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Musician Fitche Benshimon was seen playing at a recent simcha alongside a sign explaining why the sound was low. More

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Summary of most of the comments till now:
February 2, 2016 10:49 am

Women (young and old) don’t like the music being too loud because they need to talk even while dancing. Young guys love loud music. Older men don’t because they are not dancing much. Out of towners are more relaxed people so loud music is also disliked by them. Basicly if the crowd is mainly the chosson’s friends go for loud otherwise not too loud.

Finally
February 2, 2016 12:18 am

By low volume he means normal.
Btw, the reason they always have it so loud is to make it feel like it’s a happening event. Sad way to lose your hearing.

CH Musicians
February 1, 2016 3:37 pm

The musicians in CH have become deaf. They do not seem to hear the volume of the music they play. As an out of towner, I dread coming to a CH Simcha. You’ll be supprised how many people do not enjoy it.

Overdriven Tubes
February 1, 2016 2:23 pm

Frum keyboard players do not feel the music like electric guitarists and bass players. They are playing high-tech keyboards that correct chords for them, quantize the rhythm to correct any deviance. Real musicians like rock guitarist appreciate volume, they feel the response of over-driven tube amps. This is a Taanug that cannot be explained verbally. Surely it cannot be appreciated by on-man-band keyboardists whom are playing with computerized accompaniment and enhancement. Its all about making as much money by the end of a gig as a 3-4 piece band, comprising of REAL musicians. Ones who know chord theory, various rhythms,… Read more »

LA Simcha goer
February 1, 2016 12:03 pm

Boruch Hashem!! Finally someone has some intelligence! It is horrible being at a simcha when one has to scream just to be heard by the person next to him/her. And I’m not talking about during the dancing. This is during the meal when it would be nice to be able to carry on a conversation! Thank you thank you thank you!! Maybe other band leaders will follow your lead!

Hearing problems and age aside...
February 1, 2016 12:54 am

Huge difference between how men and women experience weddings! Men tend to do one thing at a time, and do not talk when they dance. Socially normal women talk and give brachos and compliments while they dance with the kallah and kallah’s mom. Terribly awkward when the music is too loud for that. The male musicians often don’t understand why the loud volume is even a problem!

NO MORE GOING HOME
January 31, 2016 4:58 pm

With a hoarse voice (from shouting conversations) and ringing ears!

sign appropriate
January 31, 2016 4:50 pm

kah kah kein yirbu while there are so many wedding , hard to pick up and dance away therefore louder music might be needed. it makes it easier to dance. the volume has to do with age chevra, we cannot tolerate the loud so lets just admit that. me included. |fitche is the best!! very considerate and tries to please.

it can be done
January 31, 2016 1:49 pm

Kol Hakavod to Fitche and the family. Apart from the discomfort to adults. it is really of concern with children, and especially babies. At our Simcha, Chony also respected our request, and played at a “normal” volume…and another Kallah then requested the same type and volume of music for her Chasuna. Keep it up, lower volume makes the event more enjoyable ..for the majority. Only Simchas!!!

Finally! !!!
January 31, 2016 1:13 pm

The music at most weddings is WAAAYYYYY too loud.
It is very upsetting and uncomfortable for people there.

Kol HaKavod
January 31, 2016 12:35 pm

Thank you so much. All bands should do this.

I am # 22
January 31, 2016 12:30 pm

To those who say that the loud music is needed for dancing and that people should be dancing, not talking: 1) Not everyone can physically dance, some not at all, some only briefly, many certainly not for every moment of every dance. Nor may they want to. 2) Friends and family often do not have a chance to be together often and may not be able to do soon or even know when or if they ever will have the opportunity to do so again. 3) The mitzvah is to be b’simcha the Chossan and Kallah and rejoice with the… Read more »

go benishimon!
January 31, 2016 12:19 pm

love you’re music! I’m a keyboard player and u r truly an inspiration!

Ear plugs
January 31, 2016 11:54 am

I noticed that the musicians are usually using ear plugs to protect their hearing. My daughter is getting married in a couple of months and I was thinking to buy some for me and maybe even some extras to hand out to others.

To those that think the music needs to be loud, I agree. But if it is so loud that your ears are still buzzing the next day, I think it needs to be turned down a bit.

Dovid

Good idea & here's the other
January 31, 2016 9:09 am

Good for them! I thought of putting a line in the contract that they won’t get paid if they don’t toe the line.’

I want to enjoy talking to friends, not feel like I’m in a subway, or worse.

sign appropriate
January 31, 2016 8:50 am

kah kah kein yirbu while there are so many wedding , hard to pick up and dance away therefore louder music might be needed. it makes it easier to dance. the volume has to do with age chevra, we cannot tolerate the loud so lets just admit that. me included. |fitche is the best!! very considerate and tries to please.

fam. not attending wedding
January 31, 2016 8:49 am

When my son got married the kalle’s side ordered the music. I did not attent the dancing and neither did a part of my family because the music was to loud. The musician did’t care because the kalle’s side paid.

Fitche is a role model!
January 31, 2016 8:29 am

At a recent wedding Fitche did the most unusual – before breaking the glass by the chupa, he actually made it mean something!!!! It began with his singing a slow beautiful nigun about yerushalayim and then about buidling the baishamikdosh, and then the glass was broken! What a wonderful example of a musician for a chassidishe community he is!!!

infiltration
January 31, 2016 7:35 am

FYI: Blasting music is just “another infiltration” of goyishe style.
Verify it and you’ll see!!

Kol hakavod
January 31, 2016 4:30 am

No sign needed. Play great music at a normal decibel. I’ve made two weddings – at the first despite threatening – the band played and did what they wanted. They weren’t rehired – to their disappointment- at our second wedding.
This problem is universal Lubavitch. I’ve been to weddings out of NY and out of the country. Some had the music louder than NY.

to # 30
January 31, 2016 2:44 am

I’ve B”H, danced at many weddings and hate overly loud music.
It is not music, it’s noise. It is infinitely more comfortable to dance at a wedding with a decent volume level, rather than trying to tolerate the extremely uncomfortable noise.

At weddings people are supposed to dance!
January 31, 2016 2:17 am

Theres a time for everything when its dinner the music shuld be be lowered when its dancing the music shuld be louder not to a ear damaging level but definitely to a point were you cant hear yourself the point is to get you dancing. Usally the ones complaining are those talking when its time to dance if tgats true the solution isnt to lower the volume its to either join the dancing if not for whatever reason go outside and talk dont complain and ruin it for the ones dancing!

Williamsburg
January 31, 2016 12:20 am

The weddings in Williamsburg are very different

For all those bashing good loud music
January 30, 2016 11:58 pm

Weddings are a time to dance and be mesameach chosson vkalla, not to talk, and whoever is actually dancing knows you need the music to be loud. Of course it can ruin the musicians rep if its not loud enough to dance to! This sign is perfect.

At last
January 30, 2016 11:25 pm

I go to kabollas panim only bec I can’t tolerate the high volume. I can’t even greet the hosting family properly. I just motion to them and smile bec the volume is so unenjoyable.
They don’t even lower the music at the seudah ( dinner music.)
For those wanting wild dancing and offensively loud music save it for after 10:30 pm when normal working people go home.
Terrific wonderful & thank you!!!

Why sign at all???
January 30, 2016 11:06 pm

The request of a baal simchah is too be respected by the musician and not publicly displayed… Even if he may lose PR because of the lower volume.

I had to threaten
January 30, 2016 10:19 pm

I paid the musician before the wedding a third, at the wedding the music was too loud, I asked him to lower it, he didn’t want, bc ‘it will ruin my reputation’, only after I threatened him “lower it or i won’t pay the rest, he lowered it.

TO #18
January 30, 2016 9:40 pm

very good point! It should have said reasonable -However if he writes “reasonable” than that means if there is no special request he is plaing an unreasonable volume. The world “low” could have simply been left out.

Agree Fitche Benshimon
January 30, 2016 9:11 pm

I think people are beginning to realize that it’s in the hands of the Ba’al Simcha. We’ve had Fitche Benshimon play at 2 of our weddings. 1 was very low and classy, and 1 was much louder as we requested (totally different crowd at each simcha) and each time he did EXACTLY as we asked. Thank u!!

requested low
January 30, 2016 8:58 pm

i requested lower by my simcha but did not get it, we paid for it, but could not get it, love the sign, as long as it works,
great great musician, when it is too loud the music is killed, by the ladies it sounds a lot louder, they should move the mikes.

amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 30, 2016 8:55 pm

thank you soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much for the lower volume

Out of town guest
January 30, 2016 8:35 pm

I no longer go to NY weddings because of the sound volume. Since we are “out fo town” if the music is so loud that I cant speake to others at the table, I go home.

This is great
January 30, 2016 8:30 pm

His music is phenomenal but care for his clients is even greater! Thank you Benshimon for always a great night!

Awesome
January 30, 2016 8:27 pm

That is wonderful! Benshimon is such a terrific musician and so courteous to his clients. He is a real mentch and a pleasure to deal with, and his musical talent is tops! I love the request for soft music accompanied by the sign!

Rock Musician
January 30, 2016 8:25 pm

As a rock guitarist playing electric guitar for close to 30 years, at high volume… my hearing is BA”H above average, as per an audiology test…

Not "Low", "Reasonable"
January 30, 2016 8:21 pm

That sign should be remade, bit kudos to the family!

finaly
January 30, 2016 8:19 pm

its about time. thank you

Sounds good to me
January 30, 2016 8:17 pm

Weddings should be freilach lebedig but not deafening… Simchas by everybody….

can't hear myself think
January 30, 2016 8:15 pm

FINALLY!!!!!!

Zalmy Schapiro
January 30, 2016 8:04 pm

go Benshimon you rock especially weddings

amazing
January 30, 2016 7:58 pm

I was at the bar mitzvah, its was great. Hopefully other will follow…

yasher koach!
January 30, 2016 7:48 pm

People hold their ears oftenat simchas -s upposedly everyone “likes” over loud music. Not true! Band players should try and make an experiement – put themselves in the position of those hearing them – by taking ojt their own earplugs and turning the speakers back on to themselves. Sometimes the WHOLE thing is too loud, sometimes the singer has his mouth too9 close to the microphone and that alone is blasting. Sometimes it’s the bass sound which is making everyone’s abdomen throb! Sometimes it’s the bass gitar or the clarient – it just needs ONE of the aspects of the… Read more »

Yes !!
January 30, 2016 7:45 pm

Low is relative to ear splitting headache giving high ! I’ll be requesting the new ‘low’ at my next Simcha ! Thanks !

Way to Go fitche!!!
January 30, 2016 7:43 pm

I went to 2 wedings1 nite after another & developed ringing in my ears!!

Smart family!
January 30, 2016 7:43 pm

More families should request the same!

BRAVO!!
January 30, 2016 7:18 pm

Let’s hope lower volume becomes the norm. There have been times when I had to sit outside the hall to protect my ears as well as my sanity!

To #4
January 30, 2016 7:16 pm

As you can see, they play by request. Most request loud.

They prefer low as well, but not to low… you don’t have to hear your self but you shouldn’t be hurting your ears either

Aaron
January 30, 2016 7:15 pm

BS”D
why only concerned with volume how about the type of music played now a days

Musician
January 30, 2016 7:14 pm

Yes!!! Finally someone realizes!!! As a musician, sometimes the volume becomes unbearable being that I’m the closest one to the loudspeakers. ממנו יראו וכן יעשו

Kol hakavod
January 30, 2016 7:06 pm

More families should request the lower volume, and then hopefully the musicians will realize that people really do not want to lose their hearing.

I like that !
January 30, 2016 7:03 pm

As a young mother with little kids, the music is allot of times way too loud.
all musicians should learn a lesson from him !

yehuda
January 30, 2016 7:02 pm

Smart family. More should follow in their way. Save a lot of people audio problems now and in the future

Lol
January 30, 2016 7:00 pm

Smart of him to explain… why did family want low?

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