#1689223 - 03/02/06 03:57 PM
The Drums Next Door...
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rainbird
Senior Member
Registered: 01/25/05
Posts: 71
Loc: Seattle or thereabouts
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One of the five college-boy neighbors renting the house next door has just put a drum set in the garage which is about 12 feet from where I am typing this.
It's grim. even in mid-afternoon.
I don't want to clip this guy's wings if I can help it, but I'm under sonic siege. I had a chat with him yesterday afternoon, and told him I'd see if I could handle it for an hour or two during the afternoons. But the bass drum might
as well be mounted against the side of my house.
It's like living next door to a particularly inept
marching band...
I have a good relationship with these folks and want to keep it that way. But not at the expense of my peace of mind. The middle of the afternoon is when I'm generally over here trying to work on
my OWN music (under headphones, I might add...)
Suggestions? No, I don't want to call the police.
These are nice kids. And I'm not *moving* either.
And I don't particularly want to have to call the
folks they're renting from, although I suppose I
could play that card if the guy doesn't figure out
a way to work this out so we can BOTH live here
happily ever after.
Your thoughts?
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#1689224 - 03/02/06 04:51 PM
Re: The Drums Next Door...
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Aldena
Senior Member
Registered: 09/02/03
Posts: 208
Loc: So Cal.
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It could be worse.... He could be in YOUR garage, in YOUR band. 
Mention to him that you heard some other neighbors complain of the noise, then offer to help him with some sound proofing, like hanging carpet on the walls or whatever.
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#1689225 - 03/08/06 03:27 PM
Re: The Drums Next Door...
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EddiePlaysBass
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 06/24/04
Posts: 2623
Loc: Belgium
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Well here's my 0.02 cents: do the old "if you can't beat 'em ..." routine !!! Go and jam with the kid
_________________________
http://www.myspace.com/thedapperdansAfter the various bands you've been in, and the headaches you've seen, you figure having TWO bands at once will be better? - Tom Capasso
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#1689226 - 03/08/06 06:04 PM
Re: The Drums Next Door...
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Jeff Klopmeyer
10k Club
Registered: 10/13/00
Posts: 16818
Loc: Redondo Beach,CA,UNITED STATES
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This is a real problem. I'm going to answer this in a long-winded way, so bear with me.
So, here I am, mid (getting toward late) 30-something years old, and I find myself with a young son and a home-based business. My kid needs to sleep and do his school work; I need to be able to have important phone calls and focus on my work.
But let's rewind twenty-some years. I'm a teenager with a band that practices in a residential neighborhood, and my guitar only sounds good is it's REALLY FREAKIN LOUD.
So, that young man meets the guy I am today, and the following conversation happens:
Me Now: Hi, how you doing? I'm your neighbor from next door.
Me Then: Hey. What's up, dude?
Me Now: Um, not much. Hey, I don't know if you know this, but I have a business in my home, and you guys are playing pretty loud.
Me Then: Yeah. And?
Me Now: Well, I also have a young son, and he can't get his homework done with you guys rocking.
Me Then: Uh, look Mister, I understand that, but the law says that we don't really have to turn down until 10:00 tonight.
Me Now (starting to get irritated): Right, I know that, but I'm asking you guys as a favor. Do you think you could just keep it a little quieter, or limit your jamming to maybe an hour at a time?
Me Then (getting irritated): An hour? We're trying to practice, and we need at least a few hours at a time. It's only two days a week.
Me Now: Look, buddy, I'm being cool by not calling the cops. Why can't you just work with me here? I play guitar too, you know?
Me Then (smirking): Yeah, I'm sure you rock, dude.
Me Now: That's it, you little punk. I'm going to beat your ass.
Anyway, I hate being hypocritical about these things, since I was far too often the purveyor of such un-neighborly behavior. Still, the fact is that you have the right to have a peaceful existance in your own home.
So, here's what I recommend:
1. Have another talk with the guy, and in a nice way, point out that the drumming is still a problem. Indicate that you do understand his need to practice.
2. Tell him that many people use practice pads for this very purpose.
3. Suggest that perhaps an electronic kit and a pair of headphones would be a great way to go.
Once you've gotten to the point that you've been as acommodating as possible, and yet the drumming continues, then it's time to talk to his landlord and explain the situation.
Again, I understand your desire to not start any wars... that's usually a situation that's not good for anyone, and you want to feel comfortable in the long term relationship with the neighbors. But his actions are insensitive, and are making your lifestyle less appealing. While I'm not a big complainer, I am good at getting people to understand my point, and perhaps it's just a matter of being clearly assertive that this remains a problem.
And best of luck! Let us know if there's any resolution.
- Jeff
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#1689227 - 03/10/06 03:42 PM
Re: The Drums Next Door...
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rainbird
Senior Member
Registered: 01/25/05
Posts: 71
Loc: Seattle or thereabouts
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As usual, Jeff, you have nailed it. I do understand the kid's enthusiasm and need to practice, as well as his desire to lay down a few drum tracks on his home recordings. However, I do work out of the house and I have to live here.
I invited him over the other day to hear what his drums sounded like inside my studio with my door closed. He has since made some efforts to muffle the sound at my suggestion - a pillow in the bass drum, hanging some carpet samples - but he's practicing in a huge garage which acts as an amplifier, and you just can't block the sound completely no matter how many mattresses you stack up around the set. He does have a sense of decency to appeal to, and I know how to reach his
landlords, who would, I am sure, be horrified at this development (I haven't played that card yet but I mentioned it yesterday.) I mentioned electronic kits, those little doodads you put on
drums to further muffle the sound, but he's on a college-kid budget and will only be living there for four more (long!) months.
Originally I had said that I would be willing to work with him on this, but that was before I fully
realized how annoying it was going to be. I was honest with him yesterday and said that his drumming was pretty hard to live next door to. And that I wasn't willing to set up a fixed schedule for him where it would be fine for him to practice because my life isn't set up that way, nor should it have to be.
I'm not sure it's really over. And I feel a bit like the anti-Christ. But it's been nice not to be bothered by the noise today. I know for a fact that there are other neighbors who will appreciate this as much as I do, such as the family on the other side of the garage, with their two small children, one of whom likes to take afternoon naps. Hell, *I* like to take afternoon naps myself on occasion - and that's not easy with drumming going on next door.
As my husband said "what WAS this kid thinking when he set up his drums in that garage in the middle of a suburban neighborhood where the houses are all cheek-to-jowl?" Basically, he *wasn't* thinking, period.
If it gets grim again, I'm thinking of hiring the seven-year-old girl next door - to have her knock on the garage door and say in her impossibly cute
seven-year-old voice "excuse me, but I'm trying to
nap and I can't get to sleep!" Sort of like having
Hello Kitty herself show up at your practice room
door.
We'll see how it goes from here.
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#1689228 - 03/13/06 09:25 PM
Re: The Drums Next Door...
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MidLifeCrisis
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 08/01/03
Posts: 2779
Loc: Tampa, Fl
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I was browsing through this month's GC flyer and noticed a set of drum mutes. I immediately thought of this thread. They sit on each drum and cymbal and muffle the sound. At $49 for the entire set it would be worth your while to buy it for your neighbor as a gift.
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#1689229 - 03/14/06 08:39 AM
Re: The Drums Next Door...
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CMDN
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 11/13/01
Posts: 6058
Loc: Philadelphia,PA,UNITED STATES
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Hello Kitty showed up at my rehearsal spot once.
It wasn't pretty--I still have 3rd-degree cuteness burns.
_________________________
\m/
Erik
Where are we going, and why am I in this handbasket?
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#1689231 - 04/10/06 10:19 AM
Re: The Drums Next Door...
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Lucas L
Senior Member
Registered: 04/06/06
Posts: 33
Loc: Nashville, TN
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We have drums set up in our garage, and live in a duplex. We both have 2 car garages, but the neighbors don't seem to mind as long as the garage door is closed.
We also put up some foam rubber along the medal garage door, and that has seemed to help. At first, we were getting the cops over everyday--even got one citation for disturbing the peace at 5 o'clock on a Sunday, which I don't even think is legal. Anyways, we got out of that, but that was before we put the foam up. We haven't had any complaints since then, and we always keep the door shut.
Something else we did that REALLY helped was, I went out and bought my drummer some of those soft sticks (plastic orange and black things). Those are awesome! They cut the sound by at least 70%.
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#1689232 - 04/10/06 10:17 PM
Re: The Drums Next Door...
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Jeff Klopmeyer
10k Club
Registered: 10/13/00
Posts: 16818
Loc: Redondo Beach,CA,UNITED STATES
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Originally posted by Lucas L:
At first, we were getting the cops over everyday--even got one citation for disturbing the peace at 5 o'clock on a Sunday, which I don't even think is legal.
And it's not just bands... people playing stereos too loudly, people running power tools, ANY kind of noise pollution that's enough to bother a neighbor makes you liable.
- Jeff
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#1689233 - 04/11/06 01:30 PM
Re: The Drums Next Door...
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Big Red 67
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 06/27/04
Posts: 7169
Loc: Sacramento
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We were out front of the studio at my house at 8:30 or 8:45 talking and havin' fun on a break. The cops show, tell us about a complaint. The complaint was about us talking, not the music. (They had been out many times before and even jammed with us once) The end result was, "We won't be back after this call. The complaintant is definitely over reacting." I haven't seen them since. Now I run a headphone setup. The only thing you can hear is the guitar amps and they don't carry very far.
Maybe he could build a cardboard box around the set. hehehe Air is the greatest sound killer and if you can figure out how to limit the sound waves buy using air that works best for the money.
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#1689234 - 04/11/06 04:45 PM
Re: The Drums Next Door...
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Jeff Klopmeyer
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Registered: 10/13/00
Posts: 16818
Loc: Redondo Beach,CA,UNITED STATES
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In my youth, I once had the cops show up at a rehearsal. We stopped playing as they came walking up, and they motioned for us to continue.
After the song, we asked what was going on. They said they'd been called out on a noise complaint, but decided that a) we weren't being very loud at all, and b) we rocked, and they were enjoying the tunes!
I was flabbergasted. These things actually happen sometimes.
- Jeff
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#1689235 - 04/12/06 10:18 PM
Re: The Drums Next Door...
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jay da cop
Gold Member
Registered: 01/01/01
Posts: 540
Loc: Waldoboro, Maine
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OK, time to chime in. I am a police officer, as I am sure you figured out. Jeff is right, there are no time limits on when you can get cited for being too loud. Most jurisdictions have allowances for different times of day, but the overall standard is "a reasonable noise at a reasonable difference". Now, in my town, reasonable is 55db at the corners of the property, regardless of time of day. We have 2 annual festivals that garner tons of complaints, and one of them is a blues festival (check out North Atlantic Blues Festival online), and of course, our annual Lobster Festival. This always has live bands playing also. Last year we had Rick Derringer and LeAnn Womack, the year before had Dickie Betts and SheDaisy. The noise level gets out of hand, and the mains (HUGE rented affair) point towards the residential area. There really isn't much that can be done about it except turn it down, but that is a Catch22 also.
In a nutshell, try to appeal to their common sense, be nice, and if all else fails, threaten them with the landlords, then call us. I will be happy to listen to musicians. I am always the first to offer words of encouragement, and they are usually fine with turning it down when they find out I play too. Does this help?
Officer Jay Neubauer
Rockland Police Department
Rockland, Maine
keyboards, "Just the Band"
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#1689236 - 04/13/06 02:23 PM
Re: The Drums Next Door...
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Jeff Klopmeyer
10k Club
Registered: 10/13/00
Posts: 16818
Loc: Redondo Beach,CA,UNITED STATES
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Originally posted by jay da cop:
I am a police officer, as I am sure you figured out.
A couple of my good friends are law enforcement officers. One is LAPD, the other is an LA County Sheriff's deputy. Both are extremely nice guys who are music fans. Contrary to popular belief, neither of them enjoy having to shut down bands/musicians who are being too loud.
You have to realize, when this happens, that these are just people doing their jobs. If it weren't for the folks who complain (quite legitimately, may I add, in some cases), they wouldn't be out looking to stop your fun.
- Jeff
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#1689237 - 04/13/06 05:54 PM
Re: The Drums Next Door...
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Big Red 67
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 06/27/04
Posts: 7169
Loc: Sacramento
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Yeah, It never helps to freak on them. If they say turn it down, do it. They will return if it is still to loud. I have never gotten a ticket just by making sure they don't return more then twice. I shut it down if they come back more then once.
I still wonder if the cardboard box would do the trick.
What collage by the bye
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#1689238 - 04/14/06 08:14 PM
Re: The Drums Next Door...
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jay da cop
Gold Member
Registered: 01/01/01
Posts: 540
Loc: Waldoboro, Maine
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OK, I feel stupid, or maybe my fingers just aren't cooperating with me. What I meant to say was a reasonable noise at a reasonable DISTANCE, not difference. Most of the time I post is at or after work, and I get out at 2:00 am.
I am not one to look for music to turn down, again, I am a player, and love to listen to musicians attempt to perfect their craft. But, there is the "reasonableness" of it all. Most people are very obliging if you are nice. If you are nice, most people will reciprocate, If you are a butthead, what do you expect? It's like anything else in life, pick your battles, and there is a progression to everything. If you jump straight to the worst case scenario, people get hostile. There is usually a middle ground, and compromises that can be met. Look for those first, then slowly escalate. But, above all, be as nice as possible. Think of it this way - how many people have we inconvenienced over the years as we worked on our craft?
Jay
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