KEYWORDS:
Rehearsal
Choosing a Rehearsal Space
By Jean Spinosa
Finding a rehearsal space can be a daunting task with the rise in rents and fluctuation of vacancies.
Here are some important things to consider when looking for the right
rehearsal space for your project:
- Price
- Size of the space
- Sound quality
- Is the room properly soundproofed?
- Is the location practical for your project and all involved?
- Security: You need a well-secured space. Is there a manager on the premises? Are there video cameras? Is there a security guard? Ideally the building is enclosed by a gate with only tenant access.
- Is the building and it’s hallways kept clean? Are the bathrooms cleaned regularly?
- Are there carts on hand for loading equipment?
- Parking- Is there a lot included and is it secure?
- Hours of operation- Is there 24hr access?
- Are the staff professional and courteous?
- Do you need vending machines or stores within building?
- Ask around and get feedback from other bands who have or are renting there.
Lockout
A lockout is a month-to-month studio rental agreement. This agreement is usually accompanied with 24 hr access. Generally, one person in the room is the leaseholder. The leaseholder is responsible for turning in the rent for the whole studio and whose name is accountable for the room. Given that most rehearsal spaces want only one check per room; the leaseholder will collect rent from the other musicians in the space a couple days before the rent is due to allow checks to process and then sends one check for the whole room on the 1st of the month. A lockout is a great option for bands that rehearse often and need to keep their equipment together, set up, and ready to play.
Bands sharing space in a lockout has become the norm to save on expensive rents. A healthy situation is a professional one. Bands must respect each other’s agreements, rent deadlines, and equipment for this to work. Beyond the tenant agreement with the building; it is always best for bands to put their arrangement between each other signed in writing to avoid problems later. If anything occurs that is questionable you can always refer to your written agreement. This agreement may include rehearsal schedules, rent deadline, whether you are or are not allowed to share equipment and to what degree, cleaning responsibilities, and any other issues that are pertinent to your situation.
Hourly
An Hourly rental is a good option for musicians that do not rehearse often or are meeting for a specific project.
Rehearsal Space Agreement/Tenant Rights For A Lockout
The Leaseholder needs to read and keep their hard copy of their rental agreement with the rehearsal space.