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Where do you guys rehearse?

P

podiumboy

Aug 28, 2011
330
148
44
Dayton-Columbus, OH
#1
My band lasted originally from 2001-2009. When we started we were all 18 or so, and we practiced in our drummer's parent's basement. And over the years, that's just where we practiced. The main reason is that the drum set requires a lot of effort to assemble/tear down/transport, so it remained stationary He had another, nicer set for gigging. We broke up in 2009, but by the last few years we really didn't rehearse that much.

This past winter, we've gotten together a few times to jam. The problem is, the drummer still insists on having practice at his parents house. So we went over there, and it just felt really weird. He doesn't even live there anymore, as he's married and has his apartment (which has a noise ordinance, hence why he keeps his drums at his parents). But we're all in our early 30s, and it feels really strange to go to his Mom's house to practice.

Maybe I'm thinking about it too much. I feel that a band's practice space should be more like a mancave. I have a small barn on my property that would be perfect size. But the drummer doesn't want to leave his set there, but he also doesn't want to move his drum set. What do some of you people do?

I think the desire is there to play more often, but the rest of the band feels the same way as I do about it being weird to play in his parents basement at this age. It's actually getting in the way of progress!
 
#3
We rent a practice space at a building that caters to bands and provides multiple practice rooms. It's very a very reasonable price, and it's pretty large. It really was the best way to go for us, and for me. We used to practice in the BL's basement but it was too small and nobody smokes except the BL, and he smoked a LOT when we practiced, so this worked out great because he has to go outside to have a cigarette.
 
#4
Got tired of renting studio rooms at 20 bucks a head per hour so i built this :

Calgary-20120812-00130.jpg


IMG-20120728-00110.jpg


it aint much but we have recorded in there and surprisingly it is a great sounding room
 
#5
Hmm... My kid who's 28 doesn't seem to have a problem practicing on my basement. He figures he owns the place.. Nevermind.

A place to practice is a great thing, no matter who or what. If the guy's mom doesn't mind, who cares??

So what does the drummer find wrong with the barn? And what would it take to make him happy? Is it about security?

Lots of places around here you can rent by the hour or for an evening.
 
#7
podiumboy said:
My band lasted originally from 2001-2009. When we started we were all 18 or so, and we practiced in our drummer's parent's basement. And over the years, that's just where we practiced. The main reason is that the drum set requires a lot of effort to assemble/tear down/transport, so it remained stationary He had another, nicer set for gigging. We broke up in 2009, but by the last few years we really didn't rehearse that much.

This past winter, we've gotten together a few times to jam. The problem is, the drummer still insists on having practice at his parents house. So we went over there, and it just felt really weird. He doesn't even live there anymore, as he's married and has his apartment (which has a noise ordinance, hence why he keeps his drums at his parents). But we're all in our early 30s, and it feels really strange to go to his Mom's house to practice.

Maybe I'm thinking about it too much. I feel that a band's practice space should be more like a mancave. I have a small barn on my property that would be perfect size. But the drummer doesn't want to leave his set there, but he also doesn't want to move his drum set. What do some of you people do?

I think the desire is there to play more often, but the rest of the band feels the same way as I do about it being weird to play in his parents basement at this age. It's actually getting in the way of progress!
Click to expand...

Drummer doesn't want to move his kit?

What kind of nonsense is this?

Do you play shows? He'll have to move it then!

I've had all kinds of problems with drummers, but the drummer not wanting to move his kit has never been one of them.
 
#10
We're lucky because one of our guitarists is divorced and happily single - able to turn two rooms of his house into dedicated music rooms ("man caves" although I call it the "band caves" since I'm the only female in the band!) in the upstairs room we have a PA system and the "cathedral" downstairs (former den in the basement) is where we play with the big amps. We all leave our amps and drum kit there and can get as loud as we want without neighbors noticing. I don't know what we'd do if it wasn't for this lucky set up! If any future girlfriends shack up with him they better understand and love the band! ;)

I can understand the appeal of not having to haul gear around and leave it in one place - a drum kit is probably a real pain in the ass - can you guys get loud at his parents house? It would be a little weird if you guys feel you are stifled somewhat (yes ma'am, no sir) kind of stuff -
 
#11
It's B.S. that your drummer does not want to move his kit to your better rehearsal space. +1 for drummer to buy a cheap 2nd kit for solo practicing.

What's best for your band? The basement or the barn? I'd move forward based on those two answers.

I'm fortunate that before our project formed, out drummer had built a practice room in his barn. It was one less thing to hassle with.
 
#12
We practice in our drummer's basement. It's a convenience. he has a small PA set up all the time, his drum kit is always set up and he has an old Yorkvill Bass amp that is great for practice. I just take my bass and the guitarist just brings his guitar and a small Musicman amp.
 
#13
I am really blessed to have a guitar player who owns a property with a second building that is set up as a really top notch recording studio. He records other bands, so we have to be reasonable about what we leave there and not take up too much space. We practice and record there every week! My other band (a few actually) practice at the keyboardists place. He has a lot of gear from his sound company, so he set up a great rehearsal PA in his fully finished basement. My place has a small practice space with drums and a PA too, so there is always a place to practice!
 
#14
I used to have a barn as a practice space, and the drummer also did not want to leave his set in there on our off days because of temperature changes, dust, etc. I had quite a bit of extra space in my house, so we agreed to leave the cymbals and hardware in the barn, and move each drum into the extra room in my house. Depending on how much extra space you have (and how far away the barn is from the house), moving just the drums wouldn't be too much of a pain if everyone in the band helped out.
 
#16
If the guy's parent's don't mind, why do you feel weird about playing there? There's no set age limit about this stuff; don't matter if you are 18, 23, 31 or even 45; if the parents do not mind and the space is very suitable for all and FREE than you do it.

I see lots of guys are perfectly willing to spend the drummer's $ by having him buy another practice kit. He already HAS a practice kit....it's in his parent's basement, where the band is welcome to rehearse. I just am not seeing the problme here.....
 
#18
When I was 16 we used to practice at my buddy's apartment (full band). Since then I've been in bands that have practiced in the basement of a Used Bookstore (I owned the store), a Headshop (I worked at the headshop), another apartment, a professional venue, the backroom of a delapadated house in the middle of nowhere, and now jam at a live to air studio/jamspace. This is all over the coarse of a 15 year career with various musicians throughout my region.
 
#20
Back when, we practiced in my parents basement every Sunday for 4 hours. I still cant believe how cool my parents were. My dad worked midnights so he lost sleep, and then there were the time we spent the whole four hours working on one song.

Now were practicing in our mutual friends basement.
 

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