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How many rehearsal days a week?

How many days a week does your band rehearse?

  • 1 Day

    Votes: 67 76.1%

  • 2 Days

    Votes: 14 15.9%

  • 3 Days

    Votes: 4 4.5%

  • 4 or More Days

    Votes: 3 3.4%
  • Total voters
    88
#21
We're a cover band and we practice once a week. If we have a show coming up we like to see if we can get in two rehearsals.

I personally don't see how a band can just learn parts at home and then show up and do a show that sounds anything less than sloppy. Especially with some songs having different versions, getting endings right, vocal harmonies, etc.

If there's no new songs going to be added and if you already know all the songs in all the sets you're going to be doing, then yeah, a couple of times a month can work. But we try to add new material every week to keep things fresh for us and for the people who come out to see us.
 
#22
Haysoochreesto said:
We're a cover band and we practice once a week. If we have a show coming up we like to see if we can get in two rehearsals.

I personally don't see how a band can just learn parts at home and then show up and do a show that sounds anything less than sloppy. Especially with some songs having different versions, getting endings right, vocal harmonies, etc.

If there's no new songs going to be added and if you already know all the songs in all the sets you're going to be doing, then yeah, a couple of times a month can work. But we try to add new material every week to keep things fresh for us and for the people who come out to see us.
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Why would you rehearse 2 times a month if you already know the songs?

Lots of guys can learn covers seperately and show up and play them without being sloppy.
 
#26
dvh said:
A good band - covers or originals - is greater than the sum of its parts. It's more than just knowing your own part and showing up. A good band has members that feed off each other's part and style. You can't nurture that without getting together at least once a week.

IMHO
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I respectfully disagree.
 
#27
dvh said:
True - if they are REALLY good players with a lot of experience.

I think a band that has practiced and played together sounds a lot better than one that comes together and sounds like it's going through the motions. The difference CAN be heard.
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I'm sure that's true in a lot of cases but not all. It's more complicated than can be covered by a blanket assertion.

Good players can and do sound great together without rehearsals all the time without sounding like they're "going through the motions".

If I'm on a gig with a guy who sounds like he needs to call rehearsal so he can click with the rest of us, I'll call somebody else next time.
 
#30
billhilly66 said:
I'm sure that's true in a lot of cases but not all. It's more complicated than can be covered by a blanket assertion.

Good players can and do sound great together without rehearsals all the time without sounding like they're "going through the motions".

If I'm on a gig with a guy who sounds like he needs to call rehearsal so he can click with the rest of us, I'll call somebody else next time.
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I agree and disagree. Does that make sense? :D

I do more than my share of no rehearsal pickup gigs, some with 'standard' set lists, and a few where there's a fair amount of originals (last Thursday night for example). With tunes you've heard of few times but never played, even one rehearsal makes a huge difference. Doing cover tunes usually means no rehearsal on the pickup/sub circuit.

Good players can fat finger and step on their d*** too, but somehow make it sound intentional.;)

I'm with you though, the guys that you call/call you do these gigs with no thought of rehearsing. And can sound as if they've played together 100 times.

IMHO, IME.
 
#31
It all depends on the quality players you have in the band. Some bands need more because of a weakness. My jazz band gets together about twice a month, if that. If you can play then less rehearsal time is required unless your doing something bizarre, like synchronizing back-flips at the same time, while eating ice-cream and playing "Spain".
 
#32
Blueszilla said:
I agree and disagree. Does that make sense? :D

I do more than my share of no rehearsal pickup gigs, some with 'standard' set lists, and a few where there's a fair amount of originals (last Thursday night for example). With tunes you've heard of few times but never played, even one rehearsal makes a huge difference. Doing cover tunes usually means no rehearsal on the pickup/sub circuit.

Good players can fat finger and step on their d*** too, but somehow make it sound intentional.;)

I'm with you though, the guys that you call/call you do these gigs with no thought of rehearsing. And can sound as if they've played together 100 times.

IMHO, IME.
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Good points.

I'm not against rehearsals per se. I just don't see any need to go over stuff everybody should already know. We had one or two before a tour and maybe a "discussion" in the hotel room if Mark wrote a new tune he wanted to try but weekly rehearsals for cover tunes is out of the question.

I've had fat finger, johnson stomping moments myself but it didn't have a thing to do with not enough rehearsal time.
 
#33
billhilly66 said:
Good points.

I'm not against rehearsals per se. I just don't see any need to go over stuff everybody should already know. We had one or two before a tour and maybe a "discussion" in the hotel room if Mark wrote a new tune he wanted to try but weekly rehearsals for cover tunes is out of the question.

I've had fat finger, johnson stomping moments myself but it didn't have a thing to do with not enough rehearsal time.
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I could play with you, Mr. Hilly. You're someone I would probably call without hesitation. :)
 
#35
I play in an original/cover blues/rock band. When we first formed, we practiced once a week... learned about 60 or so tunes within a month then started gigging. We haven't practiced since. We do 3 or 4 new tunes a week by sending out mp3's. Everyone is expected to have those down by the weekend. Works pretty well.
 
#36
Zero per week.
3 or 4 times in the last 4 years.

Each member has 40+ years of doing this.
Songs get assigned, you come knowing your part, gigs get recorded with a Zoom H4. If a member or members suggests a change or like the way it came out, the recording is pulled of THAT PARTICULAR VERSION we did and given to all members.
We all have careers, businesses, families.
The "You guys are great we want to sponsor you on this tour with this artist!" folks showed up a few times but they were told "Where were you 20 or 30 years ago?".
 
#40
I enjoy my two a week rehearsals to include a show or two. BUT I'm a 100% supporter that if you have several shows lined out, that is like being paid to rehearse :) So, you could reduce the two a week to one if it is the same material and have shows booked.
 

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