Obnoxious Neighbour
Thu, 17 Feb 2005, 08:06 ambruce14 posts in thread
Obnoxious Neighbour
Thu, 17 Feb 2005, 08:06 amI am looking for advice on behalf of the Goldfields Repertory Club, we are facing problems from a neighbour who has made complaints to our City Council about Noise Pollution. Our Theatre has been in its present location since the 1940s or 50s and in 1998 the City Council approved a development of 8 units next door! Our Christmas show saw the Council Enviromental officer pay us two visits and in our current poduction we have had to endure rocks being thrown onto our roof, to celebrate opening night.
The GRC committee has asked me to investigate the options so we can better soundproof our Theatre. The original Theatre burnt down in the mid 70s and the present building started Life as an old Railways Shed I've been told. It has a Corrugated Iron Roof that is supported by large timber trusses and all that is between the stage and the outside world ( other than the Iron) is some dodgy Sisalation. My thoughts are to line with Chipboard and Insulation Batts or a more suitable material but am unsure of what will be best for the Soundproofing and the Acoustics for the auditorium. I dont want to make it soundproof to the outside and then find that the material is also damping the Actors Voices. The Theatre only seats 90 so we aren't talking about huge spaces. As a Community Theatre Group our budgets are also a big consideration.
The GRC committee has asked me to investigate the options so we can better soundproof our Theatre. The original Theatre burnt down in the mid 70s and the present building started Life as an old Railways Shed I've been told. It has a Corrugated Iron Roof that is supported by large timber trusses and all that is between the stage and the outside world ( other than the Iron) is some dodgy Sisalation. My thoughts are to line with Chipboard and Insulation Batts or a more suitable material but am unsure of what will be best for the Soundproofing and the Acoustics for the auditorium. I dont want to make it soundproof to the outside and then find that the material is also damping the Actors Voices. The Theatre only seats 90 so we aren't talking about huge spaces. As a Community Theatre Group our budgets are also a big consideration.
Re: Obnoxious Neighbour
Sat, 19 Feb 2005, 12:33 amOne thing to maybe think of is next time you do a tech run, have the Council Environment Officer come round with a decibel meter. As I understand it, you can now get these exquisite little devices on mobile phones now.
Hint: I want one for Christmas! Meter, that is...
If the measurements taken by the officer are within the legal limits (76dB or thereabouts- someone is sure to correct me if I'm wrong) you should have no problems. Buy the neighbour a set of earmuffs for Christmas or something- or petition to have the inconvenient swine evicted for abusing/vandalising your property.
It doesn't take much to go over 70dB, however. Most car stereos will hit that roughly a third of the way up. It all depends on the show you are doing. The Who's "Tommy" might be out of the question...
And as far as damping the actors voices- if you soundproof the interior walls (and all methods discussed would work) the actors would still be audible in a 90 seat venue. In fact, going for an anechoic chamber effect could be beneficial. Expensive, but beneficial.
El
Hint: I want one for Christmas! Meter, that is...
If the measurements taken by the officer are within the legal limits (76dB or thereabouts- someone is sure to correct me if I'm wrong) you should have no problems. Buy the neighbour a set of earmuffs for Christmas or something- or petition to have the inconvenient swine evicted for abusing/vandalising your property.
It doesn't take much to go over 70dB, however. Most car stereos will hit that roughly a third of the way up. It all depends on the show you are doing. The Who's "Tommy" might be out of the question...
And as far as damping the actors voices- if you soundproof the interior walls (and all methods discussed would work) the actors would still be audible in a 90 seat venue. In fact, going for an anechoic chamber effect could be beneficial. Expensive, but beneficial.
El