Neighbors

[jjdurrant]

Just curious if any of you have neighbors that don't appreciate your display or give you trouble? I have had "issues" with the neighbor directly across from me. Nothing major, I just get the vibe they don't like me and they never say hi or seem friendly. We have never had t out or anything like that. Just minor stuff like my cat in the yard and the puppy barking now and then.

They are REALLY not going to like me after 15 strobes and 5000 new LEDs kick in a few weeks. Worrying about it is bringing down my enthusiasm. Are my concerns legitimate or am I over analyzing? Advice?

[mijoangel]

Bad neighbor can always cause problems. They can call the cops for disturbing the peace, or traffic issues, they always make excuses to do the unexpected. I have always had good luck talking to the neighbors before lights on.

[George Simmons]

jjdurrant wrote:

Are my concerns legitimate or am I over analyzing? Advice?

Your concerns are legitimate. Yes, you're over-analyzing. You have too much time to think. Get some work done instead. Make yourself useful. And besides, 15 strobes isn't going to cause much of a shock to their system.

[lightzilla]

jjdurrant wrote:

Just curious if any of you have neighbors that don't appreciate your display or give you trouble?

I haven't had any issues with the (neighbours-Canadian spelling) regarding Christmas lights static or musical except that 2nd straight year we won the decorating contest.

The second year there were sleigh rides and folks wanted to see the lights and screamed for me to turn them on and I didn't until the 6:00pm scheduled start.

For a good week people said "did you hear about the contest winner that did not tun on his lights". They said it front of me & on a separate occasion in front of my wife and they did not even know we were the decorators and we did not say anything but shock our heads as to say "what a bum (me) he is not turning on the lights".

There was never another contest after that year. Oh well we won twice and that was cool.

The sleigh rides stopped cruising the streets and now I turn my lights on when I please.

It was my fault .......I won & so I should of had the lights on.

Still all is quite on the Western Front.

However going musical lost me viewers over the past 4 years. Last year was better but the extreme cold stopped the viewers.

The Village in which I live has a lot of "Old School folks" and I am slowly winning them over. This year should be the best year yet judging by all the reports I get from my sons, wife & nephew plus what I heard over the past few months.

I think that all will go well for you and folks will enjoy the show, but just hope the traffic does not cause you an issue like it does for some, to the point you cannot do another show.

Thank God I am a good 1- 2 hours away from many parts of the city.

[GaryBo]

Fortunately, my neighbors like the lights, music, etc, and encourage me.

My problem with neighbors is different.

I am outside, working on my lights, displays etc, and my neighbors want to stop, (their cars) or come by and just want to "socialize" or talk. With this "distraction" I don't get any work done, and lose about 20 to 40 min per visit of neighbor, friend, etc.
I can't be rude, and or tell them to leave, because I want their approval and after all they are part of the reason I do my displays.
Neither do I want them to "help" as I have my way of doing things. I have even fired my wife a few times.
Alas, I guess it goes with the territory.

[ainsworth]

I agree with George, don't worry about what you can't change. If they have a specific complaint try to work with them.

I had one neighbor that objected to the outside speakers. I just turned the sound down until they couldn't hear them. That change after their GrandKids came to visit and requested that I turn up the volume.

[friskybri]

jjdurrant wrote:

I just get the vibe they don't like me and they never say hi or seem friendly.

Neighbors: He doesn't like you.

jjdurrant: Sorry

Neighbors: *I* don't like you either. You just watch yourself. We're wanted men. I have the death sentence on twelve systems.
jjdurrant: I'll be careful.
Neighbors: You'll be dead!
Police: [intervening] This little one's not worth the effort. Now, let me get you something.
[Neighbors shoves jjdurrant across the room and pulls out a blaster]
Bartender: No blasters! No blasters!
[Police ignites his lightsaber, severing Neighbors arm]

[gizmomkr]

I give a disclaimer uppon move in : "Hi, I'm your new neighbor - this is my wife, nice to meet you. We make the house glow around christmas time - Really REALLY BRIGHT. Hope thats ok" Oh, and then we bring cookies or fudge over around mid november, and everyone gets invited to a "lighting" party.

Feed them sweet treats and alcohol.

lightzilla- I spend as mutch time as I can on my roof - not because its easier than on a ladder, but I find everyone wants to chat when they see me on the ladder - but on the roof no one sees me. Ahhh solitude, just me and the lights, and a nice view of the trees.

[Bob Wingert]

Don't sweat it JJ. I've forwarned everyone over here just in case. They are all so excited now to see it after seeing the blinky blink for Halloween. Until they start paying your mortgage, don't sweat em'

Enjoy what your doing for YOU & your Family ... Now get back on the roof and proudly hang those icicles!

[Guest Don Gillespie]

gizmomkr wrote:

I give a disclaimer uppon move in : "Hi, I'm your new neighbor - this is my wife, nice to meet you. We make the house glow around christmas time - Really REALLY BRIGHT. Hope thats ok" Oh, and then we bring cookies or fudge over around mid november, and everyone gets invited to a "lighting" party.

Feed them sweet treats and alcohol.

lightzilla- I spend as mutch time as I can on my roof - not because its easier than on a ladder, but I find everyone wants to chat when they see me on the ladder - but on the roof no one sees me. Ahhh solitude, just me and the lights, and a nice view of the trees.

couldn't agree more make the first move you say hi see what happens let them know what you do at christmas chances are they will like it oh ya if the cookies and fudge don't work try crown royal and lots of it just pour over ice and let sit about thirty seconds then drink as fast as you can ( do not give any to neighbor keep all for yourself) that way who cares if they don't like you.

[jjdurrant]

Thanks guys, great advice. I ended up reaching out to him on Facebook. Coincidentally he is friends with one of mine. Here was his reply.

--

"Christmas lights are great, I think there was strobe or something though last year or maybe a a light timed with music, I liked it just a little loud if memeory serves me correct. I wouldn't complain though, as you can probably tell by my flag I am all for personal liberty and property..."

My reply:

"I am still using strobes this year but mostly for my Halloween display. Be sure to stop over or send a message if they are annoying. I will be using an FM transmitter for my Christmas audio so no more outdoor speakers."


He has a yellow Gadsden "Don't tread on me" flag in his yard.

[Guest Don Gillespie]

Thats great you will sleep well tonight now quit yapping and get back to work lights to hang trees to decorate and sequences to finnish LOL

[Surfing4Dough]

jjdurrant wrote:

Thanks guys, great advice. I ended up reaching out to him on Facebook. Coincidentally he is friends with one of mine. Here was his reply.

--

"Christmas lights are great, I think there was strobe or something though last year or maybe a a light timed with music, I liked it just a little loud if memeory serves me correct. I wouldn't complain though, as you can probably tell by my flag I am all for personal liberty and property..."

My reply:

"I am still using strobes this year but mostly for my Halloween display. Be sure to stop over or send a message if they are annoying. I will be using an FM transmitter for my Christmas audio so no more outdoor speakers."


He has a yellow Gadsden "Don't tread on me" flag in his yard.

I think you will be pleasantly surprised that 15 strobes outdoors don't appear annoying. Indoors they do, but outdoors they don't. They look more like sparkling lights from 50 feet away. Maybe he is referring to a large strobe light, like this or larger:

Trust me, I worried about the same thing last year (since we are at the end of the street where cars turn and was worried that the strobes would be a safety issue for drivers--not even the slightest concern this year).

[TJ Hvasta]

jjdurrant wrote:

He has a yellow Gadsden "Don't tread on me" flag in his yard.

Yeay!! He's a TeaParty-er!!

Glad you were able to have a meeting of the minds with your neighbor.. FB'ing.. .. funny.. seems like thats more the norm now rather than face-ta-face chatting

I'm going with a transmitter this year too, along with a yard speaker turned up just high enough to hear it standing on the sidewalk. The advantage is with your transmitter, he'll be able to tune in and listen to the music, while watching your light show from inside his house.. thats a bonus..

[jjdurrant]

I ran my Halloween display last night with all my strobes.. much to my surprise they were not as flashy as I had expected and the neighbors had their blinds open so that's good.

[Surfing4Dough]

jjdurrant wrote:

I ran my Halloween display last night with all my strobes.. much to my surprise they were not as flashy as I had expected and the neighbors had their blinds open so that's good.

Indoors they sure seem seizure inducing, but outdoors they sure seem different don't they? I guess there aren't walls to reflect off of. Plus the other lights kinda make them just blend in (probably even more so with Xmas since my guess is you will have more blinky lights).

[Tom L.]

jjdurrant wrote:

Just curious if any of you have neighbors that don't appreciate your display or give you trouble? I have had "issues" with the neighbor directly across from me. Nothing major, I just get the vibe they don't like me and they never say hi or seem friendly. We have never had t out or anything like that. Just minor stuff like my cat in the yard and the puppy barking now and then.

They are REALLY not going to like me after 15 strobes and 5000 new LEDs kick in a few weeks. Worrying about it is bringing down my enthusiasm. Are my concerns legitimate or am I over analyzing? Advice?

JJ - What I do is inform each of the neighbors that I program the lights to Christmas music. I then ask what song(s) would they would like to here and see to music and do it for them. They all seem to have no problems, especially when their song comes up in the show. If that does not work, I would possibly agree with the other response that cookies and alcohol would be a plus. :dude: