Practice Rooms - Do they generally fail to impress?

So for the first time I am working with a band where none of us have an appropriate room or garage for general practicing. We are shopping for 24/7 rooms in the Portland area and so far, I am not super excited at what the money gets. I wanted to know what the norm was to expect.

Basically what I have found here (mind you only two locations so far) is the following:

Warehouse style facility with independent rooms built of either cinder blocks, sheetrock, or OSB materials. No real soundproofing between rooms. 8-10ft cielings of sheetrock. Plenty of power and central lighting, but NO ventalation. Carpeted. Key door locks and security code main entry. Security cams and vending machines are nice additions, parking is so, so.

For this, the prices are about $1.80-2.00 sqft. Bigger rooms are 350 for 12x16. 24/7 access with no noise curfews.

This sound reasonable to those of you who have dealt with these facilities?

Danke!

The only real difference with practice spaces comes to "price/location" and "superior quality." They're expensive anywhere you go, but the closer to the city, the more the price goes up. I'm on the other side of the island from you, but the price seems about on par for what you're describing.

My room is very similar, albeit 18x22' with higher ceilings for $360. The larger size allows me to sublet and keep the cost down, but I'm also about 35 minutes west of Boston.

So yeah, you're about on par. If you get your own room, immediately do this:

1.) Swap out normal carpet for "indoor/outdoor carpet" available at Home Depot. Well-worth the investment since it dries quick and doesn't mold up - it's made to get wet and dry out.

2.) Buy and maintain a dehumidifier immediately. "If you don't like what you smell here, get that funk out." - Extreme (or something like that)

3.) Get quality lighting and fans. With airflow comes drying, and the lack of sunlight needs to get replaced with warm lighting or mood lighting.

4.) Get the mini fridge. Warm beer sucks. Try CL and get a used one off a kid who just moved out of his college dorm. He needs that money for more beer.

Thanks for the feedback there Fitch. Ahead of you on the dehumidifier, but I hadnt thought about bringing our own carpet. I figure we will also put up at least a bit of foam to help dampen any echo, not that we will likely record in here.

Ive got lighting and some box fans, but will also finally have an excuse to get one of those little blower cylinder fans for under my snare!

Location of this one is great. Near downtown PDX, 5 minutes from my work, and only about 20 from everyone's respective home.

I figured sq. footage costs before on my current space, but forgot where it fell...they do fluctuate in Chicago depending on location, amenities, SECURITY, etc.

I got into our space as one of the first 6 'trial' tenants when the facility opened, since I was close with the management and trusted me, plus they also cut us a deal on the rate. Before an ownership partner coup resulted in new management taking over, my friends were running the two most well regarded rehearsal places in the city.

I'm paying $400 for a room that's roughly 15x17, which should go $475 or so.

Totally new build-or.

24/7 access, key fob access, secure locks on all solid metal doors, cameras, free wifi, vending, one level, loading bay area with rolling garage door acces during regular hours, carts, on site sales of strings, picks, sticks and other accessories, etc.

Rooms have 15' ceilings, are all on modern HVAC system, no rooms sharing runs to minimize noise bleed. Construction is as green as was feasible, sound dampening materials in walls, etc.

Are the rooms sound proof?

Hell no.

But if a band is playing, they can't hear the band next to them at all. We're on in ears, so it's no problem at all.

We did the thin indoor/outdoor carpet, mini fridge, box fans and a couple lights. I built two tall shelving units out of 2x4s and ply, and PA, gigging gear and empty cases live there with ample room for us to set up and leave room for some of our lights (so we can test in the room).

Thats another couple of perks I did forget to mention about the place in lead right now. Does have wifi access throughout, and will allow reasonable modifications to walls for shelving as we see fit.

But I could hear a modest drum lesson being conducted by a professional teacher from across the facility due to thin walls. Running in ear would indeed make this a non-issue, but may not be a viable option for us for some time.

Ill just have to see how the other guys vote. I just cant wait to have access to my acoustic drums again whenever I want! Apartment life sucks in that way, but thank god for Alesis!

I a studio like you are looking at. I've been there since '03 and couldn't be happier. I'm in a 18'x20', with 12' ceilings, wi-fi, full HVAC, and it's pretty well insulated for sound. We split the room with another band, and there is plenty of room for everyone, and everything. We even record there without any issues. Here's a link to the place that I'm at. http://www.rehearse.com/sacto88/

Our place is a converted old school/warehouse.

I wouldn't call them "amenities" but...

Stair access and freight elevator

Rear loading dock

Keypad entry with video monitoring

Double deadbolted doors

10ft ceiling; cinder block walls. Brought our own carpeting and foam (mandatory given the concrete). Overhead fluorescent lighting; plenty of power; we do have a wall unit A/C although no window.

Yeah, not very soundproof at all. During our breaks, I can hear the DJ's down the hall mixing. I can't even imagine what we do to the place.

$180/month for 12' x 18' room in warehouse district.

Be prepared to paint before you move in. And I'd stay away from anyplace that puts carpet on every surface... just seems kinda gross to me. I'd rather have concrete everything and bring my own.

Also, the "other" practice space in town got burglarized. About 6 or 8 rooms were hit. I highly recommend making sure your insurance covers your drums at the practice space.

Thanks for the continued feedback. Think Sacramento is a bit of a drive there Symbolic, but oh what I wouldnt give for AC and 12' cielings...

Its month to month, so I figure we might just go for this one. Ill get pics up so you can look back on them years from now and see how the best band in the world started.

BTW, to answer your thread title question...

Yes, they definitely fail to impress in the vast majority of cases...which is why I'm willing to spend a little bit more for a place that does impress somewhat.

Most places ignore the basics. It is NOT, IMO, simply enough to offer 4 walls and a ceiling.

Things like stable power, volume of outlets per room, appropriate security, properly functioning HVAC (heat is damn important in the winter; had the wrap on a kick drum crack because a previous space's boiler took a dive in the heart of winter, and the room temps plummeted enough over the few days it was down for the glue and wrap to become brittle), ease of access via larger than normal sized entrance doors, freight elevator if multi-story facility, realtively clean BATHROOMS, etc. are not luxuries in the least.

Thanks for the continued feedback. Think Sacramento is a bit of a drive there Symbolic, but oh what I wouldnt give for AC and 12' cielings... Its month to month, so I figure we might just go for this one. Ill get pics up so you can look back on them years from now and see how the best band in the world started.

I wasn't suggesting this place, I posted it to give you an idea of what I'm renting, how they are built, and the size of the facitility.

Yeah, if you want examples of how others are doing it for comparison...

Here's where I'm at:

http://www.fortknoxstudios.com/about-chicago-band-rehearsal-facility/

(BTW, if you let the customer quotes scroll for a bit, you can see they have a testimonial from B3, of all people...)

If I had my choice in any place in the city at same cost, I'd be here:

http://superiorst.com/

The management of this building did the original build out on the place I'm at now and got it up and running with the initial 70-80 tenants/first year.

They got ousted in an ownership group coup, and I'm still nervous about what that means for where I'm at...if the rates start getting jacked, or quality of residence drops a fair amount, I'm putting my name on the waiting list for the original parent location

I know, I was expressing my sarcastic jealousy of the HVAC...

I have never rented one of these places full time, but I have used them several times as rent by the hour. We didn't have anyplace else to practice. With only 1 exception, they all were about like you describe. But really, for under $300 what do you expect? They're bare bones because that's all the proprietor can provide for what they're bringing in. I would expect that if you were willing to spend $800 or $1000 a month or so you could get a much nicer place. At least all the ones I've used have had AC and heat.

$800-$100/month better come with all-you-can-handle hookers and blow...

In Sacramento the 18x20 rooms go for $520. My room is that size, we split it with another band, and we have plenty of room. That's with two 8pc drum kits in it, 3 guitar rigs, 2 bass rigs, 2 PAs, my cases, and a couch

The 12x20 rooms go for about $410, and the 14x18 go for $420.

All of the above have the usual amenities (Security, HVAC, wifi, etc)

Guess I am lucky, always had a garage to rehearse in. I don't know what you all are getting per gig but having to pay rental for a practice space would leave verry little meat on the bone for me.

Dave Huffman

Well it's a bit of a catch-22 in that in order to get a band to the point where they can pull in enough from a gig to cover space rental, they need to be good and established enough to warrant that level of pay, and in order to warrant that level of pay, they need to practice somewhere...

I have been in many bands that I would consider semi-successful in terms of name recognition, draw, landing prime bookings at choice venues on best dates, and when playing originals, having occasional radio play for our material. I have never been in one that was truly profitable over the long run, and I suspect for most here, when you boil it all down, that is the case as well. Merch, Recording costs, CD duplication, posters and flyers, banners, lights, PA...all the same kinds of likely assumed expense as paying for rental space. Current primary band is just getting to experience a fair amount of break-even after 2 1/2 years. If we continue booking at the pace and amount we've now established, then yes, we'll be profiting over time...and likely put that profit back into the band.

One of my all time favorite rehearsal spaces was an abandomed factory. No heat, we were only using an old indoor loading dock area, the owner gave us a key cheap with the idea if he sold the place we were out. It literally was a stage. We brought in a couple of rented heaters. More bands need to look at this, it echoed badly, but was still an amazing place. We were just there a couple of months when we started, after that we went back to a basement.

I am not a song writer & don't want to be. Never had a burning desire to do my own material. I am 56 years old & really enjoy doing covers in bars & at festivals. I live in the rural Champaign IL area. & most people I play with have garages or some place to practice for free or cheap.

We own all our equipment & have a nice little older mainly Peavey PA with about 3000 watts. It is over kill for most of our gigs. We, JR & the Blues Rockers are a 3 piece power blues & classic rock band. We can come in for $300.00 & each go home with $90.00 We each pay our sound man ten bucks. He is my son in law. We aren't worried about recording to much & as of yet have on Merch. to sell. We just want to play once or twice a week to have a little cash in the pocket. I am at a point in my musical career I am not going to spend any more money on the band.

Dave h.

Then it makes perfect sense that you wouldnt need to look outside your garage to reach the goals you have for your music. We havent made a dime from a gig yet, we just all came together as a group 2 months ago. But we sure do need a dedicated place where we can safely and reliably store and access our gear if we ever want to get those gigs. Have to spend money to make money.

Merlin- where (specifically) are you looking at? I have played/practiced at almost all of the big facilities in town. (The one by Duff's on 7th is probably the best, by the way.)

Jesus balls.

Some of you guys are talking about practice spaces that cost more than the rent on my 3 bedroom home! The same home that has a nice soundproof basement that my bands practice in.

Grem- That's true, but a lot of places (like San Diego, for example) have very high rents and no basements of any kind. No one wants to pay that kind of money, but a brother has got to rock, right?

Yeah, well some of us like living where they have paved roads, indoor plumbing and the like.

Oh yeah...and venueS...plural, to play at.

BTW, I seem to recall you posting pictures of that house...

That's the one where people walk by and steal {censored} from your driveway and/or porch, etc., even thou the house is set prety far back from the street, right?

Yeah, I want to store my gear in THAT neighborhood.

Well, we are all moved in and ready to jam tonight at Puddletown Studios, just over the river in SE Portland.

Here are some random pics, anyone have tips on what we can do about lame ass walls that doesnt require painting? I was thinking of just tacking white sheets up, to brighten the room and maybe help catch a bit of the echo. 10x16' with 8' ceiling. $315/mo not bad. Some cute girls in these new hipster indie bands around. But we are next door to an aspiring Owl City guy, which is annoying after 2+ hours of the same synth sounds over Gotye style vocals...

I apologize if these are huge, no way to edit at work.

Alll the necessities!