4 Benefits to Renting Instruments
It may
sometimes seem like everything connected to being a musician is expensive.
Studio time, touring, merchandise, and even the instruments you need to make
your art can clear out your bank account.
This is a
sad truth about the music world, and there’s little anyone can do about it.
While you can’t skimp on everything, there are certainly times when corners can
be cut and a few dollars can be saved. Renting instruments, while not something
often talked about, may be just what you need to keep your wallet safe… at
least for a bit.
Here are
four benefits that come with renting musical instruments.
1. It
saves you money at the beginning of your career.
First and
foremost, renting instruments can save you money, and that’s what every
up-and-coming musician wants to hear. If you’re just starting out as an artist,
you may not be interested in buying one instrument, let alone several. Even
used items can cost a pretty penny, and that’s tough to cough up for many young
people.
Renting an
instrument allows someone to see if they really do have the discipline it takes
to learn how to play something, or even if they really want to be a musician at
all. If you’re already proficient in playing, you may feel comfortable enough
to purchase something that can further your musical career… but for those
just picking one up for the first time and taking lessons (or teaching
themselves), renting may be the best option to start with.
2. It
allows you to try new things.
If you’re
just starting out in the music world, you may think that being a guitar player,
for example, is the coolest thing ever. You might pick one up, get a few
lessons in… and then quickly realize that’s not for you. Or maybe you’re a
master of your craft and want to branch out on another instrument. You might be
hesitant to purchase something else, and that’s a perfectly fair feeling.
Instead, why not rent a few items and see what sticks?
Renting
instruments allows you to figure out which ones were made for you. Try a piano
(more likely a keyboard, but the idea is the same), a trumpet, or perhaps even
a drum set if you can find room for it. Choosing to rent a musical instrument
gives you the freedom to dabble in many different things before you settle on
one. This is the best option for those who may have a sense of what they
want… but who don’t know for sure.
3. It
allows you to experiment with new sounds.
Perhaps
you’ve settled on a sound and you’re already great at what you do, whether that’s
the guitar, piano, or something else. If you already know how to play
something, that’s fantastic, and you should work toward always being better. At
the same time, you may find you’re interested in learning more, and while it
may be easier to pick up a second instrument after already knowing how one
works, that doesn’t mean you have the money to own everything you may like.
Once you are
proficient with one instrument and you’re hard at work on what will be your
first album, you’ll want to add others to fill things out, and with the ability
to rent anything your heart desires, you can experiment with an array of sounds
and styles. You may want to practice and play something new yourself, or
perhaps rent an instrument for another musician who’s coming in for a session.
Try
something weird! Go wild! You’re only spending a few dollars to rent these
items, after all, so make sure you indulge your craziest fantasies when making
an album.
4. You
don’t need to worry about storage.
Storing a
guitar or a DJ’s deck or a keyboard is fairly manageable, but once the
instruments start adding up, things can quickly spiral out of control, and
suddenly your house is full of musical accoutrements.
Instead of
buying everything you want, why not own one or two special items and rent the
rest? Those who are truly great at what they play can hear subtle differences
when it comes to ages, brands, and so on, but that doesn’t mean everyone needs
to actually own one of everything. If you don’t have the space, this is a great
way to cut back on clutter.