As a professional tunesian, I’ve experienced every style of rehearsal space, but i’ve been hired to help out bands who thought it was just fantastic to cram numerous grown guys into a dark, boiling space no larger than a closet. I’ve also played with bands who were supported by a label and could rent important, overpriced rehearsal space for mornings at a time, but usually, the rental space is somewhere in-between those extremes. It’s helpful that the internet is available to research potential locations, but by typing in a few keywords, it’s fairly straight-forward to find a suitable studio to rent, get the rates and even book the space. I tend to prioritize a convenient location and a helpful staff… As long as the price is satisfactory and there’s plenty of good quality equipment available, such as amps, drum kits, mics and PAs, I’m more upset with comprehensionable assistance. I consistently ask for a quick tour of the rental space so that I can check out the cleanliness, access to power, integrity of equipment and even the powder rooms… Sometimes, I’ll ask to try out the studio for an hour or so just to test the acoustics. I don’t want to get all set up and then find out that the sound and vibe of the space just isn’t right for me. If I’m uncomfortable with the studio, I can guarantee a disappointing rehearsal and lots of wasted time and frustration. I take the opening to adjust the EQ and settings on the amps and PA the same as if I was playing a live gig. I check whether the walls and floors are hollow or solid and look for unforgiving reflection points. I want to guess if I’m going to need to stuff a pillow in the kick drum to improve the sound… The better the sound, the easier it is to make good tunes. Unfortunately, some rehearsal spaces just lack something, whether it’s the room’s construction or the equipment. Even if it’s cheap and easier to just go along with it, it’s best to find a current studio to rent.
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