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Problems with the old people next door

M

Metalbasshippy

Jan 20, 2011
302
9
Campbell River, BC, Canada
#1
So we finally get our act together as a band and start having weekly practices at my drummer and guitarists house. After a few months of solid practice I get a phone call from my drummer and he tells me that out of the blue a bylaw officer showed up at his house and tells him that the two old ladies next door called and complained about the our practicing. So now for the past few weeks we've been at a standstill which is making me mad because we were so close to getting gigs and now we can't practice at all because we've been threatened with fines.

So I guess my question to the collective wisdom of TB is how can we peacefully deal with this little dilemma?

Sent from my iPod touch using TalkBass
 
#5
THIS:

1) Look at your volume levels. You don't NEED to practice at gig volume. Guitar, bass, vocals can all turn down. Way down. The drummer can mute his drums and/or play with hotrods. In a metal band? You can control your volume and still be METAL. Trust me, if I can do it, you can too.

2) As suggested, speak to the neighbors. Go over with a carrot cake and apologize. Sound dorky? It is. But you will go farther making nice with them then you will by making war on them. Have the band sign a short note. THIS WORKS. Then ask when a low level rehearsal is convenient for them. If that time doesn't work, look for another spot.

(THERE IS NOTHING more frustrating than being really annoyed by something out of your control. That is why people call the cops instead of speaking with you directly.)

3) Find a rehearsal spot. A studio, a warehouse, a church, etc. You have to be creative. I once rented extra space in a local factory one a week. It cost us $20 a night. Make your strings stretch a little longer and buy less beer to afford it. I have found rehearsals tend to me more focused and productive when then band is paying for the space.

4) Buy lots of acoustic foam to "sound proof" your current space. This is expensive.
 
#6
Unless you are making excessive noise, you can practice between certain hours of the day. There used to be an old man across the street from my folk's house that always complained when we rehearsed in the basement...it turned out he just hated rock music and anyone who played it. After about 4 such calls, my mother had had enough and told him to stick it!!
 
#7
hdracer said:
Rent a space?
Click to expand...

The "problem" is not with the "old people next door"; not as far as the law is concerned.
The problem is your band disturbing the peace.
Unless you can reach a compromise with the neighbors (ALL the neighbors, as the police will fine you regardless of which one calls), this is probably your only option.
The law will get tired of responding (and probably sooner rather than later) and fiscally impress on the residents of your practice place the folly of ignoring the neighbors complaints.
 
#8
duff beer said:
Unless you are making excessive noise, you can practice between certain hours of the day. There used to be an old man across the street from my folk's house that always complained when we rehearsed in the basement...it turned out he just hated rock music and anyone who played it. After about 4 such calls, my mother had had enough and told him to stick it!!
Click to expand...

If the law is responding and threatening fines, I'd think it safe to assume say they are in violation of a local ordinance.
I doubt Mommy can help the OP out. :D
 
#9
If old people can hear you and complain, you're too loud!

But seriously, call city hall and get you towns disturbing the peace or noise ordinance. In my town one can make all the racket they want from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm. These were chiefly put in place so people don't awake to the sound of contractors jack-hammering away at 5:00am or so people can't operate night clubs out of their garages.
 
#12
There are some old people living next door to me too (they are in their 80's).

Those bastards! They keep cranking their goddamn Frank Sinatra and Perry Como albums until 2 in the morning, they fill the neighborhood all night long with the smell of reefers, and leave empty beer and wine bottles lyin around their front yard the next morning.

What the hell. I'm getting damn tired of it!

This morning I found an empty tube of Dentu-Creme in my front yard!!!! This chit needs to stop!!
 
#15
Things in OP that sounded curious to me...

1. "After a couple months of solid practice."

2. Poster doesn't say at all 'when' they're practicing solid for a month.

60 days of nightly "metallllllllll" hammering away would get a call to the cops from me also. Once a week of "metalllllll" at the wrong time (or any time) would get a cop call from me.

Play somewhere that's appropriate. Pay for it if you must.
 
#16
When we were in a similar situation we made friends with the elderly couple next door and they became our biggest allies in the neighborhood. Communication and being a good neighbor go a long way to getting a little tolerance. We found out if we were tooo loud and also when their bedtimes and such were. We also did the occasional favor changing light bulbs, yard work and such that they were not comfortable doing.
I have to say that if your practice volumes or times are disturbing neighbors then it is up to the band to be accommodating or find a new place to practice.
 
#19
duff beer said:
Unless you are making excessive noise, you can practice between certain hours of the day. There used to be an old man across the street from my folk's house that always complained when we rehearsed in the basement...it turned out he just hated rock music and anyone who played it. After about 4 such calls, my mother had had enough and told him to stick it!!
Click to expand...

This is, of course, not true in most jurisdictions.
 
#20
Metalbasshippy said:
So we finally get our act together as a band and start having weekly practices at my drummer and guitarists house. After a few months of solid practice I get a phone call from my drummer and he tells me that out of the blue a bylaw officer showed up at his house and tells him that the two old ladies next door called and complained about the our practicing. So now for the past few weeks we've been at a standstill which is making me mad because we were so close to getting gigs and now we can't practice at all because we've been threatened with fines.

So I guess my question to the collective wisdom of TB is how can we peacefully deal with this little dilemma?

Sent from my iPod touch using TalkBass
Click to expand...

Send the little old ladies a Cd and a bottle of Amoretta.
 

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