How to Make the Most out of Your Rehearsals
Most bands have to schedule rehearsal time, and it may only be a couple of hours at a time. It is easy to get side-tracked either by distractions or by unforeseen circumstances. It is crucial for the progression of your band to make the most out of your rehearsal time.
Read on for the best tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your band practices.
The Space
First and foremost, it is vital that you have a good space to hold the rehearsals in. The space you’re using needs to be optimised for this function. Deciding on which music practice room to create in should be your utmost consideration. If the space isn’t optimal, your rehearsal will not go as well as it could. There are places that you can rent out to hold your rehearsals in. For example, Pirate has various locations across several countries, which can be rented out as rehearsal spaces to help give your band the best place to practice.
Appoint a Leader
Your band may make all decisions democratically, which is a fair way to conduct band business, but you should choose someone to take point on running the rehearsals. Having someone responsible for the scheduling can help the rehearsal run smoothly as there is someone there to keep everyone on track. The leader should also schedule breaks in; everyone needs a break either to use the bathroom or snack.
Punctuality
Some delays will be beyond anyone’s control, but each member should ensure that they allow themselves enough travel time to get to the rehearsal on time. It isn’t fair on anyone else if one member is constantly late as it holds everyone up and wastes time.
Preparation
The rehearsal shouldn’t always be the practice. If you are rehearsing for a gig, you should be practicing your parts at home. When writing new material together, obviously there will be a lot of riffing and working each other’s parts out. The band practice shouldn’t be the only practice you do for the band; it is important to hone your crafts individually.
Set Aims
Try to decide on what you want to accomplish from each rehearsal and work towards them. Approaching your rehearsals causally might be more fun, but it won’t help in the long run. If you want long-term success, establish goals beforehand and make a concerted effort to achieve them. Having a goal is also an excellent way to keep the rehearsals from getting off track. Rehearsals allow for the opportunity to fix mistakes which is something you can’t do in live performances—workshop and tweak songs to make sure they’re smooth before they are played to the public.
Be Respectful
Each bandmate deserves respect from the others. Be courteous to each other. Don’t play or talk over members whilst they are trying to do things to further the band. Try to keep phone use to a minimum unless they are being used to record the session. Do not have any unnecessary people attend the rehearsals. Hosting friends or family in the rehearsal space is okay on occasion; for example, if you want to hear feedback on a song but mostly get in the way and derail proceedings.
Consider the Audience
Engaging an audience requires more than just a good set. Most acts will need to build their fanbase by connecting with their audience. This can mean patter when introducing a song or banter between bandmates. This is hard to rehearse but can be taken into consideration when creating a setlist. Although, it is important to keep it fresh and not play the same set at every gig, especially if you have a loyal fanbase or frequent the same venues. Once you have nailed the setlist or a few setlists, try and rehearse as though it is a live gig. Set up as you would for an audience and map out any movements or any room necessary to navigate the stage. Rehearsals can also be a good time to see how long it takes you to set up and how long it takes you to get off the stage. This is valuable information if you get booked in a multi-act bill.
Record Your Rehearsal
A live recording of your practice can be invaluable when trying to evaluate progress. Audio recordings will do, but a video will better help you to see your stage presence. Allocate some time at the end of the rehearsal to review the recording and take notes. This can provide a good starting point for the next rehearsal.
In Conclusion
There isn’t really a hard and fast rule on how or how often a band should rehearse. It is subjective to the needs of each band. Usually, a three-hour rehearsal once a week is plenty. Having a schedule and following aims is one of the best ways to further your band’s progress. For any band serious about their future, making the most out of their rehearsals is vital.
