• From: The East Coast of Nowhere, UK
  • Registered: 2008-02-11
  • Posts: 2,284

Topic: Sign petition to prevent noise limiters at UK concerts

I've received the following e-mail from The Hamsters, probably the hardest working band in the world. According to the e-mail the UK is planning to introduce noise limiters at venues in the UK. This is just another example of the nanny state that the current UK government is forcing on its people. If you live in the UK, please sign up - sorry the petition is not open to Overseas residents.

For a chuckle check out The Hamsters' website: http://www.thehamsters.co.uk/ smile

Thanks,
Phil


HAMSTERHEADS.... we'd much appreciate it if you'd kindly sign this petition, the cut-off
date is Friday the 23rd January.  Also please circulate to your friends:

NOISE LIMITERS
It has been brought to our attention that new noise legislation is about to be introduced
that is likely to virtually destroy live music in the UK.

The government wish to consider it a legal requirement in the new tax year to introduce
laws insisting anyone applying or re-applying for an entertainment licence must have a
noise control device fitted to the venue.

This will be the final nail in the coffin for pretty much ALL entertainment in the UK as
the level at which these devices cut the power off is ridiculously low.  In our experience
any venue that has one in use cannot have any electric music as the power is constantly
being cut mid-song - and even loud applause at the end of a song can cut it.  Venues are
suffering enough as it is without being forced to go to the expense of fitting one of these
damned things.  Noise limiters are a menace to live music, and we expect this is the bright
idea of some unelected suit in Brussels that's never been to a gig in their life.

Bloody politicians - why can't they all just ****** off and let us lead our lives?

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION HERE: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/NoNoiseControl/

Ars Longa, Vita Brevis

“The guy who has helped the blues industry the most is Joe Bonamassa and I would say he is more rock than some rock stuff, so to me blues is whatever you want it to be!”
Simon McBride in my interview with him in Blues Matters! Issue #56
  • Registered: 2006-12-28
  • Posts: 3,742

Re: Sign petition to prevent noise limiters at UK concerts

That's ridiculous!!!.....I WANT IT LOUDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...."I'm sorry, I didnt catch that, my hearings is gone from to many gigs"

Shreddy

  • From: near Nürnberg Germany
  • Registered: 2008-04-19
  • Posts: 1,204

Re: Sign petition to prevent noise limiters at UK concerts

What a surprise that the UK is "ahead" in this issue, even before Germany. And in a time when the statement that young people are hearing worse due to ipods, discos and life music is unmasked as a scientific myth (Frankfurter Sonntagszeitung last Sunday).
Well, politicians are talking a lot about freedom and responsibility but they are afraid of it.
Günter

Rock On and Keep the Faith

Guenter's Website

  • Curby
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Re: Sign petition to prevent noise limiters at UK concerts

I hope Big Brother's not reading this reply........!!  You're absolutely right, Phil, in that the proposed legislation would be a death sentence to live music.  My question to them would be where do the restrictions end?  Any number of intrusive sounds or noises would fall under the same category.  With so many REAL issues facing our legislators today, I would think sabotaging the entertainment industry with ridiculous regulations, at a time when it's needed the most, wouldn't  be a smart decision.

  • Registered: 2006-12-28
  • Posts: 3,742

Re: Sign petition to prevent noise limiters at UK concerts

Can anyone explain how these noise limiters work, I'm really curious....and not to make fun of this, but thats crazy....I could vision alot of artist shying from the UK...

Feeling your pain

  • mbcl
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Re: Sign petition to prevent noise limiters at UK concerts

I fittedone of the to village hall thta was having trouble with a weekly youth club disco getting out of hand. They are great for problem venues such As this. This legislation is crazy as it will effect purpose built sound proofed venues that are the life blood of the unsigned bands (and signed for that). Basicly the pa runs through the unit and it mutes the volumenif a threashold is reached.  Completely wrong for a music venue. On the upside, it's not rocket science to bi pass them.
I think the government is looking at a slightly different system that uses mikes to monitor the overall decibels, this is even more restricting as crowd noise adds to the overall measurement. Harder to overide as the gear is deliberatley installed in an awkward high location.
I have pastes this petition info into a non related forum I run, should get a good response.

Martin
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  • From: West Yorkshire, England
  • Registered: 2007-08-02
  • Posts: 1,587

Re: Sign petition to prevent noise limiters at UK concerts

I had a similar email from Pete Feenstra. He runs several music venues in the London area. I think this sort of legislation is absolutely ludicrous.
Apparently the noise limiters cause any electric music to be cut off at ridiculously low noise levels. Even loud applause can cause a cut.
I hope this law doesn't get anywhere. In these gloomy days of recession etc we need the enjoyment of live music.

Long Live Live Music!

Tripsy smile

  • From: Stoke-on-Trent, England
  • Registered: 2008-02-25
  • Posts: 473

Re: Sign petition to prevent noise limiters at UK concerts

For what it's worth...I signed the petition!! What on earth is going on in society right now when $%!# like this is happening? Am beginning to really tire of this big brother crap!!!!! If the people living close to the venue don't like hearing what's playing..here's what ya do...either 1) get some ear plugs or 2) move!!!! Don't ruin it for the cultured masses!!

Dunrantin!

"Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of woman."
                                                                                                   Ludwig Van Beethoven
  • gsj
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  • From: North Essex, England
  • Registered: 2006-09-21
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Re: Sign petition to prevent noise limiters at UK concerts

Done....and spreading the word too.

never give up, never slow down
never grow old, never ever die young
  • From: England
  • Registered: 2008-07-04
  • Posts: 265

Re: Sign petition to prevent noise limiters at UK concerts

Remain Calm.

Who would regulate and monitor whether the devices are used/fitted or bypassed  ?
Local Authority Enviromental Health Departments.
In practice, I am confident it will not be enforced in my County.
We had all this when when legislation first came in years ago to monitor noise nuisance/ noisy partys etc. Patrols and enforcement  was funded for about 12 months and then scrapped because, in my County, the same guys are doing Enviromental Health Visits during the week (Restaurants/ Hygiene etc.)
They seem to be allergic to working outside Mon-Fri 9-5 in any case. The last I knew the police pass on noise complaints to Enviromental Health via a 24 hr hotline.
In practice, this is the local Fire Brigade telephone operator (!) who writes a few notes down then passes the information to E.H. on Monday morning who conclude that the 'nuisance' is over so don't do anything.
I used to work with an ex E.H. guy who admitted to me he had never EVER prosecuted anyone for noise nuisance.
This may be different in the big cities, but honestly , do you think the Royal Albert Hall will be effectively prevented from holding Rock Concerts ?

This legislation was designed to noise limit discotheques.Given time, I think it will be modified to exclude live music.

No Ordinary Joe

11 Reply by gsj

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  • From: North Essex, England
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Re: Sign petition to prevent noise limiters at UK concerts

All well and good Crossroads but I think you've forgotten that although the suits won't be around at night when the gig in your local pub is due to start, the noise limiter will be there....and it'll cut off the power to your backline whenever the drummer hits the snare just a bit too hard. Want your handwired amp to be switched on and off without you being able to prevent it? I don't!! The noise limiters should, according to H&S guidlines, be situated outside the venue, not 2 metres in front of the band. Jeez, I've done gigs where the juke box was louder than the band but it by-passed the limiter.

You're right though....remain calm......but ACT!!!! Don't be complacent.

Geoff

never give up, never slow down
never grow old, never ever die young
  • From: London, UK
  • Registered: 2008-07-27
  • Posts: 615

Re: Sign petition to prevent noise limiters at UK concerts

This is the last thing young and upcoming bands such as mine need. We're always getting told to turn it down, and once we were even stopped. Im telling all my friends, and I really would hate it if this goes ahead.

Rus

Jamming with Joe and Bernie Marsden:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18zqg3brNH8
  • From: Stoke-on-Trent, England
  • Registered: 2008-02-25
  • Posts: 473

Re: Sign petition to prevent noise limiters at UK concerts

Good news music lovers, I just got this email in response to the petition I signed, as did some of you also.

Below is the reply i got from the Prime Minister's website:-

We are pleased to tell you that there is no truth in claims that the Government is planning to introduce a requirement for entertainment venues to fit noise control devices. 

Each Local Authority Licensing Authority considers every live music application on its merits, and decisions are made entirely by them.   However, the Licensing Act 2003 does not allow mandatory conditions for live music to be imposed across the board.  It would not be possible to impose such a condition without a change in the law and such a change is not, and never has been, on the Government’s agenda.

There is also no legal requirement under health and safety legislation for entertainment venues to have noise control devices fitted, nor is there any proposal.

The Government is acutely aware of the contribution that music makes to our culture and we remain committed to a vibrant and flourishing creative sector, of which live music plays an essential part.

"Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of woman."
                                                                                                   Ludwig Van Beethoven
  • From: The East Coast of Nowhere, UK
  • Registered: 2008-02-11
  • Posts: 2,284

Re: Sign petition to prevent noise limiters at UK concerts

Thanks, Paul. Good news, but does it mean it was a spoof and we've all been duped?

Ars Longa, Vita Brevis

“The guy who has helped the blues industry the most is Joe Bonamassa and I would say he is more rock than some rock stuff, so to me blues is whatever you want it to be!”
Simon McBride in my interview with him in Blues Matters! Issue #56

15 Reply by mbcl (edited by mbcl 2009-02-19 23:55:03)

  • mbcl
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Re: Sign petition to prevent noise limiters at UK concerts

Nope it means they deny all knowledge of having the idea in the first place 'who us, never'........

Wooders wrote:

Thanks, Paul. Good news, but does it mean it was a spoof and we've all been duped?

Martin
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  • Registered: 2008-11-05
  • Posts: 190

Re: Sign petition to prevent noise limiters at UK concerts

It is a complete hoax

"Music Washes Away From The Soul, The Dust Of Everyday Life"