Had a couple officers show up at our practice back in 83. They ended up hiring us for the policeman's ball. We played the ball for like 10 years. Thanks for the gig neighbors.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
It finally happened…shut down by the cops!
- Thread starter Bullitt5135
- Start date
Good on you for calling them out on the BS. There are indeed actual laws that allow for this, and it does require an actual DB meter to prove you're over. You should check you local town or city laws for the actual statute or whatever they want to call it.
That said they do have guns and apparently too much power. The anonymous thing is another BS tactic, there are no anonymous calls to 911.
I'm surprised they didn't try and use a Covid excuse.
That said they do have guns and apparently too much power. The anonymous thing is another BS tactic, there are no anonymous calls to 911.
I'm surprised they didn't try and use a Covid excuse.
It's not like this is a rarity. And like so much of life it isn't "fair." Can't speak for anyone else, but I never argue with a person wearing a uniform and a carrying a pistol.
Spend a few minutes on the feed of your town’s Neighborhood feed. It should be easy to narrow down the caller because their first action would be to post complaints to see if anyone else agrees with them. Then use your imagination. Have fun getting a year worth of revenge.
Always know the noise ordinance and bring your own meters. Although you won’t win an argument with the police, you’ll at least have a rational position based on data.
I fully sympathize with the OP. Unfortunate. What a drag. BTDT.
We’ve slowly weeded out venues where noise ordinances, and neighborhood complaints restrict even reasonable gig volumes.
I fully sympathize with the OP. Unfortunate. What a drag. BTDT.
We’ve slowly weeded out venues where noise ordinances, and neighborhood complaints restrict even reasonable gig volumes.
And I suppose it varies by town but the cops here won’t come to any call unless there is immediate risk of life or property. There’s no way they would come to a noise complaint during the afternoon if they won’t respond to car crashes with minor injuries.
The OP states they had a permit. Great.
When such an event is allowed by the municipality and is permitted by same, always know the parameters of the permit and have a copy of the permit in your pocket. And be able to demonstrate your compliance with any conditions of the permit.
If you've been granted official permission for the event, the authorities shouldn't be shutting you down.
When such an event is allowed by the municipality and is permitted by same, always know the parameters of the permit and have a copy of the permit in your pocket. And be able to demonstrate your compliance with any conditions of the permit.
If you've been granted official permission for the event, the authorities shouldn't be shutting you down.
This is exactly what happened to us. Except the cops didn't know the difference between a decibel and a doorbell. They did not have a decibel meter – 5 cops standing around on their phones and radios wondering who to call to get one. They didn't know what the acceptable limit was. They were unprepared to respond professionally to the complaint, and they gave us no room to comply or compromise.
In hindsight, despite thinking we were covered by pulling (and paying for) a permit:
1) We should have prepared for this eventuality by knowing the ordinance and permit language inside and out.
2) We should have made sure the permit explicitly stated the acceptable dB volume level. And we should have had our own means of measuring it.
3) We should have reviewed the permit in-person with the city council to fully understand any restrictions as well as our rights as the permit holder. And then we should have invited the city council and mayor to the party (I'm only half-joking...the mayor lives in the neighborhood).
4) We should have had a printed copy of the permit with important details highlighted. We did have a copy of the permit on an iPhone.
5) We should have anticipated a noise complaint, and set up accordingly to allow us to play at the lowest possible volume: electronic drum kit, ampless guitars and bass (or cabinets pointed at the sky), in-ear monitors.
6) We should have had a plan for dealing with the cops.
As it happened, I don't think this would have mattered – any amount of noise beyond the leaves rustling on the trees was enough for this neighbor to call and complain. I'd venture to guess they are the same type of people who lock their doors and turn off the porch light on Halloween – then call the cops a minute after the posted trick or treat time if kids are still walking by their house.
As for the person who said something about understanding that some people work the night shift and sleep during the day... yes, I get that. That's why we chose to do this on Halloween day, mid-afternoon, with a permit. There are 52 Sundays during the year. We asked for and received permission to have a party with live music for 3 hours on one of those Sundays. We took measures to notify and invite the neighbors (who by and large gave us their full support), and we took measures to play at a reasonable level. Anyone who is a day-sleeper should own a pair of earplugs and have a dark, quiet room in their house. Who is being unreasonable here...the hundred people who showed up with their families to enjoy a few hours of music on a Sunday afternoon when people are out celebrating anyway, or one individual who holds the entire neighborhood hostage? Or the police, who did not know the ordinance they were responding to enforce, nor make any attempt to reach an understanding/compromise?
So, lesson learned. It once again proved one of my favorite sayings: "No good deed goes unpunished."
Back in my younger days it wasn’t a good gig unless the cops showed up.
Been there, done that, but it's been a long time since we've had the police interaction.
Though there was the time the cops arrived and arrested the guitarist and confiscated his gear. But again that was long ago. I was a drummer back then so just happy to leave with my gear.
Though there was the time the cops arrived and arrested the guitarist and confiscated his gear. But again that was long ago. I was a drummer back then so just happy to leave with my gear.
- Sep 4, 2010
- 3,304
- 2,730
- Disclosures
- Endorsing: Martin Keith Guitars
It depends on neighborhood i guess. Around here there's a culture of yard parties in the Summer. It gets loud sometimes on Saturday nights, no harm intended. Additionally, nobody here will call the police unless there's an actual crime going on, which is frankly how it should be - you can also talk to your neighbors, without an attitude, you know. I have no problem rehearsing and giging at our house at reasonable levels, in full confidence noone will be calling the cops.
If you've done #1-6, the complaint shouldn't matter. The police, and other Muni departments know that there will always be someone complaining about anything. If the cops are going to shut down a permitted event, they better have a good excuse. Because some one will complain about the permitted event being shut down. And that complainer may have more juice with City Hall than the first complainer.
There is a very soulful BBQ that’s been a lynchpin of our neighborhood for decades. For years they featured live blues in the “shanty” portion of their restaurant. Over the years the neighborhood has gentrified significantly. The vacant lots and ghetto liquor store across the street from the BBQ have been replaced by hundreds of pricey condos. It didn’t take long for our new “neighbors” to start calling in noise complaints to the cops about the music. So, another live music venue bites the dust.
“We want to live in a hip, edgy neighborhood, just not *that* edgy.”
“We want to live in a hip, edgy neighborhood, just not *that* edgy.”
My dog shakes from the end of May to the start of September. Some jerks are always shooting off fireworks in the middle of the night. I wouldn't mind if it was just the 4th of July or a couple of days front and back, but there always has to be the idiots who wake you up in the middle of the night for months around the 4th.
The whole underground scene in my city was about college parties at random locations in the city, so it happened all the time.
Heavens, the irony here is delicious.
Isn’t it unreasonable to expect everyone else (who doesn’t enjoy your likely illegal but definitely self centered display of ‘Murca) to leave THEIR HOMES where they are supposed to be able to enjoy the quiet comfort thereof, just so you can see bright lights go boom?
How about instead of one or a few people negatively impacting 10, 20, 50 etc households with fireworks (which almost certainly puts you out of compliance with local ordinances, maybe they’re legal where you are), why don’t YOU take them somewhere where you’re not going to bother everyone else?
The selfishness of people these days, and their total inability to realize it is nothing short of incredible. And I even like fireworks!
ETA- I’m not suggesting that towns/cities never put on fireworks shows. The town fireworks show is def something that people can plan around by going camping, getting out of town, etc.
I’m referring to the individuals who set off M80’s and commercial grade fireworks for weeks leading up to and after 4th of July, at all hours of the night which is illegal where I’ve lived anyway you slice it.
Last edited:
Sorry, but the 'underground scene' is a whole 'nother thing.
Are we referring to illegal basement gigs?
Don't get me started.
Neighbors, got to love them. Many years ago a cop showed up at my door telling me that the neighbor behind called and complained my dogs were barking all night. The problem with that was that my dogs slept in the house in my bedroom. After talking to my other neighbors, it ended up being that it was the dog of the guy who complained. The cop went over a straightened it out and gave him a warning since my other neighbors complained about his dog. Karma.
Yeah, doncha just hate those people who shot off fireworks on July Fourth?! People can be SO INCONSIDERATE!
So Anyway, It's Not A Real Party Until The Cops Show Up!
And it's actually easier for them to shut down a party than to deal with the complainer...who might keep complaining until he talks to the mayor.
And it's actually easier for them to shut down a party than to deal with the complainer...who might keep complaining until he talks to the mayor.
