In 2006 we undertook the first ever survey of commercial music rehearsal spaces in London in the UK.
We took the view that better equipped and larger rehearsal rooms will be located in major cities in our survey of London music spaces.
We found a total of 47 music rehearsal organisations with a pre-booking facility available to music-makers.
We found:
These largely function as independent business units, some subsumed within the activities of other businesses
Many were small and medium-sized businesses, in some cases struggling to survive
Competition is probably intense
They ranged from 2 to 14 practice rooms per music rehearsal space
Not all music rehearsal organisations work at full capacity, although some rooms were hired permanently to record companies for use by their artists
We estimated there had been a steady increase in their number since 1976, at a rate of nearly 3 new music rehearsal spaces established every two years. This did not account for those that ceased trading during this period.
Demand
The demand for the traditional recording studio space has waned with the advent of affordable home computers and accessible software. The end product can be written, played, recorded and mixed cheaply in a fully equipped bedroom/garage.
The rehearsal spaces tended to be concentrated in deprived areas where rent prices were lower.
All music rehearsal organisations offered variable hire rates according to what was provided (although not all provided all of them) based on the following:
Size of room
Time of day
Weekday or weekend
Block-booking discounts
Whether equipment and/or instruments were supplied/hired
Some had a technical employee on hand
The findings present interesting, but general conclusions worthy of further research. There is little research in this area of the music industry.
Detailed findings
The research suggests there are around 200 individual rehearsal rooms in London. Over three quarters are located in Inner London and nearly a third in the three highest deprived boroughs in England. An annual footfall was estimated at 380,000 supported by an annual economy of £9.3m.
A new music rehearsal organisation opens on average every eight months while the whole sector in London supports around 120 full-time employees and 100 part-time employees. A small number of commercial rehearsal spaces have successfully used railway arches because of their location and inherent sound isolation properties.
We found the offer was varied, from a damp cellar to a mirrored hall, which was reflected in the hire price. Most bands rehearse at least once a week for four hours duration mostly in the evenings and at weekends, and the peak session rates took advantage of this. All the practice rooms were cheaper to hire on a weekday than in the evening or at weekends. All the spaces had insurance.
We compared room sizes, access, lighting, atmosphere, how conducive they were to songwriting, and if the room can be tailored to individual requirements. We found most rehearsal studios had a number of rooms and price was determined on size and facilities.
Studios varied in size from a small room at King Bee to six rooms at Survival (including a showcase studio with a wall of mirrors). The smallest room measured 15 feet by 15 (225 sq. ft.) again at Survival. The largest room was 31 feet by 32 (992 sq. ft.) at NWM. Terminal even had a lockout rehearsal room that could be hired from 10am to 11pm for the whole day. Some of the rooms were found to be in need of repair or decorating more than others.
On contacting the London music rehearsal premises advertised in the Melody Maker and The Band publications, we found each and all studios had PA systems inclusive in the room charge. However a band can still use their own PA system with a reduction in the studio hire price.
The PA system in each room varied from the smallest at 200w at Backstreet and Channel Studios to an optional 3Kw rig at Show Me Studios. Along with the amp and speakers included with the room hire are provided mics, mic stands, plenty of power sockets, and in some cases a mixing desk and effects unit. Sometimes extra FX can be hired in, depending on availability and requirements. However extra equipment and facilities are available which will add to the final hire rate.
Most musicians will want to use their own equipment in rehearsals so they get used to their own gear before any gigs. However, some studios offered to hire standardised backline eg. Marshall and Trace Elliot. Of course the better organised studios offer to hire in extra equipment, but this can be expensive. Most studios offered backline hire in the form of combo amps eg. Marshall combo, Fender Tube and Trace Elliot, etc.
Some rehearsal spaces offered drum kit hire. Drummers could either hire an entire Pearl World series kit at Broken Lives. At AAA drum kit hire did not include hi-hat, cymbals and bass pedal.
If in the case of some groups it is a problem to move all the bands' equipment in one go, storage can solve this problem. However, it's worth bearing in mind that sooner or later this would have to be remedied once the band is out performing. Storage space or more reassuringly termed 'the cage', was offered at 9 out of the 17 studios we questioned. Of course the price will be determined by the amount of space/pieces of gear needed to be stored.
Many music spaces also offered recording and some favoured this over rehearsal slots.
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