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john_hatz posted an update 12 years ago
Quartier des spectacles & noise complaints.
Being a concert promoter in Montreal one of the most common issues we have is sound complaints. Is this something that can be solved by proper sound engineering or sound proofing? is the problem really actual loud sound coming out of the concert hall or rather the residual noise made from people outside the venue smoking, talking, laughing etc. Over the last 15 years I have probably produced over 1000 concerts, parties and corporate events & I have to say the problem is growing more recently due to the increase in concerts mixed with urban real estate development, people are buying condos closer & closer to the core of the city, and they’re complaining about sound constantly. One of our saving graces was the designation of the “Quartier Des Spectacles” a zone defined for shows & concerts, an area where finally you could produce shows without worry of sound issues, but lately even within this designation there have been sound complaints, I have had police show up to sold out shows with decibel readers & force us to lower sound to the point where patrons request refunds. If you can’t make noise on St Laurent & St Denis where can you make noise? What is the point of designating a part of the city just for shows & then building condos int eh same designation? Who buys a condo on Renee Levesque & St Laurent & expects it to be quiet around them? All good questions, unfortunately there aren’t answers. Would love to hear your thoughts so please comment on this post.
If you want peace and quiet don’t go buying real estate in the city center. I understand the police have to follow up on all noise complaints but if you live above or near a concert venue then you forgo your right to complain. Coming from a residential district, complaints are understandable. In this case, it’s not as if someone decided to establish a venue in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Most of these venues have been around for a long time and, as you say, only recently has there been major residential development in those areas.
I don’t know how much authority the police have to displace crowds of smokers hanging out in front concert venue. More often than not there is already lots of noise coming from the streets themselves. I’m inclined to think that it is the noise from within that is causing problems. One potential solution would be to petition for an increase in the allowed decibel levels. My suggestion would be to look into that.