[regalcat]

Is there any reason why we can’t have sound on the villages online site. We can see the entertainment but no sound. People who are not able to get to the squares would like to see and hear the bands. Why is this not available.

[Chi-Town]

Originally Posted by regalcat

Is there any reason why we can’t have sound on the villages online site. We can see the entertainment but no sound. People who are not able to get to the squares would like to see and hear the bands. Why is this not available.

Entertainment at the Squares is supposed to draw customers to eat drink and shop. They are also pretty handicap accessible.

[EdFNJ]

Originally Posted by Chi-Town

Entertainment at the Squares is supposed to draw customers to eat drink and shop. They are also pretty handicap accessible.

Yes, ^^^ this plus the web cameras are quite far away all you would likely hear are car horns and mostly background crowd noise and barely hear the music.

[John_W]

I would think it's because of money. They would need a public performance license, which would cost about $500 a year, or $1500 for 3 squares so you could hear the live band at home.

The music publishing companies do their own enforcement. There was a bar in Tampa in 2016, Tadpoles Lounge that hired a band for playing on a holiday, and they didn't get a license, I believe it would been $1500. A few months later they got a bill for $300,000 from BMI. They eventually were told they could settle for $30,000, the owners couldn't afford that amount either and so they went out of business.

Currently there is a bar in Tampa and one in St. Pete that are being sued by ASCAP for not having a license.

Two Tampa Bay restaurants fined by ASCAP for not paying for music rights

Tadpoles out of business

[Lottoguy]

Last year I requested sound on the web cams they use over the three squares. You can see the volume button on their app. They said they would look into it. I think they did and realized they would have to pay royalties if they added that feature. It would be great if we had sound, but that's the way the system works.

[njbchbum]

Maybe because they are really security cameras to which viewing capability has been granted to the public and other features are reserved to security staff?

[mulligan]

Originally Posted by regalcat

Is there any reason why we can’t have sound on the villages online site. We can see the entertainment but no sound. People who are not able to get to the squares would like to see and hear the bands. Why is this not available.

Because the merchants in the squares do not choose to give it to you.

[SickofSnow]

Continuing on with the subject of the cameras on the squares, I wish the cameras offered a closer view such as the Brownwood camera. The camera at Spanish Springs needs to be relocated.

[BlkBlt6]

The purpose of The Squares entertainment is another great reason for people to get, up get moving and go socialize. Yes, drinking, eating and shopping is another good reason.

[Singerlady]

Originally Posted by regalcat

Is there any reason why we can’t have sound on the villages online site. We can see the entertainment but no sound. People who are not able to get to the squares would like to see and hear the bands. Why is this not available.

Go to The Villages App. Scroll down to WVLG....play.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by Chi-Town

Entertainment at the Squares is supposed to draw customers to eat drink and shop. They are also pretty handicap accessible.

Exactly. If they aired the performances many people might just sit home and watch.

We now have Facebook Live for our weekly Beatlemaniacs meetings. People can sit at home and watch and even request songs and ask questions.

Our meetings are very crowded and we are not trying to drag people in to shop in the stores, dine and drink.

I love the live music in the squares and I'm not being negative when I say that the purpose is to create big crowds so that the stores, restaurants and bars surrounding the squares make money. It's a good deal for them and for the residents.

[DeanFL]

congrats to all for this posting.

- the OP for a very good question
- the reply posters for informative answers and observations

no politics, anger, personal affronts, 'Developer' condemnations, etc.

refreshing - and I learned something as well.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I think if you were to have microphones set up next to the cameras the sound would be similar to white noise, with perhaps the thump of the bass drum or guitar in the background.

If you live-feed the sound from the bandstand directly to the website, you'd have to pay the artists who own the copyright on the songs being played through ASCAP. Typically that is done with commercial breaks - which requires an engineer to implement, and it would require the band to cooperate with those breaks. It would basically become a live TV station, which would also then require FCC permits and licensing to operate.

[John_W]

Originally Posted by SickofSnow

...I wish the cameras offered a closer view such as the Brownwood camera. The camera at Spanish Springs needs to be relocated.

This website has 7 webcams on one page. There are 3 for Brownwood and if you click in the lower right corner of the image in the box, you can make that camera full screen. There is two for SS.

The Villages 7 Webcams

[SickofSnow]

Originally Posted by John_W

This website has 7 webcams on one page. There are 3 for Brownwood and if you click in the lower right corner of the image in the box, you can make that camera full screen. There is two for SS.

The Villages 7 Webcams

Thank you for the reply. When I'm not at the Villages, I love watching the dancers at the Squares. The only camera that shows a close view of the dancers is the one at Brownwood.