Does the music in pubs have to be so loud?

eviltimeban

Call me an old codger, but all my life I've had a problem with too-loud music in pubs. Clubs, sure, because you're there to dance, but pubs? I was in *a cool bar* last weekend, nice spot, pretty chilled out, and actually was some nice roots reggae music playing, but it was about 20% too loud to the point that everyone was shouting at each other. It meant you could only have a conversation with one person at a time.

I know there are "old man" pubs that have little or no music playing, but music does add atmosphere and I like it in the background. Key word: background. Anyone agree / disagree?

What's the argument for having shouting-level music in pubs?

gifted

Leave the pub

Dravokivich

Well yeah, sure, how'd I hear it over everyone talking?

SeaFields

Doctor Jimbob wrote: »

Less talking, more drinking = more money.

I know that's the theory but i think that when you are able to have the craic and banter amongst yourselves the pints start to flow.

Duggy747

In my local there does be quite a battle on the jukebox with people mixing it up from dubstep to Kenny Roger to Pitbull to Garth Brooks.

It's like a setlist from hell.

spank_inferno

The music is louder so you cannot chat & therefore drink quicker.

We deserve a better brand of pub.

Links234

Pick a different pub, I don't go into Bruxelles or the Gypsy Rose when I'm in Dublin to have a quiet pint, the music is a big draw for a lot of people, especially if it's a specific genre of music as it can be a fantastic experience to be immersed in music you have a passion for. 90% of the time when I'm going for a drink though, I'll go somewhere quiet, but there's plenty of choice for all out there.

pawrick

Had same problem last xmas in a pub. 20 of us on a work night out left after repeatedly asking for the music to be turned down a little so we could at least hear the person next to us. Their loss in the end for not compromising, obviously they didnt need our custom so we took it elsewhere.

greenflash

Keep the music turned up I say. Since the smoking ban we can smell everyone's Guinness farts, there's no need to hear them too.

Links234

Duggy747 wrote: »

In my local there does be quite a battle on the jukebox with people mixing it up from dubstep to Kenny Roger to Pitbull to Garth Brooks.

It's like a setlist from hell.

I like to troll places like that by putting on Tom Waits, one time I put on What's He Building In There? and the barman was about ready to murder me to death :pac:

eviltimeban

I don't frequent the louder ones generally, in this case it was a meeting point that someone had chosen. I prefer a quieter pub but in fairness I don't want a dead place so a bit of atmosphere and cool music is always good!

The summer is great because you can stand outside - even in winter, some pubs are good for that. As are smoking sections, they're a bit of a godsend in fairness as the music tends to be not heard and its a little more chilled! Ever notice that that's where people go to have a chat? If only it weren't so smokey!

eviltimeban

Links234 wrote: »

I like to troll places like that by putting on Tom Waits, one time I put on What's He Building In There? and the barman was about ready to murder me to death :pac:

My old local had the white album, of course "Revolution 9" got played... plus any long Pink Floyd song!

irish_goat

Links234 wrote: »

I like to troll places like that by putting on Tom Waits, one time I put on What's He Building In There? and the barman was about ready to murder me to death :pac:

A few of the Vengaboys top hits is also a nice evil thing to do. :pac:

gobnaitolunacy

An Elfin' Safety check on decibel levels would quieten them, I'm surprised that they can get away with industrial grade noise.

When you see bar staff wearing ear plugs, it's a sign the place is too loud,

Links234

irish_goat wrote: »

A few of the Vengaboys top hits is also a nice evil thing to do. :pac:

A while back I saw Devin Townsend live, not this year, but the time before that. Normally at a metal gig, before the show they'll be playing some random metal songs before the bands come on stage, but good old Devy had better ideas and had them play the cheesiest pop music imagineable... queue a venue packed full of metalheads bouncing around to this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Zbi0XmGtMw

That was fun :pac:

iDave

eviltimeban wrote: »

Call me an old codger, but all my life I've had a problem with too-loud music in pubs. Clubs, sure, because you're there to dance, but pubs? I was in *a cool bar* last weekend, nice spot, pretty chilled out, and actually was some nice roots reggae music playing, but it was about 20% too loud to the point that everyone was shouting at each other. It meant you could only have a conversation with one person at a time.

I know there are "old man" pubs that have little or no music playing, but music does add atmosphere and I like it in the background. Key word: background. Anyone agree / disagree?

What's the argument for having shouting-level music in pubs?

I'm 28 and I'm in total agreement.

anncoates

eviltimeban wrote: »

Does the music in pubs have to be so loud?

Yes.

Yours sincerely,

Young People

dan1895

Myself and the wife like to head to one of our locals on the occasional Sunday evening, usually for a late dinner if I've been working late and she's been shopping all day. Its nice and relaxed, mellow background music, not too many people there, very easy going. Until 10 o'clock when, no matter what kind of crowd is in, the music changes to pop and dance music and played at full blast. That's our cue to finish our drinks and head home.

Cienciano

Doctor Jimbob wrote: »

Less talking, more drinking = more money.

The flip side is that people leave because it's too loud.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

Cienciano wrote: »

The flip side is that people leave because it's too loud.

old people
then they can fit more attractive young people in

eviltimeban

Ah yes but when I was younger I still didn't like it - in your early 20s you still can't hear what anyone is bloody saying.

Agree with getting attractive people in. But then you have to shout at them if you wanna chat them up! :-)

kowloon

I can't hear people in pubs any more. Loud music is responsible for a lot of the damage in the first place. People just assume I'm quiet, but the reason I sit there and nod is my complete inability to make out anything they say.

Legs.Eleven

Duggy747 wrote: »

In my local there does be quite a battle on the jukebox with people mixing it up from dubstep to Kenny Roger to Pitbull to Garth Brooks.

It's like a setlist from hell.

I've got **** hearing, so find it difficult to follow conversations in groups in pubs so have to do a lot of pretending I understand. If I speak to someone, they have to shout right into my ear for me to understand them and I do the same to them forgetting that not everyone is as hard of hearing as myself. People must find me very intense. Used to be better when I smoked and I'd hang around the beer garden most of the night.

Obviously it made perfect sense that I decided to move to the city with the loudest bars in the world (fact). I can't hear a bleedin' thing anyone is saying EVER!

cantdecide

Links234 wrote: »

especially if it's a specific genre of music as it can be a fantastic experience to be immersed in music you have a passion for.

I'll never understand why people with a lip for generic music get to call the shots in mainstream pubs.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

old people
then they can fit more attractive young people in

What about us old attractive people? I got my zimmer frame chromed specially for impressing the yungwans but my hearing aid just blares

/sits and rests with Werther's Originals

renegademaster

eviltimeban wrote: »

Call me an old codger, but all my life I've had a problem with too-loud music in pubs. Clubs, sure, because you're there to dance, but pubs? I was in *a cool bar* last weekend, nice spot, pretty chilled out, and actually was some nice roots reggae music playing, but it was about 20% too loud to the point that everyone was shouting at each other. It meant you could only have a conversation with one person at a time.

I know there are "old man" pubs that have little or no music playing, but music does add atmosphere and I like it in the background. Key word: background. Anyone agree / disagree?

What's the argument for having shouting-level music in pubs?

if you have to shout to be heard and only by one person at a time then the music is too loud and i'd have no problem protecting my hearing by demanding it be turned down a little!!

renegademaster

Doctor Jimbob wrote: »

Less talking, more drinking = more money.

it's like the sun and the wind trying to blow the coat off your man, sometimes the more subtle approach works best

Santa Cruz

eviltimeban wrote: »

Call me an old codger, but all my life I've had a problem with too-loud music in pubs. Clubs, sure, because you're there to dance, but pubs? I was in *a cool bar* last weekend, nice spot, pretty chilled out, and actually was some nice roots reggae music playing, but it was about 20% too loud to the point that everyone was shouting at each other. It meant you could only have a conversation with one person at a time.

I know there are "old man" pubs that have little or no music playing, but music does add atmosphere and I like it in the background. Key word: background. Anyone agree / disagree?

What's the argument for having shouting-level music in pubs?

Shockin altogether/ And as for dem young wans with the short skirts, if it wasn't for dem I wouldn't go near the place

renegademaster

anncoates wrote: »

Yes.

Yours sincerely,

Young People

what? what ya say there? we can't hear you cos of all the years of loud pubs before you lot got out of nappies lol

eviltimeban

My hearing's wrecked from all the acid.

anncoates

renegademaster wrote: »

what? what ya say there? we can't hear you cos of all the years of loud pubs before you lot got out of nappies lol

I'm old too. :pac:

I was merely phrasing my post in the manner of Getting Down With The Youth.

Bog Standard User

the vfi should be see this thread.

they complain pubs are empty.

so here is how you fill them again

1. lower prices
2. lower the volume of the music
3. better food
4. cleaner toilets

bobbygrant

Totally agree with the OP, I think bars seem to think customers want loud music or its what younger customers want but I am sure most dont, or maybe its because of the argument people drink more when the music is loud. The other thing is its usually mostly rubbish chart music.

I also hate when bands in pubs play their music too loud so you have to shout over them. No one came specifically to listen to them despite what they seem to think, they should only be in the background.

Napper Hawkins

cantdecide wrote: »

I'll never understand why people with a lip for generic music get to call the shots in mainstream pubs.

I'm not sure I understand you here, generic music is what makes the most money.

eviltimeban

Bog Standard User wrote: »

the vfi should be see this thread.

they complain pubs are empty.

so here is how you fill them again

1. lower prices
2. lower the volume of the music
3. better food
4. cleaner toilets

I would order it like this:

1. Lower the volume
2. Lower prices
3. Food
4. Toilets

Even with lower prices, if the volume is still too loud to have a conversation, then I'm going to stay away - I'll just go somewhere else or drink at home.

As for the music itself, it could be my favourite band, but I still don't want it on that loud. If I want to listen to music and not hear anything else, I'll put on earphones. It just struck me when I went to that pub recently (can I name it?) that, wow, I could only speak to one person and I had no idea what the others in the group were talking shouting about. I've nothing against loud music AT ALL (I used to be in a band, and I still listen to music too loud on my earphones), it just has its place. The pub isn't it.

Currently planning drinks with a few mates this weekend and not sure where to go - not only will everywhere be packed (expected and accepted), but I'm sure the music will be pumping as well.

Interesting that most people here are agreeing with the original post - no one here has said "no way man, I love it being so loud that I can't speak to anyone!"

eviltimeban

bobbygrant wrote: »

I also hate when bands in pubs play their music too loud so you have to shout over them. No one came specifically to listen to them despite what they seem to think, they should only be in the background.

Again, the fault of the venue as the band are playing through the venue's PA, and the sound engineer (normally employed by the pub) decides the level of the music. Not the band.

Chancer3001

That's why the smoking room became so popular, even for non smokers

cantdecide

Napper Hawkins wrote: »

I'm not sure I understand you here, generic music is what makes the most money.

This kind of thing?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSD4vsh1zDA

Puke. (151m views.... /shudder)

I'll elaborate:

What I mean to say is that in the history of humanity, we have had enough talent and produced and recorded enough music to keep every venue pumped with playlists that can keep the most and least discerning happy most of the time.

There's a place I go to regularly to play pool with some mates which isn't much of a music venue. One of the bar staff had a brilliant setlist of classic to modern pop and indie. Some really inspired choices in a cohesive order. Since she moved on, it's back to the pop chart dross played way too loud. We didn't realise how good we had it and have stopped going there as much now.

Links234

bobbygrant wrote: »

I also hate when bands in pubs play their music too loud so you have to shout over them. No one came specifically to listen to them despite what they seem to think, they should only be in the background.

Actually, a lot of people do go to pubs that have live music specifically to experience live music. It is a big draw for a lot of people, and some pubs do their best business when they have bands playing because of this.

I don't get After Hours most of the time, you guys seem to complain that every pub isn't exactly the same, you complain about craft pubs not serving the usual lagers you get everywhere else. Either you seem to think your tastes should be the only ones catered for, or you don't realize there's a diverse market out there and lots of people have different tastes and some pubs try to attract those people. A lot of people go to pubs for music, be it live or a specific genre pub, and a lot of other people go for different reasons too.

There's plenty of pubs I hate, I can't stand the average 'Oirish' tourist trap, or pubs that have pool tables because they seem to attract a certain type, I hate gay bars, and so I go elsewhere because they're not my thing. I don't go complaining that every pub in the country should have Hogwarts Bukkake on tap, I go to a pub that suits me.

chakotha

It's always done my nut in when the music in a pub has to be roared over. Clubs are fine but not pubs. I'm not much of a live music fan really unless the band is f-in brilliant.

LOSTfan57

Well if you dont like the music in a pub surely you can go to a pub you like????? Rather than expecting the pub to change to suit one complainer??? I dont think any publican will change what is obviously a winning formula for them. If you dont like loud pubs go to quiet pubs, if you dont like quiet pubs go to loud pubs? Surely this is easily solved????

bodhrandude

The problem with pubs and loud music is that some pubs just have cheap stereo systems or amplification, so when its blasted out the sound comes out distorted and irritable. There are certain pubs who get it right, the sound system in the Button Factory for instance, the incidental music being played before live acts come on, I found I could have a decent conversation with most folk while the music was blasting away, good solid state speakers where the sound balance is perfect.

The Blue Note in Galway has a decent sound system where music is pumping but there is a mixing desk involved where the sound is not compressed or distorted, it sounds clear and you can hear what the next person is saying to you quite clearly.

rubadub

LOSTfan57 wrote: »

Rather than expecting the pub to change to suit one complainer???

Just because people don't complain doesn't mean they are fine with it. Many people just grin & bear it, like they tolerate atrociously poor selections of drinks, 12 types of vodka, 1 stout :rolleyes: -pathetic.

I remember being in 1 a while ago with music blaring and commenting to my friend that I doubt there is a single person in this pub who would want the music at this level, let alone louder.

I stuggle to think of any time where I heard anyone I know complaining that music was too low.

LOSTfan57 wrote: »

I dont think any publican will change what is obviously a winning formula for them.

Is it winning though? have they really seen significant fall off in trade with it being lower. It would be interesting to see a study. I would certainly not trust the word of many idiot publicans, the type who are paying €35+ for a crate of heineken bottles and then claiming supermarkets are below cost selling. The same publican who has an off licence brimming with a huge selection of beers yet seemingly presume no customers what that when out. The ones who blindly copy all the other ones like sheep.

looking_around

I can't stand loud music(/sounds). I stay away from any pub blasting it and wear ear plugs to the disco.
Whatever about live bands, stereo music should be lower.
I'm not sure it's true that people drink more when they can' talk. Those that want to chat will just leave, if they stop in at all.

In saying that loud music pubs often seem the busiest, so maybe most people 'need' the excuse not to talk when out with their 'friends'.

Don't often come across pubs with the music level as background only.

wandatowell

Duggy747 wrote: »

In my local there does be quite a battle on the jukebox with people mixing it up from dubstep to Kenny Roger to Pitbull to Garth Brooks.

It's like a setlist from hell.

Ive often thrown this on the locals jukebox about 5 or 6 times in a row

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4Bl_VQ2inM

the confused looks on peoples faces in great craic

cloudatlas

I think they could at least turn the music down in the morning/afternoon so that people who want to come in and have a quiet pint and a read of the paper can do and then turn it up for the after work crowd.

dd972

To prevent people talking about s**t that matters?

renegademaster

Links234 wrote: »

I don't get After Hours most of the time

if the skies opened up and jesus christ himself appeared if wouldn't be good enough for some people!!

enfant terrible

Links234 wrote: »

I like to troll places like that by putting on Tom Waits, one time I put on What's He Building In There? and the barman was about ready to murder me to death :pac:

Electric Six - Gay Bar

spiralism

I do like live music but it can be irritating that in every single pub at nighttime its near enough guaranteed to be loud as **** and my hearing isnt amazing (at 23, worryingly) so i tend to camp the smoking area most of the time, though i dont really smoke and have asthma. But it's hard to say that there shouldnt be live music...i dunno, it's probably on of the reasons why many around my age still prefer just to predrink instead

Mint Aero

I dont get this less talking means more drinking bollix, it does in me beautifully firm hole. If anything you spend more time crouched into someones face shouting HEH?! than drinking.

I've never ever gotten drunk in a club or a place with loud music...never. I have gotten drunk in normal pubs. It takes good convo to get the drink flowing imo. If I can't talk because of loud music, I'm not going to suddenly turn into a fish. By that logic I should be pissed right now since I'm sitting at home on me own with no one to talk to but no, I'm not, only had one whiskey.

Stupid nonsense so it is.

myfriendtom

I was in a certain "several floors of fun " bar in temple bar on Friday night and they had a lad on playing guitar and singing. It was so loud you literally couldn't hear the person sitting across from you and the place was packed with people sititing at table's, looking disgruntled. We left pretty quickly and I'm sure others did the same.
When you're in a bar rather than a night club, and you can't talk amongst your group, it's too loud