A general rehearsal, also called a dress rehearsal, is a full run-through with almost the same flow, cast, costumes, lighting, and sound as the real thing. It is held as the final check just before a live show, a stage production, or an event.
What to check in a general rehearsal
Check the set list, the changeovers, the MC segments, the positions on stage, the lighting cues, the levels, and the starts and ends of the songs under conditions close to the real performance.
How it relates to rehearsal
Rehearsal covers all practice aimed at checking the performance and the structure before the show. A general rehearsal is the stage closest to a final check, run exactly as the show will be.
Points for band performances
Even when the individual songs are fine, things often break down between them, at tuning, sound changes, or the start of the click. Running through to the end without stopping and noting down the problems is effective.
