st louis band rehearsal center 314.773.3660 info@utopiastl.com
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DEDICATED PRACTICE SPACE
Whether you practice once a day or once a year, Utopia has a pro environment where you can get your set tight.
Rehearse in a variety of PA-equipped studios. Rooms are available by the hour per session, by the month with a 30-day membership, or lockout any studio for a short-term block from 24 hours up to 6 weeks. You can also rent an unequipped private room with 24/7 access for your band's exclusive use indefinitely.
$15/hour covers any 18'x18' room during regular hours. (Hourly rooms come equipped with a rack-mount PA system, 3 stands and 3 mics). We choose which room you get, or you can pick from what is available when you arrive on a first-come, first-served basis. If your band rehearses less than 3 hours per week, hourly rates are the most economical for you! If you rehearse more than 3 hours per week, get a membership to save money.
For a 34'x18' studio equipped with video blue screen wall or mirrors, add $2/hour.
$25/hour covers afternoon bookings outside of regular hours (a great time to self-record). Two-hour minimum. Choose any room and get the facility all to yourself!
MONTHLY RATES (MEMBERSHIPS)
$175/month Gets the whole band unlimited hours for 30 days (during regular operating hours), in any PA-equipped room, with storage included! (Averages $35 per person).
Start your membership any day of the month and you're covered for the next 30 days. If you have a set practice schedule, give it to us and we'll guarantee all your timeslots in advance. If don't have a set schedule that's ok; you can also book time as you go along. (It's easy to get in whenever you want; especially if you give us a few days notice. Last-minute bookings are welcome too). If you have a preferred room that you like best, let us know and we'll try to keep you booked in there as much as possible, but if you require a specific room guarantee (like a the dance studio), add $2/hour. Otherwise, just pick out a room on arrival and pay nothing extra for 30 days. (Work out cost per bandmate here.) When you are not rehearsing, you can store your gear here in a lockup.
$50/month = Solo Membership. Now, any SOLOIST can enjoy the benefits of our PA-equipped studios, without having to shoulder the cost usually split by an entire group. A special membership rate is now offered just for individuals: $50/month = UNLIMITED PRACTICE TIME for 30 days. Secure, on-site storage for your gear is also available at HALF PRICE (an additional $25) with any valid Solo Membership. You may reserve a room in advance for set weekly timeslots, or book as you go along, anytime during normal studio hours. Can you spend 3.5 hours rehearsing this week? You've just covered the cost for a whole month, versus hourly rates! If you like to jam with a friend or two, but aren't ready to form a band--no prob! Your Guest can get his own Solo membership or pay a reduced hourly rate ($5/hour per person) anytime.
PRIVATE ROOMS (long-term use)
Leave your gear set up and play anytime with 24/7 access.
18'x18' custom-built studio with 12+ grounded outlets and free wifi. Private keyed entry to your room and your floor of the building. Security-conscious, insured, licensed facility dedicated to musicians. $350 security deposit, refundable when you return the keys with 30-days notice prior to vacating the room. No lease, no credit check needed.
$350/down and $350/mo with NO LEASE REQUIRED. However, if you're gonna be around awhile, why not get rewarded for your stability? Sign a one-year lease, get the same room for just $275/month! Commit to a 6-month lease and pay $300/month.
STUDIO LOCKOUT (BLOCK RATES) (short-term use)
Load into an empty studio (subject to availability) and leave your own gear set up. The room is accessed by only your band for the duration of your block, and remains locked when you are away. Access anytime during regular studio hours. No Deposit required!
24 hours: $120
2 nights: $150
3 nights: $200
1 week: $250
2 weeks: $350
1 month: $600
6 weeks: $700
34'x18' room: add $30/week or per block if less than one week. For PA rental, add $50/week.
For longer-term use of room, get a private room with 24/7 access and pay half the price!
Individual metal 4'x5'x6' sheds with lockable sliding doors. Very secure and convenient. Gear is located a few feet from your rehearsal room and the load-in door. Locks provided. $50/month or $5/overnight, or FREE with your active Band Membership!.
6pm-2am DAILY with early 2pm opening on SUN. Closed on most Major Holidays.
Afternoon bookings are available daily for $25/hour, with at least 24 hour advance notice.
Private studios have 24/7 access.
All sessions and tours are by appointment--call 314.773.3660 or email info@utopiastl.com to reserve space.
When there are no bookings scheduled, the studio is locked. Book in advance so we know to expect you.
Amenities: Private lounge/gameroom with snackbar and free wifi (includes seating for 30), equipment rentals, secure storage, front office with sticks, strings and staff on-hand to assist you, safe private parking, ground-level load-in, central location in midtown St. Louis (off Hwys 40/44, S. Grand)...plus improvements are ongoing!
ROOMS
Each main hall studio is 18'x18' or 34'x18' with hardwood floor and 12'-14' high exposed wood joist ceilings. Basement studios have 12' ceiling and concrete floor.
Available PA-equipped and unequipped. The rooms are designed as live studios to give a decent impression of what you will actually sound like live--not acoustically dead like a recording room, but with sound-deadening applications to prevent you from being distracted by the band next to you (staggered beam construction, no vents, double sheetrock, double-insulation), plus acoustic treatments (foam, baffles, acoustic paint) to absorb excess frequency vibrations. Each studio has 12 grounded outlets and its own a/c unit and heater, so you control the temp without bleed over through vents. RECORD after hours or at your own risk! We make no guarantees regarding soundproofing; expectations vary greatly from band to band. Each room costs $15/hour or $175/month to rent, with a $2/hour guarantee for a specific room reservation. Tour the Studios
Address: 3957 Park Ave. Please call 314-773-3660 BEFORE stopping by for a tour.
DIRECTIONS
From 40/64: Exit Grand, head south. Turn west (right) on Park Ave. Curve behind the hospital and turn (left) at the stop sign (also Park Ave). Pass through 39th St. The studio is the third building on your right (north), just past Park Warehouse Services.
An alternate route from 40E is to exit Vandeventer and turn south (right) on Vandeventer. Take your first Left at Chouteau (just before the White Castle), then turn Right onto 39th St. Go 4 blocks down 39th and turn Right on Park Ave.
From 44: Exit Grand, head north. Turn west (left) on Park Ave (behind the hospital). Turn west (left) on Park Ave again. The studio is the third building on the north side (right), past 39th St.
From 55: Take 55 to 44 West to Grand, as above.
PARKING & LOAD-IN
Tourbus, trailer, and RV-friendly offstreet parking with ground level and dock-height loading options. Free private parking for cars in front of building. Ground-level load-in available at the east entrance.
VERY secure location: dead-end, meticulously-maintained industrial drive.
24-hour monitored surveillance, fully-alarmed, motion detectors, fireproof doors, and there is ALWAYS staff onsite. We are fully insured as a rehearsal studio with commercial liability coverage. The street is monitored by patrols at night.
We love our hood! Originally known as "Tobacco Row", the old Starr Tobacco towers still loom overhead, and trains which served the industry still chug past along the old tracks. Utopia Studios was originally built by the American Tobacco Company prior to 1904, then later merged into Liggett & Myers.
Today, two hospitals (SLU and Cardinal Glennon), and SLU University, are headquartered within a 2-block radius. KDHX, MO Botanical Garden, the South Grand business district, Grand Center, The Firebird, Fubar, Jazz at the Bistro), The Grove district (The Foxhole, Gramaphone, etc), Tower Grove Park, the CWE, and S. Grand MetroLink station are all within 10 blocks (easy biking distance).
INSURANCE
As a licensed rehearsal hall, this facility has ample commercial liability coverage for business property and equipment should a tragedy strike.
We take EVERY precaution to run a tight joint and have not had an incident result in a claim since day one when we opened Berzerker Studios in 1/02. However, as a pro musician you ought to have your own coverage. Your existing homeowner's or renter's policy should easily cover your gear at this location without an additional premium. It is your responsibility to discuss it with your agent, but all you have to do is give your current insurer our address, and a list of items that you plan to store here. You're covered!
Prices are per session (not per hour!), for onsite use only. Collect and return rentals at the front desk.
Cable, Guitar Strap, Drumsticks
(XLR, Quarter inch, Eighth/RCA, Power, Misc)
$1
Microphone (sennheiser, dynamic)
Stand (music, straight, boom, guitar, keyboard)
Single Bass Pedal / Double Bass Pedal Partial kit: (bass drum w/ tom, floor tom, throne only--no snare, no hardware) Complete Drum kit DI Box, Fog Machine, Riser, CD Player, drummer's Fan
Recording: Set of 3 Isolation Gobos, or 16-channel Snake
Amp, Guitar or Bass Set of Drum Recording Mics (Audix f10, Audix f12, Audix f15 OH condensers.)
Instrument: Guitar, Bass, Congas with stands
Strings, earplugs, batteries, blank CDs, cassettes, drum keys, etc are available at at the front desk. Rates vary per item. Vending machines and a drinking fountain are located near the load-in door. Bathrooms are next to the front door and also downstairs.
First check the availability of your band members, then call the studio with the timeslots you wish to reserve. If you give at least a day's notice, it is more than likely that you will get in the exact times you want. We have more rooms to choose from than you have band members, so please confirm their availability before ours.
Call 314.773.3660 or email info@utopiastl.com during opening hours (after 6pm during the week, after 2pm on Sundays).
State precise start-and-end times desired (otherwise we put you down for 2 hours, which is the minimum session length).
Specify if you need a particular room (and if so, be prepared to pay an extra $2/hour for the guarantee of that room); otherwise we will assume that any PA-equipped room will suffice.
Leave your name, band name, contact number and the date/times (start and end) you are reserving.
You will be charged for the time you reserve AND the time you actually use, so try to be on time. If you cannot decide whether you need 3 or 4 hours, book 3 hours so you won't be obligated to pay for 4. Then, if you discover that you want to stay longer, that is fine as long as someone else is not booked in after you. If that is a problem for you, go ahead and book 4 hours, just to be sure. It is your choice. We cannot reserve time for you and not charge for that time, any more than we would confirm your reservation for 7-10 Wed, then give your timeslot to another band instead.
NO charge--as long as 24-hours or more notice is given.
For no-shows and same-day cancellations, the hourly session fee is due on your next visit. When booking time, be aware that you are requesting a GUARANTEED timeslot to be reserved for you, regardless of whether you actually use it or not. Cancellations = lost revenue from you plus additional bookings that we may have turned down on your behalf.
Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover American Express. All payments due before or at time of service.
10% of total amount due, followed by $5/day thereafter if still not paid.
SETUP AND BREAKDOWN
Include time to setup and breakdown when you book your session.
A 15-minute grace period is allowed for setup if the room is vacant and we are already open for the day. Sessions are booked 'back-to-back' so when you schedule till 9pm, please have the room ready for the next session by 9pm in the PRECISE condition you found it. You will be charged for all time that the room is occupied past your scheduled timeslot. Please return chairs, stands, etc to their original location. Mics and cables checked out are to be returned to the front desk.
NO CHILDREN allowed under age 16, unless they are rehearsing. Bringing children to a rehearsal hall is a bad idea for many reasons. It's very loud for their sensitive ears. It's dirty. It's potentially dangerous, with many things to trip and hurt themselves on. There may be obscene language or adult-themed songs being rehearsed in the room next door. We have no daycare facilities. If other customers wanted to hear kids screaming and running down the hall, they would rehearse at their own house. Be considerate to other groups and to your kids, and please leave them home. Thank you.
NO PETS; sorry! We love animals, but other customers may have allergies or phobias.
NO WEAPONS, NO DRUGS. We don't care what you take as long as you don't bring it here.
HAVE RESPECT: CLEAN UP after yourself! Take responsibility for damages and return the space to the condition in which it was found. We will empty ashtrays and take out the trash after you. We do NOT want to pick your cigarette butts off the floor, rearrange the furniture or equipment after you.
GUESTS: This is a private facility and is not open to the general public. Use the studio to audition, network, showcase for a label rep, conduct all band-related biz, shoot photos/video, etc, but don't bring your entourage. An occasional guest is welcome, a regular invasion of hangers-on is not. Anyone acting obnoxious will be asked to leave.
PRIVACY: Please DO NOT intrude on another band rehearsing.
MONTHLY RATES
HOURLY SESSIONS
IF your monthly rate is $50, split between 6 people=$8.33 each
IF your monthly rate is $50, split between 5 people=$10 each
IF your monthly rate is $50, split between 4 people=$12.50
IF your monthly rate is $50, split between 3 people=$16.66 each
IF your monthly rate is $150, split between 6 people=$25 each
IF your monthly rate is $150, split between 5 people=$30 each
IF your monthly rate is $150, split between 4 people=$37.50
IF your monthly rate is $150, split between 3 people=$50 each
IF your monthly rate is $200, split between 6 people=$33.33
IF your monthly rate is $200, split between 5 people=$40
IF your monthly rate is $200, split between 4 people=$50
IF your monthly rate is $200, split between 3 people=$66.66
IF your monthly rate is $250, split between 6 people=$41.66
IF your monthly rate is $250, split between 5 people=$50
IF your monthly rate is $250, split between 4 people=$62.50
IF your monthly rate is $250, split between 3 people=$83.33
IF your monthly rate is $300, split between 6 people=$50
IF your monthly rate is $300, split between 5 people=$60
IF your monthly rate is $300, split between 4 people=$75
IF your monthly rate is $300, split between 3 people=$100
IF your monthly rate is $350, split between 6 people=$58.33
IF your monthly rate is $350, split between 5 people=$70
IF your monthly rate is $350, split between 4 people=$87.50
IF your monthly rate is $350, split between 3 people=$116.66
IF your session is $20, split between 6 people=$3.33 each
IF your session is $20, split between 5 people=$4 each
IF your session is $20, split between 4 people=$5 each
IF your session is $20, split between 3 people=$6.66 each
IF your session is $30, split between 6 people=$5 each
IF your session is $30, split between 5 people=$6 each
IF your session is $30, split between 4 people=$7.50 each
IF your session is $30, split between 3 people=$10 each
IF your session is $40, split between 6 people=$6.66 each
IF your session is $40, split between 5 people=$8 each
IF your session is $40, split between 4 people=$10 each
IF your session is $40, split between 3 people=$13.33 each
IF your session is $45, split between 6 people=$7.50 each
IF your session is $45, split between 5 people=$9 each
IF your session is $45, split between 4 people=$11.25 each
IF your session is $45, split between 3 people=$15 each
IF your session is $50, split between 6 people=$8.33 each
IF your session is $50, split between 5 people=$10 each
IF your session is $50, split between 4 people=$12.50 each
IF your session is $50, split between 3 people=$16.66 each
IF your session is $60, split between 6 people=$10 each
IF your session is $60, split between 5 people=$12 each
IF your session is $60, split between 4 people=$15 each
IF your session is $60, split between 3 people=$20 each
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