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

["Bill Hines" <billhines4@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I agree Larry. Amateurs should not be banned from open jams. They should
be considerate and pick their spots carefully, perhaps with help from
the jam host. They shouldn't be up there in prime time screwing up some
enjoyable groove, it's not good for them or the audience. Part of the
host's difficult job is to manage some of this. I really don't care much
about the pros being "embarrassed", they DID come to an open jam and
should expect the unexpected after all! There are some that come to
these things for yet another chance to "feed the ego", but I don't think
that's the purpose of most of these open jams. They have bands and
should remember that these are the *only* chance for many folks to play
in a group setting, and not hog that space from them. I think there are
fewer pros like this than there are amateurs who come when they are not
quite ready. Any amateur that comes should be prepared (and eager) to
receive feedback from the jam host and/or pros on what to work on, what
they did well and not so well. If they can't handle that, then they
should be used cautiously, as they probably won't improve anyway.

Bill

-----Original Message-----
From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of larryboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 10:40 AM
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Harp-L] Re: San Francisco/Amateurs and pros


I may have gotten out of bed on the wrong side today, but I have to take
a contrarian position on some of the things alluded to in this thread.
I fully agree with Richard's enumeration of pro vs. amateur
characteristics.  And I agree with most of what everybody else has said,
except, there seems to be an undercurrent, that amateurs should sit and
watch and some how it's ok if a pro puts the amateur in their place
(i.e. off the stage).  This rubs me the wrong
way.......bigtime.    If a pro wants to play with pro players only, then
he/she
should go to a "by-invitation-only" jam.  Blues jams are by their very
nature "open".  That means that anyone who signs up gets to play.  I
have no problem with giving the pros more time and trying to match
players of "similar" abilities.  This is very hard work for the host and
is often overlooked by the attendees eager for their time to play.  If a
pro-player comes to a jam, then this is what he/she should expect.  The
comment was made "No pro wants to be around anything that can needlessly
embarass them in any way....."  Hey guess what?  No amateur wants to be
needlessly embarrassed either.  Embarrassing someone is rude behavior.
There is no excuse for being rude.  Part of being a pro is not being
rude, especially to other musicians who admire you.  Having said that,
I've experience much more rudeness from amateurs than any pro
player.  An open blues jam is open.  Its not anybody's private party.
But
these jams are the primary venue for new players to work with other
musicians. 
After woodshedding, its time to see what you can do in a live
environment.  
Everyone should check their ego at the door.

Best Regards to All,

Larry Boy Pratt
www.parkhousejam.com

PS: Sorry if I seem cranky this morning.  I was up late at a blues jam
last night!


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