Rehearsal Space - Know what it is, and is not

It is important to really know what rehearsal space is and is not, so that you know what is offered out there in the rehearsal space world, and so you won't have unrealistic expectations based on your bad assumptions or misinformation.

1st: Rehearsal space and monthly rehearsal room rentals are not considered to be sound proofed like going to a recording studio. Consider this, that when a recording studio sound proofs probably their control room and perhaps their performance room and a drum booth, they have spent nearly a half million dollars in sound proofing to do this and isolate the sound strictly for recording purposes on just 3 measly rooms. Do you really think a rehearsal complex is going to dump a half a mil in to sound proofing a rehearsal room? Good, you get credit again for that. Rehearsal rooms are considered semi-sound proofed at best, and that is deliberate, because the purpose of most rehearsal complexes, is to provide you a place to play loud with full PA, amps, and gear as you would playing live, not recording. You cannot expect any rehearsal complex especially those large complexes with a large quantity of rooms to dump millions of dollars in to sound proofing all their rooms, especially when they are usually commanding very little in rent. Therefore do not have an unrealistic expectation that if your neighbor happened to be rehearsing the same night you were in an adjacent room, that you wouldn't hear them, because you would, that is why it is considered semi-sound proofed. However, the acoustic theory of cancellation says that when you start playing your own songs with your own amplification, that you will only hear what you are playing in your own room. The upside is that you probably won't have a neighbor rehearsing all of the same nights you do, so they won't be there all the time. Also, every band has a different schedule for rehearsing, and therefore may begin and end at a different time than you do. Many bands can record in a rehearsal complex, but this is usual best done on the 3rd shift when you have the whole complex to yourself, because most bands are done and clear out by 11 PM if they work day jobs. This is assuming you go to a music industry operated complex that provides you rehearsing throughout the graveyard shift.

2nd: You get what you pay for. Don't go expecting the Hilton if you are crying broke, and be grateful that a rehearsal complex even exists near you to go to, especially given all the horror stories and shutdowns that make getting into this kind of business more of a pain than its worth with very little return for any business owner. For example, if you are only going to be paying $300 bucks a month for a space, don't go thinking for that price that you are going to get much of anything. You probably won't get air conditioning even if they say you do, you won't get much for security, you will barely get a working bathroom, and the place probably won't be maintained or well kept . . . but at least you will have a place to play right . . . or you could pay $675 for the same size room somewhere else and at that price you just might get a few more things, but the point here is that the overhead cost in the way of electricity, insurance, taxes, and lease of commercial space is so expensive to operate a rehearsal complex, that there is very little room to give you much since you are crying broke and can only afford $300 bucks a month, and they know it. So consider it a win win situation when you can at least find a place on your budget that gives you a place to play irrespective of your unrealistic expectations of them. Again only genuine music industry operated rehearsal complexes are subsidized by the industry itself, and for that $300 bucks you are more than likely going to get a little more than the dirty abandon warehouse deal, but maybe not just the Hilton unless you are willing to spring for that $675 which 99% of the band market simply can't afford to do, therefore there is no market for offering you all the bells and whistles in the way of rehearsal space.

3rd: Managing a rehearsal complex has got to be one of the toughest and most difficult tasks going, and when you rent a rehearsal room long term, you better understand that there are certain rules and guidelines spelled out in a rental contract if there is one, that are there to protect and serve everyone in the building not just you. Meaning don't expect to charge in to a place as a renter and think you can do whatever you want however you want, because there is too much at risk for everyone. Usually there are just common sense safety guidelines, but at most music industry operated rehearsal complexes (meaning the reputable ones we refer to on this blog), it is not open house at the rehearsal complex. The things that a rehearsal complex has to be concerned about at every minute of operation are things like the security of everyone's equipment on site which cumulatively could be in the millions of dollars. The physical safety of every body that walks in the place regarding fire and safety regulations or an unwanted physical assault, staying compliant with state and local laws regarding alcohol, age limits, and illegal drugs are always a concern. Controlling the access to the building is an important way this is accomplished at most reputable places, but not true in the low class ones where nobody cares whose coming or going. I think you can see why no business owner wants to touch this kind of business with a ten foot pole because the liability is just too high of a risk to bother with, and why the ones that did, got burned financially, and eventually shutdown, prosecuted, and run out of town. But keep in mind why you are renting a space anyway, it is to have a place to play your music and be loud.  So if you can understand what is at stake for the rehearsal complex owners, you will be in a better position to abide by the common sense rules, and still have a place to get your rehearsal on.

4th: Remember what was told you here regarding your unrealistic expectations, assumptions, and balancing cost verses a well managed facility and what they the rehearsal complex can provide on their own tightly managed budget. Because depending on where your music scene is located, most music industry operated complexes have already crunched the numbers and overhead costs, and have made decisions on providing the most they can, while keeping your rental costs down and whittled to the bone.

The music industry is connected with tightly managed rehearsal space, and they put their experienced people in place to operate them. You want to find a place that has the management skills in place, and understands the entire music industry, so your needs are met professionally and without incident. They are hard to find, but they usually stand out because they have been around awhile. There is music industry rehearsal space that permit local bands and beginners use of their facilities too, because this is how they help cultivate their own industry and give back to the community.