5 Tips for a Successful Band Rehearsal

It doesn't matter if you've been playing together for 10 years or you all just got together. Making the most of your band's rehearsal time is important. Chances are good your band isn't your full-time job — whether you've got another job or a family, you have to juggle it with everything else going on in your lives.

We've put together some tips that we think could help you and your band have a successful rehearsal, every time.

1. Pick a Leader

Everyone in the group should agree on a point person. The person you choose should be organized, a good communicator and want to do this job. Your band leader will handle the logistical issues of the group, from scheduling rehearsals to coordinating with all the members. This person doesn't have to be the "boss," but having one person tackle this job will make communication among everyone a lot smoother.

Even with a leader, every member of the band should have a voice in the decision-making. Your leader shouldn't have ultimate power in making decisions that affect everyone in the group.

2. Plan Out Your Rehearsal

Before you schedule a date, time and place for your next rehearsal, decide what you need to work on during that rehearsal. How much time do you have to practice together? Do you have a gig coming up? Are there any specific things that everyone needs to work on? These questions will help you plan out what you want to accomplish during each rehearsal.

If you have a show coming up, make sure you schedule time to put together your set list. If you wrote a new song recently that you need to work out the transitions for as a group, plan a block of time for that.

Factor in time for setup, warmups, the bulk of what you need to work on, and then tear-down. Pick a time that you'll get everyone out by, and stick to that. When you stay late, it shows that you're not using your time well.

Showing up and just winging it might be fun, but it may not be helpful in the long run. If you're just goofing off for your whole rehearsal, you won't actually get anything done. Be strategic with your time to get the most good out of it.

3. Be Respectful of Your Bandmates

Don't be a jerk to your bandmates. If a few members of the group need to work something out together, excuse yourself to give them space to do it. Or, if someone is trying to speak, don't start playing. When you're considerate of each other, you'll all get along better. We're not saying you'll always get along perfectly, but when you respect each other and show it, you're much more likely to get through arguments and disagreements.

4. Take Breaks If You Need To

If you've been playing for a long time, take a break. Think about when you were in school and how helpful it was when you were studying for a big test or writing a research paper to walk away from it for a little while. The same concept applies to your rehearsals: give your brain a break. Going too long without stopping will fry everyone's brains and negatively affect your practice time.

If you're going to be playing for hours, schedule breaks to refresh everyone's heads. You'll all feel better and play a lot better, too.

5. Evaluate Yourselves

This is a really underrated part of rehearsing. While you're planning out your rehearsal schedule, you should set goals for each practice. At the end of each rehearsal, everyone should discuss whether you met your goals or not. If you feel like you did, try and see what you did that helped you meet those goals. If you feel like you didn't accomplish what you'd hoped, see what went wrong.

A great way to evaluate your rehearsal is to record yourselves. If you're just trying to evaluate your sound, an audio recording is fine. But if you're trying to nail your look and stage presence, too, make a video recording. You can see all the things that you all did well as a group and what needs extra work.

If you or your bandmates are looking for new equipment, accessories or instruments to make your group as strong as possible, we've got you covered. For excellent service and great deals, visit us in-store at one of our Bay Area locations or online.