Live music venues around the world are struggling these days. Many are facing closure due to noise complaints and an inability to provide funding for soundproofing. This issue, while in some cases is fair, is in other cases very unrealistic.
Here’s the problem. It’s a little thing called “Order of Occupancy.”
What it means is that if my live music venue exists in an area for 20+ years, and has made noise all of that time, you should not get to complain about my “standard operations” if you move in next door 20 years after I open. Yous hould have done your research and, as such, you give up your right to complain.
Why aren’t communities creating or enfording rules like this? Why are they letting new businesses crush the old?
Not sure we’re making sense when we talk about things like soundproofing doors and windows? Check out this video to see how noisy life can be in urban areas and how having a soundproof sliding door can make a huge difference.
A hot music venue in Wales, The Globe, was facing closure after Cardiff city council took away its live music license. Their options were to close for good or raise more than 25,000 pounds to put towards soundproofing. Up until this week it looked like the club was going to have to close.
That is, until patrons came together to raise the money. They had made significant progress and then a mystery donor made sure the 25,000 pound goal was met. Soundproofing efforts have already begun inside The Globe – scheduled to reopen soon!
Awesome news! The OC Music Center in Rancho Santa Margarita is planning to open a music school. Instead of offering simple instrument rentals and repairs, the owners will now be offering private lessons for those interested in playing a variety of instruments – guitar and drums included.
It’ll take a while for the school to open. The owners are soundproofing the unit so as not to distrurb other tenants (including a Yoga studio) and need to make sure they have all the equipment necessary to deal with electric instruments (another tactic for controlling noise). This should be an amazing addition to the community in Rancho!
Today I’d like to quickly dispell one of the most common soundproofing myths out there. Many people believe that when conducting a soundproofing proofing project doubling the amount of materials used will double the effectiveness of the project.
Nothing could be further from the truth, especially if you aren’t using high quality soundproofing materials to start with.
The reality of the situation is that soundproofing is a very scientific undertaking. There are specific materials you should be using to solve specific problems and, if you use the wrong ones, it won’t matter at all how much you use. It simply won’t work.
The Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago has majro plans. They recently purchased a vacant lot right across the street from the current location and plan to build a second building full of classroms, dance studios, and another venue for performances.
The total project is estimated to cost around $18 million. The building they’re in now was once a library and now serves as the home for 7,000 students. Even still, having rooms built with the right type of soundproofing from the get-go will prove to be a tremendous asset and will enable the school to take on more students instead of turning them away.
We read an interesting blog post on the Baltimore Sun the other day. It talked about what seems to be a strange but growing trend – the creation of upscale restaurants full of – well… noise.
It seems as though restaurant owners feel that noise is trendy. They think the vibe gives a restaurant energy and will, essentially, draw a larger crowd.
I’m not sure I’d want to eat in a really noisy establishment and, to be honest, they have to include a lot of soundproofing to make sure their new noisy atmosphere doesn’t disturb their neighbors. Is it just a bit more trouble than it’s worth?
Not 100% sure how to best install Green Glue? Check out this incredible video for some simple soundproofing tips. It addresses using Green Glue from the early stage of construction (before the first layer of drywall is installed) through completion of your project!
The area surrounding the Ellis Street Graded School district in Salisbury, NC is a historic area. There are dozens of incredible houses, many more than 100 years old – including the one in which Debra Brazee lives.
The problem? The nearby Shober Bridge is goign to be rebuilt and during the 18-24 months it takes to complete the project, Debra’s quiet neighborhood will be transformed into anything but.
And the real issue is that Debra’s property is historic. The City Council has NOT communicated with teh Historic Salisbury Foundation so homeowners with older homes have no idea what type of work will be done on their properties (near the bridge) and how it will affect the land values.
You can’t really soundproof a historic home and still call it historic. So what will the city do to make life easier on these people? Only time will tell.
Last week we took a close look at the new Citroen vehicle and this week we’ve got something else to unveil. The incredible Suzuki Motor Corp has made signifcant changes to the SX4 vehicle model and if you’re a fan of the Suzuki this is one vehicle you won’t want to miss.
Both the interior and exterior of the vehicle has been redone, including cushioned armrests, lower dashboard panels, and better cabin soundproofing. Who knew riding in a Suzuki could be so relaxing and luxurious?