Re: [Harp-L] Old Boys' Network

["David Brown" <nonidesign@xxxxxxxxx>]

Often the deal is that the person/band running the open jam is getting paid
by the bar owner who wants to see a $ return on his investment. The
coordinator of the jam wants the regulars up first so that they show up
repeatedly for more jams. Keeping the regular crowd of players happy and
returning translates into liquor sales for the bar owner, who then continues
to support the jam. I've played sooooooooooooo many open stages, all over
the country and planet, and I accept the usual routine because I know that's
the dope on how these jams run. If you return to the open stage regularaly,
at some time you too will have "paid your dues" and become part of the
"first up" crowd. Is it fair? No. Is it what keeps jams from folding? Yes.

Now, a good host will get his regular band up and out in, say, 45 minutes.
That keeps the non players in the audience happy as they get to see a slice
of a "regular" band gig. After that the sets of rotating groups, consisting
of people thrown together from the sign up lists get theiur chance at
varying lengths of time depending on the number of players in each set.

The problem is when whole bands come no to do a set and hog up the time, or
when there (and there usually is ) 500 guitar players who think this is
their solo moment of glory.

Some tips:
- If you can sing as well as play harp you will almost alwyas get up faster
than just listing harp.
- If you know how NOT to play over a vocalist, you will not get stabbed to
death. Unfortunately many MANY guitarists do not know this rule and still
seem to escape stabbings.
- There are many "Gus" players who don't know that being in the set, and on
the stage, is the only time it is acceptable to play. I've actually seem
guitarists plug into wall sockets in the audience, turn on their amps, and
start playing AT the players on the stage. Madnesss........






On 3/14/08, David Fertig <drfertig@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> I differentiate between bar jams and home-style jams, because the motive
> of the thing is different: Either to sell drinks to a happy dancing crowd or
> to just have fun amongst musicians and friends.  (of course both can happen
> at either, but a bar's gotta bring in drinkers and make money.)
>
> What kills me is when I get to a new (to me) bar jam early, like 8 pm, and
> I'm the first harp player to sign up, and still wait wait until after
> midnight (and 3 or 5 other harp players) to play, and then I'm stuck with a
> bunch of drunk guitar-heroes.
>
> Then the jam leader says, "Oh man, I'd have got you up sooner if I knew
> you could play!"  Not a pleasant thing to hear at 1 am when I've waited four
> or five hours to play and then have to climb through drunken train-wrecks to
> get on and off the stage.
>
> But when the jam-master is using the bar jam to have a private concert of
> friends, letting a parade of later-arriving pals hog the stage while
> earlier-arrivals wait, and saves all the unknowns until the crowd is too
> drunk to notice, the jerk should be (politely) outed and the jam left to the
> drunks and egotrippers.
>
> Then, start your own jam!  It's how Elmtree Blues Society got started in
> the '80's.
>
> -Dave Fertig
>
>
> From: "46long Blake" <46long@xxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Bill's Blues Bar-Chicago,
> Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:40:35 -0400
>
> Good story, Jeff!
>
> Has the "old boys network" at blues jams been discussed here much?  I had
> a
> really bad experience with that in my hometown of Rochester, NY a couple
> years ago when I went early to a jam, brought my dad, was the first harp
> player on the list, and one of the first 10 players on the list, and I
> didn't get called up until way late in the evening, long after my dad
> wanted
> to leave.  Your situation turned out way better than mine did......
>
> ....now must go kill other harmonica player named
> "Blake"..............grrrrrrrr..............
>
> - Cincinnati Blake
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