What do you like to see in your payed rehearsal rooms?

Basic OTC pharmacy stuff, like ibuprofen, benadryl, imodium AD, tissues, hand sanitizer, etc.

It would also be good to have a first aid kit handy behind the counter in case someone gets hurt (e.g., small cuts etc.) so that a band doesn't have to stop what they're doing and run to the store for band-aids etc. I wouldn't charge them for stuff like a band-aid or a little antibiotic ointment.

As far as musical stuff for sale, a selection of guitar picks would be nice. Drummers should bring their own sticks; I don't think house sticks should be provided, although having some for sale is cool.

 

toilet paper. that is the biggest thing that is always missing at our practice space. there is never any in the bathrooms.

 

I bet you could sell a few SD cards to bands/artists recording themselves on portable recorders, who forget, lose, or fill theirs. I'd sell energy bars too, because there's nothing worse than hunger/low blood sugar when trying to play.

In the rooms, I'd like to see guitar hangars on the walls, so I don't have to use a stand. I don't know if I've seen those in a rehearsal studio, but I've played a venue that has them on the walls on stage, and it's great.

 

Batteries, Ear plugs, tampons, string winders, Energy bars, energy drinks

 

Coffee maker. Drink fridge. live recording option.

 

IME, once you start treating someone's wounds, liability is transferred to you. What if the cut gets infected and the guy loses a finger or something? Who will they sue? You and your company.

I suggest you sell small basic first aid kits, if you think they will sell.

As far as distributing a "little" antibiotic ointment from a previously opened tube, IMO, that's the last thing you want to do, especially in this day with all the viruses and other stuff going around.

 

Sounds like you have it covered. Sometimes a parking map is helpful (where to go when the lot is full and you're late already).

Good luck!

 

IMO, If it was my business, I would NOT be loaning out straps, sticks or anything else. I'm sure it's been said "Oh, my sticks are broken! Don't worry about, just get some loaners from the studio. The studio becomes the crutch.

If someone forgets a strap, they can sit on the floor and play or maybe, just maybe, put an extra one in their case.

Do provide picks and other misc. for free? Music stands, guitar strings, etc?

All that loaning eats into profits and wastes your time keeping track of it. If the stuff in not in a locked display case, who will be tracking the inventory when you have to take care of a problem in one of the rooms? I suspect that some of it will be stolen.

I suggest that you make a general announcement and your customers know that after a certain date, no loaners will be available. Let them buy their own stuff.

 

Clean/non-stinky is always nice.

 

+1 0n the coffee...

Check out how my friend Jon does it.
http://www.jamspot.com/

 

One thing that made a remarkable difference in my rehearsal space is when our lead singer brought in a Bose "stick" linear array. It stands in a corner and delivers very consistent volume and EQ to virtually every spot in the room. It replaced a cluster of stage monitors that we had in the center of the room. The monitor cluster was a big improvement over a pair of standard PA speakers against one wall; the PA cabs tended to be very loud for some and not loud enough for others, and they were very prone to feedback. The cluster was a lot better about feedback, but took up way too much floor space. The Bose has lots of headroom and is very resistant to feedback even to mics that are close to it and pointing at it. We also use it for PA and monitors together for small shows.

I realize that merely mentioning the Bose name will cause much wailing and gnashing of teeth with some folks, but in our applications the stick works exceedingly well.

 

Thats a good point. It's one thing to provide first-aid kit items such as band-aids and ointment (whether for free or for $$) but let folks treat themselves beyond that.

 

sell booze and have naked dancing chicks. you'll be fighting off the customers.

 

Zig-Zags