WE ARE REOPENING!

It’s with great excitement that we can announce we’ve decided to reopen on the 12th April and are now taking bookings. Having considered many factors, we feel it’s the right time to see what demand is like and give it a go. However, it’s not all good news. The current government guidelines around rehearsing limit the types of customers we can accept bookings from. Below are the main categories and what the rules mean for each. We hope this provides some clarity and it’s obviously for you to judge where you and your band fit in to these. Our usual Covid measures remain in place including; staggered sessions, 2m distancing, masks etc.

- Professional/semi-professional musicians
The definition of professional/semi-professional is quite broad and essentially refers to anyone where music is either a primary or secondary source of income. If you’re a professional or semi-professional working towards a professional engagement or writing/arranging for a commercial release, then you’re allowed to rehearse. This means that if you’re going to be paid £10 or £100,000, then that is considered a paid engagement. It doesn’t have to be a predetermined fee either. For example, if you’re playing for a cut of the door, then that counts. There is no timeframe or limit for when the gig/event/release has to take place, it can be tonight or months in the future. Essentially, rehearsing for these activities is not something you can do from home, then you go to work, i.e. Musicbox.

- Solo musicians/same household or extended bubble
You’re on your own or with someone you live with or are bubbled with right? Therefore, the only person/persons you’re going to be confined to a room with are yourselves, so you can book in.

- Recording
This is a professional activity. Should you be using our studios to record a demo to be used for booking gigs, seeking professional contracts or recording for a commercial release, then this is considered work. You’re good to go.

- Broadcasting/Streaming
Any live performance broadcasting is considered a work activity should it involve any possible reward at any point, from song writing residuals/royalties to
donations made to your PayPal account in respect of the broadcast. You’re good to go.

- Private teaching
The Musician’s Union’s published advice is that private tuition can happen if the lessons are “…for the purposes of obtaining a regulated qualification, meeting the entry requirements for an education institution, or to undertake exams and assessments”. If your students are studying towards some kind of attainment then you’re good to go and if they’re studying towards an RSL award exam, then the chances are they’ll be taking their exam in the familiar surroundings of Musicbox, as we’re an RSL Awards examination centre.

- Amateur groups
This is the bad news! If you get together to play purely for fun, a musical ‘kick around in the park’, with no pretence towards playing a paid engagement or other endeavour, then you’re still subject to the rules regarding no mixing indoors with members from other households outside your bubble. As a result, it’s with sadness that we can’t accept your booking at this time. We hope it won’t be too long before restrictions ease and we can get you back in, but the guidelines around rehearsing just don’t allow it for the moment.

We hope all of this gives you some clarity moving forward.

Team Musicbox.

Since 1996 Musicbox Studios has been providing the best rehearsal and recording rooms in Wales.  With 6 air conditioned spaces, great equipment available to hire, backline hire for your event, a pro shop, snack shop, storage facility, band vehicle hire, party PA hire, we are the only place worth coming to. Our prices are competitive with great special offers to choose from.  Our staff are always on hand to provide assistance and guidance. We're looking forward to having you here whether you're an established band, just starting out or coming in on your own.