In my town, $200 at the "nice " studio, but 8a-3a due to laws. Provide the PA though.
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There's a lot of truth to that. You can't make assumptions about somebody's financial situation. I worked with a guy at my first job who never contributed to Goodwill, got into any office sports pools, belonged to the 'coffee club,' or joined us if we all went out after work. Everybody had an idea of what he was making. And we knew it was decent money since the company we worked for paid very well compared to most businesses in the area. His suits (we wore suits to work back then) were always clean and pressed, but they'd definitely seen better days. And he drove an old POS car. Most people he worked with thought he was either weird or just a cheap bugger because he never offered any excuses. He came in, minded his own business, did his job well, and was out the door at the end of the day. Nice guy actually, even if nobody ever really got to know him. Definitely one of those private people.
Come to find out (after he left for a different job) that he had a sick sister with major uncovered medical expenses he was helping out. Any buck he made which he didn't absolutely need to keep a roof over his own head, and some food in his fridge, was going to pay her bills.
I stopped making assumptions about how well off people were after that.
At the risk of a thread hijack, it's been real interesting to see what people think is reasonable to pay for a practice space and then to see where they live.
Here in Seattle, we pay 400 beans for the same type sitch. There are a few more reasonable places to share if u network properly and they ever open up, but that's about right for the territory
I just did a Seattle gig, I was disappointing to see there were no hourly spaces (that I could see) because I wanted us to get in a good practice right before our real set. I think Hollywood can spoil you with places like Amp where you walk in and they already have amps/cabs drums etc ready to go.
Hmm, I remember reading about one last year (or a little longer ago) that may have been newly opened ... I'll have to see if i can find out whether they're still operational
I am going to answer your question for a completely different angle. Did not read every response on the thread, so apologize if someone already posted this perspective.
Not going to critique how much you pay for your rehearsal space (you like it, you feel it is reasonable for your area), not going to calculate how much you should make as a band (you are adults and can decide if the gigs are worth taking for $ or other qualitative reasons), not going to bash on any band members whether they should be able to afford it (just because I can afford $300 bottle of wine, does not mean I would actually buy it). Instead let's look at it from an opportunity stand point.
If your keyboard player (or any band member) does not want to pay for rehearsal time, then evaluate whether the rest of you benefit more from having that extra band mate vs. the cost of paying to cover their share of the rent. Think of it this way, if Mick Jagger wants to be in your band and does not want to pay $80 per month for rehearsal space, but you get to play Madison Square Garden would you guys think it was worth covering Mick's $80 share? Flip side is if Jick Magger wants to be in your band and does not want to pay, but you play the same gigs / venues with or without Jick, then would it be worth covering Jick's $80 share?
Bottom line it is cost / benefit. If you pay $80 to cover keyboardist's share but make and extra $100 because you can get better gigs then net net you are +$20 having keyboardist in the band. If you pay $80 to cover keyboardist's share and make the same as if keyboardist was not in the band, then you should view keyboardist as a hired cost (like if you were to pay a roadie). Is the extra cost worth the service you receive?
In real life there are some other considerations, such as will the keyboardist be as committed to the project since he/she has no "skin" in the game, is he/she more likely to quit on moments notice since he/she made no monetary investment, etc.
Also if the keyboardist does not share in expenses then potentially he/she does not get to share in profits (when you guys do make money on gigs). Or just for goodwill, the band all gets a couple round of drinks, but after that any profits are split between those who pay for expenses. Kind of like owners of a business, owners have to cover expenses but get to partake of the profits.
Hope the cost / benefit analysis and analogy helps. And if you guys don't want to cover Mick Jagger's share of the rental, please send Mick over to our band. But feel free to keep Jick Magger.
I'm sorry but $400 a month for what sounds like 12 hours of rehearsal is not reasonable. Out of 6 people, not one person can host the rehearsal?
I'm in 3 bands and don't pay a dime, and never have. Only way I'd consider it is if the band was really making bank.
Your next keys player might not like this either.
I'm in 3 bands and don't pay a dime, and never have. Only way I'd consider it is if the band was really making bank.
Your next keys player might not like this either.
I agree with keys. you're in Canada, not 1 band member owns a house?
In 1 of my bands the other guitarist has everything, guitar amp, bass amp, drums. I also have guitar amps, bass amps, and drums. we practice mostly at his house but sometimes mine. other guitarist keeps pa equipment here. bass player owns a house that we have practiced at but we brought our own stuff. only place we haven't practiced is the drummers but he's offered. this is a 4 piece.
In my 3 piece we started off practicing at drummers house, did a couple at my house, then guitarist finished his big ass basement set up specificity for music. drummer has a kit at guitarists house. before my place drummer asked about paying for rehearsal space. I said no. think about it this way. he found the set that is at guitarists house for 700, that's a years worth of rent for 1 person in the op s band. and if he wanted to he could get his 700 back out of it. I keep a mb fusion head and 2 dr bass cabs there.
In major cities I can see where this wouldn't be possible but in Grand Rapids Michigan and I got to believe in Canada it is. plus keyboardists are unicorns here.
In 1 of my bands the other guitarist has everything, guitar amp, bass amp, drums. I also have guitar amps, bass amps, and drums. we practice mostly at his house but sometimes mine. other guitarist keeps pa equipment here. bass player owns a house that we have practiced at but we brought our own stuff. only place we haven't practiced is the drummers but he's offered. this is a 4 piece.
In my 3 piece we started off practicing at drummers house, did a couple at my house, then guitarist finished his big ass basement set up specificity for music. drummer has a kit at guitarists house. before my place drummer asked about paying for rehearsal space. I said no. think about it this way. he found the set that is at guitarists house for 700, that's a years worth of rent for 1 person in the op s band. and if he wanted to he could get his 700 back out of it. I keep a mb fusion head and 2 dr bass cabs there.
In major cities I can see where this wouldn't be possible but in Grand Rapids Michigan and I got to believe in Canada it is. plus keyboardists are unicorns here.
We all own houses, but we all live in a city. Neighbours in too close proximity. Contrary to what you may beleive, we have cities in Canada, and we happen to live in one.
This thread seems to have derailed into several different topics, such as if my band is profitable enough, should we be renting rehearsal space and so on.
I appreciate everyone's advice. We are happy with our rehearsal space situation. It works for us for several reasons. Unfortunately, the keyboard player didnt see it the way we do, and we respect that.
My only question was, we like him, so do we wave his portion of rent to keep him, or go our seperate ways with him? Many of you gave your oppinion on that and i appreciate it.
This point has already been addressed multiple times. Not everyone lives out in the sticks where you can regularly rehearse with a loud band and not get the cops called. Lots of us who live in urban areas rent rehearsal spaces. And where I'm from, $400 is very cheap. My rehearsal space totals $250 more than that (but is split among 17 people).
Garbage. one of my drummers lives right downtown with about 15 feet between houses. we made sure we were done by 8 o'clock to respect the neighbors. you're not getting rent from me, even if it comes from gig proceeds.
Come to think of it the guitarist is in the city too. traffic sucks getting to his place. neighbours don't care if you're respectable about it. a few summers ago I opened my slider during practice and had all the neighborhood kids dancing.
I look at a lockout as storage most of the time. If you need the storage you pay for it. If you don't want to haul gear back and forth you chip in.
Not garbage at all. Everyone's situation is different. Its great that you can get away with it in your situation. We cant. We all have wives and small children, that complicates rehearsing in one of our homes. We also have day jobs, and by the time we all get to rehearsal, its 7:30pm. So finishing up at 8 isnt possible.
This is fact. For some reason, people cant see past their own situations and realize that there are different circumstances. If we could rehearse for free at one of our homes, we'd already be doing it.
See my profile pic. I started a band when he was less than 1. in the originals band the guitarist and drummer both have kids that are about 2 months old. he lives in the city. his wife goes to a freinds house while we practice. neighbours never say a thing and his wife is happy to get out.
I'm blind and can't drive. my wife has to drive me to band practice at this place in the middle of the city through bad traffic. I once got fed up and told my wife I was going to sell all my gear. she wouldn't let me do it. so it sounds like the real difference is the wives support.
When you pay to play you're being taken advantage of by a club owner. Big difference.
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