Open Jam Etiquette

[emor]

Originally Posted by jweiss

jazz jam session humor:
http://www.billanschell.com/jamsessions.html

That is getting SO forwarded.

[Audiophage]

With any open jam, if you have to borrow someone's instrument, or just really want to try out someone's bass on a tune, always ask first. Regardless of whether or not you've played on their gear before.

[BethanyJoy]

Right hi guys, i have no idea what to do on this site, im so confused, but anyway, i need your help, i have a gig on friday, and i have to introduce the band and the songs like in between while the band gets ready you know? And i have absoloutly noooo idea what to say! Can you guys help me please? I need an intro, things to say inbetween songs and a thingie to like close it.
The Set list is:
1. Greenday - 21 Guns
2. Holding on, which was written by 2 of the girls in our band
3. We Only live once, which is an acoustic written by a guy in the band
4. The Beatles - Come Together
5.Journey - Don't Stop Beleiving
6. Survivor - Eye of the tiger

And then apparently were getting an encore
So were doing - Holding On, again..
And yes i know these are extremley lame songs, but im not actually in the band, im just the speaker so not my desicion haha... Cause my music skills arent great pahah! But anyway, i could really use alot of help, and any advice you guys have is greatly appreciated The band is called Blank Page.. Thank you very much xx

[jweiss]

Originally Posted by BethanyJoy

Right hi guys, i have no idea what to do on this site, im so confused, but anyway, i need your help, i have a gig on friday, and i have to introduce the band and the songs like in between while the band gets ready you know? And i have absoloutly noooo idea what to say! Can you guys help me please? I need an intro, things to say inbetween songs and a thingie to like close it.
The Set list is:
1. Greenday - 21 Guns
2. Holding on, which was written by 2 of the girls in our band
3. We Only live once, which is an acoustic written by a guy in the band
4. The Beatles - Come Together
5.Journey - Don't Stop Beleiving
6. Survivor - Eye of the tiger

And then apparently were getting an encore
So were doing - Holding On, again..
And yes i know these are extremley lame songs, but im not actually in the band, im just the speaker so not my desicion haha... Cause my music skills arent great pahah! But anyway, i could really use alot of help, and any advice you guys have is greatly appreciated The band is called Blank Page.. Thank you very much xx

And how is this related to jazz jam sessions?

[drewhrt2]

most of the expereinces i've had are with blues gigs/jam sessions. its a good idea to know a few generic tunes to pull out if they ask you what you want to play. other places will let you play with your bad or musicians you know so you can choose a song with them.

the main advice i would give you is go to the jam session, bring your bass, and scope it out. see what the vibe is and what u need to have with you or have prepared.
good luck!

[Deathblade Eric]

This is a bit of a rehash TBH, but I'll nail it on anyway partly as there's a couple of extra points in it, but mainly as a shameless link to the finest jam in east London:

http://www.coachandhorsesbluesjam.co...tial_fyi.shtml

Pete.

[steveo33]

We're the "house" open mic band in a little place in NE Ohio. We've had some wild people take the stage. A drummer that agreed to a song, then proceeded to play a flailing solo over it, guitarist shredding speed metal over the band (were mostly classic 70-90's rock), etc. The guy that took the cake was this past Sunday. A fiftyish guy came up to me between sets, pointed, says "You're my guy! You have the sound I'm looking for!". I'm hoping club owner, established recording dude, something.

I probe him a little bit. Turns out he's none of these, he doesn't play anything. He has a file folder of lyrics typewritten on beaucoup loose sheets. No musical structure to any of it, he wants me to put some cool bass riffs to his "poetry". He doesn't need me, he needs a beret, and bongo drums. I try to see what he does with it. He delivers his lines in a Louis Armstrong scat vocal.

I try to let him down easy, push him off. We begin a set and he waits patiently with his folder right next to my amp. We start to tear down, and he gets on the mic with the stuff. It was amazing how fast the entire place felt the need to grab a smoke in the 30 degree weather then. He wasn't too happy with that kind of reception, I don't know what he expected. It was just really strange. I guess that's one of the perils @ open mic in Ohio...

[lo_freq_geek]

Not sure if this is the right forum to vent about a local jam here but.... A local woman (self-proclaimed blues institution) has hosted a Tuesday night blues jam at various clubs for the better part of 10 years. She knows everyone and usually draws a decent crowd. My issue is with her sets and structure. She starts with a full 45 minutes set, then takes a long break - last night it was 50 minutes - while she schmoozes, scans the sign-up, sells merch... then comes on with her band for 3 more before calling up any jammers, but in no way following order of sign-up - mostly getting her friends on quick.

My band got there early - about 1/2 way through set 1, signed up.. finally left 2 hours later when it seemed clear we would be waiting another hour or so before we would be able to get on. Only once in the 4 times we have attended have we successfully gotten up. I wouldn't have went at all but we are trying to play at this venue and were hoping for an informal audition.

Wouldn't it make more sense to have musicians on the stage if they are eager to play and just waiting? I doubt any of us will be be back.

[StrangerDanger]

Originally Posted by J. Crawford

That right there is huge Matt, especially if you plan on going professional with music. Meeting people is huge! How do you think I get into bands and projects? Through people, connections, etc.

I mean, I have the skill to back it up, but having connections is huge!

And so humble for such a young man

[COBRARI]

Two important etiquette experiences come to mind.
1. It's open mic. That means everyone up there might not have something in common... like the next song. Don't try to teach the bass player Van Morrison's "Brown
eyed girl" in 45 seconds or less. If someone doesn't know the song, call out one everyone knows or can at least fake through it.
I always got a kick out of a musician at a open mic jam saying
" here's a song I wrote and it goes like this". Follow along.

2. If you are a newbie and are playing a typical blues open mic,
learn a 12 measure solo ditty. You might get the spotlight one night after the guitar, sax, keyboard, harmonica, etc have played thier solos.
What are you going to do when the house band leader looks over at you and says "bass player!" Play something you made up that will get you through 12 bars and if they like it,
play it again. The first time that happened to me, I about S#*T my pants.

[jeffbrown]

Advice, please?

We (finally) played an open mic, and were well received. In fact, the manager asked us back next week, and made mention of a gig he's putting together sometime later.

Anyway, the arrangement for audio was for the guitards to go direct, also the vocals, natch, and I plugged into the house amp, a nondescript amp I didn't get the name of, and a Hartke 410. Long story short, the guitards didn't like the fact that their sound wasn't the same as they were used to (duh) and they didn't get the same FX they were used to. No, they didn't think to bring ALL of their FX toys. /:-( Yes, I DID bring mine! They actually sounded fine, but being newbies, were slightly thrown off - not enough to mess it up, but distracted nonetheless. I'm the only one in the band who has any stage experience, so the fact that my sound wasn't "my sound" didn't freak me out.

Etiquette question: would it be in poor taste to bring our own amps to supplant the house gear? I can line out my sound to the board from my amp, so to use mine for a monitor. So can the guitards. If we bring our own stuff, should we be expected to let it remain on stage for subsequent acts to use? May not want to hang around till closing....

TIA!

[Deathblade Eric]

Originally Posted by jeffbrown

Advice, please?

Etiquette question: would it be in poor taste to bring our own amps to supplant the house gear? I can line out my sound to the board from my amp, so to use mine for a monitor. So can the guitards. If we bring our own stuff, should we be expected to let it remain on stage for subsequent acts to use? May not want to hang around till closing....

TIA!

Check with the manager first, but don't be surprised to get "no" for an answer.

If it's a busy open mic, the inevitable extra setup time will eat into your (& possibly everyone else's) set. I'd say turn up next time with FX, but without amps. TBH all of you should be able to get a working tone out of a halfway decent house backline. One of my local-ish jams have either a Trace head or H|H PA amp into knackered EV 1 x 15, whilst the other has a dreadful Carlsbro 15 combo that I'd cheerfully kick the length of Leyton High Road, but it still does the job. I can get a tone good enough for belting out some Lizzy/Zep tubes, or for swinging some blues.

See if you can blag a gig off the back of the open mic. Then you can get it 'just so'.

In my experience (& opinion), if you're going to delay proceedings at a jam/open mic, you'd better be good - blow the roof off good.

Pete.

[jeffbrown]

Thanks for the input, Eric. We'll see how it goes w/your advice.

[Big B.]

Originally Posted by jweiss

jazz jam session humor:

http://www.billanschell.com/jamsessions.html

Unbelievably brilliant! I just sat here and laughed out loud for ten minutes reading this.

[tekhedd]

It's important to rotate out different people through the night, except for the players you know aren't very good or who aren't personal friends of yours. You put them on together at the end of the night. This is also the time to bring up anybody you don't know. No matter what, be sure that anyone new to the scene only gets to play with the worst players you know.

What do you mean, sarcastic? An awful lot of the sessions I've been to use this rule! I thought it was standard?

[professor_bills]

LO Freak Geek Are you sure you dont play in ST Pete FL? That woman sounds a lot like one around here. Although I usually get a chance to play when I tell them I have abass. If I was playing harp or guitar it may not be the same. Lots of them are regulars.
You have to know whether you are jam night or open mic night. There is definately a difference. JAm is just that with different members of the house band stepping aside for the audience to come up and fill in.In our area Blues is the genre of choice for this scenario and some bands are very wxplicit about keeping it to a simple 12 bar program. Open mic whole bamnds or solo performers take to teh stage with an MC handling the playing order. With jam sessions many house bands dont want a whole abnd walking up and doing a set. I don't know if its pride or just trying to keep every body involved.
Just my 2 cents

[Sparkdog]

Deathblade Eric got it right. I'll add a few tidbits based on my experience:

- Bringing your own instrument is not just a good idea, it's mandatory in most places. Many jam organizers will consider it rude even to ask about borrowing someone else's axe.

- When you get your turn onstage, play no more than 2 or 3 songs unless the organizer/bandleader specifically asks you to stay. Sometimes the jam is poorly organized and they may forget to rotate players, but you're still eating into someone else's time.

- Leave your originals at home. It's a jam, and honestly, nobody wants to hear them.

- If you take a solo, be mindful of the other players and don't step on their solo, It's customary to let each chordal instrument solo...bass and drums are optional.

- Leave some money behind by tossing a tip in the jar and/or buying a drink. It's the reason the venue is hosting a ham at all.

[totallyfrozen]

Originally Posted by Deathblade Eric

With the two I regularly go to in London, the format is basically the same with some differences. I've culled this list from personal observation...

1 - Backline usually provided. I always make a point of asking the House bass player if it's OK to mess with the EQ (just courtesy).
2 - Bring your own instrument, never assume that the House guy will be willing to loan (plus you will find that it's set up for them, not you - and it could be a POS).
3 - Sign in (if that's the MO), or introduce yourself to the bandleader/organiser.
4 - Bring your own instrument cable.
5 - Be tuned up & ready to roll. Onstage Tune-ups are a big yawn & look totally amateurish.
6 - Sit in the pocket. No-one knows you. You'll score more points playing Mustang Sally with passion, or making Route 66 swing than giving an awesome Nuclear Slap Barrage demonstration. That can come later, when you've got "in".
7 - After your set, thank the players you were up with and also thank the organisers.
8 - Stick around for a while & catch some of the other players. Put some cash over the bar - even if it's just a soft drink. Chat. Network.

It's worth going down for a couple of weeks armed with a notepad. That way if there are any "usual suspects" numbers, you can go away & get 'em down. Also gives you an idea of the overall standard & whether you actually want to get involved.

Have a link... This is my regular Wednesday night out:

The Coach & Horses

Pete.

Geez, Pete, you make it sound like it can actually be FUN!

Great post!

[StringThing]

Just do it... Sometimes leave ourself little outs that distract from big picture.
I just a Open Jam with my singer. He thought is was an "open Mic" but I decided to surprise him. I was the only bassist so I had to improvise with the house band for awhile. It was 100% improv from everyone. I hung... i knew my keys and hit the roots and 5th in the pocket till the groove was established then we all opened it up. I lead the band through 2 or three progressions and the singer killed it. Made new friends and met some killer musicians.

[fhm555]

Well...the local blues society held an open jam last friday and since it's been a while (read years) since I've been out to one I thought I drop by after my regular job ( I LOVE my current "regular" music job, 6 to 10 friday and saturday), and maybe reconnect with some old friends.

It was downtown and when I got there it took me a half hour to find a place to park. It was pushing midnight so I left my stuff in the truck in case things were already winding down and went on up to the club. When I got there, it felt real strange because I didn't recognize a single individual there, but the worst was the 4 guitars and 2 harps all turned to 11 and as best I could tell, all taking a lead break at the same time. The bass and drums were present, but were buried under a wall of wail and could not be heard at all. I decided to go get a cold drink and give it a minute to see if this was just one of those group lapses when everyone steps out to lunch at once. After standing behind a very drunk A-hole for 20 minutes while he tried to pick up the girl working the bar, I went back to the music room where it was still an ear splitting assault of treble notes, none of which seemed to have any relationship to any of the others save for the stupid high volume levels at which they were being delivered. I endured it for about 30 more seconds before I took my happy butt out of there and home, relieved no one I knew had been there which might have obligated me to stay.

If you are thinking of attending an open jam for the first time, it might not be a bad idea to find out if there is someone in actual charge of festivities before you lug your stuff to the venue.