Open Jam Format. What's your take?

[Thor]

This came up in another thread and I was interested in
other bassist's opinions of the so called 'Open Jam' or
Open Mike' formats.

Some of the inherent or unspoken rules seem to differ. Some
players frequent them often. I avoid them after some less than
exciting experiences with other musicians a few years back.

What are you experiences with them? Any tips on optimising
the gig? What irks you about these sessions?

I guess that is poll material, so one is added.

I caught this post on another thread, and I didn't want
to hijack that user's thread, it was specific to a band situation

My apologies to Cincy below but I edited the post to include
only the relevant text.

Originally Posted by CincyBassMan

... snip ...

I really dislike open jams. Theres always too many guitards
who only know 3 songs that they play every time they get up. Those that host forget that it's a JAM and that all who attend should be able to get up at least once, but not more than the alloted 3 songs. I especially hate it when there is only 3 or 4 bass players, only 1 or 2 get to get up again instead of rotating. It's almost like a little club or something.

Anyway, jams are only that, jams. Usually, those that go to jams are there because they can't or don't want to be in a band, they just want to showoff their skillz. Jams are great for ear training and train wrecks!
...snip ...

I don't care for the 'Open Jam' format either. There is often a
cliquish undertone and if you are the new boy on the block
you get to wait a lot. I'd rather put together my own jams and
be the only low gun.

[MoD_Scotty]

The couple times I've done it, the house band just had one or two guest musicians come up for each song. I've always had fun doing it. I never saw anyone get "passed over."

Were you always the last guy picked in dodgeball or something?

[BryanM]

I like them for keeping up on my chops when I'm not working with a regular band. Though it can be more harmful than helpful considering some of the musicians that show up, you'll occasionally get a live one and have a fun time. I tend to use them as a regular part of my practice schedule to get better at playing on a dime and playing with all sorts of individuals, from difficult morons to laid back musicians.

[bradjonesbass]

I like them for meeting musicians, especially when moving to a new town. It's a lot of fun if you manage to get 4 or 5 really good musicians up and improvising. It sucks when you're playing bass in the house band and 26 guitards show up and all they know how to play is 12 bar blues...

[Thor]

Originally Posted by MoD_Scotty

The couple times I've done it, the house band just had one or two guest musicians come up for each song. I've always had fun doing it. I never saw anyone get "passed over."

Were you always the last guy picked in dodgeball or something?

Naww, that was Joe Nerve.

My last experience wasn't too good. It was a send off jam for
a guy I knew who was moving to Austin. I had gigged in a band
with him in the 80's. The host was the singer of the band
he was leaving. Big drama guy.

Anyway, 3 bassists showed up. 1st got 9-11 or so, second
got 11-12:45. I got 12:45 to 12:50. I wasn't too happy about
that. Needless to say the other bassists were his friends.

The earlier ones weren't nearly as bad.

I was good at dodgeball. Baseball...meh.

[stuonbass]

They can be great sometimes and other times, they can be a trainwreck, but at least everyone knows its just a jam. It is a great way to meet musicians and bands that you never get to see or hang out with since they gig when you gig, you dig? If you are looking for gigs or a band to join, it is a great way to network.

[pointbass]

It can be good for networking or if you need to keep up your performance chops during slow "real" gig times. But generally, it's just a so-so experince for me. The level of musicianship is usually kinda low in the places around here ....

[Hayde]

I like them. Mostly. For me they are a good way to weed out the dead weight if I'm looking for players. A lot of guys can talk a good game on the phone, but you can find out who can play real quick at a jam, You can see who adapts easily and learns quickly, and people can hear you. I have had several bands try to hire me after a jam. And I'm always on the lookout for a killer drummer. The host is very important. It's up to them to keep the rotation fair and the music going. One host in South Florida would give out free drink tickets to players who got up to entice more talent. I have had some bad experiences at jams at biker bars and that has taught me to stay away from them. (Biker Bars)

Just my humble opinion.

[CincyBassMan]

Thanks Thor! Am I famous now?

[markjazzbassist]

Originally Posted by Thor

Anyway, 3 bassists showed up. 1st got 9-11 or so, second got 11-12:45. I got 12:45 to 12:50.

I'm sorry man, but when i read that i couldn't help but bust out in laughter. sorry, dude but that's fricking hilarious

[beggar98]

I dig the "open mic" shows just for keeping chops up. Anyone can keep a tight band together, but if you can hold a band together with no rehearsal and possibly some less-than-gifted musicians, you're doing pretty good. I don't necessarily enjoy it, but going to the gym ain't supposed to be fun!

[seanm]

I have done a lot of Country open stages. All of my paying gigs I have got directly, or indirectly, from these open stages. So they are a good way to network since people get to actually see and hear you play.

I also find them low stress. Since you don't know what is going to be played, all you can do is try your best. So no direct practice required.

[Deacon_Blues]

I haven't been to one yet. I have never seen one being organized here either. The only "open mic" shows I can think of are karaoke (), which is rather popular here. I mostly don't enjoy listening to karaoke as most of the singers are drunk and worse than crap, but if someone is good it can be enjoyable. Never as enjoyable as live music with a good band though.

I think I should discuss with my friends at the jazz club about organizing an open mic / open jam evening to try it out. I do believe, though, that it needs to be very well planned in order to be enjoyable for the audience. I think this is the most important thing. (Clear rules, clear playing order, people should know the songs they are about to perform, not too long jams...)

[Bassic83]

Sometimes they're good, sometimes they're not. I do find, though, that around here there isn't so much of a clique happening as much as a dearth of talent. I've been able to walk in to a jam and play my two song allotment, then walk up to the bar and order a beer, only to be called back to the stage by some guitard that heard me and wants to jam "Free Bird" or something equally sinister...with ME. The jams I have been to have always established me as a favorite player because of the number of songs I can fake, and because I can navigate train wrecks fairly decently. I also notice that the guitard/bassist ratio is usually about 8/1, with a remainder of harmonica dude.

I did jam sessions at the Strand Street Saloon on Sunday nights when I first got back into playing after a five-year hiatus. After the first one, I had blown out the cobwebs and gotten my groove back, and was asked on a fairly regular basis to sub for the house band's bassist. That led to other gigs, which led to other gigs, and so on, and so on...

I became good friends with the keyboard player, and would occasionally get to sit in on keyboards (real Hammond/ Leslie and a nice Korg SG). He never let ANYONE else touch his stuff, but knew my history. First time he did that and we counted off into "Gimme Some Lovin'", all the regular core players had a funny look on their faces when they saw me behind the keys, but they were all smiles by four bars into the song! Did "Whiter Shade of Pale" next, then sat down. I didn't pay for another drink for the rest of the month! Biggest compliment was one guitard who wanted to do some Joe Cocker, but couldn't decide whether he wanted me on keys or bass!

[Thor]

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

I'm sorry man, but when i read that i couldn't help but bust out in laughter. sorry, dude but that's fricking hilarious

I know. The singer was a Complete and Total Doosh. I'm not
pissed at the bassplayers, the second one was DAMM good,
he was in the Navy Jazz Band NE. (I also met the guy who
replaced him at RI GC last year). I figured my buddy the guitard
would have helped a little, as I mentored him from 17, and gigged
with him way back (and since he specifically extended the invitation
to come and play). Actually, they fired up the song before I was
even plugged in, no call or key mind you, so I ran into a D blues
with a Ray Charles twist.

Common courtesy, given the was no list, would be to call
the song and key, I thought. Anyway. I landed on my feet
on it, but that irked me as well, given that I was stage left
and the guitard and singtard were stage right with the drummer
between. I'm good, but my telepathy skills are a little rusty.

But anyway, I was more curious about other people's
experiences, I already know mine.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by CincyBassMan

Thanks Thor! Am I famous now?

Hey, somebody has to replace the Qintar. Why not you?

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by Thor

But anyway, I was more curious about other people's
experiences, I already know mine.

I played one in your neck of the woods a couple of years ago...some Irish joint in Newport. My brother introduced me to his friend, who you may well have seen playing around there. We were shedding a few tunes in the corner while the host was setting up, and got a standing ovation! Then some guy hit on my wife (right in front of his GF too) and wanted me to come out through the alley to his "rap studio". He got 86'ed. Next the host asked us to play house band and do a full set. We got offered a weekly gig, on the spot.

I've played a million of these things, and I hosted 'em in a few different clubs for years on end. I've made life long friends, but also gone home ready to throw my bass in the ocean.

[Thor]

Let's see.

Obrien's on Lower Thames
The Pelham on America's Cup Ave
Billy (don't pay so) Goode's on Broadway
Aiden's pub (closed now) on Broadway
Any of those ring a bell?

My debacle was at The Newport Blues Cafe. Nice venue
overall.

[professor_bills]

I have mixed feelings on these While I like jamming more so than structured stuff. I do find the host bands can be strange. I used to play harp in a biker type bar and the house band seemed to ahte calling me up because some of the bikers would get to rowdy when I played but there was one guy who got downright ugly if I didn't. I played bass in a jam acouple weeks ago and one of the many guitards (I think he was aregular) kept leaning over giving me directions. WHich I guess was nice of him but the first comment was that I was speeding up well it was my first time playing in abar in years and it was a country song I had never palyed before Iwas winging it and hell I thought I was doin purty darn good considering. I got to play one or two more songs after that and then the house bassist took over till closing (About three songs). I guess if I was more of a night owl I could go there more often and get more comfortable at it. IT always takes me a while to warm up, Luckily I played with me buds for a couple hours before going to the bar.

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by Thor

Let's see.

Obrien's on Lower Thames
The Pelham on America's Cup Ave
Billy (don't pay so) Goode's on Broadway
Aiden's pub (closed now) on Broadway
Any of those ring a bell?

I'm pretty sure it was Billy Goode's. I got right off a plane from Portland OR and off to the open mike though, so it was all a bit hazy to say the least. The staff were really nice to me in any case. The guy I was backing up did the Jimmy Buffet/Willie Nelson schtick, plus a lot of show tunes that I can bluff my way through fairly easily.

Anyhow, most of the ones I ran encouraged acts that actually had tunes together and ready to go. We used to draw substantial audiences of non-players, and keeping 'em entertained was important. I've played many others where it was all about the players though, and if there are enough players I've seen that work fine too. My #1 rule was that everyone got to play, and I'd defer on playing myself to make that happen if necessary.