For many entrepreneurs, securing a deal on ABC's Shark Tank is the ultimate dream. A chance to stand before titans of industry, pitch your passion, and hopefully walk away with a life-changing investment. But what happens when you nail the pitch, get the Sharks dancing, and still, the episode never sees the light of day? This is the fascinating journey of William Petz, CEO of Quiet Events, and his experience with the Shark Tank silent disco.
Quiet Events, a pioneer in the silent disco phenomenon, was established in 2012, a time when Shark Tank was truly at its peak. William, always an innovator, saw the potential synergy. In 2013, he boldly applied to be on the show, but heard no response. Undeterred, 2014 found him at an open casting call in the bustling streets of New York City. The producers, perhaps initially skeptical, found the idea of a "silent party" silly yet undeniably fun. At this nascent stage, Quiet Events owned a modest 2,000 headphones for silent party events, with a lean team of just two employees, primarily focused on renting and selling for parties. The expansive vision of using these headphones for large conferences, fitness classes, even outdoor movies – a concept now commonplace – was barely a whisper then.
After a series of callbacks, the green light was given. William packed his bags and flew out to sunny California, joining a cohort of eager small business owners and entrepreneurs, all vying for their moment in the sun. His heart pounded as the iconic doors swung open. But instead of a nervous shuffle, William danced his way into the boardroom, sporting his Quiet Events silent disco headphones, immersing himself in the imaginary rave. He turned around, seemingly oblivious to the stunned Sharks, and quipped, "Oh sorry Sharks, do you want to join the party?"
The pitch was, by all accounts, awesome. Mark Cuban, Kevin O'Leary, Lori Greiner, and Robert Herjavec, captivated by the energy, were seen Mark Cuban dancing with the glowing Quiet Events headphones on. On May 15, 2025 in an interview with Mark Cuban in US magazine, "Another memorable moment came when he danced during Quiet Events’ pitch for their silent disco headphones company.Â
The production team was so impressed that they even filmed a heartfelt background story, venturing to a Quiet Events party and interviewing William's family. One producer was so enamored with the concept that he eventually became one of Quiet Events' managers in Los Angeles, hosting parties and managing equipment.
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The episode never aired. But why? Two significant hurdles emerged. Firstly, a clip of the episode aired as the upcoming season highlights, and shortly after, a competitor sent a cease and desist, claiming their trademark name was too similar. The show, privy to this dispute, required it to be settled before the episode could air. Quiet Events took the fight to court, not only winning the lawsuit but also prevailing in their countersuit, leading the other company to lose its trademark.
The second reason the deal didn't materialize was even more telling. The offer made on the show was indeed great, but in the months that followed, while the legal battle raged, Quiet Events organically grew more profitable. The initial deal, $75,000 for 15%, while exciting, simply no longer made financial sense for the company's trajectory.
“The pitch was, by all accounts, awesome. Mark , Kevin, Lori, and Robert , captivated by the energy, were seen Mark Cuban dancing with the glowing Quiet Events headphones on...”
Reflecting on the experience years later, William Petz has a profound perspective. He truly believes that while Mark Cuban's silent disco investment could have scaled his business quicker, it would have undoubtedly led to a rapid influx of copycats. Additionally, all the calls for equipment would have necessitated an immediate and massive expansion of equipment, logistics, and staff – a huge leap from a couple of thousand headphones to the sprawling operation they are today with over 30,000 units, offices across the US, and a dedicated team of sales, support, event producers, and inventory personnel.
Not doing the deal, William asserts, empowered Quiet Events to be the true pioneer on so many silent disco fronts. It allowed them to take over numerous markets across North America organically and several international countries, continuously innovate their technology and service offerings, and self-fund their growth without accumulating any debt.
For any aspiring entrepreneur, William highlights key lessons from the Shark Tank experience: the critical importance of strategic thinking, a deep understanding of financial numbers, accurate forecasting, and the legal considerations necessary for any investment. While a partnership between Quiet Events and Mark Cuban would have been a fantastic story, sometimes, as they say, everything happens for a reason. Quiet Events proudly stands by its journey, confident that the challenges and unique path taken have only made them stronger, shaping them into the industry leader they are today.