Winds of Plague

Winds of Plague stopped by on Monday to go over some transitions before taking off to Dallas Texas for the official start of the Vans Warped Tour, on June 24^th, 2011 at the Superpages Center.  Check out their tour dates section at facebook and let them know who’s coming out!

After rehearsal Jon and I started talking as he waited for the trailer to arrive.  During our conversation the topic of rehearsal volume came up and I commented “how it was good to hear the band keep their rehearsal volume at the right levels and how their power was coming from their synergy and not from volume”.  Jon said “Oh yeah I agree, we keep our volume low so we can communicate with each other, and you’re right our power comes from arrangements of the songs.”   I second that motion.

Thanks guys for thinking about Hothouse Studios for your rehearsal needs.

Winds of Plague
Jon – vocals
Nick E. – guitar
Nick P. – guitar
Andrew – bass
Alana – keyboard
Art – drums

College gigs are the stepping stones to the bigger scene. However, if you talk to a few people who have followed this path, they will eagerly tell you what a painful process it is. It is true that booking college gigs can be painful sometimes, but not if you follow the guidelines given below.

The first step is to put together a promo package or an EPK. Secondly, you need to get in touch with the National Association of Campus Activities (NACA), The Association for the promotion of campus activities (APCA) or a booking agent that is associated with the above mentioned organizations. The third option, hiring a booking agent, could be costly if you are an emerging artist or a band.

Once you submit an application form to NACA or APCA via their website for a fee, you will be granted membership. Thereafter, the journey becomes a bed of roses because these two organizations will guide you through every step of the way. If you are concerned about the financials, it is a good idea to check their official websites for membership fees, validity period and renewal fees.

Read the entire article “How to Book College Gigs” in the Band ToolBox here.

Hothouse Studios is more than a top notch rehearsal facility, we are a music career learning center and the Band Toolbox has over a 100 articles in it on various subjects relating to succeeding in your music career.  Enter the Band Toolbox here.

Hothouse Rehearsal Studios, 11823 Slauson Ave., Unit 41, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, USA  562.945.1300

Two members of the band will be celebrating their birthdays as well.  Happy birthday Diederich and Alex!

The venue is ALL AGES but alcohol will be served to 21+ only.  ALL shows are FREE to students, faculty and non-students!

Time:  Saturday, March 5 – 9:30pm – 11:30pm

Place:  Tommy’s Place, (located in the Ronald Tutor Campus Center.) 
             3607 Trousdale Pkwy, TCC 427
              Los Angeles, Ca  90089

                For direction click here.

Starving for Gravity is a new rock group with a passion for their music, a commitment to their fans and is dedicated to work, until they drop. They won’t let you to go home empty handed…

Music Connection Magazine reviewed Starving for Gravity and called their music “epic and exhilarating”. Their songs are on the aggressive side but still accessible. Fans say their songs look at life with a convoluted honesty.  They’ve told me they just write what we feel.

Starving for Gravity has played shows from San Diego to San Francisco, including the eWorldMusic Launch Party, the Cal State Long Beach “Battle of The Bands” (they won); the Temecula Valley Film & Music Festival Showcase, where they won “Best of Fest”; Winner of the LAMM JAM “Rock Music Contest”; Winner of the Worldwide Contest: “Rock Against Diabetes” where they were honored to play with Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, guitarist for Guns ‘n Roses and his All Star Band; Winner of “Best Rock Artist of 2008″ at the Hollywood Music Awards; and were selected to Play the Main Stages at NAMM in 2009 and 2011.

Learn more about Starving for Gravity at their artist profile page here.

NEW MUSIC SEMINAR (NMS) HAS FINALIZED PROGRAM FOR LA EVENT

The New Music Seminar (NMS) has finalized the program for this year’s seminar, one day after the Grammys. Network with the leaders in today’s music business. It includes Presidents of major label record companies, CEO’s of major tech companies, branding and licensing companies showing artists how to best promote their music and how to get gain the most exposure to make more money.

The program includes 15-18 Minute segments on “How Artists Can Make More Money”, Movements on “How to Maximize fan Relationship Income” and “How to sell tickets in multiple markets” in order to make REAL Money in the music business. The industry has changed and no other conference helps artists in obtaining their goal of financial freedom.

The New Music Seminar does, in addition to the program and the networking, it includes giving away the NMS New Music Business Guidebook, with over 100 pages filled with facts, forms, promotion and marketing tips, contact information, useful websites and other valuable information.

For the best networking of any conference register now! REGISTER NOW AND GET FREE THE NMS NEW MUSIC BUSINESS GUIDEBOOK FROM NMS NYC 2009 IF YOU REGISTER BEFORE FEBRUARY 2ND IN ADDITION TO THE BOOKLET FOR NMS LA 2011.

For more information go to www.NewMusicSeminar.com and enter secret code NMSLANMT2377 after clicking on the Partner’s discount for your 2 for 1 discount registration courtesy of The Music Tip Sheet.

Volunteer For NMS

Click here to download the volunteer form.We at the New Music Seminar are always looking for volunteers to join the revolution of the new music business with us. We are currently looking for volunteers to help out for the NMS Los Angeles conference taking place the day after the Grammys: February 14-16, 2011. These volunteers will help us immediately in coordinating promotion and organizing the production of the event by working hand-in-hand with the NMS Team. This position has been acknowledged as an internship credit by most music business universities.

Since the early 1980s, NMS volunteers have gone on to run major record companies, agencies, management companies and become leaders in the music industry for over three decades. By becoming an NMS volunteer, you are joining a legion of others before you as part of the NMS family that will help you in building your position in the industry and give you a unique advantage over others to network. There is no better way to meet your future employers or business partners than by becoming an NMS volunteer and working on an event that is creating the NEW music industry.

Please fill out and email the completed form to ella@newmusicseminar.com

NMS PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING TO ALL VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE ACCEPTED:

1. A letter from the Executive Directors Tom Silverman and Dave Lory as a reference for your future employers. Please check with your local university for internship credit as NMS has been accredited by other music business programs across the US.

2. Free admission to the New Music Seminar and the NMS New Music Business Guidebook, filled with promotional and marketing tips, dos and don’ts, useful facts, forms, web sites, blogs and other valuable information to help your career as an artist, manager, agent, label or in any other areas of the music industry you chose to enter into. Each volunteer will have time to enjoy the seminar as well as working at this important event.

3. An opportunity to learn and work as a team in putting on a successful event and showcases.

4. Each volunteer will receive a complimentary breakfast and lunch during the 2 to 3 days at NMS that you are working.

Click here to download the volunteer form.

Friday January 21, 2011 Troy High School in Fullerton, Ca will be holding a fund raising Battle of the Bands at Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton, 201 E Chapman Ave Fullerton, CA 92832 (714) 626-3890.  The show starts at 6:00pm is an all ages event and the ticket cost is $7 at door.  Special guest performance by Dramarama.

All proceeds benefit the Troy Special Ed. Department. John Easdale of
Dramarama and Richard Morales owner of Hothouse Rehearsal Studios will be 2 of the 5 judges, judging the contest as well as playing a few tunes.  Hothouse Studios is sponsoring the prizes for the event.

What: Troy High School Battle of the Bands – Special performance by Dramarama

When: Friday January 21, 2011 at 6:00pm

Where:
Plummer Auditorium
201 E Chapman Ave Fullerton, CA 92832
(714) 626-3890

Who:  Vale of Avalon, Transmission, The Sideline, Colortrap

            Will Power, Brothers United, The Crowning Diamond Complex.

Cost: $7 at the door.

 First Place Prize:  1 Song Music video of the band.

First Runner Up:   1 Song Multi Track Audio recording.

Second Runner Up:  2 free hours of rehearsal time at Hothouse Studios in Santa Fe Springs, Ca.

Why is Hothouse sponsoring a high school event?  First, Hothouse Rehearsal Studios supports education for our young people and especially the great work being done at Troy.  Secondly, Hothouse Studios was established to help our local talent achieve their goals. Thirdly, Hothouse Studios is a community business and supports the community through fund raising activities such as this.

Troy High School is the alma mater of Social Distortion and what great group will emerge from this year’s Battle of the Bands is anyone’s guess.  Come on down to the show and take a look for yourself.

Troy High is well known for being one of the top 30 High Schools in the country, as well as having the #1 computer science program in the world, yes, the world. What is less known is that Troy has a stellar, absolutely second-to-none Special Education Department.

The teachers, staff, and administrators not only do what they can to help make high school the rewarding academic experience it should be, but they also give an enormous amount of their hearts and time to help give the students in the Special Ed program many social and recreational opportunities–dances, parties, camping trips, Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, trips to San Diego things that typical high school kids take for granted.

In the past, the department was able to raise their own funds to pay for these adventures so that there was zero or minimal cost to students–many of whom are in foster care or group homes and would otherwise be unable
to attend–but the rules have changed and they are no longer able to
raise these funds themselves. The Troy ASB has graciously agreed to give the proceeds from the Battle of the Bands to the Special ED Dept.

If you are at all able, please come out and give your support.

 What: Troy High School Battle of the Bands

            Special performance by Dramarama

When: Friday January 21, 2011 at 6:00pm

Where:
Plummer Auditorium
201 E Chapman Ave Fullerton, CA 92832(714) 626-3890

Cost : $7 at the door.

For an Unrivaled
Rehearsal Experience
Go to Hothouse Studios
“Where Music Grows”

Hothouse Rehearsal Studios, 11823 Slauson Ave., Unit 41, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, USA  562.945.1300

Studio 1 | The Auditorium

Let’s go all the way back to the academic definition of music rehearsal first: “Rehearsing a musical composition often involves repeating some passages over and over again until everyone in the ensemble (band or group of musicians) masters them.” Well that’s the core of rehearsing, its main foundation… the one that no matter what, you should always comply to.    

But music has changed much since these academic days, now rehearsing exceeds these acts, and combines more tasks in itself.   

First you should agree that a focused band is the main requisite for a decent rehearsal.  
Secondly, be aware that a group rehearsal (or ensemble rehearsal, as stated in the opening definition) is not your practice room or music instrument class!  Don’t go into the rehearsing studio to develop your individual skills or train your finger position and so on… that’s homework mate! Musicians should be prepared for rehearsing as a group and reviewing the tracks over and over is practically the only way to achieve the sound that you want.   

Ø      Discussion and Analysis 

But rehearsing isn’t all about playing the part or song silently from start to stop. The meaning of rehearsing hides another concept vital in today’s bands: Discussion and Analysis.  

When you train a track or a part of it, let’s say from the bridge to the chorus, over and over you are perfecting it, and most of the times “perfection” is about getting it right and playing it smoothly… but there are cases in which, during rehearsal, minor changes to the tracks can happen. A slight change on a note’s duration or its pitch can occur when musician calmly discuss and present their point of view on that segment of music being analyzed.    

So it’s all about maturing your own product, and that comes in many shapes and flavors. As stated above you can perfect the way all of your band members play their part of the songs, you can perfect the way vocals and back vocals line up and double themselves on the chorus, and many more slight corrections like these, but another thing you can mature is the way the band performs. That’s where the stage-like rehearsal comes into play.   

Ø      Show Rehearsing

A common practice for bands (and a really important one for bands) is Show Rehearsing. This is, playing your entire concert song list, from start to end and even the “encore” if you’re feeling lucky. This will point out mistakes and problems in your band that you don’t want to experience live and also helps you to test the concert song list.

Which problems are these you say? Just play the entire song list and you’ll see.

The drummer is tired because track 3 is up tempo and is followed by another really fast tempo song. The bass player needs to switch to percussion in track 6 which leads to enormous waiting time (crowd’s hate that), and it gets worst, where you find out that playing all the tracks sequentially can be hard work. So by using these practices in rehearsing you’ll definitely get near to perfection, which is the purpose of it.

But remember a crucial aspect: mastery of technical skills DOES NOT replace feeling when playing. 

In the other hand, besides Show Rehearsing you have several styles and types of rehearsing and some common practices.  

Ø      Common Practices 

For drum players you should always use a metronome while rehearsing difficult songs (particularly if at the start you’re not feeling the tempo, or if the signature is a composite, i.e.: 7/4, 5/4, 3/4, and so on).  

Bass players and drummers should build up a strong concept of rhythm section. If need be they could take some time on their own and practice the bass lines and rhythms. And then accordingly to you own band formation, there’s several ways to enhance your performance.  

Lets’ divide these practices into a small list, with sub-topics: 

Ø      Rhythm section 

As stated, both bass and percussion elements (drummers, conga players, etc…) should work considerably close. That makes a band consistent and the groove becomes solid. 

Work with metronome if any of the musicians is not feeling the tempo, but be sure to disconnect it when everyone is groovin’.

To synth players or organ players, keep an eye on the tempo and the rhythm section and learn their breaks and tempo changes.

If you’re working with vocals and background vocals be sure to reserve some rehearsing time to this.  Many times the chorus needs to change because of background vocal integration.  

Also, a new trend is to use effects on the voice, so if that’s your case, choose some nice gear (foot pedal) and some powerful harmonizer effect machine, and rehearse that part over and over. (You don’t want to mess up effects in real time).

 Ø      Wind instruments 

Wind sections should always work together (reeds and brass), and if you have/can, work with the piano score (transposed to your instrument, of course) and keep it well rehearsed. If needed take some time to rehearse this section alone.

Just a final note for those that play solo or play solos in their band. Solos take a huge time rehearsing and should be done in your own individual studio time or at home. When rehearsing with the band be sure to have your solos worked out. 

For an First Rate
Audio | Video | Rehearsal Experience
Call Hothouse Studios
“Where Music Grows”

Hothouse Rehearsal Studios, 11823 Slauson Ave., Unit 41, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, USA  562.945.1300

California Jamming Band

On Camera Rehearsal

If you are familiar with the Movie School of Rock, you can imagine how an on camera rehearsal could benefit a band.  This type of rehearsal is pre-planned, with someone bringing in the video camera.  If possible, a TV should be brought in as well to watch the video right afterwards.  What are the benefits of doing an on camera rehearsal?

Ø  It’s an official dress rehearsal which includes being dressed. 

Most bands don’t do “dress rehearsals” that include being dressed for the part but if you are videotaping, even if just to review everything, the clothes should be included.  You never know when you will need filler for a music video later! 

Ø  The moves you think are cool may not be/you think you are moving and your feet are glued to the floor.

Another big reason for the on camera rehearsal is to make sure everyone looks good jamming out.  Many times, a band is into their music and it looks great but occasionally you will have that one band with that one guy that is over the top and insane compared to the rest of the band, like Jack Black’s character in School of Rock, for example.

Ø  To Avoid Clichés

There are so many “rock” clichés that avoiding them all is impossible.  With that said, trying to avoid some of the egregious ones is an important part of your presence.
By videotaping, you can tell whether you or your band mates are doing anything too weird and zany.  Often times, you will do things and not even realize it while on stage. 

Read the entire “On Carmera Rehearsal” article here in the Band Toolbox.

Hothouse Studios is more than a top notch rehearsal facility, we are a music career learning center and the Band Toolbox has over a 100 articles in it on various subjects relating to succeeding in your music career.  Enter the Band Toolbox here.

For an First Rate
Audio | Video | Rehearsal Experience
Go to Hothouse Studios
“Where Music Grows”

Hothouse Rehearsal Studios, 11823 Slauson Ave., Unit 41, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, USA  562.945.1300

Giving thanks is good for your health. Decades of research has shown that adults, who feel gratitude more often, have better social connections, optimism, and energy.

On this Thanksgiving Day we take time to appreciate all of the good things we have in life.

With our sincere gratitude we thank all of you, the incredible people in the Hothouse studio community.  Thank you for filling the studios with your magnificent music.  We wish you all a successful life.  May your hearts and home be full of divine blessings on this Thanksgiving Day and thereafter!

Hothouse Studios continues our commitment to Giving You, the most creative, friendly and professional rehearsal facility in the world.

The Staff at Hothouse Studios
Wishes you and yours a wonderful holiday.
Thank you for your business!
Don, Kirk and Richard

Don Bell and Liquid Soul

Performance Rehearsal

Your band has lined up a gig, thankfully with plenty of notice and time to promote.  You realize you have plenty of songs to choose from; more songs than you are going to be allotted time for.  What do you do? 

You should plan on making most of the rehearsals before your show “performance rehearsals”.  Think of them like the rehearsals a cast of a play or musical put on.  As you close in on your gig date, you should be getting closer and closer to playing like it’s the real deal. 

For our example, let’s assume that band ABC has 4 weeks’ notice and typically practices twice a week. 

• 4 weeks before the show:

Believe it or not, this is going to be the toughest week of the four leading up to your gig.  Band ABC was writing music thinking they were going to have to play an hour for their show but landed a local music showcase gig that only requires a 30 minute set.  Unfortunately, that means they won’t be able to play all of their songs.  The tough part of this week is choosing which songs they are going to play. 

The first rehearsal should be devoted to getting song durations down.  A stopwatch is incredibly handy, as is a white board.  Band ABC has their song names already written down on the white board so it’s just a matter of playing them and having someone write down how long each song is.  They know that their normal set, start to finish, is almost an hour; now they know how long each song is so they can add up times to hit 30 minutes.

 Band ABC is not using any type of click track or metronome for their drummer so they make a point to take the time and write a second time beside it that is roughly 10 percent shorter to account for gig adrenalin and nerves causing everyone to want to push the tempo.  (They even lament the fact that they aren’t using a click track for this very reason.) 

All the band members then make their own list of songs that makes 30 minutes of music.  The fun part begins with the negotiation that it is going to take to pick the right songs that will knock the socks off the crowd as well as keep the musicians happy.  This process may extend through to the next rehearsal but by the end of week 4 a set list needs to be figured out. 

• 3 weeks before the show:

During the first rehearsal of week 3, the band runs the new 30 minute set then discusses where breaks need to be placed.  The lead guitarist expresses a need to switch guitars so that break is added (and noted on the white board).  The set also has a couple songs that seem to feed right into each other so that is also noted.  They rehearse the breaks and the transitions from one song to the next. 

The second rehearsal, before they start they make sure everyone remembers how they are doing the new transitions and make a point to rehearse them before running the set a couple times.  The band members begin walking away feeling confident. 

• 2 weeks before the show:

The second week should be devoted to working on stage presence.  The “front man” of the group, typically the singer, needs to pretend there is a crowd and practice getting the crowd pumped up between songs, getting the crowd jamming during songs and making it seem like this is not the band’s first show.  The guitarists and bass player need to make sure they are moving around and not standing in one spot playing their lines flawlessly but with little flair or facial expression. 

The goal of week 2 is to make sure everyone can play their lines while truly “rocking out” like they intend to on stage.  Many a band has sounded horrible during their live show due to extra moving around, whether it’s playing or tripping over cables.  

Band ABC practices in a very nice rehearsal facility with great lighting that dims, (like hothouse studios), so during the 2^nd practice of the week they dim the lights, more like a night club would have, to make sure everything runs smoothly in a low light situation.  If your practice studio doesn’t have dimmers on their lighting, bring in a couple of lamps from your homes, turn off the studio lights and work the set in low light that way.

• The week of the show:

Band ABC has practiced religiously for the past three weeks.  They are confident and secure in their playing.  They decide to only practice once this week.  They run the set one last time with a couple of trusted friends there for a crowd and also to get feedback.  They work out the one little quibble that their friends mention…the guitarist took longer than everyone thought switching instruments, they adjust and run the set again, except with better filler to mask the guitar change.  They are happy and incredibly secure in their playing. 

They make a point to pack up their gear that night so all they have to do the day of the show is show up at the gig.  This lets them have one less thing to do the day of the show and keeps them fresh and ready to blow the crowd away with their set. 

Your live set is fined tuned.

Hothouse Studios is more than a top notch rehearsal facility, we are a music career learning center and the Band Toolbox has over a 100 articles on various subjects relating to succeeding in your music career.  Enter the Band Toolbox here.

For an First Rate
Audio | Video | Rehearsal Experience
Go to Hothouse Studios
“Where Music Grows”

Hothouse Rehearsal Studios, 11823 Slauson Ave., Unit 41, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, USA  562.945.1300

Kelle Rhoads (Randy Rhoads brother) and Kelly Garni (bassist for Quiet Riot) along with our good friend Ronny North have been rehearsing for their upcoming tour of Japan. They have been rehearsing the songs they’ll be performing for the tribute to the songs of Randy Rhoads.

In this video Kelle Rhoads and Kelly Garni are talking about their experiences here at hothouse rehearsal studios.

This day I shot the video segments of the guys that Japanese TV show Metal Gathering requested for the TV promos of the Tour.  There is a big TV show over in Japan called the Metal Gathering and they need video assets for the commercials they are running for the songs of Randy Rhoads tribute shows.  We shot openings and closings to the show and 12 segments of  interview type material.  Very educational.

For an First Rate
Audio | Video | Rehearsal Experience
Go to Hothouse Studios
“Where Music Grows”

Hothouse Rehearsal Studios, 11823 Slauson Ave., Unit 41, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, USA  562.945.1300