NWB - Community Blog

18 Jan 2009

Another Threat To Live Music

Filed Under : Music , Rants

Posted By : U.S.Mail | Comments : 13

Govt. To Introduce Noise Control at all Venues - Sign Petition Against This

I've picked this thread up from another forum and don't know how much of it is common knowledge or not.
It certainly looks worrying and, having played a few gigs under the circumstances described below, I know what a killer it can be.

Those of you who have experience of sound limiters will know how debilitating they are to the band and the audience. This legislation will apparently cover ALL venues.

Apparently, the government are considering making it a legal requirement in the new tax year that anyone applying or re-applying for an entertainment license must have a noise control device fitted to the venue to which it applies.

This could be the final nail in the coffin for all live entertainment in the UK as the level at which these devices cut you off tends to be very low and will, as a result, severely inhibit live performances.

The petition is on the Number 10 Downing Street site so you know it is safe. Please take 2 minutes to sign it and join in the fight to preserve live music.

The link is

[url]http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/NoNoiseControl/ [/url]

and the petition reads : We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to NOT introduce sound control devices as a legal requirement in entertainment venues!.

Please send details of this petition to your friends and if you have a mailing group, send the message out to it as well. The more people who make their opinion known the better."
_________________

Comments

# Posted by U.S.Mail - 18/01/2009, 22:29 (GMT)

Ah please accept my apologies. After a little research I found the following posting on the Bolton Music Collective forum page:

The original message was sent out recently by Manchester Metal Collective on facebook. They've recently sent something out to say that this petition is nearly a year old, the dude that set the petition up said this:

"Although the issue that I was angry with and petitioned against in early 2007 never actually came to fruition there was most definitely at the time very good reason to start the petition as countless associates in the music business were hearing the same statements which was that the government were going to make it a legal requirement to have a noise limitation device in all live music venues.

This never did happen, thus allowing live music to continue 'reasonably' un-interrupted.

We do need to remember that we still have venues in the UK with these devices installed and set to a drastic and unfair level which cuts you off the second the drummer taps his kit. It is also important to remember that these devices ultimately damage your electric equipment such as amplifiers and instruments which are not designed to be switched on and off constantly because a little "musicians speed camera" tells you that you are too loud "in its opinion".

I am pleased to see that our government didn't continue with the proposals that we were getting word of as we do not need any more restrictions on the live music industry, it is heavily restricted as it is.

It may appear that I jumped without thinking when I made the Downing Street Petition, however, by doing this quickly and promptly it allowed people to voice their opinion good and early. Very often it is too late by the time our voice gets heard the damage has been done. Musicians in the UK have to work and I am pleased I got in there quickly, even if ultimately nothing was achieved because nothing actually happened in the end, let us not forget that THIS IS A GOOD THING.

Thank you everyone for taking the time to sign the petition and make your voice heard... let us be happy that this didn't happen, sometimes sitting back and waiting can mean the damage is done and your voice won’t be heard once it is too late".

So not to worry boys and girls Smile

# Posted by SABRE - 18/01/2009, 23:05 (GMT)

keep up the good work buddy, i have done the siganature,
we used to play at the queens in chorley and it had a noise limiter so we pluged iinto the hoover socket on a pillar in the middle of the pub, fxxk em. wat do you say, all tham that are wanting this shit are sat at home in there nice quiet country homes sipping on fine brandy and having real fun whatsoever, they think thay are having a good time but we know better, so bands stick together, yeee haaaa, soz am i gettin a bit caried away, pete, got to confess my nik name is pedro. good nite

# Posted by U.S.Mail - 19/01/2009, 00:13 (GMT)

LOL! Good one Pedro! hehe!

# Posted by Coldplayer - 19/01/2009, 19:02 (GMT)

Can someone explain to me why live music is regarded as 'heavily restricted'? Apart from in places where the neighbours complain when it gets too loud (annoying as that is, it's fair game), I've always thought I can play wherever we want, whenever we want. Perhaps I'm being naive, feel free to shed light!

# Posted by Rosie - 19/01/2009, 19:22 (GMT)

Vote for Pedro

# Posted by viking - 19/01/2009, 20:10 (GMT)

Rosie!!!! put pedro down-you're going to crush him!!! bad rosie!!!!

U.S. mail-good to hear that-you may have noticed in another blog on the same subject, after doing some research of my own - having had some considerable experience in analysing, interpreting and applying government led local authority legislation - found several sites where the topic was under discussion. the main thrust of each and every one of them was towards bring SOME employers into line regarding health and safety issues around protecting their employees hearing, either through information or the simple act of providing ear plugs. not one of them proposed installing "noise limiters" in live music venues. it would be totally unworkable on at least two grounds-one- it would financially hit a service sector industry at a time when that is the last thing any government would want to do, secondly, it would alienate a large swathe of potential voters from across the spectrum. again, this government may be stupid, but it ain't daft!!
however, as you say, it won't have done any harm to fire a warning shot across their bows, menthinks? (and yes, people, i DID sign it!!) (Oh! and sorry about the spam-typos!!)

# Posted by SABRE - 19/01/2009, 21:11 (GMT)

lets get a generator and set up in front of number ten and give em a gig in protest what we need is big media coverage,
this effects us directly, but more importantly tens of
thousands of live music lovers, all over the counnty,our years of hard work learning to entertain and bring enjoyment into other peoples lives are going to be crushed pedro.

# Posted by NIGHT TRAIN - 19/01/2009, 22:29 (GMT)

its not being considered under health and safety regs (ie because it may make you deaf)...its being done under the 'binge drinking curb' because a survey has shown people exposed to loud music drink about 30% more....
and after our gig at the Man and Scythe on Saturday, thats the story I'm sticking with, your honour! LOL

# Posted by viking - 20/01/2009, 18:46 (GMT)

night train-ah! that explains quite a few things about my saturday nights out-although the main reason it happens with me is i'm a good friend of the "magic beer scooter" owner, and don't want him to suffer in these hard financial times!! (and that's MY story, and i'm sticking to it!! heh heh!!)

# Posted by Matt - 22/01/2009, 12:55 (GMT)

NME News;

Number 10 'noise restriction at gigs' petition driven by internet hoax?

http://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/42188

# Posted by The Missing Heartbeat - 11/02/2009, 16:49 (GMT)

Them limiters are bobbins as they often go off just at a peak, I found a good way to deal with them which works every time, 1. Find the limiting device, 2. Remove your microphone from its stand, 3. T**t the device with the base of the mic stand very hard, (Old cast iron ones are ideal for this) 4: Enjoy the rest of your gig!!

# Posted by NIGHT TRAIN - 11/02/2009, 17:17 (GMT)

or you could just plug in to a socket that isn't affected by the limiter...although yours sounds more fun:o)

# Posted by The Missing Heartbeat - 11/02/2009, 17:31 (GMT)

CAUTION!!! DO NOT PLUG YOUR MIC STAND INTO MAINS SOCKETS IT IS VERY DANGEROUS@?^**####^^^

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