Production Shows - Why So Loud?

[SargassoPirate]

Just got off the Eurodam. We had to stop attending the production shows rather than sitting with our fingers in our ears to endure them. The production shows were so over-amplified that it was almost painful, but certainly uncomfortable to sit through. The music volume was cranked up so loud that the singers voices had to be amplified above that to the point of distortion. When I complained, I was told that I was the only one who had complained and that the sound levels are set by contract with the production show company.

 

One has to ask - are they trying to mask an otherwise mediocre quality show by blasting it so loud, or does HAL own shares in a major hearing aid company?

[OCruisers]

The music volume was cranked up so loud that the singers voices had to be amplified above that to the point of distortion.

 

Good Post!

While it's loud enough to awaken the dead, it's too distorted to "hear" the words of those singing. :rolleyes:

We liked to sit at a bar with a couple. She loved going to production shows so they always did. Before leaving, he loved to joke and say that it was time for him to take out his hearing aid and put in ear plugs. :D

LuLu

[gisnered]

Current "wisdom" in the hospitality industry is that louder is better, more youthful, gives the illusion that people are having fun even if they are not, and provokes them to drink. $$$$

[Mytime2014]

I find it is like that in a lot of venues, including movies. The music is so loud the voices are distorted. Sometimes even in church - the music is great, but I can't tell what the choir is singing....

[Krazy Kruizers]

It has definitely gotten worse the last few years.

When we filled out surveys, both of wrote about the loud guitarist in the Crow's Nest -- volume was unreal. We were invited to a VIP party there and a couple of staff came over to talk to us and we could not hear them. We mentioned to the staff members about the loud music. Nothing was done. So stopped going to the Crow's Nest.

Same thing with the Screaming HAL Cats -- we walk out when they start to play.

We haven't been to a main show in years.

[rkacruiser]

HAL is not the only cruise line that has had complaints about loud music. The Celebrity Message Board has also recently had such comments as well.

[sugarcharlie]

Loud?!

 

I was on the NA for a collectors cruise over spring break. When we entered the showroom for one of the shows each of us was given earplugs and drumsticks. We then chose a pot or other item to bang on during the show.

 

It was an all percussion show that starred a group that were finalists in Americas Got Talent and currently play on the Las Vegas strip.

 

They were fantastic and worked harder than any performers I have seen on any ship.

 

Maybe HAL figured that there would be some families with younger kids on board because of the spring vacation period so they booked magicians, jugllers and the percussion group that week.

 

I think it's better to have a lively show than ones that put you to sleep. Besides they want people coming out and going straight to the casino rather than tired and ready to go to their cabin!

[USN59-79]

What I have noticed on recent HAL cruises is that the background music is always much louder than the singer. I am sure that that is controlled by the techs in back of us but I am unsure why they do it that way. When they are paying the big bucks for the singer, why are we overwhelmed by the ship's band?

[durangoscots]

I have walked out on loud shows also.... with my ears literally ringing. I am in my late 70's, hear very well thank you, and would like to keep it that way.

 

Susan

[Sue from Canada]

What I have noticed on recent HAL cruises is that the background music is always much louder than the singer. I am sure that that is controlled by the techs in back of us but I am unsure why they do it that way. When they are paying the big bucks for the singer, why are we overwhelmed by the ship's band?

 

My opinion exactly. I always sit at the back of the show lounge or in the balcony (and I'm only in my 50s).

[Carnevale]

Sadly, this is a problem now on most lines. We have stopped going to the shows for exactly this reason. We just cannot understand this trend and hope that HAL will read this thread and take action!

[pearliemae]

Sadly, this is a problem now on most lines. We have stopped going to the shows for exactly this reason. We just cannot understand this trend and hope that HAL will read this thread and take action!

Same here, way too loud!

[knippsel]

Does HAL still have classical music aboard? If so, do they amplify that, too?

[Jemery]

We have noted too loud performances, notably on the Carnival Breeze, but except for the guitarist on the Nieuw Amsterdam, we were very happy with the volume of the various performers on our recent trans-Atlantic. DW agrees with me.

-John

[tooalto]

It's not just onboard. Singing, or screaming, at the top of your lungs is now deemed to be "great singing". Check out any of the so-called reality shows like The Voice or American Idol. No one can just sing, they all have to scream. Don't even get me started on the national anthem at sporting events!. I immediately mute the sound.

 

That said, we still enjoy the shows for what they are - young performers working hard to make a living. Will they ever make it? Probably not but they provide a decent evening's entertainment.

[Aruba]

Does HAL still have classical music aboard? If so, do they amplify that, too?

The music is not amplified when the string/piano duo ("Adagio") perform in Explorations Lounge.

Adagio IS amplified when performing in the show lounge, which they may do during a segment of a show one night.

[doublebzz]

It goes way beyond cruise ships. You can't walk into most groceries, department stores and specialty shops without being bombarded with loud so called music. How this is an inducement to buy more is a mystery to me. If I want to listen to rock and roll, I'll go to a concert; I don't need it while shopping for a pair of socks.

[TiogaCruiser]

I think it is a trend now that is perceived as "being exciting". At least that is how one of the young people I work with says it. And many of the restaurants here have been set up in such a way as to apparently maximize the noise. The last time we went to Lucille's it was so loud we could not hold a conversation at a small bistro (24") table. (And I do mean LAST time).

 

That is just too loud. Normally American English is spoken at approx 50 dB for a normal conversation at 3 feet apart. whisper can be around 30 dB. At around 80/85 dB one is at risk for a noise induced hearing loss. (A type of Sensory Neural hearing loss that is permanent and affects the higher frequency sounds more. Incidentally, the higher frequency sounds are the consonants - which give meaning to speech. Thus, the person may hear the voice create vowel sounds (lower frequency) but the higher frequency consonants are not there and they perceive the speech as unclear mumbles. The word "consonants" would loose the "c", "s" and "t" with a 4000 Hrtz and greater loss)).

 

I guess it would not be surprising that many musicians use custom ear mold ear plugs..... And I did notice on the kitchen tour that there headsets for hearing protection in the dish washing station.

Edited May 11, 2014 by TiogaCruiser
Intelli-sense not working..... On my iphone :)

[donaldsc]

Just got off the Eurodam. We had to stop attending the production shows rather than sitting with our fingers in our ears to endure them. The production shows were so over-amplified that it was almost painful, but certainly uncomfortable to sit through. The music volume was cranked up so loud that the singers voices had to be amplified above that to the point of distortion. When I complained, I was told that I was the only one who had complained and that the sound levels are set by contract with the production show company.

 

One has to ask - are they trying to mask an otherwise mediocre quality show by blasting it so loud, or does HAL own shares in a major hearing aid company?

 

Perhaps it is because musicians and show people have had their hearing destroyed because of over exposure to loud music so they do not realize that the sound level is ear splitting. I pack foam earplugs when I travel.

 

DON

[sail7seas]

Loud?!

 

I was on the NA for a collectors cruise over spring break. When we entered the showroom for one of the shows each of us was given earplugs and drumsticks. We then chose a pot or other item to bang on during the show.

 

It was an all percussion show that starred a group that were finalists in Americas Got Talent and currently play on the Las Vegas strip.

 

They were fantastic and worked harder than any performers I have seen on any ship.

 

Maybe HAL figured that there would be some families with younger kids on board because of the spring vacation period so they booked magicians, jugllers and the percussion group that week.

 

I think it's better to have a lively show than ones that put you to sleep. Besides they want people coming out and going straight to the casino rather than tired and ready to go to their cabin!

 

 

We went to that pots and pans loud show on Westerdam and lasted about 10 minutes until we left begging for silence. The noise was so loud, I have no concept of how that could be called entertainment. I would have paid this group to leave at the next port and never return. Awful!

 

 

 

It goes way beyond cruise ships. You can't walk into most groceries, department stores and specialty shops without being bombarded with loud so called music. How this is an inducement to buy more is a mystery to me. If I want to listen to rock and roll, I'll go to a concert; I don't need it while shopping for a pair of socks.

 

 

I agree. Some restaurants now have 'background music' that is so loud it near prohibits conversation. What is the point? Why? :confused: I don't understand this need for loud noise that seems to have invaded our society.

 

[kakalina]

For on board shows I do just what I do at home when I wish to go the movies. I take soft ear plugs. It mutes the loudness just enough so I can hear the show and enjoy it.

[igraf]

We always bring earplugs to the shows. I buy the skin-colored plugs and cut the length in half to be discreet. Works very well!

 

igraf

 

 

 

 

 

...One has to ask - are they trying to mask an otherwise mediocre quality show by blasting it so loud, or does HAL own shares in a major hearing aid company?

[the2ofus]

I also mostly stay away from the shows. I must admit that I liked Droom a lot though, for the music, costumes, scenery and staging.

 

I think most people, unless they are trained as sound technicians or in audiology, believe that increasing volume increases how well people can hear. Sound is much more nuanced than that. Volume does not enhance clarity or understanding as Tioga Cruiser points out. Add to that the fact that often sound tracks are layered, combined or enhanced in recording studios which produces a fuzzy, unpleasant sound which some members of generations other than mine call music.

 

As for vocal music, where oh where are the clear mellow sounds of Perry Como, Tony Bennett and Doris Day? When they sang singly you could understand all the words. When they sang together it was in harmony and you could still understand all the words. They were singing together, not yelling at each other.

[sugarcharlie]

On the same cruise that had the percussion show there were several films that I wanted to see. I went to the movie screening room to watch one and the sound was so low that no one was able to follow the dialogue.

 

When the staff member that ran the films came by we asked if he could turn up the volume and he replied that he just starts the film and the volume is pre set. Hard to believe that they can't raise or lower the setting but that's what I was told.

 

By the way, the popcorn was just so so.

[serendipity1499]

It goes way beyond cruise ships. You can't walk into most groceries, department stores and specialty shops without being bombarded with loud so called music. How this is an inducement to buy more is a mystery to me. If I want to listen to rock and roll, I'll go to a concert; I don't need it while shopping for a pair of socks.

 

Bolding is mine: Or while dining either!!:D

 

DH has perfect hearing & I wear aids.. Last night we were in "Bonefish" a local seafood restaurant with another couple.. The large dining room was packed.. The din in that lDining room was unbearable for DH, because not only were there large groups of people laughing & talking loud to others at their tables, but the restaurant had so called "background" rock & roll music including drums that he could not stand.. I was able to tune the music out, but DH was miserable.. I finally asked if they could lower the music & they actually turned it off for about an hour.. But it was turned on again later..:(

 

I often have to either remove my hearing aids or lower them when I'm at Shows..

 

I lost my hearing in the 60's & 70's, when I worked at JFK, because I did not protect my ears when having lunch & breaks out on the observation decks when the Jets came in & out.. But the Baby boomers & younger people are becoming deaf much sooner.. Our 51 year old son is getting his first set of hearing aids in June.. He used to listen to the loud rock & roll music in his car, when he was younger..

Edited May 12, 2014 by serendipity1499