How do you feel about having guests at rehearsals?

[Parzival]

For those that do have band rehearsals, how do you feel about having other people there watching? Folks such as maybe family, friends, neighbors, etc. I actually enjoy it. Rehearsals are not practice so when we have one every couple months it is for putting the finishing touches on new songs, or revisiting old songs, and arrangements and make sure everything is ready to go live. I like having people there because I up my game and I get more out of the rehearsal.

I will admit I am what you would refer to in the sports world as a gamer. I am not a good practice player. Some are the opposite. Some are great at both. When at rehearsal, I will make mistakes, worry over my tone too much while playing, and it just doesn't always have a great feel or groove. I try to do better but it is what it is. But, when I have some kind of audience, I just have a blast playing and I play so much better and it grooves and just sounds better. My drummer is the same way.

Just interested in how others felt on this topic. I know the whole having girlfriends/boyfriends and what not could lead to issues but our group is in our early 50's and too old for that stuff.

 

[Nashrakh]

Unless it's becoming a habit, I don't mind it. Sometimes it's a good opportunity to get some feedback on stuff you've been working on without the whole trial by fire thing on stage.

The only no go, at least for me, is having really young kids around. Like, anything preschool. They turn a rehearsal into a playdate. And I don't mean that in a bad way, but between them wanting to bang on the drums or goofing around, there's not much of an actual rehearsal happening in my experience.

 

[pingvuiini]

When I joined my first band the other band members would invite their friends (strangers to me back then) to rehearsals all the time. It made me nervous but over time I realized it was like playing in front of a real audience and helped me get over the 'stage fright.' So when we actually had our first gig I was not as anxious and tense as I probably would have been if we didn't have guests.

 

[pepj]

As long as they don't feel they need to say anything, I can be ok with it.
Rehearsals are not a show, they are work that needs to be done so are probably boring to others but I'd make no apologies for that.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

We had various friends and family at rehearsals all the time. Never too much of a problem that I can remember.
After years of renting warehouse space, office backrooms, and bomb shelters (yeah..really) I built studios at our last 2 houses. It was a double edged sword for my wife, who was happy I wasn't trudging off 3 days a week, but instead had a bunch of hairy legged guys at our house. She actually went into labor during a rehearsal.
I'd agree that little kids wouldn't be ideal though.

 

[BGroovy]

Makes me nostalgic for college bands with girlfriends hanging on the couch.

Never bothered me but haven’t experienced guests at rehearsals in a long time.

I do have “guests” when I practice at home, usually my son yelling “DAD YOU’RE RATTLING THE WINDOWS” when I hit the B string on the Modulus.

 

[DrBnz]

There's almost always a girlfriend or old buddy who was in town kinda thing. It doesn't bother me, but I'd prefer to keep them a low profile thing. At a practice I'm looking for a highly intense interaction so we I can get to hear and feel what we're gonna do. They have no role in that, so they can't talk or interact. Honestly, I'd rather they not be there. Plus everybody's time is short, we're here to rehearse the songs and get it "tight". And come on.... do other professions allow their employees to bring their girlfriend or buddy to work with them? Uhhhh..... no.

 

[red_rhino]

As long as they don't feel they need to say anything, I can be ok with it.

I remember a guest showing up at a rehearsal and at some point started making comments and suggestions. He was annoying but everyone was polite, not wanting to offend someone else’s friend. But at some point, the drummer told the guitar player that his friend was being a jerk, to which the guitar player replied “I thought he was your friend.”. Turns out nobody knew him and the “guest” was impolitely shown the door.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

nope, we’re here to work. You’re a distraction. You will leave. Now.

 

[darev]

I remember a guest showing up at a rehearsal and at some point started making comments and suggestions. He was annoying but everyone was polite, not wanting to offend someone else’s friend. But at some point, the drummer told the guitar player that his friend was being a jerk, to which the guitar player replied “I thought he was your friend.”. Turns out nobody knew him and the “guest” was impolitely shown the door.

Advice can be nice but commentary will be shown the door.

 

[Altitude]

It doesn’t bother me at all.

Hypothetically a rehearsal audience could talk too much or act in a distracting way. I’ve never really experienced it that way though. Mostly people are just checking it out and watch with interest.

 

[gustobassman]

Was in a project where the BL/singer would bring a new side piece to EVERY rehearsal. He just couldn't show up by himself. Every "rehearsal" became a crappy performance for one (or more). He would always try to just move it along even if we wanted to stop and work on something. Not a productive environment.

 

[Kael]

If I am leaving my house and coming to a rehearsal it is to work. If randos are popping in, no serious work will be getting done. I'm heading back home at that point. UNLESS.... it is a paid rehearsal. If I am being compensated for my time monetarily, the person paying me can make the call on others there.

If rehearsal is at someone's home and another person who lives there pops in and listens for a moment, that doesn't bother me. If they are in the room with us for the whole time, no thanks.

 

[Lo-E]

I have no problem with it as long as it doesn’t interfere with work getting done.

 

[Jazzdogg]

Several years ago I was in a band that rehearsed in one of the band member's garages; he lived in an upscale San Diego neighborhood.

During our second rehearsal at his house we heard someone banging loudly on the garage door. We all looked at each other, and stopped playing while the garage door was opened. We fully expected to be told to cease and desist.

When the garage door opened, however, we found several neighbors had set up chairs on the driveway, and that they'd brought drinks and snacks to enjoy. They wanted us to rehearse with the garage doors open!

These neighbors regularly attended rehearsals and their ranks swelled to about twenty!

 

[Gervais Cote]

We do it quite often and I really like that because we get a feedback from those people, sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad !

 

[WG Plum]

Not a fan, I don't bring friends to work.

 

[RSBBass]

I wouldn't say never but at rehearsal I am there to work and I prefer not to have the distraction.

 

[Gervais Cote]

Several years ago I was in a band that rehearsed in one of the band member's garages; he lived in an upscale San Diego neighborhood.

During our second rehearsal at his house we heard someone banging loudly on the garage door. We all looked at each other, and stopped playing while the garage door was opened. We fully expected to be told to cease and desist.

When the garage door opened, however, we found several neighbors had set up chairs on the driveway, and that they'd brought drinks and snacks to enjoy. They wanted us to rehearse with the garage doors open!

These neighbors regularly attended rehearsals and their ranks swelled to about twenty!

That happened to my drummer as well and one brought an electric guitar and another a bass with their amps, you can guess the rest……………

 

[Fonkamex]

Ask The Beatles about Yoko Ono .
Jokes apart, I don’t mind at all. Many times bands invite friends, family members, girlfriends and soon to be girlfriends!