RE: [Harp-L] Re: Open Jams

["Tobe Terrell" <tortoise@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Good advice.  Here are a few other suggestions:

Feature a host band that opens the jam or closes it.  The manager of the jam
should decide who the host is going to be and his word should be law.

Except for that, let players sign up and play with whoever else signs up for
their set.

Sets should be long enough for the players to get warmed up, but short
enough that everybody gets to play.

Use a sign up sheet with columns for each instrument, so that each set has a
drummer, at least one lead guitar player, a bass player, a harm player, and
any other instruments that might show up: lap steel, sax, fiddle, etc.

Encourage players to get into a set with players that they don't know.  You
won't stretch yourself from playing with the people that you have already
developed a groove with.  You can play with them later outside of the jam.

Sign up should be first come first served and no sign up before the official
sign up time.

Tobe Terrell


-----Original Message-----
From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx]On
Behalf Of Dan
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2005 9:51 AM
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Harp-L] Re: Open Jams



I heard some good advice from a hard-core jam operator the other day.  He
said, "a jam is for musicians to get used to playing with other musicians...
ones they don't necessarily know.  Bands sometimes come to jams to get a
gig.  That's a showcase, not a jam."

Taking his words, I'd say, try to discourage full bands from clogging up
your jam.

I've been a frequent jammer for quite a while.  The best jams occur when:

-Everyone gets to play
-The order of the list dictates playing order (although there can be room to
wiggle here)
-The audience is considered
-The growth of players is considered.

If there's a ton of people, limit to two songs to start.  If people come as
a group, let them play when it's the last guy to arrive's turn.

Don't put all the beginners together!!!!  Mix up pros/advanced players with
the beginners.  This way the guys/girls who are learning get the support
they need.

Finally, watch out for selfish jam folk for whom "self pleasure" is their
only goal.  Such individuals can poison the whole thing.

For a comprehensive dissertation on or a guided tour of the CT blues jam
scene, email me offlist.

Dan G.



Subject: [Harp-L] Re: Open Jams

john merx wrote:

Could you all give us some examples of the structure of different jams
you have
played at? Perhaps we will find something new that we have overlooked
and it
will make the difference in the blues jam for scores of musicians,
hundreds of
fans, the bar that hosts it.....


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