In the run-up to carnival, more and more people are visiting the hearing store for a set of earplugs. All to prevent hearing damage. The world turned upside down, according to the men of carnival group Veul Gère. At their concert in Poppodium 013 in Tilburg earlier this month, they simply turned down the sound a bit.
As a regular visitor to 013, Wim Bruggeman of Veul Gère knows all too well how loud the music is often in the Tilburg pop temple. “They have a gigantic sound system there. It all remains within the guidelines, but you can no longer understand each other. If you want to say something to someone, you really have to shout in their ear.”
And so Wim and his mates decided to take a slightly different approach. “Isn’t it strange if we all have to put in earplugs, because the sound is so loud? Then I think you’re overshooting your target. That’s why we chose to turn the sound down a bit.”
“It really doesn’t have to be a chat café, does it.”
Don’t think that button has been completely screwed back. “It was at most a few decibels. It really doesn’t have to be a chat café, does it.” Yet that small difference already yields a lot of profit. For example, an increase of 10 decibels quickly feels like a doubling of the loudness.
Despite the successful party, Wim has no illusions that the gate is being closed further en masse everywhere. “We still have the idea that we have to outvote each other. Then a café owner wants to come out above the neighbor again.”
With all its consequences. “If you get such loud music at nine o’clock in the morning with carnival, you’ll be done with it halfway through the afternoon. We just have to make sure it’s a bit more balanced.”
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