Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: GUEST,JHW
Date: 31 Dec 20 - 04:29 PM

I went away remembering "Downtown" and the voice but that reminded me of 'Uptown, uptempo woman, Downtown downbeat guy' Randy Edelman which I've just played, alas with a sad ending I'd forgotten.

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 31 Dec 20 - 10:56 AM

That too, PFR! Clap 'em in sound-absorbing facemasks, done up VERY tightly!

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 31 Dec 20 - 07:34 AM

.. the really wost noise in supermarkets
is uncontrollable screeching spoilt kids and their stressed out shouting mothers...

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 31 Dec 20 - 07:29 AM

The worst sound in a supermarket on our last trip was not music, but one of those rattly, clattery, bangy multi=storey trolleys that the shelf-packers use. I wouldn't have been able to hear any music against the noise it made: had to cover my ears, while husband was trying to shout over it, "Do we need any more xxxx?"

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: PHJim
Date: 30 Dec 20 - 03:40 PM

I recall (but can't seem to find) a cartoon of Kenny G getting out of an elevator and saying, "Man, Is that ever cool music."

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: Richard Mellish
Date: 30 Dec 20 - 08:35 AM

PFR: "What I relish about this kind of thread,
is just how much members of a supposed music lovers forum
are actually so grumpily hostile to music..."

There is music and there is music (and there is what some of us may think doesn't qualify for the name at all). A few of us may like all kinds, but most of us have some kinds that we like and resent having other kinds inflicted on us. Some of us object on principle to having any kind of music inflicted on us, even if it's a kind that we choose to listen to when it suits us. And anyway the kinds that Mudcatters tend to like are seldom the kinds played in shops etc.

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: Jack Campin
Date: 30 Dec 20 - 01:38 AM

Interesting history of this kind of music:

Elevator Music

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: Amergin
Date: 29 Dec 20 - 07:56 PM

I pair my bluetooth enabled hearing aids with my phone and use that...then, I pause it when I'm at the register so I can hear the clerk.

Those things are the best earbuds I've ever had...of course they're a little on the spendy side.

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 29 Dec 20 - 04:45 PM

Well, now I'm clued in on the gag..

I'm not one to tut tut about bleak transgressive humour..

Soon to be expecting a flood of dark metal band covers of Downtown...???


At least "Petula Clark told me to do it",
is a refreshing change from deranged terror1sts compelled by god or satan...

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: Jack Campin
Date: 29 Dec 20 - 04:19 PM

Nobody seemed to get what I was alluding to with "Downtown"...

Since last weekend, the perfect number for cranked-up-to-11 car stereos with the windows open.

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Dec 20 - 01:37 PM

PFR,

I believe the remark about 'Downtown' is a somewhat off colour reference to the recent Nashville bombing

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 29 Dec 20 - 01:22 PM

Well.. if we can't laugh at ourselves...

The name and persona "punkfolkrocker" would never have existed
if it wasn't for that bunch of online old intolerant acoustic folkie miseries
I encountered when I first discovered mudcat...

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: Jos
Date: 29 Dec 20 - 01:06 PM

I always disliked Petula Clark's voice - not because it isn't folkie but because it's too nasal. I still wouldn't like it if she was singing folk songs.
And I don't like ALL folk music, either, especially the bland, easy-listening kind.

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 29 Dec 20 - 12:31 PM

.. is it worth mentioning just how much folk music is actually bland MOR easy listening muzak...???

Background music for trendy middle class overpriced fashion and coffee shops...

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 29 Dec 20 - 12:26 PM

What I relish about this kind of thread,
is just how much members of a supposed music lovers forum
are actually so grumpily hostile to music...

Case in Point: "Downtown" being a classic song and recording,
and Petula Clark a well respected singer,
by most other reasonable standards..

Oh, but not worthy enough for the stringent puritanical dour tastes of miserable old folkies...!!!

It's a good job the rest of the music world is more tolerant
of them odd folk music weirdos...

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: Jos
Date: 29 Dec 20 - 11:06 AM

Not really fair to the other people who might be trying to shop, Jack.

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: Jack Campin
Date: 29 Dec 20 - 10:47 AM

Carry a ghetto blaster inside an unidentifiable crate with Petula Clark's "Downtown" playing LOUD.

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: Jos
Date: 29 Dec 20 - 04:04 AM

Thank you Richard.
I will most certainly join.

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: saulgoldie
Date: 28 Dec 20 - 04:31 PM

Wow! Thanks, Richard! We are not alone! And there is a chapter started in the US, too!

Thanks so much!

Saul

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: Richard Mellish
Date: 28 Dec 20 - 04:16 PM

I thought I had posted here but either I got sidetracked or my post has evaporated.

I have just renewed my subscription to Pipedown.

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: mayomick
Date: 28 Dec 20 - 03:12 PM

Whistling does the job , I find

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 26 Dec 20 - 03:58 PM

Pardon?

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: GUEST,JHW
Date: 26 Dec 20 - 06:29 AM

what?

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 26 Dec 20 - 05:03 AM

P.s. Those of us who wear hearing aids can just turn them off, when they will act as fairly efficient ear-plugs!

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 26 Dec 20 - 04:57 AM

Durung lockdown in the UK, and maybe beyond, pubs were forbidden from playing background music on the premise that this would make people shout at each other so as to be heard ove the music, and shouting increases virus transmission. Shouldn't this rule also apply to our stores? (Of course, now most of the pubs are shut as the country moves back into stricter lockdown again!)

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 26 Dec 20 - 03:09 AM

8 hours of vintage department store Christmas music

Nostalgia freaks may feel brave enough to further explore this channel
dedicated to vintage Kmart instore muzak...

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: Jos
Date: 23 Dec 20 - 08:22 AM

Both unwanted music, or 'musical' notes and sounds, as well as unwanted and often seemingly irrelevant 'noises'.

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: GUEST,JHW
Date: 23 Dec 20 - 08:14 AM

This era I've mostly shopped in 'Farm Shops' as they seem to be trying to cater for lockdown rulings. No music in any. Pricey but overall the year has saved me money.
Would like to remove unwanted music from BBC radio programmes.

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: Jos
Date: 23 Dec 20 - 07:08 AM

This time of year supermarkets tend to play what I can only describe as "Xmas music" - things like White Christmas sounding like a 45 rpm record played at 33 rpm. It's so-o-o depressing.

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: fat B****rd
Date: 23 Dec 20 - 06:54 AM

Yesterday in Tesco "Cool Jerk" by The Capitols came on !! Just thioutht I'd put me twopennorth in :-)
Merry Christmas all
fB Charlie

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Dec 20 - 03:11 AM

Back in the 1960s, I was a hippie wannabee and listened to folk music and folk rock. I missed out on rock 'n' roll. Now I find I really like 1960s pop music. It's really fun and light, and it makes me feel good. Here and there, I'll go in a store that will be playing that music, and I won't be the only person dancing in the aisles.

Our local health food store has "Senior Day" on Wednesdays, and I started shopping there for my wife when I turned 55 (long, long ago). They played music from the 40s and early 1950s, the music my dad used to play on the car radio. I like that stuff, too. Makes me feel young.

But sometimes, I go to stores where the music is annoying.

Oh, and I love to stop at a local In-N-Out hamburger place on the late night shift, on my way home from singing sessions in Sacramento. No recorded music - the staff members sing, all genres of music. None of them is over 30 years old, but I love the music they make. Sometimes, they sing songs I've sung at a singaround an hour or two before. When I go to a business where the employees sing, I'm in heaven.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 22 Dec 20 - 02:25 PM

I like old fashioned library music muzak..

But then I'm into the 'exotica' music scene...

What I can't tolerate is the bland safe homogenised contemporary music
that corporations sanction
for playing in coffee shops and retail outlets...

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 22 Dec 20 - 01:46 PM

The mother of them all - Muzak died awhile back.

My advice, take it or leave it, is... to save yourself from tears, this year, you should give your heart to someone special... or... just crank up the Zappa on ye auld Bluetooths.

Spanish Flea: 1 Hour Loop

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Dec 20 - 11:16 AM

Years ago there was supposedly subliminal stuff built into the store music, along the lines of "I won't shoplift."

I don't notice music in the few stores I enter these days, but I don't remember the last time I heard music in a store. The only one, and I like their music, are the stores in the Goodwill thrift store chain. They play very danceable old rock and roll music and I find myself keeping the beat as I move up and down the aisles.

There is a whole marketplace of noise-cancelling headphones out there. If that is the remedy start by reading tech reviews. There are high-end ones, but I think you can find the no-name variety to do the job you need without the huge hit to the pocketbook.

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: GUEST,paperback
Date: 22 Dec 20 - 11:00 AM

On a similar note

It's hard to concentrate on longer posts like yours Mr. Goldie when they are, for example: truncated into three parts by of all things advertisements for Facebook.

I hate to mention it but I have a hard enough time getting at what some of you old gits are on about without all the stopping and starting;)

And may Krampus be gentle with you also

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 21 Dec 20 - 06:16 PM

I don't believe that stores pick music to match the desired customer. Stores play the music that mid-management, esp. uncultivated mid-management, thinks is cool.   

One day the DH and I were in a Macy's store, and the whole floor we were on was empty except for us. My husband saw me standing with my hands over my ears and requested that the music be turned off. Of course we were told it could not be turned off, but the manager did turn it down.

One of the selections we had to listen to was "Sea Cruise", one of the nastiest pop songs ever. Even when I was a kid I knew that song had a bad smell to it. We left the store and drove along the tree-shaded streets of Johnson County Kansas, among beautiful homes in perfect condition, with manicured grounds. This is chamber music and jazz territory. It was no surprise to me the store was empty.

About blocking - sad to say, hearing protection is designed to block machine noise but not voices, so using it makes you hear the ugly singing better than ever. I know because I've tried it.

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: JennieG
Date: 21 Dec 20 - 04:55 PM

Several years ago Himself heard a radio interview about marketing, and one of the tools discussed was background music in stores. The person being interviewed said "stores aim their music at a particular demographic, so if you don't like the music being played or the volume it's played at - you aren't the customer they want".

Based on that, there would be very few stores who want me as a customer. We used to have a women's clothing store here which played really cool jazz (and at which I was known to spend the occasional dollar or two......or three......), but the owner had to sell up and move due to family illness.

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 21 Dec 20 - 02:55 PM

..fair enough.. if folk music is home made waste...

You clearly would not like "Industrial Music" genre..

Even a lot of punk rockers find that unlistenable.....

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: leeneia
Date: 21 Dec 20 - 02:44 PM

I am convinced that the playing of ugly music is a factor in the downfall of retail shopping. Restaurants seem to favor particularly ugly music, but they usually turn it down when asked.

Have you even been around industrial waste? If rock music were a substance, it would be industrial waste.

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: Jos
Date: 21 Dec 20 - 12:45 PM

Why only an hour? Why not two or three hours a day? Or a whole day?
It wouldn't inconvenience people who don't mind the music - they could still do their shopping, and might find they prefer doing it in peace.

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: EBarnacle
Date: 21 Dec 20 - 12:40 PM

Think like a techie. Carry a device that sets up an interfering signal. Perhaps static or Kate Smith's God Bless America. Even if it's hard wired, every time you go near one of the wires it should work. It will drive them nuts.

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 21 Dec 20 - 12:37 PM

Some stores in the UK were trialling a quiet hour last year.

It'd be worth asking.

https://corporate.asda.com/article/inclusive-hour-store-list (Tuesdays 10-11am)


The Asda page particularly mentions autism and dementia but they don't exclude the rest of us.
https://corporate.asda.com/blog/2019/02/05/were-extending-our-dementia-and-autism-friendly-inclusive-hour-trial-to-more-stores

"I suffered for many years with anxiety. I used to absolutely hate going into busy stores. There are a lot of people out there who have mental health issues. There are many people who don’t talk about it.

"We have a lot of disabled customers and we want to make the shop better for them."

Simon is amazed at the reaction to his idea. He said: "I've had customers from all over the country ring me to say they think it's a great idea, as well as managers from other businesses who are planning to do the same thing. To think all of this came from a one-minute chat with a customer and a Facebook post! It’s fantastic."

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: saulgoldie
Date: 21 Dec 20 - 12:33 PM

Thanks, Bonzo and Punk! I like it! Yeah, post it on social media! This could be yuge!

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 21 Dec 20 - 12:13 PM

Great minds think alike!!

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 21 Dec 20 - 12:09 PM

Get an old 1980s battery powered Ghetto Blaster and play tapes of folk music
very loud in every shop you visit..

Make sure videos of the ensuing chaos are uploaded to social media..

It may be picked up by National News Channels,
if the footage is outrageously hilarious and violent enough...

Subject: RE: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 21 Dec 20 - 11:51 AM

My problem with this sort of thing is when I come to deal with staff and I can't hear them over the music. Headphones won't be of any use there.

Subject: Tech: Blocking Unwanted Sound in Stores.
From: saulgoldie
Date: 21 Dec 20 - 10:22 AM

The other day, I was rudely reminded of how invasive I find the "In Store Audio Network" to be as I tried to concentrate on my shopping. The managers tell me that they are instructed from headquarters to play it. I don't know about the volume. But I'd hate to have to tell them to turn it down each and every time I go shopping.

I have several options. One is to just go to stores that don't play music, or pay it in such a way that it is relatively unobtrusive. Trader Joe's is such. Safeway and Giant are unmovable at this time.

Another is to go full on nuclear, and send out letters to the management of the offending stores, and make posts like this everywhere it is acceptable, maybe even lobby for laws.

Another approach is to get a set of headphones that eliminates or sufficiently blocks the sound to the point where it is no longer affecting my thinking process. This would obviously cost $$. I don't know if it is worth it, partly because I don't even know if the right headset exists. But it would be good guerilla theater.

So, does anyone have any helpful suggestions? I would definitely appreciate recommendations for an effective headset. Or just weigh in with your own sentiments. Don't bother calling me nuts. I already know that. But the sound really does make it challenging for me to concentrate on what I am doing there which is, after all, to spend money!

Thanks!
And may Krampus be gentle with you.
Saul