Sound Nightmare

[4zzz 0]

Had a wedding last night in a bowling club function room.

Nice crowd of people.

 

Sensed trouble early on when function manager warned me of her and her decibel meter. Joked shouldnt be a problem as I only play love songs all night. I think she didnt get the joke and took me serious.

 

During dinner music she said I was peaking at 87 decibels. Taking a reading 3 metres in frt of my speaker. Michael Buble Everything was playing.

 

It was a reasonable volume for dinner up tempo music not too loud but just starting to pick up the pace.

 

That was my maximum level I could go and there was a lot of dance music and Indie selecred for later in the evening.

 

She constantly harrased me all night about volume and in the end just gave in and played the bopping part of the evening at 87 decibels which killed the party. Last part of evening for bouqet toss etc she was right there whilst on mic saying mic is to loud turn it down. Ready to crack her over head with mic by this stage.

 

 

Bride and Groom were really cool about it all. Felt bad for them and their guests. Will never do a gig at that venue again. Ruined the night for me.

 

Feeling pretty flat today about it all. How do I prevent this from happening again??

Do you ask all venues about there sound limits before booking?

 

Took all the fun out of it for me and at the end of the day that is why I'm a DJ because I enjoy it

 

What is the correct way of meausuring for decibels how far away do you stand from the speaker and what would be considered noise pollution??

 

Common sense rule works for me on sound and has allways got me by.

 

 

 

 

 

[jukeboxdj 0]

WOW what a nightmare!!

well done on your proffessional handling of the demon sound woman

 

havnt come across that one before and i wold have lost it and told her to get lost by about 10pm

 

 

[Andy Westcott 0]

Sounds to me as though the function manager had had complaints before, but didn't have a clue how to evaluate SPLs.

 

I suspect the 87dB level was meant to be the limit outside the room, and she had no clue how or where to obtain the correct reading, hence just taking a reading in front of the rig.

 

The level you had to work at wouldn't have been excessive for home listening...

[Spear 0]

Remember if you have trouble getting enough volume you can sacrifice bass for more volume so although you may not be able to pack a punch with the music you can at least have it heard. :hurt:

[Dukesy 0]

Feeling pretty flat today about it all. How do I prevent this from happening again??

Do you ask all venues about there sound limits before booking?

 

Appreciate how you feel and I'm sure many of us have been in similar position which is why it's good practice to ask B&G questions.

 

I ask them if they are aware of any venue noise restrictions or limiters installed first and then I'd follow-up with questions to the venue if I've not performed there.

 

Are the B&G going to pursue the venue for 'compensation', assuming of course that the venue did not make it clear at the time of booking that the level of sound would be strictly monitored and kept to a minimum all night?

 

And if the venue did inform, it surprises me the couple went ahead and booked a disco?!

Hey - had there been a band, would they have been asked to sing softly and play quietly?

 

 

[UKHero 0]

So sad to hear this... I think I would have requested Your client who in turn is there client to come over and then disscuss it with you all there. I would ask the B&G if they would like it louder if they say yes then I would point out to the woman that they are paying for the venue and she should pass her concurns about the sound level to them...

 

We provide our service to our customer not the venue unless its the venue that has booked you. The old saying he that pays the piper calls the tune is true.

 

I did a corporate gig a few months back where the duty manager asked me to turn it down. I said please go to your client and voice your concurn about my volume level. Funny thing is he did not and nothing else was said.. We are seen as a soft target for some venues. You deal with your client and so should they.

 

It is up to your client to tell you to turn it down. If I hired a room for a disco and my DJ was harrassed by management of the venue I would refuse to pay for the room, They should not hire out a venue for amplified music if they can not accomodate it.

 

Hotels are the worst for this. They hire the room to a B&G with no mention of noise problems they then hire out bedrooms above the room the function will be held in with out telling these people there is a function on. Then the people in the bedrooms complain the duty manger then has a go at you. They should go to the B&G and ask that there entertainment lower its volume. They wont do this though as they have charged them a fortune. And as you are the dispencable DJ they target you.

 

Dont let it get you down, If you know it was not to loud then next time be prepared for this.

 

I had a very bad case of this quite a few years back when doing a working mens club. The steward kept coming over and saying its too loud, I knew it was not. He then after about four times of harrasing me said you turn it down or I turn it off. I looked at my then roadie Dave and said fancy an early night he said yes so I said its ok my friend I will turn it off. I informed the audience on the mic what had transpired and got a round of applause. I did not expect to get paid but the members told the Ent sec to pay me. The next meeting the club had they voted to have the steward removed from the club. Apparently he did it to many of the acts there. This is a different situation to a wedding or birthday though and my above points would be a far more professional course of action...

 

Keep your chin up and dont let it get you down think of all the good nights you have had and keep going

 

Nik

 

 

 

Hey - had there been a band, would they have been asked to sing softly and play quietly?

 

Good point many bands are much louder than my disco...

[DJ Marky Marc 0]

Not so long ago I was playing a venue in south london who had hired there function room to a young lady for her 21st birthday...

 

I had to use the venues sound system so before the guests arrived I did a sound check to make sure everything was going to be ok ...

 

well music on I went to the bar staff and asked them to turn it up..

 

the reply was "it is up".....

 

I told them that I have been hired to DJ a 21st birthday party for 100 guests and if i can hear my head phones over the venue sound system from the bar then what chance have we got to get 100 noisy people to enjoy the night..

 

Birthday girl was not a happy lady...

 

Sadly though the venues only think about the money not the people... so as long as people keep paying they will keep making these nights hard work for the DJ and horrible for the client...

 

 

[4zzz 0]

Thanks chaps for all your great views and input.

 

Had a great email today from bride and groom who said they had a great night.

In my eyes it was really bad.

They were a really nice easy going couple and nothing seems to bother them.

They were warned about volume I found out today but didn't think they would be quite as

restrictive as far as volume goes.

 

Learnt a lesson there and from your above posts.

 

Back on the treadmill again this weekend.

 

Thanks again

[superstardeejay 0]

Alot of bar and club chains use installed sound limiters as I'm sure you're all aware..sometimes as a way of ensuring they arent held responsible for hearing damage in the event of litigation by either staff or customer. Sometimes it's a local council stipulation for the license and the venue management are powerless to interfere lest they lose their ents license. Monitoring of SPLs are indeed mandatory in some circumstances and the HSE recommend it under their 'duty of care' to patrons & staff clauses.

 

Sometimes the councils insist on them in response to written complaints by a member of the public, they're obliged by government charter to follow up any complaint in which ever way they see fit...and if it means insisting on level monitoring, then so be it!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[nigelwright7557 0]

Had a wedding last night in a bowling club function room.

Nice crowd of people.

 

Common sense rule works for me on sound and has always got me by.

 

Its probably worth recording which venues have sound level checks and warn the bridal couples accordingly.

 

A wedding is a very important event for most people and it seems a shame to spoil it.

 

This is yet another reason why I wont do wedding parties.

Simply too much hassle.

 

I tend to just play pubs and clubs where they arent so bothered about sound levels.

 

[GREG'S MOBILE DISCO 0]

 

Hey - had there been a band, would they have been asked to sing softly and play quietly?

 

As a former 'live' act for many years I can tell you with 100% certainty that a band would have the same restrictions with regard to a decible meter. I wish I had a quid for every time I've had to compete with one of these cursed machines - although they do serve a very useful purpose if used as intended,I have always found that many of the power hungry people using them have them set way below the recommended threshold so consequently making it impossible for a band or indeed a single act to function properly as they are constantly watching the traffic lights for fear of being cut-off! :damn:

 

[Lag1Rich 0]

E.L.O. - Evil Woman

 

I would have told her where to shove her meter, God I want to go and do a gig myself there and give her a pice of my mind!!!

 

On a pro level I would have had a word with the best man about the problem.

 

Richard

[Jimbo55 0]

Not been on forum for a while. I have been very busy developing other business interests with my daughter and her husband doing very well with the Dj and Karaoke side of things.

 

As many of the you may remember I have tried to bring the issue of health and safety and in particular noise limits to the attention of fellow Dj's along with many other Dj's on this forum. If you are not an employer you may not be fully aware of the ramifications of the noise at work act and how it affects the way in which employers and therefore managers charged with the welfare of their staff. As an employee you have a legal right to a safe working environment. Where employee's are subject to noise limits outside of the current regulations the employer is charged with providing a solution to ensure that employee's are protected. This can mean hearing protection (you all wear yours don't you ), limiting the levels or ensuring that employee's do not work for extended periods based on Noise v's time levels. The manager/employer can be held criminally responsible for any breaches of the act.

 

Yes managers can be over zealous and not fully understand the limitations and or correct working of a decibel meter. My Dj's and myself carry Decibel meters and log the levels and even with sound limiters set as low as 85db we can produce a workable evening (Note NOT PERFECT) with the equipment we use (not even going to mention THAT Equipment :joe:)

 

So are the days of multiplexed speakers surrounding the dance floor with warning signs saying "hearing protection must be worn" beyond this point going to be common place. I think the first court case will determine that.

Edited June 27, 2008 by Jimbo55

[UKHero 0]

Not been on forum for a while. I have been very busy developing other business interests with my daughter and her husband doing very well with the Dj and Karaoke side of things.

 

As many of the you may remember I have tried to bring the issue of health and safety and in particular noise limits to the attention of fellow Dj's along with many other Dj's on this forum. If you are not an employer you may not be fully aware of the ramifications of the noise at work act and how it affects the way in which employers and therefore managers charged with the welfare of their staff. As an employee you have a legal right to a safe working environment. Where employee's are subject to noise limits outside of the current regulations the employer is charged with providing a solution to ensure that employee's are protected. This can mean hearing protection (you all wear yours don't you ), limiting the levels or ensuring that employee's do not work for extended periods based on Noise v's time levels. The manager/employer can be held criminally responsible for any breaches of the act.

 

Yes managers can be over zealous and not fully understand the limitations and or correct working of a decibel meter. My Dj's and myself carry Decibel meters and log the levels and even with sound limiters set as low as 85db we can produce a workable evening (Note NOT PERFECT) with the equipment we use (not even going to mention THAT Equipment :joe:)

 

So are the days of multiplexed speakers surrounding the dance floor with warning signs saying "hearing protection must be worn" beyond this point going to be common place. I think the first court case will determine that.

 

Lol the way it is going we will be legislated agains everything considered dangerous, the only thing they wont be able to sort H&S for is dying of BOREDOM!!!!!!!!

 

Nik

[Llyr Roberts 0]

 

""Noise and sound are measured in decibels. A decibel number of 65, for example, would cause distraction and is considered “intrusive.” This is about the level of your average, everyday traffic. Eighty decibels is considered annoying and is approximately the loudness of an alarm clock. Neither one of these is dangerous to your hearing, but can impair your ability to sleep. A decibel level of around 88 would occur in city traffic or in industrial work.""

 

These numbers should be read from, outside of the room, In the hotels bedrooms. Or outside. Not in front of your speakers.

[dennis menace 0]

Hi

Lady was a bit over the top me thinks. But this is because there is a new health safety ruling coming into force the propriotor has to look out for the staffs hearing etc. And they will have to supply ear plugs to the staff.

This will come into force for us as well when it does come in When i heard this i thought what a loud of ?

and switched off from the guy giving the talk. So now idea when it comes into force but its inthe pipe line.

dennis the menace

[TonyB 0]

Dennis, keep up lad, the regulations came into force 6 April 2008 http://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/regulations.htm smile icon .

 

Either doesn't seemed to have filtered through to all venues though or they have as much concern over it as they do with PAT and PLI (and dare I say probably the Pro Dub license)

[Jimbo55 0]

Noise levels should be measured at the work place So if staff pass in front of the speakers collecting glasses it could be measured there. The sensible work around would be to check the sound levels and rotate the staff so that the noise limit threshold verses time is not exceeded by individual members of staff. If staff are working at a bar in the same hall/venue then the noise levels should be measured there. If Staff do not enter the hall then levels should be measured outside of the hall.

[UKHero 0]

I might be wrong but I was told that with in reason its not the Db thats the problem its the duration your subjected to the noise..

 

Please note I say with in reason

 

Nik

Edited June 27, 2008 by UKHero

[Jimbo55 0]

Yes you are correct but there are many other ways

 

More HERE

 

I will try and find the noise v's time tables