Sharing a Practice Space with Another Band
By T. Perry Bowers
Over the years my band and I have shared a lot of practice spaces. Even today, I still share a space with my son’s band – and there are still little issues. Sometimes I’ll come in and I know someone has sat at my drums. Something will be moved slightly. I’ll get that little annoyed feeling, which is mostly a flashback from the days when I shared space with some real douches. I wish I had these rules back then. I would have posted them up on the wall, although it probably wouldn’t have made a difference. If the band you’re sharing your space with doesn’t already understand common decency, it might be time to move out and find your own space. Just one mishap with some of your expensive gear can render all the savings of sharing a space moot.
The Golden Rule: Never touch anyone else’s stuff. Period.
Well maybe if it’s in your way, you can carefully move it to the side, but other than that, do not even breathe on another musician’s stuff. Don’t use their drumsticks. Don’t borrow a guitar pick or grab a string from their string stash. And, never, ever, play their instruments or amps! It doesn’t matter if your girlfriend pawned your guitar for rent that morning, don’t even ask. Because no one wants to lend you their stuff. Even if they say yes, they still don’t want to do it, they just feel like a asshole for saying no. If you’re going to share a space, pretend the other band’s gear doesn’t exist. Don’t grab the other drummer’s sticks that you forgot to bring, take the time to run to Guitar Center and pick some up. Because, if you can’t afford a new set of sticks, you can’t afford to be in a band.
Don’t smoke or create odors
People are generally repulsed by the smell of cigarettes but most buildings don’t allow smoking any more, so it shouldn’t be an issue. Make sure you take the garbage out. It’s OK to have a delicious pizza delivered during practice, but take the trash out afterwards – especially empty beer bottles. Nothing is more rank than stale beer. Always keep the jam space fresh!
Pay your rent on time
A practice space is a real luxury. Clean up your band karma and pay up. If you have trouble coming up with your rent on time, you need to re-think being in a band.
Don’t make excuses – they are all old. If you have four or five people in your band, what is it, $100 or so? It’s just a drop in the bucket compared to what you spent on your drums. Your landlord sees you with your brand new Ford Escape and your custom shop drum set. He isn’t a bank. He’s providing you a service. He’s not providing you a home, so don’t get all “I have tenant’s rights” on him. It’s a commercial contract and your landlord owes you nothing.
Make band space rent a priority so you don’t have to deal with all the negativity that comes with late payments.
Keep your gear on your side
Sometimes bands make agreements to share gear. If you do that, make sure you keep the agreements in case any issues arise. I’ve seen some bands put a literal line down the middle of the practice space. It may sound petty, but if it works, great. You can spread out while your band is practicing, but at the end of practice put all your stuff back on your side and make room for the next band. Don’t ever leave your pedal boards out. It’s just too tempting for someone to test that Eddie Van Halen Phase 90 they’ve been eyeing at Guitar Center that you have. Plus floor space is precious. Leave your amps against the wall. Pick up your pedal boards and stow them. Put your guitars away in their cases. Take a little time to make the next band feel like they get an equal share of the room. In other words, be adults. Love your fellow jam space mates. In fact, why not leave them a note telling them how much you love their band, just for fun.
Don’t compete
Music is not a competition. Of course you think your band is better than theirs, but there is no need to broadcast it. Play your music and let them play theirs. Don’t spend a minute critiquing the other band. Sooner or later, someone will spill the beans on something you said and then it becomes awkward. They pay rent and you pay rent. That’s all that matters.
Really it’s just about being a good human being. Before you leave the practice space, take a minute to treat other musicians as you would like to be treated. Reset the space for your fellow space mates and hopefully they will do the same for you.
