Re: [Harp-L] San Francisco/Amateurs and pros

["Bob Maglinte" <bbqbob917@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Hines" <billhines4@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "'Bob Maglinte'" <bbqbob917@xxxxxxxxxxx>; "'Richard Hunter'" 
<turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 4:42 PM
Subject: RE: [Harp-L] San Francisco/Amateurs and pros


> Right, but before we get on a long train of messages here denigrating
> the "blues jam hacks" and others who are trying to learn, let's add that
> most "pros" probably learned NOT to do this stuff at those blues jams
> (or performing poorly in their first bands!). Ya gotta start somewhere,
> and the blues jams are a good place to do it once you've spent the
> requisite time in the woodshed learning how to play (yeah, some folks
> come out too early, screw up jams, and that's wrong too).

Valid point!!!! There are plenty of those at jams who are very willing to 
listen and learn, but unfortunately, too often there's the ones who come on 
the bandstand, often loaded out of their minds just to have 15 minutes of 
fame, or to impress their friends/wives/girlfriends who do make it bad for 
everyone else. As much as a jam can be a good place to begin honing your 
craft, the other side of the coin is that you can also learn some really bad 
habits from other jammers too, and that's too often overlooked here.

> I think many of these jams have become showcases where the "pros" from
> various bands show up and jam with each other, rather than a place where
> "hacks" can learn chops and how to perform in a group setting. It's
> discouraging for the ones trying to learn, because they get the dirty
> looks and other negative issues (like the "pros" don't want to play with
> any "hacks" in the jam lineup). Let's keep the genre alive and support,
> encourage. None of you guys were born with this knowledge, share it with
> those who want to learn, be careful not to put them down in subtle ways.
> Think about who took the time to help you, in a long ago and far away
> galaxy...

Bill, the point, again is well taken, but at the same time, there are going 
to be jammers that think they're ready to be on stage with someone more 
accomplished and in fact, are not. It definitely does help, without 
question, to be among players of higher skill levels, but at the same time, 
one has to look at some things realistically. A more skilled player would 
more likely to ask you to come up and play with them if they feel you have 
enough skill (notice I did NOT say being a virtuoso in any way) to be there 
to hold your own, and often can and will help you out (oh, and yes, there 
are some pros that are jealous of almost everybody and everything, but 
thankfully, there are more that will often go out of their way to help than 
to be jealous). Another side of the coin is that there are some advanced 
level players who, even tho they may have developed tons of ability, are 
really awful at trying to explain anything, like how some people are really 
bad at giving you driving directions, for example.

Oh, and BTW, this applies to those who play other instruments, and this is 
not exclusive to harmonica players by any stretch of the imagination.

Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
MP3's: http://music.mp3lizard.com/barbequebob/