to think if a band has signed a contract that they should not break conditions just because they want to

[rainbowfizz]

Went to a party that was in a hired venue, now as with most premises these days it had a decible meter reader that switched of the electricity if sound reached a certain level for a certain amount of time.

Now this particular meter had been set low (75), the owners were aware it was low, and before the event made it clear to all concerned it was low, it was mentioned 7 times in the contract, contract was signed, by band.

Band played half a song, and electricity was switched off as sound was too loud, so they by pass breaker, resulting in all lights blowing, owner asked them to keep noise down and not by pass breaker, the band threw a massive strop and by passed breaker again and continued playing at this point at an excessive volume.

The owner was very controlled to be honest, they could of been in their right not only to kick out the band, but also the party. I felt that this was very wrong for the band to be so bloody minded about it.

AIBU?

YANBU. The band should have kept within the conditions agreed. Music that is too loud isn't any better and I don't understand why bands do this.

Was there a sound engineer present? Bands either bring their own or more usually the venue provide them. It would have been the sound engineer's responsibility to keep it below 75db (which is pretty low for a band playing electrically tbh)

YANBU to be pissed off with a band throwing a strop however, they can be rather tiresome.

It seemed to be the keyboard player who was in charge of doing all sound checks etc.

I (and more importantly the venue) very much accepted that it was low, and that was why it was specified so much.

I'm siding with the band on this one I'm afraid. Venues that install these noise limiters are happy enough to take your money for booking a party and will tell you it's okay to have a band because they want your custom. However, they very very rarely set the limiter at anything like a workable level for a live band. We once played at a venue where the drummer alone playing without any amplification was enough to trip the switch.

I suspect it was impossible for the sound engineer to get anything like a decent sound at the level the limiter required. A band is not like a DJ and can only be turned down so far. They couldn't have known this before they tried it and if your venue had assured you that a band playing was acceptable, then it's not unreasonable of them to assume that the limiter was set at a workable level.

Complain to the venue and give the band a break. Live music is loud.

That's very quiet. A live band can only play so low, as the guitars etc. need to be as loud as the drums.

They don't sound too professional though. No sounds engineer or nouse to read the contract properly. Bet you paid them a fortune too.

This band had played at this venue before, and when hired by the hosts of the party, who asked that they didd know about this venue the band were quick to say that yes they knew it was low and were able to play at that level, and that they were happy to accept that the level was 75 decibles and signed the contract to this effect. As said in OP it was pointed out before party that this was the level and it was low.

Fortunately not me paying I am just close to the hosts so was given details before and after the event.

Thousands were paid for this experience!!! glad not me paying!

First of all - it's NOT the norm to have a separate sound engineer that the band bring but venues that have limiters such as this tend to provide one. (DH is a sound engineer and musician and has played many many venues professionally for many many years)

Also - how many bands do you know that a) know what dB they play at? and b) play at the same dB every time?

Depending on the reason that the limiter/breaker was fitted, the venue is responsible for the level of of the music.

A band who are renowned and experienced enough to charge thousands should know that an unamplified snare alone is over 75db.

Are the hosts considering a breach of contract action against them?

Fortunately because the owners of the venue were reasonable to our pleas, of not ruining the event, and the fact that the hosts ensured that all electricity was working correctly today at the venue, it seems to be being written off as down to experience.

I just felt that the band was BU as that was the only negative atmosphere at a fantastic party. And I didn't feel it needed to be done, as it wasn't like they had arrived at the venue for the first time, as a novice band, to find that they had to play at a quiet volume.

Who's the band?

Thousands, for the band?

Yes, I was shocked. They were ok, but only ok.

I'd better not Totoros

That's disgraceful.

A Céilidh band?

It's a tricky one. It sounds like it was unworkable for the musicians. I wonder what was different about the last time they played there.

[ignorant emoticon] what's a ceilidh band (and no idea how to do accents!)

I was just wondering why a function band should cost so much. Céilidh bands (Gaelic folk music) are popular and can have quite a large line up of musicians to pay.

No it was your run of the mill 60s-80s music. DH and I couldn't understand why they were paid so much either!

I asked DH (a sound engineer) he said very few live bands could keep below 75db unless it was literally just a person with an acoustic guitar. We used to struggle in a venue with 85dB. However councils do routinely impose this kind of limit on buildings that have had noise complaints.

Looks like the setup was unsatisfactory from the start, but if the band had played there before why on earth didn't they know?

Exactly, personally if the band was as professional as the money had implied, and as they'd previously played there, they should of said, "sorry you'll have to find another band. Good luck!!!" but they didn't even give the hosts (ok who may of been ignorant in the fact that it's hard to play at 75db, but they made no pretense of knowing anything about volume levels other than knowing that was a requirement of the venue) cause for concern.

I think you need to tell your friends that having a live band in their venue is unrealistic with the current noise level restriction. My children alone would have tripped it today!

I got married admittedly 8 years ago but the cellidah band were only £200 and they were fantastic.

That's amazingly quiet! A normal conversational voice at 1 metre is 65dB, 75dB would be about the same as a slightly raised voice!