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How do you feel about having guests at rehearsals?
- Thread starter Parzival
- Start date
IMHO it is likely to draw focus away from the intended purpose of rehearsal.
Occasionally is okay. But if the presence of the observer makes you feel like you are performing rather than practicing, it can defeat the purpose. Not bad as a dress rehearsal though.
Depends on the guest.
It’s not a party sorry.
We’ve had someone who owns a venue stop by, or a close musician friend.
That’s aboot it
It’s not a party sorry.
We’ve had someone who owns a venue stop by, or a close musician friend.
That’s aboot it
Good to hear you separate "practice" from "rehearsal". Most, meaning too many, don't know the difference.
Its a shame that you can tell how many do not practice with with their instrument at home and come to rehearsal and try to fudge their way through it.
I suppose it depends on the context. If someone just had another person with them, because they're coming from or going to something, and that person is just going to be out of the way and minding their business, killing time, I really don't care much. My experience of being in bands in my 20s and people bringing someone to a practice/rehearsal, was usually that they were looking to be entertained, interact, or casually hanging out and I found that to be really distracting and frustrating. There's different types of vibes with groups and different levels of focus and intensity, depending on what the goal of that time spent together is, but I like to be focused and on task with things (I'm the gal who brings a white board and notes to a practice space) and then we can be loose and casual in between focus time and during breaks
I think it depends heavily on the band itself and their goals. Rule of thumb for me: If there are friends and family, then it is a social gathering, not a rehearsal. Which can be fine or might even be part of the whole idea.
But if you want or need to accomplish something, I prefer it being only the band there. An exception would be to invite somebody especially to give feedback, but then the whole band should have agreed on that beforehand.
But if you want or need to accomplish something, I prefer it being only the band there. An exception would be to invite somebody especially to give feedback, but then the whole band should have agreed on that beforehand.
I enjoy it, but it is often a different type of practice if other people are there, and it also depends on what type of a practice we are planning for the day.
As someone who plays primarily in originals bands, it is common for practice to either be focused upon writing new songs, keeping sharp on existing songs, or practicing something specific in preparation for an upcoming gig, or some combination thereof. The songwriting-type practices tend to be a more uneasy fit for visitors compared to the more performance based ones. If the visitor is another musician from the local scene they might dig checking out the nitty gritty of the writing session and be a good hang without getting in the way, but other people will probably either get bored or otherwise not be a great fit there... I remember a session where a friend of a bandmate attended and, even though she is a pretty big music fan, she started asking us why we were playing the same song or parts of it over and over again. For practices that are more for sharpening up existing tunes it is easier to handle guests, since the vibe may be like a combination of hang and performance not too unlike a more casual version of a show anyway.
As someone who plays primarily in originals bands, it is common for practice to either be focused upon writing new songs, keeping sharp on existing songs, or practicing something specific in preparation for an upcoming gig, or some combination thereof. The songwriting-type practices tend to be a more uneasy fit for visitors compared to the more performance based ones. If the visitor is another musician from the local scene they might dig checking out the nitty gritty of the writing session and be a good hang without getting in the way, but other people will probably either get bored or otherwise not be a great fit there... I remember a session where a friend of a bandmate attended and, even though she is a pretty big music fan, she started asking us why we were playing the same song or parts of it over and over again. For practices that are more for sharpening up existing tunes it is easier to handle guests, since the vibe may be like a combination of hang and performance not too unlike a more casual version of a show anyway.
I honestly couldn't care less if there's someone there or not. I'm there to rehearse and do my part. If someone's friend or spouse, or my spouse even, is there, I am going to do the same things I would if there was no one there other than the band.
In my band:
The keyboard player/vocalist and the co-lead vocalist are married.
The other co-lead vocalist is the keyboard player's sister and her husband is our sound guy.
The guitar player has a girlfriend, but in the last 2+ years she has been to only a single show.
The drummer who is married and his wife comes to the occasional show.
Me and my wife is our photographer/videographer. She will sometimes come to rehearsals for 'candid' shots or just to hang out with the band to build relationships.
We have had a few occasions where other musician friends of certain members will come to listen. If asked, they might offer suggestions, but are generally quiet and encouraging.
In my band:
The keyboard player/vocalist and the co-lead vocalist are married.
The other co-lead vocalist is the keyboard player's sister and her husband is our sound guy.
The guitar player has a girlfriend, but in the last 2+ years she has been to only a single show.
The drummer who is married and his wife comes to the occasional show.
Me and my wife is our photographer/videographer. She will sometimes come to rehearsals for 'candid' shots or just to hang out with the band to build relationships.
We have had a few occasions where other musician friends of certain members will come to listen. If asked, they might offer suggestions, but are generally quiet and encouraging.
Nope. The "girls" have not shown up in years and we're usually trying to nit pick at parts of a song we may be having trouble with. One time we were playing a section of a song over and over to get it down and some one who happen to be there, asked in the most entitled voice if we could play something else, as if we were just there to entertain him. That was the last time we had guests at rehearsal.
No prob for me as long as the stay off the ‘stage’.
Reminds me of a December 1971 gig in Newton Iowa with a trio plus singer. There was a motel with diner and lounge right on I-80 and a state highway (14?). We were still developing the act and rehearsed most afternoons drawing an increasing number of locals. Eventually they added a waitress to handle the locals. That town made Maytags and we’re proud of it.
Reminds me of a December 1971 gig in Newton Iowa with a trio plus singer. There was a motel with diner and lounge right on I-80 and a state highway (14?). We were still developing the act and rehearsed most afternoons drawing an increasing number of locals. Eventually they added a waitress to handle the locals. That town made Maytags and we’re proud of it.
While strippers/dancers are okay , really don't need the distractions......food and drinks are always welcome . 
Yeah, can't have that. When we get to rehearsal we ask if everyone is comfortable with the songs. If they are not, or haven't spent time on them, we just throw them out for that day. No need to waste time.
And to some other comments, definitely agree on the no kids, not being distractions, and not trying to give input. That would be a no go. But we have been lucky that the folks we have come by just like to sit and enjoy the music. It is like having a little tiny audience.
I’m of a mind that once in a while, announced in advance, having guests can be fun. They can energize an otherwise boring rehearsal, as we’re all natural performers and want to impress the “audience”.
But also, in my experience, guests cause a vibe shift. It can be challenging to have tough conversations with them around, for example, especially if the guests are of the “significant other” variety. Also, the rehearsal often becomes more of a performance tgan a work session.
I don’t bring friends to my job and if I’m at rehearsal I’m there to work, so…
Yeah, same here, except we left the garage door open. Once in a while we'd have a neighbor or two or three who'd show up with folding chairs. All they ever said was "Hey, this is great." The only effect they had on us was we didn't swear as much as we usually did. (On gigs, people would come up to us and say "You guys look like you're having a lot of fun," to which I'd reply "That's because you've never seen us in rehearsal.")
I like it. I'm a showoff, ahem: performer. I meant performer. But you know, I like attention.
In (way) earlier days, like the late 1970's-early 1980's, it was a party. If guests liked hearing the audio equivalent of watching dry paint fade, many times they brought BEER or substances 'cause we were parent-free youth thinkin' we were what was happening.
These days, we and any acquaintances we have, value their time so much more.
These days, we and any acquaintances we have, value their time so much more.
Interesting to read the diversity of comments/opinions. It's a great question by the OP.
I don't differentiate between rehearsals and practices.. (although I guess when we have a show coming up we do tend to stick to the set-list chosen for the show coming up and don't work on as much new material). I personally love having guests at rehearsals/practices.. it livens things up a bit and puts a little more pressure on to perform I guess. I work better under pressure.
I don't differentiate between rehearsals and practices.. (although I guess when we have a show coming up we do tend to stick to the set-list chosen for the show coming up and don't work on as much new material). I personally love having guests at rehearsals/practices.. it livens things up a bit and puts a little more pressure on to perform I guess. I work better under pressure.
