Pandora's gets shut down at 9:30 due to Coconut Radio's "loud music"....

[lsucajuns]

I say we go door to door and find the soul that called, and help move them out of town. We don't need ya hear, you are hurting out pocket book.

 

[wrobert]

Hey, I like ShuffleBoard.

Maybe Walton County would like for no one to make any noise. No cash registers ringing, no credit card modems sounding, no music, no cars, no people. This place would dry up overnight, and the County coffers would be making a very hollow sound.

Some do not like loud music, some do not like Wal mart and drive thru windows. Seems like everyone has an opinion or preference that affects the cash registers of others.

I would imagine that there is quite a bit more to the story than just loud music and an immediate arrest. I am sure it will make it to the Sun before the week is out.

 

[NightAngel]

It was always my understanding that the noise ordinance did not start until 11:00, I mean come on, 9:30 on a saturday night??? God forbid some people may be having some fun and some employees may actually be making some money to cover the electric bill.
What is the world is happening to South Walton County

 

[scooterbug44]

We need to do something about this problem - it is seriously affecting local businesses.

How can we put it to a vote that we want destination & local weddings, restaurants w/ live music, open-air concerts and events, and common sense....................instead of whiny tattletales who only have funn when ruining other peoples'.

Music being shut down at 9:30 on a saturday night would be considered ridiculous in Grandma Scooterbug's retirement community.

 

[shellak]

i agree that there is probably more to this story than what is on this blog. there are several local establishments that seem to attract people who drink heavily and get very loud and rambunctious. i love music but personally do not enjoy being around loud, drunk people so i stay away from certain bars/restaurants. i also don't like to think about these people driving. i do want our local musicians to be able to entertain here and make a good living - they deserve it! they frequently donate their time to causes and add so much to our area!!

 

[Groovegirls]

I have been to several community meetings on this topic. The phrase I have heard over and over again is "We are a RESORT community not a RETIREMENT community". The noise ordinance in Grayton does not have a time or decibel limit. It is dertermineed by a reasonable person. What this means is that if someone complains a "reasonable person" (deputy) goes to the location and makes a resonable assestment of the noise and then acts accordingly. They are trying to adopt this county wide because it has been successful in Grayton for so long. At least it used to be. I was told personally by the new sheriff that his policy is as follows... 1st call - a deputy comes out and talks to you and helps you adjust to an aceptable volume. 2nd call - warning and adjustment. 3rd call. shut down/ticket/jail, depending upon the bar/musicians reaction. I was not at Pandora's so I dont claim to know the whole story but it doesn't sound like the sheriff's policy was followed. This community has been known for the local music scene for some time. It is now time for us as a community to decide which direction we want to go and fight for it. It is too late to solve the current problems by zoning. Perhaps we can designate quiet areas in future development. I am in the entertainment business and used to play locally almost every night of the week. Now I travel to Destin Crestview, FWB, Tally... I spend more and make less and do nothing to help the economy in my own neighborhood. Tourists call me every year to see where are playing and I have to tell them to go to Destin or some other town to catch one of our shows. Most local bar owners are afraid to have live music or even karaoke. I and most local entertainers understand that we can go too far on our part but we are having our right to earn a living taken away from us. I can understand someone complaining if a bar moves into their neighborhood but we have been dealing with bars that have been established for many years. To anyone new who doesn't like the music scene... I am sorry but you chose to live where you live. The bar was already there. BUYER BEWARE! Sue your realtor if you feel the need. Don't try to punish some one who is doing the same thing they were doing before you moved in. Even if the bar was closed when you bought the house. It is not reasonable to assume that a bar that is or was a bar that is zoned to be a bar will not in fact be a bar again just because you moved in. The casual atmosphere and local music scene is why most of us live here and it is why so many of our visitors come here and add money to our economy. If you do not like this, then do something about it please! Call the sheriff, call the county. Call anyone who will listen and be persistent. My suspician is that the majority of us are being ruled by the vocal few. Let's be the vocal majority!

 

[weatabix]

It doesn't appear that the warnings took place.....we played our first set (1hr) and during that time the bartender asked that we turn the volume down. We turned it down until we were mostly heard acoustically....during our 1st break we noticed to police officers come in through the tiki bar and go straight to the kitchen at which point they brought out the manager and escorted him to the parking lot, frisked him and put him in the back seat and drove away.....now, if they had gone through all the steps neccessary, we didn't know about it.....all I know is that we lost income, the employees lost income, and there were some pretty dissappointed people there. (and by the way, none of them were drunk, disorderly, or otherwise.)

 

[Groovegirls]

To be fair I want to point out that we still may not know all of the facts but it certainly sounds like it was unfair. You should consider calling the sheriffs office (not 911 obviously). Ask about the official policy and their interprtation of the noise ordinance just to verify (there has been lots of confusion on this issue in the past). Then tell them your story and them know that you feel you were treated inappropriately. Please be respectful though. They don't love spending there time dealing with noise complaints either. If someone calls they have to respond. If possible talk to the sheriff directly. They get plenty of calls to complain about the noise if we want to be heard we need to call to. Please keep in mind that while the sheriff's office has to deal with the problems they are not in charge of making the rules. That falls under the code department. They are currently trying to write a fair noise ordinance so give them a call too so they can consider your opinion in the process. One way or the other we need clear rules to solve this problem.

 

[Groovegirls]

I would like to add... In my experience, there seems to be far more people upset about losing the music than people complaining about music. However the people complaining are complaing to the right people. The Code Department is in the process of reviewing and re writing the noise ordinance to be standard county wide. Everybody ,please, call and make your opinion known while it is on the table. Write a letter to the paper! Get your friends involved. Talk to the Sheriff. Call Governor Christ... Do whatever it takes to be represented!

 

[Lynnie]

We stayed and patronized them anyway. However, it would have been more funn and enjoyable had the music been a-playing!

If that complainer is so close to Pandora's, I'll bet they complain about the traffic, too......
maybe there are more issues at hand.

I would not build or buy next to a popular restaurant/bar or on a busy hwy./street. Just not my preference.