Living at the Rehearsal studio?

Demonjrx · #1 01-31-2013, 08:33 PM

So, I'm guessing you all know where this is going.. I can already see the heads shaking.

Anyways, I'm moving out on my own this april and I've gotten myself a band together. (I'm soo proud of myself

) And today we were discussing rehearsal spaces, this studio that was some what in the middle of all of us would work well. We found a place that was 12 dollars an hour, right now there's three of us, possibly a fourth member (He may flake out, I'm not sure) anyways the website for the studio said that they had a monthly studio instead which was 275 a month. It includes free wifi and access whenever we want, 24 hours a day. Naturally being who I am that sounds perfect, right now my room is literally a blow up bed and then my basses, guitars and amps. I figured it'd save me money.

Anyways, I realized that this may be one of my most far fetched ideas yet, and could very well be illegal, so long story short, have any of you guys done this? Do you guys have any stories about this either? lol

JumboJack · #2 01-31-2013, 08:35 PM

Shower? Kitchen?
Chances it is not zoned for people to live there.

Demonjrx · #3 01-31-2013, 08:36 PM

You're taking the fun out of this post...

seanm · #4 01-31-2013, 08:44 PM

We rented a rehearsal spot where the owner lived and worked in the spot. It was in a strip mall, but at the back. He had a bathroom and a little kitchen setup with a small living room. There was a drumkit and a full backline and PA.

It is illegal.... but you would probably get away with it for a while.

spaz21387 · #5 01-31-2013, 08:48 PM

it is illegal and the building manager wont like it once you get caught you will probably get your band kicked out of the space too!

eyeballkid · #6 01-31-2013, 08:54 PM

ive lived in worse.

kjpollo · #7 01-31-2013, 08:55 PM

well, he does make a point...and it ties in rather nicely with your own comment about it being possibly illegal.

Buy anyway, I was in 2 previous bands that rented rehearsal space. In neither case was the rehearsal studio in an area where I would even WANT to live. Commercial areas in less than great parts of town. I didnt even like being the last one to leave the parking lot at night, let alone spend my nights there.

Without even getting into the legality (or not) of the idea, I'd have no sense of security based on where my bands were located at the time.

vishuddha · #8 01-31-2013, 09:04 PM

It's the same as trying to live in a storage unit or something. You might get away with it, yes, but not forever. And it's definitely not ideal. Your band members will most likely not be pleased. I wouldn't care, but it seems like normal people look down on that.

Just keep in mind that there is a reason EVERYONE isn't living in studios and storage units, and it's not just because they weren't smart enough to think of it. I had the same idea, but when it gets down to it, you'll probably be very unhappy.

Floyd Eye · #9 01-31-2013, 09:10 PM

I have lived in an alley, a semi trailer, a Ford Pinto, an F250 and a storage unit. I say go for it. Just make sure your gear is safe.

two fingers · #10 01-31-2013, 09:13 PM

Sorry, but you didn't answer the question. Does it have a shower or a kitchen?

ma4rk · #11 01-31-2013, 09:21 PM

Beware: I lived in a rehearsal space for about 6 months free in exchange of running the place. was only about 21 at the time. Was cool at first but bands would go all night & day so never had any sleep. With no windows in the room coupled with lack of sleep I ended up quite depressed at an age when I should have been having the care-free time of my life.

Edit: forgot to mention the toilet was used by all the customers so didn't have much private 'thinking time' & had to clean it constantly.

BogeyBass · #12 01-31-2013, 09:35 PM

Meh ive done it.

and stored a lot of stuff inside a studio that was not band equipment because i lived there.
Good to have a nice girlfriend so you can shower and do laundry

studios are weird too sometimes when yah really need to sleep it is noisy as heck, then some nights its scary quiet. I sometimes questioned does anybody actually practice here.

Later on i found a studio for artists and it was zoned to live in. there was a single bathroom with a shower everyone shared.
Few bands in some rooms, crazy artists in other rooms. That was a wild place everybody always had partys all the time. Their was always weird people hanging in the hallways. One dude filmed pornos there so that was always interesting.
Fun for a bit..then all the noise and party crap gets old.
But anyways you might get lucky and find live in studios for artists, and they might let you rehearse there. It was open 24/7 but we could only jam till 10 so that kinda sucked.

Just keep in mind you should always have a little extra savings in your account. If you rely to much on other members to share the rent. You can get really screwed when dudes start to flake and bail out on you. losing band members sucks but it also means you could lose your make shift home.

Some studios are really cool about having mini fridges and microwaves. Some of them will freak out right away since it could be a sign people are living there. And your definitively gonna want a fridge and microwave. Also expect band members to cry and whine and expect you to pay more. And also expect them to be jealous and mad #### heads when they find girls panties and beer bottles laying around on their stuff.

lokikallas · #13 01-31-2013, 09:46 PM

I wouldn't tolerate a band mate sleeping farting and masturbating in my rehearsal space.

Demonjrx · #14 01-31-2013, 10:09 PM

I'm not sure if it has a shower or kitchen the idea just seemed interesting and on the funny side to me. I've always thought about make shift, and I guess you could say "Out of the box" homes. Anything that is functional and isn't going to cause an issue with my minimum wage job. You guys all brought up good points too though, like the whole noise thing, it being illegal and it being depressing. I'm young I really don't need to be depressed, I already stress about the little things as it is.

I was kind of hoping to get some more interesting or funny stories out of this.........

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogeyBass

But anyways you might get lucky and find live in studios for artists, and they might let you rehearse there.

I've never heard of a live in studio. It's an interesting idea, go on if you will

Quote:

Originally Posted by lokikallas

I wouldn't tolerate a band mate sleeping farting and masturbating in my rehearsal space.

I'd probably do the latter two in the rehearsal space anyways.

singlemalt · #15 01-31-2013, 10:50 PM

You are never homeless if you own a van. The ubiquitous white Ford E 250 van is the perfect urban camping camouflage. Throw on a roof rack and a ladder and a magnetic sign for your "company".

Go mobile.

jungleheat · #16 02-01-2013, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogeyBass

And also expect them to be jealous and mad #### heads when they find girls panties and beer bottles laying around on their stuff.

Yeah, because we all know the guys living in $275/month windowless rehearsal spaces with no shower get ALL the tail. Those lucky bastards.

mellowinman · #17 02-01-2013, 07:24 AM

I've lived in motels, my car, the woods, and plenty of places worse than a practice space, but that doesn't mean I recommend any of it.

It all depends what you can handle, and what you can get away with. There's nothing so fun as basically sponge-bathing in gas station men's rooms.

singlemalt · #18 02-01-2013, 08:18 AM

Baby wipes, don't forget the baby wipes!

rust_preacher · #19 02-01-2013, 12:17 PM

Wasn't there a film about a guy who lived in a storage room at a San Francisco ball park? Come to think about it, he was a batty punk of a guy. I think he made officer Harry Callahan's day one time.

bassfran · #20 02-01-2013, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lokikallas

I wouldn't tolerate a band mate sleeping farting and masturbating in my rehearsal space.

Sig-able post right here.