10 Practice Spaces For Bands That Have Nowhere To Rehearse

Finding a dependable rehearsal space is one of the first barriers most bands face. With the amount of noise that live musicians create, finding somewhere affordable, effective, and discrete to practice your craft can be difficult.

Luckily, if you get creative, the list of potential places where a band can rehearse is quite long—especially if you’re willing to practice in front of an audience.

Although, when you start asking around, you might have to get used to hearing the word, “No”—don’t let that get you down. Eventually, someplace will say, “Yes,” and you’ll have a merry little practice space (that won’t piss off the neighbors).

So without further ado, here’s a list of 10 Practice Spaces For Bands That Have Nowhere To Rehearse:

Skateparks
Storage Units
Schools & Colleges
Churches
Barns & Sheds
Community Centers & Public Parks
Garages & Basements
Rental Studios
Bars, Clubs & Restaurants
Music Shops & Record Stores

If you doubt how the above list is possible, don’t worry, we can explain. If you keep reading, we’ll walk you through each of the 10 rehearsal spaces on our list and elaborate on how you can get your band’s foot in the door, so you can get back to making some music.

SKATEPARKS

Skateparks serve as a great rehearsal space option for bands because of the like-minded atmosphere—skateboarding is just one thing that goes hand in hand with music and art.

Most skateparks occasionally host concerts, and many privately owned parks already have a sound or PA system. Some might also have a band practice schedule to which you can easily ask to be added.

Depending on how understanding the skatepark owners are and what kind of space they have available, you might be able to access park sections after hours when no one is skating. Some indoor parks may have a storage room or construction area where you can set up and rehearse away from the 12-year-olds practicing their kickflips and tailwhips.

But more than likely, rehearsing at a skatepark means you’ll be rehearsing in a low-traffic corner of the park in front of an audience of teenagers, which can be a positive or a negative, depending on how you look at it.

If your band is starting out, you might not want to be work-shopping new songs in front of an audience of young critics. If your band has been together a while, it might be a great opportunity to kill two birds with one stone—you can rehearse and put on a subtle performance at the same time.

The main downside to rehearsing at a skatepark is there likely won’t be a safe place to store your gear. Unless there’s a room or office where you can lock up and trust that no one will damage or steal your equipment, you’ll want to load in and out after each practice session.

Skateparks, ice and roller skating rinks, and bowling alleys are great options for band rehearsal spaces.

These types of event centers frequently host performances from live musicians, and if you’re willing to cooperate with the owners (and maybe play a few birthday parties), you’ll have a safe spot to rehearse and store your gear.

But suppose you aren’t thrilled about rehearsing in front of a rotating audience of random teenagers. In that case, you might want to look into the next option on our list—renting out a storage unit is a legitimate option for a band rehearsal space (or music studio).

STORAGE UNITS

If your band needs somewhere to practice, storage units provide a safe and affordable way to rent a small rehearsal space.

Believe it or not, people actually live in storage units—so rehearsing in one isn’t that crazy of an idea. Storage units are compact, convenient, and will double as a secure option for storing expensive music gear.

Although many storage units are not incredibly spacious, small storage units are always available and can be quite affordable month to month. Most storage facilities also offer various size options. Although larger units will be more expensive, dividing the rent between band members can effectively keep costs low.

Services like SpareFoot can help determine which storage units in your area may be within your band’s price range.

If you choose to go the route of rehearsing in a storage unit, the main issue you’ll need to resolve is whether or not your particular unit has access to electricity.

If your band utilizes mostly acoustic instruments, you might not need to worry about power, but if your band has more of a traditional guitar/bass/ drums/vocals set-up, power will be a top priority.

If there isn’t an electrical outlet in or near your storage unit, you’ll need to get creative about finding other ways to provide power to your gear.

You’ll also need to be conscious of other people’s space and privacy. If you’re renting a storage unit right next to someone who regularly needs to move things in or out, you’ll likely be dealing with various noise complaints and potentially risk being locked out of your unit.

Hanging studio foam, acoustic panels, or even thick blankets will help dampen sound and keep your band off anyone’s shit list.

Finally, you’ll need to consider if an insulated or climate-controlled storage unit is right for you. In many areas, the temperatures during summer and winter months can have damaging effects on music equipment, especially if left unattended for long periods of time.

If you’re renting an indoor unit that isn’t exposed to extreme temperatures, you’re probably fine to rehearse in your storage unit year-round, but it’s certainly something you’ll want to discuss with your band.

Bands can rehearse at schools and colleges

SCHOOLS & COLLEGES

High schools and colleges have some of the most ideal settings for band rehearsal spaces. If you attend a local university, reach out to the music or performing arts departments, they likely have designated practice spaces that students can reserve.

If there’s a rule that you need to be a music or performing arts major in order to reserve those spaces, make some friends in the music department. Find someone who has access, and see if they’re interested in joining your band.

Pro tip: adding a band member that studies music will do more than get you into a rehearsal space, it’ll make your band sound a lot better too.

Not sure where to find helpful band members? Check out our guide: 10 Tips For Finding The Perfect Musicians For Your Band.

If you’re not a college student, see what options there are at the local high school. Most high schools already let community groups like book clubs, scout troops, and cultural associations use classrooms after regular hours to hold meetings and organize events.

See if any of your teachers played in bands in high school (there are probably a few), and ask if they’ll help you organize a fundraiser event or after-school “club” to turn the cafeteria or a classroom into a rehearsal space after school.

When I was in high school, we used to throw at least two concerts a year in the cafeteria to raise money for the yearbook. It was a classic “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” situation—we got a place to play, and the school got a little extra money to fund an expensive program.

After the first concert was a success, we convinced the principal to let us rehearse in the cafeteria after school, just like any other club or sports team.

We also had a cool drama teacher that liked giving kids a chance to perform. He worked out this idea to have an open mic concert, during school hours, in the auditorium on the last day before each spring and holiday break.

Teachers throughout the school could choose to spend the day teaching students who had already checked out mentally for the break, or they could take the class to the auditorium and enjoy listening to poetry and songs.

Those open mic days were also great opportunities to rehearse on school grounds after regular hours.

If you’re not a student, rehearsing at local schools and colleges might not be an option. But if that’s the case, plenty of other solutions to your problem are on this list—keep reading!

CHURCHES

Similar to schools and colleges, churches often have extra space that can double as rehearsal space for bands. However, the difference between churches and schools is that churches are privately owned organizations and aren’t obligated to host community events, clubs, or bands (although most do).

Developing the relationships needed to turn a local church into your own private rehearsal space is a bit of a long game. But if you put in the time, it can be a reliable and safe place to rehearse with your band for years.

If you already attend a local church, volunteer your talents. If your church has a worship/music program, see if you can join the band somehow. You’ll make friends with other musicians, and those musicians will have connections to rehearsal opportunities at the church or in the community.

You can also talk to the pastor in charge of music, and if you’re respectful, you might be able to utilize the church’s designated music space for your own rehearsal needs. Worst-case scenario, your pastor or church leaders decide they can’t accommodate having extra individuals hanging around.

If your church doesn’t have a worship/music program or any extra space available, ask if anyone in the congregation has a barn or storage space that you could use to rehearse in.

You might be able to work out a deal where you and your band do some yard work for an elderly individual or spend a Saturday cleaning out the local hoarder’s garage and, in exchange, use their extra space to set up a rehearsal spot. This leads us to our next section, Barns & Sheds!

BARNS & SHEDS

If someone in your band has access to an old barn or shed, and you’re not already using it as a rehearsal space you might want to re-evaluate that decision.

In my opinion, a barn or shed is the best possible option for a low-budget rehearsal space. Of all the options on this list, I would pick a barn over anything else every time.

A barn is a perfect rehearsal space for bands for one main reason: possibilities. You could put in a stage, insulate and soundproof the walls, build a recording studio, and leave your gear up—you could do anything!

The only downside, in my opinion, to rehearsing in a barn or shed is availability. If you live in downtown LA, no barns are probably available to rent or renovate. But if you’re in a more rural/suburban area, you’ve got a much better chance.

Maybe it’s just a midwest thing, but where I went to high school in Michigan, it seemed like every other kid I knew had an old barn on their family’s property that was completely misused. I knew dozens of kids who had a barn that was never used and only stored an old, broken-down car or boat that needed a new motor and wasn’t going to be fixed anytime soon. You’d think those barns would be homes to horses or cows, but most barns I knew of were just used as a second garage to store rusty tools, and the only animals living inside were wild raccoons.

There were a few kids I knew in a Myspace band called So Let Go! that put together an actual stage in their drummer’s parents’ barn and hosted their own shows every few weeks.

Also, in college, a kid I knew bought an old house with a huge shed and built an open-room recording studio where his band recorded, rehearsed, and even hosted a few shows.

The other great thing about rehearsing in a barn or shed is if you don’t have the building but have the land, you can build, rent, or buy a shed for the average price of an American-made guitar.

If you don’t think it’s possible, check out this series of videos that show the process of building a drum studio from the ground up!

COMMUNITY CENTERS & PUBLIC PARKS

Another great option for bands with nowhere to rehearse is to utilize local community centers and public parks. Community centers are made for the public to use—people host weddings, parties, farmer’s markets, pop-up events, and all kinds of things at local community centers.

As long as you reserve the space with the right people, you can use community centers for almost anything you want—including setting up to rehearse with your band.

You won’t be able to leave your gear set up or reserve the space for long periods of time, but for a few hours here and there, a community center could be the perfect option for some bands.

Another option for a temporary rehearsal space is to just set up at a public park. I’ve seen dozens of parks with small amphitheater-style stages that sit empty for months and get used once a year for a community fair. If you need a place to rehearse, drive to the local park, load in the gear you need, and play.

Double-check the local busking laws and ensure it’s not illegal to play music for the general public. You’re good if it’s not a privately owned park or there are no local laws against busking. Put on a show!

If awkward couples can use public parks to grope each other on picnic blankets, and dogs can piss in the grass, you can rehearse with your band for a few hours—the Karens and Chads will get over it.

GARAGES & BASEMENTS

It might seem like a no-brainer, but it has to be mentioned—garages and basements are fantastic places for bands to rehearse. Probably the oldest trick in the book of how-to-start-a-band is to turn a dirty old garage or basement into a rehearsal space.

I personally have played in more basements than I can even remember. They’re private, safe, have electricity, and as long as everybody in the house is OK with it, you don’t ever have to worry about noise complaints.

If you’ve got a garage or a basement, I don’t know why you’re even reading this because you’ve got a rehearsal space right under your own nose. Whatever your excuse for not using your garage or basement to rehearse with your band, it’s probably an easy fix.

If you’ve got Christmas decorations, bicycles, or a freezer that smells like death, clean everything out and move the band in. You can always find storage space somewhere else, so if rehearsing with your band is your top priority, you’ll find a way to make it work.

The only reason I can think of for not using a garage or basement as a rehearsal space is if you live with roommates that won’t appreciate the noise. Even in those situations, you can always look into soundproofing. Countless videos online have step-by-step instructions on turning a garage or basement into a rehearsal space or studio.

But, if you’re bound and determined to find an alternative option, that’s what this list is for—see if you can find something else!

RENTAL STUDIOS

In certain parts of the country where making a career out of music is more than just a dream, there are studios and rehearsal spaces specifically designed for musicians that you can rent for as little or as long as you need.

I’m talking about major metropolitan areas like LA, New York, Nashville, and anywhere where you might occasionally brush shoulders with the bands and artists we all know and listen to. These spaces can accommodate all types of musicians, and if you can get your hands on one, they are probably the best option logistically for any band or artist.

However, professional recording and rehearsal studios are not cheap. When music is a business, it’s also a way to make money off the business. I wouldn’t say that there aren’t affordable options out there, but if your band is in a situation where you’re pinching pennies, a professional studio/rehearsal space probably isn’t going to be your number one option.

If you’re serious about making a career as a musician and want the best for your band, renting a professional studio space is a great option.

There are also open-room studios (not specifically designed for musicians) all over the country. I’m not talking about the vocal booth recording studios with the enormous 200-channel mixing boards like you see in rock & roll biopics.

I’m talking about empty room “studios” that can be used for anything—photoshoots, dance classes, yoga workshops, pop-up art galleries—these spaces are always available for rent anywhere you go and are usually pretty affordable. If you’re unsure what options are near you, type “Studio Space For Rent Near Me” into Google and see what comes up! You might be surprised by what you find.

Bands can rehearse in bars, clubs, and restaurants

BARS, CLUBS, & RESTAURANTS

Sometimes it’s best to practice where you play. That’s why athletes, thespians, dancers, and dozens of other groups all practice on the same fields, stages, and platforms where they perform their craft. But for some reason, musicians hardly ever practice in the same setting that they perform in—on a stage in a venue.

Maybe it’s because of the touring dynamic, and rehearsing on a different stage every night would be difficult to organize. Or maybe it’s because people don’t usually want to pay to see a band rehearse. But for bands or musicians that have the luxury of frequently performing in the same venue, it’s not too far of a stretch to also find ways to rehearse in those venues.

For example, bars, clubs, and restaurants. Great places to play—great places to practice. Some of the best venues I’ve ever played in are bars. But it wasn’t until recently that I realized how amazing it would be to rehearse in those same bars.

If you think about it, most bars and clubs are closed during the day, so there’s nobody around to disturb, and it allows you to rehearse not only what you’ll play but how you’ll play it.

Growing up, my family loved going to the Hard Rock Cafe for dinner. My parents liked the classic rock vibe, my siblings liked the food, and we all loved the occasional tribute band that would play.

On the nights that there wasn’t a band (which was most nights), I always thought it was strange that the stage remained set up. There was always a drum kit, amps, guitars, microphones, stage monitors, and everything else, all plugged in and ready to go.

But as many times as I saw that gear, I never once saw a band rehearsing with it, not even in the middle of the day at lunchtime. When bands came through, the restaurant unloaded the stage, and the band set up their own equipment.

The stage gear belonged to the restaurant and was only really there to add to the atmosphere—they were props. But imagine if you had a regular gig at Hard Rock every Thursday night at 9 PM. It wouldn’t make sense to load in and load out your gear every week. If you’re the only band that will be performing for a while, it would make a lot more sense to use one set of gear.

And if all that gear is sitting there, collecting dust seven days a week, you might as well get a little rehearsal time in when the kitchen staff is getting ready for the day or cleaning up for the night. Right?

You’d have to jump through some hoops and have a good relationship with the restaurant manager, but after a few shows, that tends to happen organically anyways (especially if you can pull a good number of people in to buy drinks).

If everybody walks away happy, a bar, club, or restaurant can be a great place for bands that have nowhere else to rehearse.

Bands can rehearse at a music shops and record stores

MUSIC SHOPS & RECORD STORES

Sometimes the best place to make music is where music is sold. All over the country, music stores that sell instruments offer music lessons and have spaces where musicians-in-training can set up and get loud.

The shop where my parents bought me my first guitar was called Limelight Music, in Rochester Hills, Michigan.

Limelight was run by a group of older rock and roll dudes that had spent decades on the road. They knew how to play their instruments, but they also knew the industry inside and out. All the older kids in bands hung out there, and there was constantly a pile of skateboards inside the front door.

I remember when we were waiting in line to buy the little Squier Strat that I had chosen as my first guitar, I noticed that the guy standing in front of us had his arm all bandaged up from what looked like a pretty recent accident. One of the shop owners recognized this bandaged badass and asked him what had happened. Without hesitation, he looked at me and said, “Knife fight.”

I was speechless. To this day, I have no idea if he was joking or serious because I didn’t hear another word of that conversation. The words “knife fight” just rang in my ears like a foghorn. The next day, I asked my mom for a switchblade, and she laughed.

But that was the type of shop Limelight was — incredibly intimidating but also thrilling to be around. There was an energy at that store that I couldn’t get enough of.

Eventually, I started taking lessons from this biker dude named Tony. Tony loved grunge bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam and probably took four smoke breaks every time we had a lesson. He taught me my first power chords and introduced me to bands like Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Santana.

After a while, I got bored of practicing songs alone in my bedroom and showing up to lessons to show Tony what I’d practiced. I don’t remember if it was Tony’s idea or mine, but we found a couple of other kids my age that took lessons simultaneously, including my brother, and we moved into the room where they taught drum lessons because it was the biggest.

In that room, Tony taught us how to play together. He taught us to listen to the other instruments and jam like a real band. He taught us how to write songs and transition between them on stage. He encouraged us to enter the first battle of the bands I ever played in and was backstage with us when we didn’t even come close to winning.

Like most bands, we all went our separate ways, but Tony and Limelight had given me everything I needed to spend the next decade starting bands.

It wasn’t until college that I remembered what a resource that practice room in the back of Limelight had been for us. In my senior year, I joined a band called Deniston. The entire band was college students, and we all lived in campus housing — we had nowhere to rehearse.

I remembered my middle school days at Limelight and pitched the idea to the other guys in the band to see if Mike’s Music, the local music shop in town, had any rehearsal rooms we could rent.

Just like Limelight, they had a space in the back of the shop for teaching music lessons, but it had been turned into storage because they didn’t have anyone to teach lessons. For $20 a month, after about 15 minutes of moving boxes into the hallway, we had a place to play and a safe place to store most of the band’s gear.

If you’re willing to pay a little bit of money or maybe even teach a few lessons, music shops and record stores are great resources for bands with nowhere to rehearse. See if your local shop has space available, and find a deal that works for everyone. You never know—it might be the perfect place for your band to set up and play.

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