How do you feel about having guests at rehearsals?

[JimmyO]

It’s never bothered me, especially when it’s limited to someone close. My band in college, we rehearsed with my housemates around, at least in another part of the house, able to hear us, all the time.

Current project though, i mentioned my cousin (who is also a bass player) said he’d love to check out a rehearsal some time. It went over like a wet fart with the rest of the group, so I’ll stick that idea in the back pocket for a while.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I don't mind it at all. Even if it's somebody sitting in on a few songs or subbing for someone that's going to be out, bring it.

 

[Parzival]

The only person we have ever had give advice or input is our lead singers husband. We like him a lot, but he likes to think he is part of the band sometimes. And we are close enough as a band that we are very frank with him about his advice and exactly where he can insert said advice. He's good most of the time, but he knows he needs to back off when I start saying things like, "We don't care Yoko, STFU!"

 

[jdjk7]

I've always enjoyed the rare occasion that it has happened. IMO I think it helps me play more the way I would play in a gig situation.

One time recently, I even had a rehearsal in the middle of a store-- I played a gig with a guy who owns a record store, and he and his buddies sometimes set up inside the store to play. We just set up in the middle of the store and learned his tunes while people were shopping around us.

 

[Gervais Cote]

Guest (s) at rehearsal ? Okay with that but they better bring some cold beer ! (and shut up !)

 

[brianrost]

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

Same here.

I play with a drummer whose wife accompanies him everywhere, both rehearsals and gigs. No problems with her.

 

[J Wilson]

In most cases, NO, unless they're a FOB or a spouse who stays out of things.

 

[HolmeBass]

I feel sorry for them. Rehearsals are boring. We might play the same song two or even three times in a row. We’ll stop right in the middle and discuss something, then start over.

We might just play a certain section of a song. There will be talking, sometimes a lot of talking. Gig and travel logistics will be discussed.

Boring!!

But if they’re into it more power to them. If they started making suggestions that might get problematic.

I was tracking in the studio with a new project, and a bunch of friends came by, some from out of town. Within 30-40 minutes they left. It was boring, and they couldn’t even talk! So boring.

Practice is not a performance.

 

[KenSmithFan]

When other people are there it becomes a performance, not a rehearsal. You don’t get the same level of work done.

 

[Ignatius]

For us it was no guests at first. But starting summer 2020 we started rehearsing on keys players huge back deck. We kept the volume down and thought we were playing to the deer and squirrels.

After a few weeks we began to notice a lot more people walking their dogs around rehearsal time.sometimes people would walk from the road to the backyard to listen a little and ask where our next gig was. When winter set in we stopped but started again in spring. Our first post pandemic gig…outdoors… was late April 2021. Lots of people showed up, many of them who heard our rehearsals.

We are back inside now but if someone asks politely we are ok with them hanging out for a while. Seems like a good promotional move.

 

[Nedmundo]

I've experienced this a couple of times, and as long as the guest isn't disruptive, I'm fine with it. In fact, I plan to bring a close friend to one of my current band's rehearsals. The band is part of an adult band "camp," and my friend, who is a classically trained vocalist, is thinking about giving it a go, so she wants to see what it's like. Of course I'll make sure it's cool with the others.

 

[Hillie]

I guess it depends on the setting. I've been in a starting band where all of a sudden the (atrocious) drummer brought her entourage with her the second or third rehearsal/practice. That went nowhere. Well, maybe it did, but I wouldn't know. I unplugged my bass, wished everybody a pleasant remainder of their day and left.

If it's a week rehearsed group and people want to check it out, fine. But no interference or other BS, or involvement in band discussion. You can then Yoko your Ono right out of there. Or me, because my patience is limited, music is not a paycheck and if I need frustration, I'll get back to work. At least they pay handsomely.

 

[dalkowski]

Usually no because I prefer to be strictly business (or close to it) at rehearsals. I've played with a geetarist (a very good one) who just can't resist wanky-wanky noodling between songs and it set my teeth on edge. Yeah, I'm a drag.

If there are guests then I move we re-classify the occasion as a party and just have a good time. Put a mic in their face and make them sing, that sort of tomfoolery.

 

[gln1955]

Nope. I don't have time for nonproductive rehearsals. It's hard enough to keep everyone on task. Other people in the room is just more opportunity for random chit chat. I also don't want to have to watch what I say because someone's SO is there.

 

[matthewbrown]

I was in a dress rehearsal once that had a guest who was invited specifically to give feedback. He arrived about 25 minutes late. We did our dress rehearsal and he told me that pretty much everything about my bass sounded wrong: It was too loud, I was playing EB when it should have been DB, which was on the original scores. He then moved on to criticize the other performers. Apparently he had once been a heavy on NYC.

It was useful feedback, but I really had to control my emotional response, because he had nothing positive to say about my playing. I had already spent 25+ hours copying out my parts from the piano scores by hand and rehearsed numerous times. I turned down, dialed back the high end and added a mute, which I think would have satisfied him -- if he every came back (idk). Interestingly, he had nothing to say about the cheap electric piano being used, which sounded pretty much nothing like a real one! I suspect he had a bias against bass guitars. In fact, quite a few of the numbers we played called specifically for EB!

 

[buldog5151bass]

Depends on the guest, depends on the band, depends on the rehearsal. If they don't interfere or distract, it's fine, especially since rehearsal tie usually is weekend or evenings, when presumably our loved ones want to see us.

But it's work time, not play time.

 

[Danny O Danny]

Wouldn't bother me, on an occasional basis. But we rehearse with IEMs, so all the guest would hear is clicking and tapping and vocals. It'd be kind of like that "Guitar Hero" episode of South Park.

 

[Turnaround]

In my bands, guests at rehearsals were by invitation only and with the agreement of the entire band. We also made attendees aware that we were extending a privilege that was an exception, not the rule.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

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.

As long as they don’t disrupt progress, I could care less.

 

[steelbed45]

I went to an audition and the wives and girlfriends club were all there. We went through two songs and then they came up and started going through the upcoming gig dates and where. Once I realized who was running that show, I just excused myself and left.