to think my neighbours ought to warn me before band practice?

[jumpjockey]

Neighbour plays in a band. When DD was about 5 weeks I had a meltdown at them for playing very loudly in the middle of the afternoon - drum kit, keyboard and guitars on amplifiers etc. Took 3 goes to get them to hear me banging on the door, and he said "Oh sorry, we didn't think anyone would be disturbed" And said they wouldn't do it again, in the manner of a chastised schoolboy.

Today they're going for it again. Now I don't object to the band practice per se, as obviously they've been trying to do it somewhere else for the last month, but AIBU to want some warning so I could at least have made plans to go somewhere with DD rather than have her woken up and unable to get back to sleep? It's not as if they're feckless teenagers, he's in his 40s and they have a 5 year old kid themselves so know how hard it can be to get them to nap during the day.

Thank god my house is detached now that ds has his first drum kit installed. Dh has also set his up in the same room "so that we can play together".

I do know how loud this can be. I sit 3 rooms away and still have to have the subtitles on the tv!

OP - if it is a few weeks since the last session then perhaps the band are taking it in turns to host the practise. I would have thought that dropping a note through the door would settle things all round. Like Wily said "sorry I dont mean to be a pain but could you please let me know next time you plan to practice during the day as the baby needs naps and I will ensure we are out". Then you will feel prepared, and they will feel that they have done their utmost to keep the neighbour happy.

Please think of me this evening when I have 12 drums and 5 lots of cymbals being thrashed this evening.

if you don't care enough to pay for a room it's not important enough to bother your neighbours with?

What about playing for pleasure?

Certainly none of the boys at school ever paid for anywhere, they couldn't afford it. They also were doing it because they enjoyed it rather than because they thought they would really make a go of it.

I wouldn't have thought any of them would have descibed themselves as "in the music business". They were at school. Don't most people do this sort of thing for fun, and to indulge unrealistic pipedreams?

I think even if a band pay for a pracice rooms I would be surprised if they didnt also play their instruments at home.

Some neighbours would view anything other than complete silence from next door as an intrusion and some (including me) do not mind as long as it is done with consideration

Another neighbours teenage son was at music college and spent a whole night once...late late into the night....composing a tune on his synth. I did eventually start to get a bit derranged but luckily, I assume he was working on a specific project, it was only a one off!

Ok, so I'm thinking about the bands I know who don't make much from it, but have realistic pipedreams. They are in the music business.

Reality, I think it's different if you're practicing without drums.
About the money, out of interest, do they play covers or their own material?

My bro had a drumkit, guitars amps etc all in his bedroom and he used to practice on his own as well as with the band at our house and friends houses.

I suppose I just view it as a normal part of teenage behaviour

If it wasn't bands it would be something else - I hate expounding gender stereotypes - but teenage boys do like to make a lot of noise.

And many of them carry on doing it even once they're old enough to know better

"Wily, every band I know hire somewhere, every time they practice. It's normal."

not one band i know without a record label hire somewhere everytime they practice, it would just be far too expensive unbless you have someone else picking up the tab.studios cost a lot of money.

Oooh reality that sounds really exciting. I would love to have a DH who played in a band which actually gigged

Mine can't even play the spoons

mayorquimby, DP has somewhere lined up at £15 a practice. They were hiring a place for about £150 a month. Some places are more expensive, but a practice room isn't a studio.

No money in gigging your own stuff until you get bigger unfortunately. Hope they do well Reality!

I bet you dance at the front and wiggle at him like a teenager

I didnt comment on wastings view that bands hire every time - I really dont think that happens but dont feel I am an expert.

Surely most bands are just enthusiastic amateurs and not expecting to be the next U2 - so are generally operating on a small budget whilst working daytime in Comet

That's the thing though, there's a huge range of earnings in the music business. It isn't nothing or U2.

LOL at electronics engineers

I will listen once my MIL has left - she is here looking after DD while I "work"

DH, (why did I put DP earlier?) confirms that everyone we know in a band hires somewhere. And we know lots of people in bands.

jumpjockey - 13 wks is PERFECT for swimming! Didn't take my first at that age, the other two loved it from 12 weeks on (I think after the 2nd set of jabs is recommended).

But other than that, with a 13 weeker you could just put her in the pram and go for a walk, and she could drop off to sleep, you then go to Costa and have a coffee over a magazine, and go home after band is finished.