Rehearsal Space London, enterprise and creativity: an exciting combination
The germ of a great idea often starts out as a slow burn, just needing that extra spark to take off. So when the idea for Rehearsal Space London materialised, we sensed we were on to something that was getting ready to ignite.
As a social enterprise, MakeBelieve Arts (a theatre and education company) is always on the lookout for new opportunities to diversify. When the recession hit in 2009, the big questions we asked ourselves were, ‘How can we work creatively through this difficult time? What can we do better that will ensure that we thrive?’ For us, Rehearsal Space London was one of many answers to these questions.
The idea behind RSL is simple. Do you have rehearsal space for hire? Do you want to make the most of our hires? We did!
By thinking personally about how we could diversify our income, we realised that there were other companies in the same boat; needing to diversify and wanting to increase awareness of what they have to offer. By the same token, people looking for rehearsal space need a resource to find spaces suiting all sorts of needs, budgets and locations.
Thus, with the germ of an idea, Rehearsal Space London came into being: a virtual marketing space for theatre companies, arts establishments and community sector groups to advertise their rehearsal rooms and studio facilities to outside groups for hire.
The benefits of Rehearsal Space London are many. By creating the listings and charging a minimal fee, MakeBelieve Arts diversifies its income; it raises the profile of organisations and the spaces they have to offer; and it provides space hirers with a comprehensive list of spaces to choose from, all in the one place.
With the launch of our new site, Rehearsal Space London has added a ton of new features to this already flourishing resource. As well as a complete redesign the new site includes a slide bar on the homepage, a locations page as well as our brand new strand a Suppliers page.
From a germ of an idea, RSL has gone from a slow-burn to a fully-fledged, unique resource. And an exciting one at that!