Great Performances
Start at Rehearsal
Balance Your Sound pt. 3


At your next rehearsal try this approach from the very beginning. Turn the guitar amps and bass amps to zero. Have the vocalist begin singing through the PA system. The PA system is the singers amp. Ask the rehearsal studios staff to set the PA volume for you. Ask them to set the PA system to the loudest it will go before feeding back for you. At the same time have your drummer begin playing along with the vocals. You want the singers to be heard over the drums. Lower the volume of the drummer until the singers can be heard. Keep the drummer and the vocalists going and now begin adding bass volume. Get that bass volume right there with the kick drum. Next bring up the volumes on each of your guitars until they can be heard but not overpowering the vocal. Rehearse with this balanced sound and get use to how it sounds and feels. Individually your volumes will be lower but as a band your sound will be more powerful. Write down your amp settings. In no time you’ll start hearing that pro sound coming out of your rehearsal room. You can use this approach anywhere, great PA system or dumpy systems.

Birthdays in Music

Who do you share B-days with?

January 10, 2008
Singer Scott McKenzie is 69.
Singer Frank Sinatra Jr. is 64.
Singer Rod Stewart is 63.
Singer-keyboardist Donald Fagen of Steely Dan is 60.
Singer Pat Benatar is 55.
Guitarist Michael Schenker (Scorpions) is 53.
Singer Shawn Colvin is 52.
Singer-guitarist Curt Kirkwood of Meat Puppets is 49.
Singer Brad Roberts of Crash Test Dummies is 44.
Guitarist Matt Roberts of 3 Doors Down is 30.
Rapper Chris Smith of Kris Kross is 29.

Happy Birthday to everyone born today, January 10th.

Why are signed bands using Hothouse Rehearsal? Here’s what they’re telling us. “The equipment always works”. “Has the cleanest bathrooms I’ve ever seen in a rehearsal studio”. “The staff is super attentive.” “Best sounding and maintained rehearsal rooms.” But mostly they say it’s because the “Hothouse cares about the artist and their rehearsal”. Why not come tour the hothouse facility and find out for yourself.