[Harp-L] Re: jam etiquette

[Barbara Butler <bsvb@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

	My background is entirely Irish and OldTime sessions, so I have 
some questions.  A pub session is often well attended by the public - to 
listen to the music, but it is still basically a time for a bunch of 
individual musicians to get together and enjoy themselves. Usually there 
is a leader (declared or not).  This person( depending on their 
personality) will lead off the tunes or may ask someone else to start 
one ( if the person is known to them or if they can hear that a newcomer 
is good) The one who leads off plays through the tune once and  then 
everyone can join them if they know the tune.  If not, proper etiquette 
is to listen and learn. Recording is acceptable( to take home and 
learn).  If the pub has pros playing, they are usually scheduled before 
or after the session and may or may not take part in the session 
itself.  At camps and festivals there will sometimes be instructor 
sessions, where the hard working teachers get together to have fun. In 
these cases it would be bad manners for an amateur to participate unless 
they were personally invited by the instructors. These are great 
opportunities to record things to practice at home.
	It seems like you are all discussing open mic situations. Where 
people sign up and are given a spot on the roster for the night.  To me 
this is different than a session ( or jam as blues folks call them).  
Are these two different things in the world of blues or am I confused 
and ignorant?

	
Barbara
Strath an De' Farm
http://www.strathande.com
Coast to Coast Music
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