jay | sigh...

After a couple of days of enthusiastic practice by James on his new drum set, the police just arrived.

Seems that unspecified neighbors have been calling in complaints... a city mediator is supposed to call us on Monday. And the officer said that in order to practice, James would need a "live music performance permit" from City Hall. I don't know what that costs, or the terms... I wonder if this is broadly enforced, otherwise every band student, every 15-year old with a flute or clarinet or French horn would likewise need a city license in order to practice at home...

patgreene, whose shame buttons are easily pushed and who is intimidated by authority figures, has fallen to pieces and is locked in her room sobbing. James is slumped over his drums quietly crying, blaming himself for his mother's reaction. Sigh... what a mess, just before I go out of town for 4 days.

[update -- James ate lunch and is holed up in his room. Pat finally emerged, glared over lunch, then left the house and drove away. I don't know where she went.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

errr.... I've never heard of anything like that! I think I'd go do some reasearch if I were you. Does this mean drums? violen? pinano? all Live music practing? Or are they pulling something out hoping you'll just fold.

The only time I've ever heard of needing a permit for music is if your hosting a band for a party. But for practicing? As long as he's not practicing at times outside of Noise crewfew which most places do have (it's like 10pm-6am in most of the places I've lived)....

But, then again I don't know anything about your area.. I still think they are hoping you'll just not push the issue. Good Luck.

I found this, but it seems to be for business's, parties and such...

http://www.ci.mtnview.ca.us/citygov/commissions/epcmin/epc020701.htm

He's not putting on a performance, he's practicing.

I'm out of time or I would also look up noise ordinance....

Thanks for the research! The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that the cop was just parrotting whatever the neighbors had told him.

Very likely or any code he thought might work....

MB suggested that I pass on to you to demand that they show you where in the code such is required and how it fits to your son's drum practing. So don't let them push you around. Demand the code, and READ It, if you can afford it if they don't drop it, find a lawyer to talk to.

The neighbors might have reported a live band, or a performance, or something similar.

That is absolutely ridiculous. What's wrong with people? They should learn a little tolerance! I'm sure that not every kid has to get a permit, it's got to be only if neighbors complain. But for heaven's sake! Here we give so much adulation to famous musicians, but how the heck did they get that way? By practicing!

Sheesh.

I hope you can get through to Pat that your family did nothing wrong. If the neighbors had a problem, they should have spoken to you about it first, before calling police! I'm sure you all could have worked out something together. Damn, this sort of thing really burns me up.

I've been working on that with Pat (and James) this afternoon. And neighbors... really aren't, anymore. There's no community sense, no personal relationship with those living nearby. Whoever it was... obviously wants to remain anonymous.

I'm with the others on this: If he's not practicing during normal "quiet times", then the neighbors, and the police, have nothing to stand on in this. And further, if they come out to the house again, let them know that they have nothing to stand on, because he's not PERFORMING, he's PRACTICING, and the city doesn't issue PRACTICE permits.

That should shut them up.

-JEM

The practice restrictions that we had given him were: no later than 8pm, no earlier than 8am M-Sat (later, if anyone was asleep), and no earlier than 11am on Sunday morning.

These are probably the same folks that called the police when I was doing drainage work on a Saturday morning with heavy equipment back in 1999... except that while contractors can't operate heavy equipment on weekends here, owners can work on their property all they like after 8am...

Oh, how awful. As others have said, it seems unlikely that he would need a performance permit to practice - but if he does, I hope you get him one. I was so enjoying reading

patgreene's description of his passion for percussion.

I forget - is he taking lessons? If he hasn't been, maybe it would be a good time to find a teacher - demonstrate to James right away that you support his joy in rhythm, and demonstrate the validity of his practising to anyone at City Hall who might care.

Another advantage of talking to a drumming teacher is that they've potentially dealt with this sort of situation before, and would have some experience dealing with it. Or so I'd imagine.

Oh, good point.

Lots of hugs. Dj plays drums and he doesnt need a permit to practice. He does however only practice in the middle of the work day at like 3pm when not to many folks will hear him. and not after 10pm and not before 9am on any given day. Hugs T

Shouldn't the first step have been for said neighbours to knock and say, "sorry, the drums are a little loud, could you not practice at (whatever time) because I'm on shiftwork/the baby is asleep/whatever other reason", rather than calling the police? Sheesh :(
It seems highly unlikely that one would need a license to *practice*, I agree..

That would assume said neighbors are well-meaning and reasonable people.

*hugs* do y'all have a garage? Invest in some cheapo soundproofing while you're figuring out the logistics of the permits, etc. My brother was a drummer and my stepdad turned a portion of our garage into a soundproofed "studio" for him. It was not entirely sound free outside, but it helped a LOT.

okay... i agree with everyone else on this one! make the police prove their point!

OMG. I just read this. What an amazing and ridiculous thing. Idjits.

Sounds like a load of bullshit. Sorry you guys have to go through this. :(

sigh...

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Grrrr

Re: Grrrr

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Drumming

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