Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hello everyone,
So I am a musician in a band who regularly practices by visiting my local rehearsal studio at least once a week.  I used to rehearse in a Parsippany, NJ studio until I moved to Belleville, NJ.  Before I moved, I realized that there are really not that many rehearsal studios out there.  In fact, I may have to commute about 25 minutes to the studio that I went to before the move.  With so few locations, there must be a high demand for practice space.  Not many parents or home owners want loud music blasting through their house and annoying their neighbors.  So on I went to list the over-head, which really isn`t much.  Obviously sound-proofing and providing equipment in each room that is adequate for a standard-sized band would be a start.  I guess I`ll phrase a question by asking whether anyone out there has ever worked or owned...or owns a rehearsal studio.  If so, do you have any pointers?  Thanks!!

Ken

We had some discussion about this, and it`s still an "idea waiting to happen." My thoughts, having been a musician in my first life, would be to locate the studios in a commercial manufacturing park or zone. At night, nobody`s there, and in the day, it`s full of machine and truck noise.

Another thing would be to provide some sort of sales. Things like guitar strings, batteries, headphones. Then too, some rental equipment in case people don`t have an amp, one blows up, or so on. And don`t forget vending machines (you`d make income there.)

The key would be enough soundproofing for two or more rock bands in the same building at the same time. I don`t know how the technology`s developed, but I`m supposing it`s possible. A factory or warehouse space would give you the room, a loading dock, and enough space to handle soundproofing (or dulling down).

You also might offer a practice recording studio to rent, where bands could simply transfer equipment down the hall, pay by the half hour, and produce a quick and dirty demo. They could provide their own mixing, but you`d have a basic engineer to set up and run the boards. Not flashy, but another way to generate revenues.

Biggest problem, I think, would be power. You`d have some awesome electrical bills, so be sure to factor that into your room fees.

Another issue would be equipment storage. Say Band1 comes in on Monday and wants to also come in on Thursday. They`re not playing anywhere for the week, and would like to leave their stuff there for the second day. Where does it go, when Band2 wants the same room for Tuesday?

Again, a warehouse or factory building would provide room for a secure "lockup" shed area.