Why Are Venues Always So Bright?

[grouse]

I remember the days when you walked into a soul venue you had to wait for your eyes to adjust to the dark. They always needed a separate record bar so you could see the records.

Now, everywhere is so bright you can look through records sitting beside the dancefloor. It totally ruins the atmosphere.

I've heard 'health and safety' used as an excuse on various occasions. Lowton used to be great before they replaced that emergency light above the dancefloor and painted the whole place white. Other venues are just as bad if not worse.

Grumpy tries it's best with the lights covered up but even that is brighter than the old venues.

Bring back the days when you couldn't see the other side of the room.

Does anyone know why venues are so bright nowadays? Is it so people can record Youtube videos?

Edited May 10, 2015 by grouse

[Zed1]

'Elf & Safety dictates that's all venue's need to be as light as possible to stop punters tripping over handbags when they're walking back across the dance floor with a tray full of drinks.

[Hooker1951]

I remember the days when you walked into a soul venue you had to wait for your eyes to adjust to the dark. They always needed a separate record bar so you could see the records.

 

Now, everywhere is so bright you can look through records sitting beside the dancefloor. It totally ruins the atmosphere.

 

I've heard 'health and safety' used as an excuse on various occasions. Lowton used to be great before they replaced that emergency light above the dancefloor and painted the whole place white. Other venues are just as bad if not worse.

 

Grumpy tries it's best with the lights covered up but even that is brighter than the old venues.

 

Bring back the days when you couldn't see the other side if the room.

 

Does anyone know why venues are so bright nowadays? Is it so people can record Youtube videos?

 

Totally agree with you, most venues are much to bright. it is all the Health and Safety to blame the management and the staff at the venues where we promote are all hard work it's always a constant battle switching lights off and them switching on again. I remember when I used to promote Tony's Emp at Blackburn they fitted a orange light right over the Dancefloor said Health n safety it killed the vibe.I took a 22 pistol in the next month and shot it out. We brushed the mess up.It was about 12 months later before the proprietors noticed. If I'd have asked they would have said no. The Darker the Better I say.

Keep on Pressing on ML

[Scotters]

Lamps shining from behind the decks so DJs can see what they're doing, annoying when they point out to the dance floor.

Record dealers with lamps shining on their sales boxes and annoying when they point out to the dance floor.

Some people using those star-bright lights on their phones or other devices when recording for whatever reason.

Camera flashes where I cant then see anything for a good few minutes.

Bars with heaven knows how many lights on them, over them, behind them.

Fire exit lights, streetlamps outside, cars passing the windows with their light on.

...arggghhh I'm such a Soul Mole!    Sorry I feel better now and staying in tonight with all the lights off.

[Mark S]

Because of an EU directive to harmonise the experience of a Youtube viewer and a punter who is actually there so the aforementioned is not handicapped by the lack of lumens .

[Mellorful]

Lamps shining from behind the decks so DJs can see what they're doing, annoying when they point out to the dance floor.

Record dealers with lamps shining on their sales boxes and annoying when they point out to the dance floor.

Some people using those star-bright lights on their phones or other devices when recording for whatever reason.

Camera flashes where I cant then see anything for a good few minutes.

Bars with heaven knows how many lights on them, over them, behind them.

Fire exit lights, streetlamps outside, cars passing the windows with their light on.

...arggghhh I'm such a Soul Mole!    Sorry I feel better now and staying in tonight with all the lights off.

Better not let the man from the ministry know you are staying in with the lights off or he'll be round yours with the H&S gang putting 100 watt bulbs emergency lighting in every room.  

[Len]

I remember the days when you walked into a soul venue you had to wait for your eyes to adjust to the dark. They always needed a separate record bar so you could see the records.

 

Now, everywhere is so bright you can look through records sitting beside the dancefloor. It totally ruins the atmosphere.

 

I've heard 'health and safety' used as an excuse on various occasions. Lowton used to be great before they replaced that emergency light above the dancefloor and painted the whole place white. Other venues are just as bad if not worse.

 

Grumpy tries it's best with the lights covered up but even that is brighter than the old venues.

 

Bring back the days when you couldn't see the other side if the room.

 

Does anyone know why venues are so bright nowadays? Is it so people can record Youtube videos?

 

Halle’f*ckin’luiah! - I thought it was just me (Oh, and Mick Lyons)  

 

You should never be able to see the other side of a dance floor - If ya can, the atmos lacks!

 

I understand the health and safety pain in the *rse angle, but sometimes it’s venues' managers that don’t understand, and prefer it lighter to make their job easier.

 

I remember at the first venue I promoted - Much to the bemusement of the management, I rolled up bin bags and stuck them to the bright strip lights behind the bar - It made ALL the difference………ahem, until they got too hot  

 

We don’t want a Tea Dance - We want dingy!

 

All the best,

 

Len  (The Prince Of Darkness wasn't it Joan?)

 

P.s - I think it’s great when (after an event) someone says…....”I didn’t realise you were there!”…....

Edited May 9, 2015 by LEN

[Tobytyke]

 Forget health and safety its Soul Police legislation, checking O.V.O

[Sikirby]

 Forget health and safety its Soul Police legislation, checking O.V.O

 

If the venues and DJ's are decent enough then there would only be OVO played as that's what the scene was built around; collecting, listening and dancing to the rare and obscure on its original format and not off a cd, memory stick/pc  or boots. As for atmosphere,that's something else that seems to be missing from today's scene, too brightly lit venues and the lack of clapping even the "Worlds No1 Allnighter" with its decent numbers doesn't seem to have that much atmosphere in comparison to those from the halcyon days.........or am I just being just a tad get too critical?

[Guest the fifer]

You can't expect the elderly to be wandering around tripping over their beer towels in the dark surely!

 

Derek

[Guest soultanforreal]

St ives oldies room 74 till shut now was that black or what but agree totally wboro weekender suffered 2 years ago but better last year windows blacked out sanity prevails stoke bout right yes atmosphere not the same but age and habits the reason I think

[Labeat]

Am i allowed to change the subject slightly?...... Well i'm going to, like it or not.

Can we have a volume restriction everywhere, we aren't teenagers anymore

[Phil Shields]

Not all venues are brightly lit

Rugby all nighter the main rooms nice and dark like it should be

[Philt]

They're not if Joan's got anything to do with em! Princess of darkness. That was one of her preconditions George: "those lights n windows have gotta go." It's dark by comparison with most venues but we'd have it like night if we possibly could. 

 

Never mind the atmosphere, there's nowt worse than realising you're on a night out in a room with loads of other old, overweight, bald folk when you thought you were still at the cutting edge. 

 

Pitch black n dingy rules ok Len   

Edited May 10, 2015 by PhilT

[Labeat]

Not all venues are brightly lit

Rugby all nighter the main rooms nice and dark like it should be

Phil, at the back of the main hall near the entrance to the 2nd room, it is pitch black,

i tripped up a couple of times, can you provide us with torches please?

[Guest RobCroskell]

At the Horse & Jockey in Doncaster it's as dark as it can be it's like being back down t'pit.. and its ovo!

[Louis]

I've always preferred the dark, dodgy and underground theme as a background to the music.

 

 

Louis

[Guest Soultown andy]

Like mick says [hooker on here] its a battle with staff and proprieters to get it dark,some of them are nearly impossible to deal with.

[spot]

They are so bright because we are all so blind, Cataracts you know for us old dodgers and Neil I agree sometimes the music's to loud but that's to be heard over the constant whistling of hearing aids!!!! Who said that? I didn't see!!    

Spot.  

[hullsoul]

I thought they were brightly lit so I could see everyone's happy smiling faces from anywhere in the room

Cheers

Martyn

[Dave West]

They are so bright because we are all so blind, Cataracts you know for us old dodgers and Neil I agree sometimes the music's to loud but that's to be heard over the constant whistling of hearing aids!!!! Who said that? I didn't see!!    

Spot.  

its lighter cos the lights bouncing off all them shiny bonces, ha ha

[hullsoul]

its lighter cos the lights bouncing off all them shiny bonces, ha ha

Dave

I resemble that remark

Cheers

Martyn

[Labeat]

They should hand out carrots as you enter the building and throat lozenges as you depart,

[Chalky]

Am i allowed to change the subject slightly?...... Well i'm going to, like it or not.

Can we have a volume restriction everywhere, we aren't teenagers anymore

 

The last Lifeline I went on t'stage and Sam had the levels all the way up, all the red lit up.  Now Sam has been around long enough to know it shouldn't be in the red and he wasn't happy when I told him to turn it down.  He didn't listen so I sent Sean to sort him out.  Something will be said next time as locals not happy.

[KevH]

Agree. Many venues too light.Ask Steve L.....he used to take out the light bulbs to darken the place.....

I'd happily leave the light off as we depart many niters as well......we are not a pretty sight after 10/12 hours....

Volume..?   Well you can tell who's on at some venues without looking.....Amp insurance must be on the up....

[KevH]

Steve L has been known to take out lightbulbs to give the venue more bollx. 

Can i request some venues leave the lights off as we depart.? Not a pretty sight after 10/12 hours are we,?

Volume - you can tell who's on without looking at times,,,,,Amp insurance must be on the up and  up....

[Labeat]

Kev, i can't decide which version i prefer, the first issue (25) or 2nd issue (alt take) 26?

Either way, both bloody good lyrically!

[KevH]

Kev, i can't decide which version i prefer, the first issue (25) or 2nd issue (alt take) 26?

Either way, both bloody good lyrically!

 

 

Bloody technology Neil. Didn't think first post had made it thru the wire.

[Jerry Hipkiss]

No change there then...bless him...

The last Lifeline I went on t'stage and Sam had the levels all the way up, all the red lit up.

 

I have to admit, before now if I've been on just before Sam I've dropped the master levels back a bit during the last track in my set - more in hope than expectation mind...

Edited May 10, 2015 by Jerry Hipkiss

[Frankie Crocker]

Presumably so they can film all those Shredded Wheat adverts...

[Ady Croasdell]

The 100 Club's usually on the Black Hole Of Calcutta end of the spectrum.

[Steve S 60]

There's also the problem of early doors in the summer, when the venue doesn't have any decent black out curtains / blinds.

[Quinvy]

The Burnley nighters when I ran them were always very dark. I wouldn't have run it otherwise. The owner didn't give a monkeys for health and safety bullshit, and neither did I. 

 

Badly set up PA's are the reason I won't go out anymore. Tried it a few months ago and it was that bad you couldn't tell what the record was that was playing. Yet several people wrote look backs saying the night was brilliant?????

 

I give up.   

[Bossfourpart1]

At Norwich Backstreet gigs we've found that people hold back from going on the dance floor if its too bright. I guess they feel too exposed ,when all they want to do is groove to the tunes. Unfortunately some venues don't have much flexibility with their lighting its either On or Off. All the best gigs i remember were dark dance floor set-ups.

One Allnighter at the UEA in Norwich we had to put Bin bags over the windows as the daylight at 03.30am was coming through lighting up the venue. (Professor T you remember).

I agree keep them dark !

ATB Frank

[Nz Soul]

its all the shine of the bald heads

[Labeat]

It remains too light too long at night and too light too early in a morning

Our members have sussed it.... blame Mother Nature

[Soulbarner]

The Burnley nighters when I ran them were always very dark. I wouldn't have run it otherwise. The owner didn't give a monkeys for health and safety bullshit, and neither did I. 

 

Badly set up PA's are the reason I won't go out anymore. Tried it a few months ago and it was that bad you couldn't tell what the record was that was playing. Yet several people wrote look backs saying the night was brilliant?????

 

I give up.   

If I remember rightly phil the curtains were an awful fit, wendy was forever trying to close the gaps down the sides and middle to keep the light out when you ran Burnley   they now have proper blackout blinds up!!!

 

 And isn't it still the same PA system that you had?????  ..........and yes I remember the last time you were there co's all you did was moan even though it was one of the busiest nights there's been that I can remember....and I attended all the ones wen you ran it!!!!

 You've turned in to the Old hermit of Barlick pick your dummy up man, stop sucking on lemons 'an get th'a sen out!!! ..........we miss you

[Labeat]

Whoa, your for it now Kev

[KevH]

It remains too light too long at night and too light too early in a morning

Our members have sussed it.... blame Mother Nature

 

Says LaBeat - head of the Grumpy Old Men.

[KevH]

If I remember rightly phil the curtains were an awful fit, wendy was forever trying to close the gaps down the sides and middle to keep the light out when you ran Burnley   they now have proper blackout blinds up!!!

 

 And isn't it still the same PA system that you had?????  ..........and yes I remember the last time you were there co's all you did was moan even though it

was one of the busiest nights there's been that I can remember....and I attended all the ones wen you ran it!!!!

 You've turned in to the Old hermit of Barlick pick your dummy up man, stop sucking on lemons 'an get th'a sen out!!! ..........we miss you 

 

"If I remember rightly phil the curtains were an awful fit,"........Kev you're sounding like Laurence lllewyn Bowen...  

Edited May 11, 2015 by KevH

[Labeat]

Says LaBeat - head of the Grumpy Old Men.

No Kev, it's whats been quoted by members, not my view

[Winsford Soul]

The darker the better. Creatures of the night dont like daylight

Steve

[Len]

Darkness rules!

 

One night I arrived at ‘Soul in the Bowl’ (Rushden) only to find that ‘The Den’ had been decorated - all the walls painted white!!! Worse still, they had taken down all the blinds to do so……”Oh, they took them down to decorate”…..Grrrrr - I was f*ckin’ livid!.......I then clocked that the lights from the car park were shining through the windows, lighting up my ‘Dark Den’ even more, so I got a screw driver and went outside to dismantle them. Me not being an electrician got the shock of my life - literally! It went straight through me, I fell to the ground, and snapped the plastic chair I was standing on clean in half! (and it blo*dy hurt!)

 

That is how strongly I feel about ‘THE DARKNESS!'

 

True story.

 

Len  

Edited May 11, 2015 by LEN

[Quinvy]

If I remember rightly phil the curtains were an awful fit, wendy was forever trying to close the gaps down the sides and middle to keep the light out when you ran Burnley   they now have proper blackout blinds up!!!

 

 And isn't it still the same PA system that you had?????  ..........and yes I remember the last time you were there co's all you did was moan even though it was one of the busiest nights there's been that I can remember....and I attended all the ones wen you ran it!!!!

 You've turned in to the Old hermit of Barlick pick your dummy up man, stop sucking on lemons 'an get th'a sen out!!! ..........we miss you

Like I said Kev, I give up. If you can't tell the difference in the sound, then I was just wasting my time trying to make everything perfect. You can't equalise recordings. Graphic equalisers are for live bands. I wanted to listen to Cliff's spot, and I would have attended on a regular basis if I could actually heard what was being played. If I hadn't gone there with Cliff and Stu, I would have walked straight out.

 

I notice that Cliff hasn't Dj'ed there since that night. I wonder why?

 

If you enjoy yourself that's all that matters. But I only go for the music, and I want to be able to recognise what's being played. Boom, boom, boom isn't for me.

Edited May 12, 2015 by Dave Moore
Sentence Removed by Mod Team

[Russ Vickers]

Right On For the Darkness........

[Russ Vickers]

Like I said Kev, I give up. If you can't tell the difference in the sound, then I was just wasting my time trying to make everything perfect. You can't equalise recordings. Graphic equalisers are for live bands. I wanted to listen to Cliff's spot, and I would have attended on a regular basis if I could actually heard what was being played. If I hadn't gone there with Cliff and Stu, I would have walked straight out.

 

I notice that Cliff hasn't Dj'ed there since that night. I wonder why?

 

 

If you enjoy yourself that's all that matters. But I only go for the music, and I want to be able to recognise what's being played. Boom, boom, boom isn't for me.

 

May I make a suggestion...if like you suggest Phil the sound isnt right, Im sure that the promoter would be very open if you were to politely contact him & make an offer to help & or advise...you obviously know the accoustics of the room etc, you could then go along & enjoy your self as well, Im sure everryone would love to see you out & about again, I know I would...

 

Best Russ  

[Quinvy]

May I make a suggestion...if like you suggest Phil the sound isnt right, Im sure that the promoter would be very open if you were to politely contact him & make an offer to help & or advise...you obviously know the accoustics of the room etc, you could then go along & enjoy your self as well, Im sure everryone would love to see you out & about again, I know I would...

 

Best Russ  

I tried on the night Russ, but to no avail.

[Len]

Ref the sound - I often hear people say…..”It was fine when we set up”…..When a venue fills with people (or cushions) all needs turning up to compensate. When the kit is at that stage it should be nowhere near its’ maximum - if it is, the sound will obviously be distorted.

 

I wasn’t happy with the in house equipment at ‘Lennys’, so we ‘lugged’ all our kit up there, set it up, and were still not happy. We then plugged our kit into their ‘surround sound’ speakers, and I could not believe the huge difference - It sounded fantastic in comparison to just one speaker on either side of the stage.

 

This and ‘the darkness’ are so important…….The D.J’s are next down the line!  

 

All the best,

 

Len