Re: [Harp-L] Old Boys' Network (warning...long)

Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx> · Sat, 15 Mar 2008 21:48:22 -0400

On Mar 15, 2008, at 3:35 PM, Frank Evers wrote

I agree with all what was written about economic realities and
politics in this thread, BUT it's also a fact, that te clubs make you
come by advertising their jam sessions and open stage!

There are several versions of these musical get togethers.
1... Open Jam
2... Closed Jam
3... Open Sit-In
4... Closed Sit-In
5... Invitation
I can't speculate on the rest of the world. but in my corner (behind  
the water pipes in the men's room at the north east corner of the  
Southern railroad station, Punta Gorda Florida), here's how it goes:

a... A musician (usually a keyboard), will approach a club owner  
about setting up a jam. There is a reason why jam is mentioned. The  
owner has probably already said that he can't pay a band. So, the  
keyboard persuades said owner that a jam will bring in FREE  
musicians. All the owner has to do is pay the keyboard 200 samoleons.  
Then the keyboard will call a friend (drummer) for 35-40 and maybe  
even a guitar (another 35-40). His reasoning will be: Hey, $40 is  
better than nothing. He will also remind the drummer/guitar that HE  
was there for THEM when THEY had a gig going.
b... Keyboards won't work for nothing. They seem to take the  
position: Hey, I did all that practicing. (Yeah, like no one else  
ever did?) Ha ha. Aaaanyway, that's how it starts. Now what can  
happen depends on what the area has gone through over the years.
c... Many times these musicians know each other and have supported  
each other over a period of time (sometimes years). Sooo, there are a  
lot of 'owesies'. Therefore, the jam runner WILL show favoritism to  
people whom he has an investment of time with (and they HIM). A  
female singer may show up in the middle of the second set and  
IMMEDIATELY go on stage. This could be because of their past  
associations. Associations which can run the entire gamut.
d... Ultimately, the bar/club/restaurant gets SEVERAL musicians for  
the price of ONE. Many times there is a tip jar and what winds uyp  
happening is that the band leader takes ALL the tips. Then he pays  
the drummer and guitar FROM the tips/ If he runs a little short, THEN  
he reaches into that (aforementioned) $200 samoleons to make up the  
difference.
e... I have even had 2 different occassions where the band leader  
routinely made brash statements. Things like: Hey, 'Ti-Ping is not a  
city in China. The boys are playing for nothing. How about we help  
them get back across the toll bridge. Meanwhile no sit in musicians  
saw ANY of these 'phantom' tips. I  told this one guy that his little  
sympathy act was in poor taste as it was just anther way for him to  
line his pockets, and that in such a case, he should DROP that  
schpeil. He more or less told me (in so many words) 'If you don't  
like it, take a hike'. Which I did.
Other times I was told that trying to pay the sit in musicians was an  
insult to THEM. Like: Oh, Dr. Doug is a heart surgeon and only plays  
sax to keep his fingers limber. Trying to pay HIM would be an insult.  
The guy is better than we could ever afford. Or: Oh, Dr. Steve is a  
retired doctor and owns half of Punta Gorda. Or: Oh Bruce (Bud) Brown  
played with his brother Les' band. He was pulling down a grand a week  
when we were in diapers. Or: Oh, George was music director for the  
Ringling Bros. B&B Circus. Jesus, he's as good as Alpert.
So, as you turn the Polish printed newspaper over end to end, you  
finally focus on the illegible pages, and you FINALLY are able to  
read it. It says "Ain't NO body getting any money".

So you're there -  drinking, probably paying admission - expecting
that "open stage" means it's open for you too!

And, it SHOULD be. Many times an itenerate musician will come with a  
friend, a date, a wife, even another couple. Sometimes even parents.  
God, even their KIDS. This means more entrees and beverage being  
served. It's a win win situation for everyone. Everyone (that is)  
except the poor beleagured prospective musician wishing to play.
Then you have to
learn, that they want your money, not your harp though!

Well, to be honest, I haven't had THAT problem. Once I play, I seem  
to be welcome. (for NOthing, of course). Well, I lied. Now and then I  
get some money. See, there's a right way and a wrong way to run a  
jam. What I usually do is to keep a record of how many tunes a sit in  
has played on (like 10%, 20%, 30%). Then I divvy up the tips  
accordingly among the VISITING players. The players there with me  
already ARE getting paid, so they're covered. Even if I have to go in  
MY pocket.
As I hand it to them, I say the words (in low tones)... 'gas money'.  
Ya know, there were times when 'I' played somewhere, saw people  
putting in tips AS I was playing, also noticed that when I wasn't  
playing, the tips were slim, and then never saw a cent. There were  
times when 'I' could have used a little gas money. It's not like I'm  
that well off or anything.

I pretty much understand, that it's not easy to be the jam leader.

If you are making your living as a musician, you have to be  
resourceful and sometimes a little self serving. If you're like me  
(retired), you can be a really nice guy (who doesn't gouge), and whom  
everyone likes to play with. AND people will even set up stuff FOR  
you. Like Wednesday I was the feature in a 4 hour concert at a  
retirement complex. There were 10 musicians and 5 on stage at a time  
and in constant rotation. 4 drummers, 3 double bass, 3 sax, 1  
trumpet, 1 clarinet, 1 trombone, 1 jazz accordion, 2 keyboard, and  
me. I was the only one who did all 4 sets.
But after all it's a deal. You make players come, filling the club, so
you have to make sure they'll have the chance to play.

Some people use a jam or sit-in as a gimmick.

--
Gruß,Frank
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