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Problems with the old people next door

#61
jnuts1 said:
bigfat you obviously have never had a neighbor that complained about anything & everything. a little loud music & they would complain but they would drink & party all night with classic rock blaring outside. also had a different one that would complain about basketball at 1pm on a saturday afternoon. sorry but not everyone deserves to be accomodated. really some people actually deserve to be told to shove it.
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You should begin covering the Deftones song " My own Summer" and play it loud, with all your cabs ( especially the bass) pointing directly at their house, with all the windows open. :)

In the situation I referred to, my guitar player's neighbor complained about 2 songs in particular, which told me 2 things. A) He wouldn't have cared if we were playing Hank Williams songs and B) Play Freedom and Killing in the Name, at full volume, with the windows open, at least twice each per practice. :D



Ultimately, it isn't about what's right or fair. It's about what will cause the least friction. Trust me on this, your practices will be much more enjoyable if the neighbors are not on your back.;)
 
#62
bigfatbass said:
The arrogance, sense of entitlement, and completely unreasonable attitudes being displayed in this thread are nauseating. What the hell is wrong with you people?

I know it already got said dozens of times, but just go talk to the ol' geezers, and see what 3 hour stretch a week they can handle you guys rocking a little.

The fact the OP felt so cornered as to ask the question here, instead of just talking to the human beings next door, is a sad comment about what has happened to our neighborhoods and how we treat each other.
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yep.....you might find that the old guy next door spent his music playin' youth crawling around in a rice paddy somewhere,and has earned a little peace....
 
#63
Just auditioned with a really loud band. They shovel the elderly neighbors snow in the winter. Change a few light bulbs, once when power went out they went in the basement and flicked on the circuit breaker.

No complaints from the neighbors about practicing.

Try to make peace, offer something, be polite. APOLOGIZE for being too loud, tell them you didn't realize it was bothering them. Might be too late, if they're already pissed. But its cheaper than renting a space. Old people sometimes respond well to some respect. They used to brawl in bars, mano a mano, and when it was over, shake hands and have a beer together. Not like you young punks that hold a grudge forever.

And STAY OFF MY LAWN!!!

Randy
 
#64
steveksux said:
Just auditioned with a really loud band. They shovel the elderly neighbors snow in the winter. Change a few light bulbs, once when power went out they went in the basement and flicked on the circuit breaker.

No complaints from the neighbors about practicing.

Try to make peace, offer something, be polite. APOLOGIZE for being too loud, tell them you didn't realize it was bothering them. Might be too late, if they're already pissed. But its cheaper than renting a space. Old people sometimes respond well to some respect. They used to brawl in bars, mano a mano, and when it was over, shake hands and have a beer together. Not like you young punks that hold a grudge forever.

And STAY OFF MY LAWN!!!

Randy
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I dont even like it when they drive past my house!! Stay off my street! :D
 
#65
panama said:
I have rights too. If I wanna jam in my basement at a reasonable hour and I'm not breaking any laws then everyone can suck it regardless of age.
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You do have rights. You can also grow up a little and try to get along with the neighbors. It might pay off for you some day.

jgroh said:
I would never entertain having a band practice at my house. The neighborhood is quiet, small children with early bed/nap times, and even though they are all new large houses, they are not that far apart.

I understand where the OP is coming from, alot of us were there at one point or another, however I can say if I was trying to get my daughter down for a nap at 3pm on Sunday afternoon and couldnt because next door cookie monster was belting out some diatribe about Beelzebub in drop C, I would be calling the cops too.
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This is logical.

guy n. cognito said:
Some people.....not you......but some people try to live at peace with their neighbors.
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My neighbor blows snow for me in the winter and occasionally mows the front yard in summer. We get toys and clothes that their kids don't use, etc., etc.

bigfatbass said:
The arrogance, sense of entitlement, and completely unreasonable attitudes being displayed in this thread are nauseating. What the hell is wrong with you people?

The fact the OP felt so cornered as to ask the question here, instead of just talking to the human beings next door, is a sad comment about what has happened to our neighborhoods and how we treat each other.
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This is what I was getting at with my post - suck it, stick it, etc.
 
#68
panama said:
Some neighbours are impossible to get along with. Sayin.
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I realize that can be the case at times. I had lousy neighbors in my last home - a townhouse. We called the police twice - -after trying to talk a couple times. There was just no talking to them. They were 20 something and high most of the time.

I'm just saying that the general tone of this thread isn't very "neighborly" or "christian" or whatever.
 
#69
bigfat you obviously have never had a neighbor that complained about anything & everything.
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This is exactly my point. Why assume the neighbors are unreasonable psychos before you talk to them? Obviously each situation will dictate the path of actions, but it's the leaping to the conclusion that the neighbors are deserving of abuse, simply for wanting a little peace and quiet in their own home, regardless of the the time of day.
 
#71
Wow, this thread is bizarre!

Panama and others should realize that in almost every city, in every county, in every state there are laws about amplified music. You don't have the right, but if you all listened to the more level-headed TB'ers on this chat you'd talk to your neighbors and try to work it out, if it's not too late already.

I live in an apartment and I play my instruments all the time. I even have my band over for regular acoustic jams, with bass, percussion and singing through a PA. I get away with this because I know my neigbors, I talk to them, they know me.

And remember this when dealing with old people; in life you have two options, die or get old. May we all be fortunate enough to achieve the latter and not the former!
 
#72
In my experience and little respect goes a long way. Before you play, go to your neighbors and give them your cell phone number. Explain the times that your band is going to practice and tell them that if it is still a problem, they can call you. This shows them respect and gives a face/human to the "noise" Has worked every time for me. Never received a single call or complaint.
 
#73
Give the ladies a chance before writing them off a cranks.

Put yourself in their shoes (that empathy stuff). They are probably scared to come over and say something given the number of uncivilized idiots running around these days. They probably called the police in order to avoid putting themselves in a potentialy hazardous situation.

Go over with some baked goods (I believe carrot cake was mentioned earlier). Apologize and arrange times when it would be OK. Show some kindness and give them a chance to respond.

Now to rant:
At one point these "old geezers" were your age. Who knows what history they bring to the table, where they have been, what they have seen and accomplished. The disrespect for elders so common today leaves me dismayed. Its as if the elderly are seen as a different species rather than a crystal ball into our own futures. Just another sign of the breakdown of our society.
 
#75
I took the time to introduce myself and bandmates to the "old" neighbor before rehearsing and it turned out he's a retired recording engineer. He gave us a bag of mics and two homemade full range speaker cabinets that he has no room for anymore, and we go over there pretty regularly to lay down tracks. The neighbors to the back are another story. They're 100 feet away and if anything can hear faint kick drum from their home. We measured 63 dBC consistent with 65 dBC spikes at the property line with a decibel meter, which is still 20 feet from their house. They call the police a lot but they're actually in their late 20s or early 30s.
 
#76
Hey Everyone,
Thanks for all the ideas and replies :)

So I've been talking with the guys about this some more and I know that my drummer went over there to try and make peace with them but they wouldn't have any of it

Next, I don't really think renting is that much of an option for now cause we're a bunch of broke-a$$ teenagers

Jam Hub is possible but we use an acoustic drum kit

And finally we are talking about practicing at my house but I have grumpy old neighbors too and the other guitarist lives wayyyyyy out in the outskirts of town and doesn't have much room in his house

Anyway thanks for all the great advice everyone!!
 
#77
Metalbasshippy said:
Hey Everyone,
Thanks for all the ideas and replies :)

So I've been talking with the guys about this some more and I know that my drummer went over there to try and make peace with them but they wouldn't have any of it

Next, I don't really think renting is that much of an option for now cause we're a bunch of broke-a$$ teenagers

Jam Hub is possible but we use an acoustic drum kit

And finally we are talking about practicing at my house but I have grumpy old neighbors too and the other guitarist lives wayyyyyy out in the outskirts of town and doesn't have much room in his house

Anyway thanks for all the great advice everyone!!
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One more peace of advice: music doesn't sound better just because it's loud.

Pad the drums, play quietly and keep rehearsing so you can get the gigs so you can make some money so you can get better equipment or rent a studio, etc.
 
#78
Most of the attitude here is justified. Your playing rock and roll on a Saturday afternoon when a man with a GUN shows up and starts threatening fines, jail, confiscation and won't tell you who you are bothering. This even happens under the airport flight path that rains earth shattering noise at least once an hour all day long.

Now I ask when is it my turn. You mow your lawn, ride the buss, have a party etc. The cops never offer a solution, they hope their threats will make you go away so the complaints do to.
 
#80
Wow! This thread has infuriated me! Everybody expects respect, but yet, arent willing to give it. My advice...as many others's..at first try to be nice / neighborly, cuz it will get you further with them but also know the "Noise Curfew" statutes, ordinances etc. My town ordinance for example is 8:00am - 10:00pm! After trying to be nice and respectful fails, they really can kiss my ***!!! Regardless of age. And if they persisted, those hours we ARE allowed to play would be unbearably loud, and they can choose which they prefer! Im all for good neightbors but its a 2 way street. PLUS....the law IS behind me, I dont care who likes it or not! What is so wrong with expecting what everybody else expects?
 

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