Room to sing

Members of the band E'Nuff Said hone their chops at The Practice Pad

By Maria Zate

August 21, 2000 Web posted at: 12:37 PM EDT (1637 GMT)

VENTURA, California (The Ventura County Star) -- Keith Capsuto long struggled to find a place to play his drums and rehearse with his 10-member local band, E'nuff Said, but time and time again he came up against the same problem: noise complaints.

Like most musicians, Capsuto and his bandmates found it nearly impossible to find adequate and affordable rehearsal space in Ventura County.

"Most musicians are forced to use tiny and dark rooms in seedy areas just to practice our craft," said Jim LaDiana, guitar player for E'nuff Said.

Andrew Perry, guitarist for the local rock band Fiasco, agrees. "It's very, very rare to find rehearsal space in Ventura County," he said. "Some musicians are lucky enough to find a garage they can use. And even if they find that, they usually have to spend tons of money to soundproof the place."

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The lack of rehearsal space even extends into Santa Barbara County. One landlord, well- known among musicians for his affordable prices, charges about $1.10 per square foot in storage unit-type spaces within two buildings. But the demand for space definitely surpasses the supply.

"I have scores and scores of musicians on a waiting list who want space. But I just don't have anything open," said the landlord, who asked that his name not be used. "And there really isn't much else out there."

But Capsuto was fortunate enough to find a solution to his dilemma and to help fellow musicians. Last year, he drove by the vacant Ventura County Railway building on Fifth Street in downtown Oxnard.

The building was for lease; its owner was Martin V. Smith & Associates. Martin V. "Bud" Smith, the self-made millionaire who created a real estate empire within the Central Coast, is also well known for his philanthropic generosity.

Although there were other interested applicants, Capsuto was granted the lease based on his proposal not only to use the building for rehearsal space but also to hold free music clinics for youth groups.

"We had other businesses interested, but Keith's idea for the space really caught Mr. Smith's interest," said Vicki Swenson, at the Martin V. Smith Associates office in Oxnard.

The landlord allowed Capsuto to lease the building for $400 a month, half of the original asking rent for the three-room 1,000 square-foot space, which had windows, an alarm system, built-in lighting, carpeting, air conditioning, and a restroom -- all luxuries compared with what musicians usually find in rehearsal space.

And the location next to the railroad tracks meant noise issues wouldn't be a problem, said Capsuto.

He named the building The Practice Pad, and musicians pay about $15 to $20 an hour for the largest room. Rates are flexible for the other two rooms.

About half a dozen different musicians use The Practice Pad each week, along with clinics once a week. One regular tenant in the last year is the band Fiasco, whose members pay $300 a month plus $40 in utilities.

Prior to finding The Practice Pad, Fiasco's members would drive an hour to Los Angeles four times a week just to practice at Downtown Rehearsals, a building dedicated to providing rehearsal space.

"You can only do so much driving to get to rehearsal," Perry said. "We were really lucky to find Keith's place."

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