Making nice with new neighbors (moving the band)

[Absentia]

Hiya everybody.
So we are moving the practice space to the basement of my new house. We play in a pretty loud metal band and I need a few Ideas how to make nice with the neighbors and have them not call the police if we get too loud.
We only practice once or twice a week at a regular time for about 2 hours.
Any ideas how I can win them over? (old polish folk)


Also any Ideas how to cut down on the sound coming out of the basement?
Right now there's one big room with paneling 2" away from the walls (now insulation) and glass block windows. The ceiling is bare rafters.

[kenlacam]

The best thing to do is the most obvious-don't play so loud. Get some sound blocking stuff from musician's friend http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...Kit?sku=422602 or sweetwater to make the basement soundproof.

[two fingers]

It's all going to depend on the neighbors. I can only wish you the best of luck.

[RobertPaulson]

also, be the one to bring it up with them, not the other way around, if you see them in passing ask them if it was too loud - much better that way than them bottling up their rage for you over a few months and then going postal.

[jgroh]

Originally Posted by RobertPaulson

also, be the one to bring it up with them, not the other way around, if you see them in passing ask them if it was too loud - much better that way than them bottling up their rage for you over a few months and then going postal.

+1...

I would march right over and be as nice as possible and make an effort to get to know them (ok I know that sounds weird...) as a neighbor, then bring it up. Its much harder to be mad (or call the cops on) someone you are friends with.

[Absentia]

Originally Posted by RobertPaulson

also, be the one to bring it up with them, not the other way around, if you see them in passing ask them if it was too loud - much better that way than them bottling up their rage for you over a few months and then going postal.

Yeah I'm definitely picking up a few fruit baskets or something and formally introducing myself and my wife.
I was also going to explain the situation and giving them everyone's phone number to call and yell at us if they need to. I think it's a good plan just wanted to see what other people have done.

[Absentia]

Originally Posted by kenlacam

The best thing to do is the most obvious-don't play so loud. Get some sound blocking stuff from musician's friend http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...Kit?sku=422602 or sweetwater to make the basement soundproof.

wow that stuff is expensive

[JKT]

Rehearsal just plain, flat out, does not have to be loud. Ever. If you are having a loud rehearsal you have to look at the attitude and maturity of your players.

Turn down or get small practice gear.

Get some old sleeping bags from the thrift store and hang them on the walls. Throw them over the amps if you have to.

Put the amps up off the floor to eliminate any floor coupling.

Don't go too late.

Find an old couch out by the road. Undercover of darkness, attack it and remove the foam from the seat cushions, leaving the carcass for others to deal with. Leave as silently as you came.

[RobertPaulson]

+1 on not needing to play loud, no reason to go deaf in a practice, if need be have the drummer get some of those rubber deals to mute his drums a bit.

[HogieWan]

You don't need TheSound™ for rehearsal. You're just trying to hit the right notes at the right time

[agreatheight]

Originally Posted by kenlacam

Get some sound blocking stuff from musician's friend http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...Kit?sku=422602 or sweetwater to make the basement soundproof.

That stuff is acoustic treatment, not soundproofing. This stuff is soundproofing:

http://www.soundstop.net/

I have it in my studio, and it works well.

[Absentia]

Originally Posted by RobertPaulson

+1 on not needing to play loud, no reason to go deaf in a practice, if need be have the drummer get some of those rubber deals to mute his drums a bit.

I've been barking up that tree for a while they seem to think they need to be loud to sound good. We used to be more quiet but for some reason we are micing our drummer at practices to hear him at this point...

So plan
step one: Make friends with the neighbors

Step two: Kick bandmates in the head

Step three: insulate

[Bardley]

Originally Posted by Absentia

So plan
step one: Make friends with the neighbors

Step two: Kick bandmates in the head

Step three: insulate

I think these are really good steps. There are also many cheap ways to knock down the sound. Look for ideas on DIY acoustical treatment and sound dampening.

The Auralex type foam stuff is not for sound "proofing". It is (as said before) acoustical treatment for "tuning" a room for proper response as in a control room to hear the monitors properly.

You want stuff to absorb as much sound as you can.

Plus, you guys really need to turn down if you have to mic the drums just to hear them. You won't be hearing anything in a few years if you keep that up.

Good luck!

[ColdSteelRain]

+1 on meeting the neighbors first, and letting them know when you'll be rehearsing. If any of them have babies or little kids, run daycare in their homes, work nights, etc., see if you can work out a time that's best for all.

Once you're set up, have someone not in the band take a walk around the house while you practice and see just how loud it is from outside.

It might be a good idea to find out what the local ordinances are regarding disturbing the peace.

For cheap soundproofing, see if you can get any cubicle partitions that are being thrown out or auctioned off.

I'd guess the unfinished ceiling is going to be the biggest problem, and you'll probably need at least one layer of sheetrock on it, if not two. There should be less problem with walls that are mostly buried.

[canshaker]

You could try to mic EVERYTHING at low volumes (or even go through Pod-type things), and have everyone wear headphones. Then they could be a "loud" as they want without too much outside noise. The only loud noise will be drums. You can put blankets up around the kit to deaden the volume.

[D Rokk]

get scrap sheets of duct board (used to make heating ducts) wrap in some apolstrey fabric..

easy cheap and done

[RobertPaulson]

Originally Posted by Absentia

I've been barking up that tree for a while they seem to think they need to be loud to sound good.

I've found that practicing at a low volume works a lot better because you can really hear what you are playing and how everything works or doesn't together. There is just no way you can hear everything well cranked in a basement.

My last band was pretty heavy, when I finally got everybody to turn it down a notch, I noticed a large improvement in how tight we were.

[Absentia]

Originally Posted by ColdSteelRain

+1 on meeting the neighbors first, and letting them know when you'll be rehearsing. If any of them have babies or little kids, run daycare in their homes, work nights, etc., see if you can work out a time that's best for all.

Once you're set up, have someone not in the band take a walk around the house while you practice and see just how loud it is from outside.

It might be a good idea to find out what the local ordinances are regarding disturbing the peace.

For cheap soundproofing, see if you can get any cubicle partitions that are being thrown out or auctioned off.

I'd guess the unfinished ceiling is going to be the biggest problem, and you'll probably need at least one layer of sheetrock on it, if not two. There should be less problem with walls that are mostly buried.

the cubical partitions interest me since my company is doing alot of work this summer and will be getting rid of alot of cubicals.

how would you suggest using them?

[D Rokk]

Originally Posted by Absentia

the cubical partitions interest me since my company is doing alot of work this summer and will be getting rid of alot of cubicals.

how would you suggest using them?

put them around the drummer so u dont have to see him

[Absentia]

Originally Posted by D Rokk

put them around the drummer so u dont have to see him

wouldn't the main purpose of that so he can throw sticks at me?