Colin Nagy | November 19, 2019
Why is this interesting? - The Noise Edition
On hospitality, volume, and the movement of manners
Colin here. A lot of the talk around the beautiful bubble created by the new noise-canceling AirPods has me thinking about how loud the world is getting. And it’s not just construction sounds or police sirens, but also the habits and manners of people around us and how spaces are designed. According to a recent piece in Vox:
But here’s the thing: Loud restaurants aren’t just irksome — they’re a public health threat, especially for the people who work at or regularly patronize them. Being exposed to noise levels above 70 and 80 decibels — which many restaurants boast these days — causes hearing loss over time, Gail Richard, past president of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, told me. This kind of hearing loss is “preventable, but it’s also irreparable,” she added.
The design and layout of spaces are leading to more noise. Part of it is the desire of modern establishments to create a lively, bustling scene. At the same time, much of the noise-dampening interior design of the past has become passé. “Upscale restaurants have done away with carpeting, heavy curtains, tablecloths, and plush banquettes gradually over the decade, and then at a faster pace during the recession, saying such touches telegraph a fine-dining message out of sync with today’s cost-conscious, informal diner.”
But the din is not just by design, it’s also the emerging habits of patrons. As someone that likes being out in restaurants, hotels, and other common spaces, it is astounding how pervasive it is for people to be playing Youtube videos out loud, watching Tik Tok without headphones, or, as I witnessed at a boarding gate recently, watching a Netflix show at full volume within earshot of other passengers. What would have been seen as egregious behavior in the past is becoming normalized with modern consumption habits.
It’s gone so far as to adversely affect the ambiance of a lot of places. Think of the effort that goes into the design of hotels and restaurants: Spaces are made for people to linger, socialize, and revel in their environs. Design, craft, and impeccable attention to detail goes into making them. It’s now necessary to ask what is required of guests so that they hold up their end of the bargain. Creating a great environment is not just the role of the hospitality provider. It’s a two-way street, and all too often we ignore one side of the equation.
Why is this interesting?
Manners morph with the times, to be sure. And some of the rules of etiquette need to evolve to not seem starched and formal as the world changes. But it is particularly noticeable how otherwise normal people leave their consideration for others at the door.
Simultaneously it is worth asserting that places like hotels need to be much more aggressive about enforcing these rules of ambiance. A polite “Please turn the sound off,” from staff is necessary and should be done without fear of reprisal.
In fact, many places are now catching up to this need. I was having a coffee with the GM of a hotel in Los Angeles and he told me there’s now a well-worn protocol (after having dispatched a staff member to intervene in a particularly egregious bout of video watching). It’s not the front line staff that does it, but rather there’s a process by which they alert their superiors, who are often in a better position to solve the problem without the worry of blowback from the guests. But this is an exception. All too often places let these sounds and behaviors go unchecked, ruining the vibe for everyone else. It is a particularly 21st-century problem that shows no sign of abating. (CJN)
Instagram of the Day:
Argentine chef Francis Mallmann cooked at McCarren park on Sunday and there were lines around the block like a Radiohead show. I decamped to Bernie’s for a burger and a Bloody Mary instead. Who knew he had this level of rockstar status? Props to Best Made Co. for an experiential marketing coup. (CJN)
Quick Links:
Reposting this Economist Disney + link from yesterday, now with 100 percent more link (CJN)
Why everything is getting louder (CJN)
Speculation of the Airpod market cap as a standalone company(CJN)
Thanks for reading,
Noah (NRB) & Colin (CJN)
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