Shut Down by the Man, what should I do?

Ely · #1 05-19-2008, 06:24 PM

So me and my guitarist were jamming outside on my back porch today. In broad daylight, I might add. I'll admit that at first we were really loud, but then my neighbor kindly asked us to turn down, so we did. 15 minutes later the cops show up, even though we were now playing at a reasonable, more "indoors" level. So the cops tell us we can't play outside anymore. Is this right? Is there any legal action I can take? My mom is head of neighborhood watch, so I'm having her bring it up at the next meeting, maybe provide them with a schedule of when we will be playing once a week.

To note, there was a popular local band that lived two houses down from me, who used to jam WAY louder than we were playing, and nobody ever called the cops on them.

Anyways, any advice will be appreciated. Thanks.

kissmybASS01 · #2 05-19-2008, 06:35 PM

Doesn't seem right to me. Usually people only complain if it's too early (7AM on a Sunday, for example) or too late at night during the week. "Broad daylight" you say? How much louder than a gas mower would you guess you guys were playing?

Might want to check with The Man and enquire as to night/day noise by-laws.

bryan bailey · #3 05-19-2008, 06:38 PM

Well, where do you live, how loud were you playing (what kind of gear are you using), talk to your neighbors about this, look up your local laws on sound levels, you should be able to play as long as its at a reasonable level by the spl counter thingy.

Ely · #4 05-19-2008, 08:40 PM

I live in a residential neighborhood, right on the corner of one of the busiest roads in town. I had my QSC RMX2450 up about half way running into my two Avatar 212s, I really wasn't that loud, and the guitarist wasn't even as loud as me.

kissmybASS01 · #5 05-19-2008, 08:54 PM

2 2X12 cabs seems a tad much for a duet jam, and bass (lower freqs) travels fairly easily...just like that punk in the Mustang with those massive subs in his trunk driving by.

vinny · #6 05-19-2008, 11:15 PM

With respect I say,if you live at your Mom's house you're a kid.. SHUT UP, TURN DOWN, GO INSIDE. Not everyone wants what you want...especially in music. Have some respect.

fenderhutz · #7 05-19-2008, 11:50 PM

I agree to a point with Vinny. Most cities have noise restrictions.

Tell mom to move to the hills.

Hawaii Islander · #8 05-20-2008, 12:17 AM

Check your local ordinances for noise levels in your community. Talking with your neighbors (as previously mentioned) is a good idea. Some neighbors might work night shift and sleep during the day. Playing around their schedule would help keep people happy.

Ignore the grumpy people posts!

Peaved · #9 05-20-2008, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ely

Is there any legal action I can take?

"Cease and desist" comes to mind.

I've heard of at least one case where the police have to return on such a complaint, and they smashed the guitars, and amps, then set the fake books on fire! This held up in court, so be careful!

I'm kidding, of course. Just follow the good advice above, and best of luck to you, mate.

The Golden Boy · #10 05-20-2008, 08:51 AM

Around the turn of the century, our guitar player's wife set up a birthday party for our guitar player at their house. She literally went to every house in a 4 block radius of their house and obtained permission for our band to play outside until 2100 (9PM ). She had a stack of papers with names and addresses of every neighbor in 4 blocks.

Didn't matter, the cops still shut us down within half an hour.

Pilgrim · #11 05-20-2008, 10:45 AM

Get an acoustic/electric and have your friend play with an acoustic guitar.

Contrary to popular opinion, it is NOT a favor to other people to intrude on them with your music - whether it's from practicing or from your car stereo. BOTH are equally annoying and rude.

If it's audible outside the yard of the residence in question, people are entitled to shut it down.

Lesfunk · #12 05-20-2008, 10:57 AM

Quit music and join the circus!

Barkless Dog · #13 05-20-2008, 11:07 AM

Are you serious?

No one living near you wants to be forced/inflicted to listen to your music at any level. Either go in a basement or book a practice space.

mjolnir · #14 05-20-2008, 11:13 AM

I just checked it out, and the noise ordinance for the City of Huntsville specifically states that on a residential property between the hours of 7AM and 10PM, you cannot generate or amplify any sounds that exceed 55 decibels at the edge of that property.

Just to give you an idea, a normal conversation between two people is usually around 60 decibels.

That's all I have to add.

fishtx · #15 05-20-2008, 11:16 AM

I can't remember how many times the cops shut us down when I was a kid and we would jam in the garage at either my house or someone elses. Looking back on it, we were way too loud and had no respect for the neighbors around us, and were rightfully told to cool it.

I would suggest you go over to your neighbors, and apologize for being too loud. Tell them you are practicing with your buddies to get better as a player, and will try to be more considerate in the future. Ask them when a good time would be during the day for you to jam with your friends...work with them, and show them you mean well...I think you will be surprised at how they will respond...

The Golden Boy · #16 05-20-2008, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishtx

I would suggest you go over to your neighbors, and apologize for being too loud. Tell them you are practicing with your buddies to get better as a player, and will try to be more considerate in the future. Ask them when a good time would be during the day for you to jam with your friends...work with them, and show them you mean well...I think you will be surprised at how they will respond...

Unless, of course, I'm their neighbor- then I'd say "get the hell off my lawn you little whippersnapper."

**baba** · #17 05-20-2008, 11:34 AM

Fight the Power

Ely · #18 05-20-2008, 11:52 AM

The only problems I have are that there are other musicians in the neighborhood who play outside loudly, but have never been hassled, and that somebody called the cops immediately as soon as we started playing. The neighbor who asked me to turn down wasn't the one who called the cops, she was actually outside listening to us at the time. After we turned it down to a level that she found an acceptable (being the closest neighbor to our house) the cops showed up and told us not to play at all. Oh well, Huntsville is a terrible place full of uptight people and a ridiculous ratio of police officers to civilians.

**Thor** · #19 05-20-2008, 12:09 PM

Consider a career in law enforcement. Police supervisors
NEVER have this problem!

txbasschik · #20 05-20-2008, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ely

The only problems I have are that there are other musicians in the neighborhood who play outside loudly, but have never been hassled, and that somebody called the cops immediately as soon as we started playing. The neighbor who asked me to turn down wasn't the one who called the cops, she was actually outside listening to us at the time. After we turned it down to a level that she found an acceptable (being the closest neighbor to our house) the cops showed up and told us not to play at all. Oh well, Huntsville is a terrible place full of uptight people and a ridiculous ratio of police officers to civilians.

We used to have people like that next door. Very, very strict fundamentalist Christian. They hated all secular music, and their daughter told my little girl that we are going to He11 for playing rock and blues. They forbade their kids to play with mine because we are rock musicians. Every time we would have a house jam, they would call the cops. Even when we were playing indoors! If those neighbors could hear even so much as a muffled drumbeat, they called the cops. But, the only noise ordinance in our unincorporated area is a county ordinance that requires all loud noise to cease by 10 p.m. It was before 10 p.m., so we compromised by turning down, but not off, and we quit by 10.

But they're gone now, thank goodness!, and we do whatever we like, because no one else ever complains. On the contrary...most of the neighbors, when we have house jams, set up their barbeque pits, buy some beer, invite friends over, make a backyard party, and enjoy the free concert!

Educate yourself about the sound ordinances in your area, and work with your neighbors as much as you can. Be willing to compromise and turn down. Perhaps you can set up your amps so that the sound is more confined? For instance, face them towards your house, not away from it, so that most of the sound is absorbed by your home.

Once you know your community's sound ordinance rules, you can operate within them with confidence. So long as you break no laws, no one can do anything to you.

Cherie