Mad man shows up at practice -scary times!

[RickyWoo]

Skrew that. This guy is unstable. Call the cops before he kills someone.

This is America and is it your right to play music. You are doing a service to your community.

What about the soldier with PTSD that fought for that right? Just "screw that guy"?

 

[pcake]

You guys were playing loud music with the doors open, 50 yds from people's homes. Of the many people that you probably irritated, one guy came to talk to you about it. He expressed that it bothered him, but from the OP, did not make any threats. He asked you to consider others, and even shared his personal experience about why it was particularly difficult for him.

I get that it was uncomfortable for you, and certainly reasonable for you to have had your guard up out of concern for what he might do. But he was apparently self-aware enough not to make threats, as many people would have. Keep in mind that you guys created the situation, and from his POV, his choices were to sit there and stew, talk to you, call the cops, or do something irrational. He chose to talk to you, as people.

Have you ever heard the expression, "If you have a problem with me, then why don't you say it to my face?" That's what he did. Nobody got hurt, and when he spoke his peace, he left.

I can't take your side just because you play bass. You were annoying people and he came to talk to you about it. If he had made a threat, then it would be different.

Find another place to practice. Look for a place with sound isolation and climate control. Then move on and be the kick-ass band that you want to be.

that's how i see it. speaking as someone who sometimes works nights, i've felt like that guy several times - a loud band 50 feet from where i sleep or try to have quiet conversations or a cry when something is wrong? that would really suck. for all we know, that guy moved to get away from loud noise or has horrible insomnia and just drifted off after a long night of no sleep. maybe he was trying to talk to his ex-wife or dying father on the phone when the music started. or he could be bonkers. or all of the above. i'm sure he's not the only person the band has bothered in that apartment building - he was just the only one willing to go over the fence.

No way would anyone get away with rehearsing like that hereabouts - guess you don't have "disturbing the peace" laws there? One of my bands rehearses in a small barn loft and we have four portable A/C units running in the heat so that we can "button up".

exactly! i've only lived in los angeles country, but here we have very similar regs.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I believe the Poster mentioned a barbed wire fence, and was surprised the person made it pass that, so that would be trespassing. While most pursuing that as a charge most Police would likely dissuade the Poster from going that route, but being a renter/occupant was well within their purview to press charges. The Police would be more likely to start a dialogue with the Vet, who could probably relate better to Law Enforcement.

Yeah, you could go after him for hopping the fence, but most likely that will result in just the cops talking to him. Then you get the potential revenge for snitching to the cops.

 

[Downunderwonder]

So we start up our practice at 11 AM Saturday at our warehouse space. Warehouse is a great stage setup with all equipment, amps, drums, PA etc. However there is no AC so it is pretty hot.

So we keep the sliding doors open in the front and the sides.This place is sorround by a 7 foot bob wire fence. Behind us about 50 yars on the other side of the fence is a apt complex. Well we get going and throw out a couple of songs to warm up then start working on our new stuff. We are discussing some things when about 11:30 this guy walks in and says "how often do you play"?

! Kind of aggressive like so being as i didnt know where the hell he came from or how he got in there, i assumed he either worked for the guy that owns the lot and is our band leader or a friend. I say "well usually about every Saturday". This guy starts in on a wild rant about how he just moved in and is a soldier with PTSD and just got through punching most of his walls out.

He had this wild look in his eye and was really scary to behold. He said things like "how can you do this to the community and the world and started shaking and flexing his fingers and fists which did indeed have bloody knuckles all across them.

Our drummer asked tentavily in the middle of this rant. "Well, when would you like us to play?" He says "never" and went into more about how we are destroying the community and how can we do this and things like this. We all remained silent -transfixed by this guy's rage which was barley contained. We all thought either he was about to pull a firearm or go get one. Well he finally finished and left and i saw him climb back over the fence outside.

We just looked at each other and asked "should we play?, close the doors, call the police? What can we do?? Well we just packed it in and went home. I guess our new guitarist has a place to play this week, but we love our practice spot and wnat to go back. We just hope it is safe. Wild times.

I am assuming this guy was telling the truth about being a soldier but he looked so disturbed and i didnt know him from Adam so hard to say.

too bad his name was not Bob. The fence would have worked.

 

[tr4252]

I agree with the people who say that the guy probably wasn't the only one you annoyed; just the one who spoke up (regardless of whether or not he was rational). Loud music can be really irritating, especially if it's a type you don't like. At 50 yards, with the doors open, you were likely bothering more people in the apartments than just the one guy. Probably they had their windows open because of the heat also. I don't think I read what sort of music you were playing, am I right in presuming it wasn't quiet acoustic folk songs?

As for what to do about the situation, I'd say contain your sound as best you can.

In my youth I had to find out the hard way that if people can hear you practicing, someone is sure to be bothered by it.

What's the best Madman for metal?

Tom

 

[Bunk McNulty]

So we start up our practice at 11 AM Saturday at our warehouse space. Warehouse is a great stage setup with all equipment, amps, drums, PA etc. However there is no AC so it is pretty hot.So we keep the sliding doors open in the front and the sides.This place is sorround by a 7 foot bob wire fence. Behind us about 50 yars on the other side of the fence is a apt complex. Well we get going and throw out a couple of songs to warm up then start working on our new stuff. We are discussing some things when about 11:30 this guy walks in and says "how often do you play"?! Kind of aggressive like so being as i didnt know where the hell he came from or how he got in there, i assumed he either worked for the guy that owns the lot and is our band leader or a friend. I say "well usually about every Saturday". This guy starts in on a wild rant about how he just moved in and is a soldier with PTSD and just got through punching most of his walls out. He had this wild look in his eye and was really scary to behold. He said things like "how can you do this to the community and the world and started shaking and flexing his fingers and fists which did indeed have bloody knuckles all across them. Our drummer asked tentavily in the middle of this rant. "Well, when would you like us to play?" He says "never" and went into more about how we are destroying the community and how can we do this and things like this. We all remained silent -transfixed by this guy's rage which was barley contained. We all thought either he was about to pull a firearm or go get one. Well he finally finished and left and i saw him climb back over the fence outside. We just looked at each other and asked "should we play?, close the doors, call the police? What can we do?? Well we just packed it in and went home. I guess our new guitarist has a place to play this week, but we love our practice spot and wnat to go back. We just hope it is safe. Wild times. I am assuming this guy was telling the truth about being a soldier but he looked so disturbed and i didnt know him from Adam so hard to say.

We are well within the noise ordinace. 10:30 PM and 7 AM.
I thought about carrying but really thinking seriously about it there are only two outcomes both are quit awful if it came to it:
i end up dead in a shootout
or
I kill this guy and go through court and depression over killing someone forever.
Also just having my pistol there could immediatly escalate a problem that didnt need to happen.
I may keep it in my gig bag but honestly wouldnt see myself coming out well in a shootout with a trained marine. My shotgun shooting is excellent for skeets as i am in sporting clays league, but my pistol shooting is ok at best.
We did contact the apartment managment next door but dont know if they can do anything. i guess we are ing to lay low this week and practice at the guitarist place. May be good to try a different venue for our sound anyway.

Congratulations! You are a sensible person. There is this whole group of fantasists (including, it seems, your visitor) who think that life is meant to be "High Noon" played over and over. Me, I see trouble coming, I walk away. Sometimes I walk away fast. When someone is being an aggressor, it is not for me to parse out how he got that way.

 

[Biggbass]

If he was really a soldier he would have cut through that wire fence. (kidding)
But if that ever happens again just remember, Keith Richards once knocked the crap out of a guy who rushed the stage ... with his Telecaster. You might want to stash some handcuffs at your practice place in case you guys have to subdue that guy. But the best recourse is to shut the door and lock it.

 

[Right_Butterscotch64]

If you're below legal noise levels and he comes back maybe explain to the guy your situation. PTSD or not, the guy sounds pretty unstable.

Maybe offer him a nice set of earphones/earplugs as a gesture of kindness and sympathy?

 

[Nev375]

Shoot him.

If he's a trained soldier, dont miss. Then fire the drummer.

 

[BlueAliceOasis]

Exactly, call 911 so he can get help, do not yell, argue, get physical or bust a cap on him.

 

[bobba66]

Too bad it wasn't the Madman Across the Water. That would be awesome.

 

[JaredBT]

For starters I would pack heat. Responsibly! Second, dont give in. Be very matter of fact in why youre there and do it collectively. If so inclined find out who he is, make sure youre supposed to be there. Fill in the authorities and keep your routine. We're in America.

 

[Killer Of Giants]

Dude. Anyone that comes to me barking like a dog, with bloody knuckles and acting like he owns the place deserve the 911. I don't care who you are and what you do, but not being able to express yourself in a civilized manner is unacceptable. You got a problem, come talk to me in a polite manner, like an adult, and we'll sort it out.

This applies to ANY human beings on this planet. Playing tough guy or whacko to make your point valid will never work with me. Again, I would not argue one bit and dial 911 in his face to let him know that this kind of behaviour doesn't float around today in 2016. We're not cavemen.

Bullying is not the way to go.

You are in a commercial zoned area, i know about this because my old band used to practice in a old factory, there is nothing wrong or illegal with what you are doing! You dont need to be held as a prisoner in the practice space in a commercially zoned property on a saturday morning!

There's that, or he really could have PTSD and maybe other compounding psychiatric issues, or have decided to go off his meds. Who knows. It's probably best not to play amateur psychiatrist with someone like this. Let the cops know what's up and let the professionals do their job.

Spot On!

 

[Killer Of Giants]

Dude. Anyone that comes to me barking like a dog, with bloody knuckles and acting like he owns the place deserve the 911. I don't care who you are and what you do, but not being able to express yourself in a civilized manner is unacceptable. You got a problem, come talk to me in a polite manner, like an adult, and we'll sort it out.

This applies to ANY human beings on this planet. Playing tough guy or whacko to make your point valid will never work with me. Again, I would not argue one bit and dial 911 in his face to let him know that this kind of behaviour doesn't float around today in 2016. We're not cavemen.

Bullying is not the way to go.

You are in a commercial zoned area, i know about this because my old band used to practice in a old factory, there is nothing wrong or illegal with what you are doing! You dont need to be held as a prisoner in the practice space in a commercially zoned property on a saturday morning!

There's that, or he really could have PTSD and maybe other compounding psychiatric issues, or have decided to go off his meds. Who knows. It's probably best not to play amateur psychiatrist with someone like this. Let the cops know what's up and let the professionals do their job.

Spot On!

 

[47VevetS]

Winter is coming

 

[jaybones]

At first I thought this was going to be about Sid Barret showing up while the rest of Pink Floyd was recording Shine on you Crazy Diamond. Wish it were that harmless.

I would seriously consider a different more secure rehearsal space. Something that you don't have to keep the doors open for adequate ventilation...

And no matter how much you like the current space, it's not worth dying over.

Austin Texas, Charles Witman, University of Texas bell tower, ring a bell (not pun intended)? No need to mess around with an unstable violent guy, PTSD, soldier or not. Even if he's just a random un-medicated schizophrenic he could still do some serious harm. Throw a sucker punch, break someone's jaw, throw a mic stand, break someone's speaker, come back with a weapon, knife, ball bat, tire iron, chain, wait until you all leave and go in and load up your gear, pour a can of gas and toss a match, etc.

 

[2manynotes]

Lots of pissed off people these days, using all sorts of excuses for justifying being pissed off and acting like uncivilized a-holes. They should all just STFU, and deal with it. Like the rest of us.

 

[JMacBass65]

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

Middle of a Saturday in an area zoned for warehouses,
I'd say you should be good to go.
That said, once you get someone ticked off,
the whys, hows and such have to take a backseat
to defusing the situation.

If you have a second place to practice, I'd try that, for a while.

If this guy did bust up his apt, he already has the owner on his case
(or soon will have).
I'd see if the VA can help.

Getting the police involved is a bit tricky.
Sure, they are the professionals, but
they could be anywhere from very simpathetic vets
to just looking to use that SWAT gear on somebody
(that may only be having a bad day, not a constant threat).

If you can talk to the apt manager, you can find out if your
band is routinely bothering the tenents AND find out if
this guy has been acting weird or aggressivly toward anyone there.
That might give you a feel for what to do or expect.

As a native Texan, now into my 65th summer here,
I will advise you to find a practice spot with AC.
No matter how much fun it is or how much the band is improving,
a few hours of a heat index over 100 WILL take a lot out of you.

 

[ezra1]

If it happens again , I would record it discreetly and call the cops.
He may have a history ....
but Houston, Texas without an AC ?......lawdy