Murder at 1600 download.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/sb.jpg” alt=”sb” width=”240″ height=”160″ />Here’s an email from a student who likes to study at the 4th street Starbucks:
“Am I the only one who finds it incredibly distracting and inconsiderate to host that insanely loud, live jazz band in Starbucks at Washington Square all the time? I’m all for culture and entertainment, but… it becomes virtually impossible to work, and takes away one of our vital comfy-studying-areas every time they play. It’s so frustrating.”
I rarely go into this Starbucks, but I’ve personally only ever heard jazz on Thursday nights. I think that’s a pretty reasonable time to have music – and it’s great for young musicians to have a place to perform in a popular public setting. But is there more music now? And do you think it’s pleasant or annoying?
Photo courtesy of Flickr user Miskan – used under CC license.
Wait, why not just study in Bobst, Kimmel, Gizzi’s, Moxa, Think, the Starbucks on 8th street, the Starbucks on 6th ave, the Starbucks at Astor Place, the other Starbucks at Astor Place.. .
The main issue I see is the kind of liberties Faye’s is taking with the Starbucks name. These recitals seem particularly lackadaisical, barely monitored by the managerial staff of Starbucks, and little warning or preparation time is offered to patrons. Real Starbucks require a certain level of consistency in music performances, and it is a difficult takes to achieve such an opportunity. The store is clearly breaking one of Starbucks’ policies (one of many they do- milk temperatures, espresso-shot timing, headset use, bathroom usage), so I wouldn’t expect them to follow any kind of real policy on this issue either.
Just another reason they shouldn’t have appropriated the Starbucks name and Starbucks shouldn’t have allowed it either.
Wow, I totally disagree with this emailer. There are lots of other places to study on campus, and the west 4th Starbucks has never been promoted as a “quiet study” space. I’m happy to have a place for NYU student musicians to play – where else are they going to reach an audience of fellow students, many of whom wouldn’t attend a formal show… I agree that these performances may be irritating if you go in with the expectation to study, but my opinion is that the tradeoff of giving NYU students semi-public performance space is completely worth the inconvenience of changing your study plans (aka, in most circumstances, moving less than a block).
What are you talking about? There is a massive sign that tells you when the jazz stuff is goin on. Plus none of the starbucks are perfect and follow all the same rules.
Yea I have to agree with Hannah, here. There are PLENTY of place to study if the infrequent music bothers you, and I also am glad that there is a visible and busy place for students to be playing their music. (especially jazz) In fact, I think there should be more music being played there, not less.
As to it serving Starbucks, I really couldn’t care less. If Starbucks had a problem with it, there would be no music. If someone really feels that strongly about students taking advantage of a nice space, then maybe they should contact the corporation.
Luke, is Starbucks really the issue here? Isn’t it exactly the point then that students should be playing music there because it’s barely a Starbucks? Obviously, my last point is almost impossible for me to defend but shouldn’t we be more concerned about our peers having a cool outlet for their music and talent as opposed to what the giant corporation might say if it found out?
At Charlie: It’s Thusday and Sunday nights.
I always find it really frustrating too, and have had lots of random strangers in Starbucks while the music is going on make similar comments to me or other people nearby.
Starbucks isn’t a “quiet” study place, of course not, but the jazz music in that little space is quite loud. And Faye’s is supposed to be some semblance of a place to study, just not as hardcore as Bobst. I tend to study at that Starbucks when Bobst is full, or when I’ve been at Bobst all day (or night) already, and the problem with going to another Starbucks or similar place is potential lack of, or limited, internet.
But as already mentioned, campus Starbucks isn’t really the most well run place anyway. I do wish they wouldn’t have added a night of music though. One is more than enough.
@Rachel
Faye’s, while located on our campus, is definitely not intended to be a place to study. Kimmel, Bosbst, the Wasserman Center, and the quiet rooms in your dorms are places designated for study. Faye’s is a cafe. Your preferences will only dictate how Faye’s is run if you start a petition and/pr actively complain. Otherwise, you can pick any of the other dozens of cafes that surround the park.
I have a couple points:
1.I agree with Rachel that while Starbucks isn’t a “quiet study place” the music in such a small place can be pretty loud– even if you’re not studying.
2. But I also agree that Thursday evenings are a reasonable time to allow students to play in a campus cafe.
3. @ everyone who asked why students can’t study at any other cafe, it’s simple: Faye’s accepts declining dollars, and therefore attracts many NYU students with meal plans.
I don’t really know what the policies are, but since this post asked what we thought, I think that the Sunday evening music performances should either be stopped or moved to Saturday nights.
The building is an NYU-owned establishment and thus caters to a student crowd. And since at any given time, at least half of the people in there are studying (because let’s face it, the pin drop silence at Bobst can be a bit opressing), it makes sense to keep student needs in mind.
It is great to see such a great response. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Nick Myers and I have been in charge of these Thursday sessions for the last four years. We appreciate your support of our sessions. As you already know, it is a NYU owned space so it must be shared among all students. These sessions are where us jazz students study and practice the things we are learning at school. Thanks to everyone for listening and hope to see you this Thursday!