Apparatus and method for disc jockey acrobatic act

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for conducting live high flying acrobatic and musical performances.

[0002] Specifically, the invention has application in the entertainment industry by combining acrobatic stunts with live musical performances.

[0003] George Nissen constructed the first trampoline in 1930. Since then, audiences have been both mesmerized and terrified of this bouncing contraption. A typical trampoline performance requires custom staging in an arena or festival atmosphere. These performances are large and are not meant for a typical nightclub. From the floor of the stage, a venue's ceiling usually must be at least 50 feet high. Additionally, the staging performance area typically must be at least 30 feet by 60 feet to ensure the safety of the performers while entertaining during shows. This massive size severely limits where an acrobatic trampoline performance can be held.

[0004] Musical concerts have been around for thousands of years. In the past decade, the demands and revenues for live concerts have exponentially increased. Specifically, deejaying has become a very popular form of expressing one's own ability to improvise with music by combining different sounds and songs to create original works of art.

[0005] Many, if not all, acrobatic and musical live performances, are rehearsed and set in stone. Performers often throw in perceived unrehearsed components but in reality are choreographed into shows. The majority of audiences around the world are too smart to always be duped and become skeptical of entertainers where the “live” aspect of the performance is questioned.

[0006] In the 19 century, PT Barnum was famous for reviving the demand for circuses in America. He focused on highlighting the awe and spectacle of the “abnormal”. Performing acrobatics and deejaying at the same time is not normal and has never been done before. Through highly publicized disc jockey sets and focusing on DJs as the “star”, people have accepted the notion that standing behind a DJ booth and clapping one's hands is the normalcy for a performing DJ.

[0007] The present invention overcomes the problems encountered in the prior art by providing an apparatus that minimizes the size of the staging area required to ensure the performer's safety without limiting the ability to entertain.

[0008] In one embodiment, the apparatus is comprised of a lower level, a rear wall, and an upper level. The lower level of the apparatus is further comprised of a trampoline about 4 feet off of the staging area that is approximately 16 feet long and 9 feet wide. Depending on the venue and circumstance of the performance, the trampoline can also be sunk into the stage.

[0009] Having the trampoline sunk into the stage is ideal to provide the best audience experience. The wall will stand approximately 8 feet tall and 15 feet across. The upper level would extend a few feet above the wall and would hold all the DJ equipment. In total, the entire staging area could be 20 feet by 20 feet. This compact staging area would open the acrobatic area to almost any venue.

[0010] With the use of technology that is highly prevalent in today's world, not only can we interact with our audience on a daily basis but also during a live performance. The present invention also overcomes the prior art's limitation of becoming monotonous by introducing an interactive element.

[0011] In another embodiment of the invention, the rear wall is further comprised of a single or a series of programmable displays. These displays could feature anything from static images to video feeds from the performer's point of view to social media posts from the audience. These features can all be used independent or in concert with each other to create an interactive thrilling experience for all in attendance.

[0012] In one embodiment, the method is comprised of building the apparatus, the disc jockey positioning himself on the upper level, the disc jockey starting his musical performance, and the disc jockey leaping from the upper level onto the trampoline. The disc jockey will then perform a variety of acrobatic movements while periodically manipulating the DJ equipment either by landing on upper level or by just reaching out to the equipment without landing.

[0013] In another embodiment, the method utilized will have the disc jockey positioning himself on the lower level to begin. The disc jockey would then use the trampoline to vault himself towards his equipment begin the musical portion of the performance. The disc jockey will then perform a variety of acrobatic movements while periodically manipulating the DJ equipment either by landing on upper level or by just reaching out to the equipment without landing.

[0018] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the disclosed apparatus comprising the Upper Level (1), the Rear Wall (2), and the Lower Level (3). FIG. 1 represents one of the preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0019] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the Upper Level which can be secured to the ground or stage through its base (13). The floor (11) of the Upper Level is elevated above the Lower Level by its tower (12) which should raise the floor at least twelve feet above the base but can be higher or lower depending on the performance venue. Situated on the floor is the musical and disk jockey equipment housing (10). This housing will hold all of the traditional disc jockey equipment including, but not limited to, mixers, turntables, amps and computers.

[0020] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the Lower Level comprising the trampoline surface (20), a series of springs (21), and the trampoline housing (22). The trampoline surface can be made out of any material traditionally used for a trampoline, such as stretched canvas. The trampoline surface is attached to the trampoline housing through the series of springs. In this particular embodiment, the trampoline surface is in plane with the trampoline housing. In theory, the trampoline surface will be just below eye level of the audience so that the thrill of the performance is maximized, but the exact placement can be altered depending on the venue.

[0021] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the Rear Wall. Depending on the venue this rear wall can be further comprised of multiple display surfaces (30 and 31). These display surfaces can display limitless kinds of multimedia including, but not limited to, static images, video feeds, and social media posts. Alternatively, the rear wall can remain blank and just act as a curtain from anything happening behind the apparatus.

[0022] The preferred method of using this apparatus would be for the disc jockey to position himself on the upper level, the disc jockey starting his musical performance, and then the disc jockey leaping from the upper level onto the trampoline. The disc jockey will then perform a variety of acrobatic movements while periodically manipulating the DJ equipment either by landing on upper level or by just reaching out to the equipment without landing.

[0023] In another embodiment, the method utilized will have the disc jockey positioning himself on the lower level to begin. The disc jockey would then use the trampoline to vault himself towards his equipment begin the musical portion of the performance. The disc jockey will then perform a variety of acrobatic movements while periodically manipulating the DJ equipment either by landing on upper level or by just reaching out to the equipment without landing.