As the size of drive-in theaters has shrunk over the years, so has the A/V equipment required. 

Projectors are now smaller and more portable. This means that drive-ins don’t need to rely on a single, powerful projector. Instead, they can use any number of affordable and readily-available projectors that easily hook up to computers or DVD players.

The movie screen is also smaller and more portable. Many companies are manufacturing inflatable screens that can be raised and lowered in minutes to create an open-air cinema in any location. 

And last but not least, audio equipment is also smaller, more portable, and more affordable. The traditional drive-in speakers–those wired devices that are tethered to short poles throughout the parking area are no longer the only option. Now, drive-ins can use wireless audio streaming devices like our AudioFetch Signature or AudioFetch Express to broadcast sound to viewers’ smartphones. 

Leading the Resurgence of Modern Drive-Ins

One drive-in theater ahead of the curve is Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-In in Austin, Texas. Blue Starlite was the first mini urban drive-in theater in the world, and for the past 11 years has been leading the drive-in resurgence that is sweeping the nation and the world, especially the past two years. 

Today, Blue Starlite operates in three locations–the original in Austin, Texas, Round Rock, Texas, and Minturn, Colorado. Their unique take on the drive-in theater is that only 15-40 cars are permitted at any showing, giving viewers an intimate, personal, and one-of-a-kind experience. True to the essence of a drive-in theater, guests have the option to use the traditional drive-in speakers or use our AudioFetch audio over WiFi technology.

So if you ever find yourself in Austin, Round Rock, or Minturn, be sure to spend an evening with them for a turn experience on the modern drive-in. We guarantee you won’t regret it!

We are extremely proud to support Blue Starlite Drive-In and all the other drive-ins, open-air cinemas, outdoor theaters (or whatever you call them!) keeping this family-friendly entertainment experience alive after 110+ years! 

If you have an established drive-in theater or are looking to host an open-air cinema in any location, reach out! We’d love to provide a free consultation and quote to help your business grow and evolve. Contact us by dropping us a line, calling 844-HI-FETCH, or scheduling an appointment.

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Silent Disco Equipment: Using AudioFetch for a Soundless & Safe Party

By | Music | No Comments

For those of you out there looking to keep the party spirit alive while maintaining safe social distances, we have the answer–Silent Discos!

Silent discos are events where people dance to music listened to on individual headphones. Rather than using a speaker system, silent disco equipment broadcasts music to the headphones, providing an experience that is unique for participants, considerate for neighbors, and in today’s environment, the most responsible choice for music events.

Silent discos started gaining popularity in 2005 at the Bonnaroo Music Festival, and are seeing a resurgence as people look for creative and safer ways to bring communities together. AudioFetch’s wireless audio streaming technology offers several benefits for silent discos:

Innovative Audio Streaming Technology

Traditional silent discos use FM radio transmitters to broadcast the music to wireless headphone receivers. This process works, but it’s an old school way of doing things! 

AudioFetch provides a next-generation solution that streams music wirelessly to smartphones. Listeners simply download the free AudioFetch app, connect to the WiFi and they’re able to hear the music immediately. 

No Headphones to Disinfect

Rather than providing shared headphones for listeners to use, AudioFetch allows users to listen with their own smartphone and headphones. Nothing to disinfect after each use and no worry of spreading disease. No rental gear to send back and no extra equipment to store after the event. No mess, no risk, no hassle!

Flexible Music Streaming Options

Want to keep the music going into the wee hours while adhering to noise ordinances? Planning a music event with multiple acts or DJs and need to provide listening options? Thinking of unifying your apartment complex with a unit-wide dance party? Have another silent event in mind? We offer several wireless audio streaming solutions to fit your needs.

Our Express model is a single-channel unit, which lets you broadcast from one artist or DJ. If you’ll have multiple audio options, our Signature Line is what you need. Signature covers you from 4 sources all the way up to 512! 

Listeners can easily choose the DJ or artist by swiping right/left in the app to find the appropriate channel number. 

More Affordable Than Other Silent Disco Gear

Other silent disco equipment providers charge you for each headphone at a whopping $50 a pop (and that’s typically the budget option!). Then you have to buy the audio broadcast equipment, which can be anywhere from $150-500 for a single transmitter (which may not be enough for your event). And then you need to purchase all the accessories–cables, batteries, signage, storage containers, setup fees. All of those items together can really add up!

With AudioFetch, you only need to purchase the audio over WiFi equipment, and that’s it! There are no other accessories to buy–all cables and signage come with the equipment. There are no support or setup fees (not that you’ll need it, AudioFetch is extremely simple to install!). And listeners use their own smartphones and headphones, so you don’t have to worry about footing that bill either (or worry about spreading disease with shared equipment)!

Personal Volume Control

One volume does NOT fit all. 

Using AudioFetch for a silent disco, each participant is able to easily control the volume on their smartphone, reducing the risk of hearing damage. 

Encourage Conversation

No more yelling over blaring music or losing your voice the next day. A silent disco allows those people who are not dancing, or those simply taking a break, to converse at a normal level. And with the need for social distancing today, this is even more important. Individuals can talk at a safe distance from each other without even needing to raise their voices. 

If you’re interested in hosting a silent disco, we can help! Whether you’re planning a full music festival or a small neighborhood dance party, our AudioFetch wireless audio streaming products are a simple and affordable solution. Contact us today!

AudioFetch Blog Header - Social Distance Tour

6 Types of Social Distancing Tours

By | Tour Guides, Travel | No Comments

After being locked indoors for several months, staring at screens for entertainment, people are itching to get out of the house and experience something in real life. Yet, travelers are still concerned about their health and safety. While some people are venturing out in wider areas, they remain cautious of the places they’re visiting and the people they’re interacting with. 

To help assuage travelers’ safety concerns and provide the necessary precautions, travel and tourism brands are leveraging our AudioFetch wireless audio streaming technology. 

AudioFetch helps create extra space for social distancing by allowing attendees to hear the guide via their smartphone, rather than crowding around in a group. And since they’re using their own smartphone, not a device provided to them by the tour, it limits the number of surfaces that individuals come into contact with (and limits the items the tour company has to sanitize after each tour!). 

Since lockdown restrictions began lifting earlier this summer, we’ve worked with numerous travel and tourism brands to help them create social distance tours. Some of the unique uses we’ve found are:

Factory Tours

Whether they’re for educational, entertainment or inspection purposes, factory tours can be made safer and more enjoyable with a wireless tour guide system. Not only does the system eliminate the need to provide devices that must be sanitized, it allows all attendees to remain six feet apart and still hear the tour guide. 

City Tours

Even traveling down the street can seem like a major adventure these days. And that’s why local city tours have been a hot trend this summer. Tours Accolde is using AudioFetch to provide guided walking tours in Quebec City and Lévis, Canada, showing off the local history, architecture, culture and lifestyle. 

Brewery Tours

This is a big one in our home state of Colorado! Breweries big and small run tours of their facilities for a sneak peek into the machinery and processes required for a perfect pint. Just like factories, breweries can be loud places that make it difficult for tour guides to hear and be heard. Our technology allows anyone with a smartphone to hear, AND to maintain a safe social distance. 

Garden Tours

Outdoor destinations have been deemed a safer alternative to indoor destinations, and many travel spots are beefing up their outdoor garden tours to provide this option. Whether it’s botanic gardens that are limiting tours to only their outdoor attractions, or indoor tours that are making the typically overlooked garden portion the main event. 

Architecture Tours

New River Architecture offers waterway cruises using electric-powered boats to guide visitors through the architecture and landscape of Fort Lauderdale, the “Venice of America.” Using AudioFetch and the open air venue, New River Architecture will provide a safer alternative to indoor tours. 

College Campus Tours

Prospective students and freshmen are typically treated to a campus-wide tour of all the new facilities they can visit. These tours can still take place by using wireless tour guide technology that permits people to keep a safe distance, while still hearing the every word the tour guide says. 

If you have questions about how AudioFetch allows you to run tours more responsibly with our tour guide system app, people do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to helping you get your tour business back up and running, and doing so in the safest way possible.

AudioFetch Blog Header - Socially Distant Tours

How to Run Socially-Distant Tours with AudioFetch

By | Tour Guides, Travel | No Comments

Every industry has taken a major hit over the past two months, and that’s especially true for travel and tourism. With shelter in place orders across the globe, tours were brought to a standstill with few, if any, options for driving revenue. 

Now, as quarantine orders are being lifted, tour companies are eager to resume their unique tour experiences and begin generating revenue again. Yet, there are precautions they must now take to ensure the safety of both the tour group members and their staff. 

Requiring everyone to wear masks is a prerequisite. Limiting the number of people in any single tour group is wise. Modifying tour sites and attractions to avoid crowded areas should be considered. But how can people hear the tour guide when everyone must stand at least six feet away? 

Our AudioFetch technology is the perfect solution! Using our FetchExpress portable audio streaming device, tour guides can broadcast their voice to anyone within 300 feet in any direction. This allows for ample distance between tour group attendees, and provides your business with a responsible and marketable advantage. 

How Does AudioFetch Make Tours Safer

Our FetchExpress solution is lightweight, portable and has built-in Wi-Fi, turning the tour guide into a walking hotspot for listeners. Installing and using FetchExpress is incredibly simple, and requires just a few steps:

  1. Install FetchExpress – Turn on the FetchExpress and plug in the microphone. Seriously, it’s that easy!
  2. Download AudioFetch App – Tour members download the free AudioFetch App to their smartphone or tablet, connect to the FetchExpress Wi-Fi network, and launch the app.
  3. Ensure a Safe Distance – Make sure the tour guide and members are standing at least six feet apart and maintain this distance if it’s a walking tour or there’s any movement required during the tour. 
  4. Start the Tour – The tour guide speaks into the microphone and members listen via the app. 

For more stationary tours, or so that entire families can hear together, a bluetooth speaker can be paired with the phone or tablet to extend the audio. 

We also include a free wireless tour guide accessories kit with each purchase, freeing up the tour guide’s hands to point out important sights and ensuring they don’t run out of juice on longer tours. The accessories kit includes a hip pack, a headset microphone, a USB battery, and a battery charger cable. 

As the travel and tour industry begins to reopen, it’s important to take the necessary precautions to protect everyone involved. It’s also important that potential customers know about the measures you’re taking, and feel confident that their health and safety will not be jeopardized during their experience with your tour business.

If you have questions about how AudioFetch allows you to run tours more responsibly with our tour guide system app and WiFi audio stream, do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to helping you get your tour business back up and running, and doing so in the safest way possible.

AudioFetch Why I Guide Giveaway Contest 2

Want to Win a Free FetchExpress? Tell Us Why You Love Being a Tour Guide

By | Tour Guides, AudioFetch News | No Comments

UPDATE: Contest entry period has ended.

Being a tour guide is a dream job for many. In fact, it was ranked the 3rd best job for work-life balance by Business Insider last year. And it’s hard not to see why–experience new environments, meet new and interesting people, learn about art, history and culture, and of course, get paid to see the world! These are just some of the reasons we know tour guides love their jobs.

But we know there are a million more. And we need you to tell us what they are. That’s why we’re hosting the “Why I Guide” giveaway contest. Tell us what you love about your job and you’ll be entered to win a free FetchExpress, the best wireless tour guide system and app out there, and a custom Tour Guide Accessories Kit (USB battery, battery charger cable, headset microphone, belt pack). FetchExpress allows your tour groups to hear your voice better without distractions or distracting others. Using built-in WiFi, FetchExpress broadcasts your voice live to your guests’ smartphones via the free AudioFetch App.

Entering the contest is easy — just record a video (<30 seconds) explaining why you love being a tour guide, and post it to our Facebook page or upload the video to your Instagram profile, and use the hashtags: #WhyIGuide and #TourGuideLife. Every video uploaded between March 18 and April 30 with those hashtags is automatically entered, and the winner will be chosen at random in May.

What are you waiting for? Record that video and head over to Facebook or Instagram to enter!

Full rules and eligibility.

AudioFetch Homepage Slide - Wireless Tour Guide Audio Solution

What’s Included in Our Tour Guide Accessories Kit for Our Wireless Tour Guide System

By | Tour Guides, AudioFetch News | No Comments

A tour guide needs to be light, nimble and prepared for anything that might happen during a tour. Any little technical or logistical mishap–a dead microphone battery, missing cables, juggling all kinds of devices and papers–can create a not-so positive experience for guests. So we’ve put together a customized Tour Guide Accessories Kit. When used with the FetchExpress wireless tour guide system, it contains all the tools tour guides need to be prepared and go hands-free during their tours.

Our Tour Guide Accessories Kit includes:

  • USB Battery – Today, battery power is worth more than gold! That’s why we’ve included an extra long life external battery pack to ensure you never run out of juice halfway through a tour.
  • Battery Charger Cable – That battery pack would be useless without a way to plug it in!
  • Headset Microphone – A lightweight, hassle-free microphone that comfortably fits around the back of your head, delivering high-quality sound and freeing up your hands for all your guiding needs.
  • Safety Band – The Elastic band allows you to secure the FetchExpress to the battery pack, keeping the devices organized and stable.
  • Instruction Cards – Each kit comes with a stack of small cards with a QR code for simple download of the AudioFetch App including brief instructions.
  • Belt Pack – A roomy hip pack that’s the perfect size for holding the FetchExpress, battery pack, and all other accessories you need. Strap it on and you’re hands free, ready to point out interesting sights, hand-out tickets, or hold open doors!
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AudioFetch Express Tour Guide Accessories Kit

For a limited time, the Tour Guide Accessories Kit is included at no charge for every tour application. Contact us today to order your FetchExpress tour guide audio system. Make your tour guiding pain free while providing an even better guest experience.

And don’t forget to enter the Why I Guide tour guide GIVEAWAY! Learn more