Open Mic's - Role of the house band

Steve S · #1 03-07-2011, 12:48 PM

Several months ago, two friends got the gig for their band to be the house band for a once a month open mic. After the first one, their drummer quit so for the past three open mic's, I found the drummers and invited lots of other musicians to come and play. At the last session, the sound got so loud that I couldn't hear the vocals or instruments very clearly on stage. Out in the audience, everything was a roar.

I began to reexamine what was going on and noticed that the two friends are constantly chugging pitchers of beer during the whole nite. The more they drink, the louder everything gets. I mentioned the volume issue to them but received no response as the music got louder.

If a person is responsible for the open mic, I don't think they should be drinking so much. I am really hesitant to return to this gig because it is just too painful for my ears. I also feel that they expect me to find musicians and drummers for them and wonder where their friends are....

At this stage in my life, I rarely play out anymore so I was looking forward to going to this....

warwick.hoy · #2 03-07-2011, 01:02 PM

Open Jam's are just like that. I was in a house band for a weekly jam in a town that was 30 miles away (during wintertime and adverse driving conditions). The house band responsibility seems to be,...provide backline; drums; some sort of FOH for vocals at least; organize the players so everyone gets a turn or play for 3 hours straight (for $20 and 2 free beers) if no other musicians show up. Often times I got hung out to dry because literally no bass players would appear. I don't blame your friends for getting wasted. If you draw a crowd and the bar get's packed on a Wednesday,...the bar makes money while the house band might get 80 bucks to split which doesn't cover wear and tear on gear and barely keeps gas in the tank,...might as well get schnokered for free.

While I was obligated to go,...I was not really that interested cause it inevitably turned into having to play I-IV-V songs all night long

and trying to get through covers that I was unfamiliar with,..."Hey let's play Brown Eyed Girl",....yeah "I don't know that song, do you have a lead sheet or chord chart?",...."No, Just wing it". I think it's pretty important for the bassist to be able to hold the line solidly if the song is going to be entertaining. Sometimes we'd bust into improv and while that is fun and exciting it seems that bar patrons aren't interested in watching you jam, the want to hear the familiar.

While I ended my obligation as the house bassist,...I wouldn't mind going out to the that open jam sometime albeit in a different bar, but some of the players that attend are still my friends soooo,....I'm just way different of a bassist then I was back then. Maybe I'll take my pedalboards and blast the patrons out of the room.

lowfreq33 · #3 03-07-2011, 01:46 PM

Every time I go to an open jam I get stuck playing all night, because no other bass players show up.

MakiSupaStar · #4 03-07-2011, 01:54 PM

I don't go to open bar jams for that exact reason.

jady · #5 03-07-2011, 01:58 PM

We run a blues jam as a band. Basically we see it as a paid rehearsal with free drinks. We go in expecting to play a 3 hour gig and if other players show up its a long break for 1 or more of us.

Much less stress than a "real" gig too. I have know dudes that just run jams for a living. They do 4-5 a week in different towns in the area.

Passinwind · #6 03-07-2011, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowfreq33

Every time I go to an open jam I get stuck playing all night, because no other bass players show up.

Been there, done that. The last house band gig I had led to me getting let go because I eventually insisted on taking breaks whenever I felt like it.

The new guy still takes breaks whenever he feels like it too. He's just a bit more tolerant than I am at this point in my life...

I still play there, but I really enjoy showing up (or not) whenever, and now I get my own set without anyone grousing about the house band hogging all the good time slots.

**Pacman** · #7 03-07-2011, 02:33 PM

moved to Ban management

Passinwind · #8 03-07-2011, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

moved to Ban management

Heh...I thought OT was all about that.

Ric5 · #9 03-07-2011, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve S

Several months ago, two friends got the gig for their band to be the house band for a once a month open mic. After the first one, their drummer quit so for the past three open mic's, I found the drummers and invited lots of other musicians to come and play. At the last session, the sound got so loud that I couldn't hear the vocals or instruments very clearly on stage. Out in the audience, everything was a roar.

I began to reexamine what was going on and noticed that the two friends are constantly chugging pitchers of beer during the whole nite. The more they drink, the louder everything gets. I mentioned the volume issue to them but received no response as the music got louder.

If a person is responsible for the open mic, I don't think they should be drinking so much. I am really hesitant to return to this gig because it is just too painful for my ears. I also feel that they expect me to find musicians and drummers for them and wonder where their friends are....

At this stage in my life, I rarely play out anymore so I was looking forward to going to this....

I went to an open jam last night and the volume level was nice and moderate and the house band did not get drunk.

BigOldHarry · #10 03-07-2011, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowfreq33

Every time I go to an open jam I get stuck playing all night, because no other bass players show up.

Hmmm - yeah, if your the house band, that can kinda blow... Playing Stormy Monday over and over and over is no fun...

DaveDeVille · #11 03-07-2011, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

moved to Ban management

... does that include warm portions of kicka$$ ?

WJGreer · #12 03-07-2011, 03:21 PM

IMO, playing in the house band is a labor of love. The pay sucks, and the bass players who have the vocabulary to do it competently are probably on the faculty at the local university - especially if it's a jazz club.

And I agree, bass players don't often come to open mic shows and when they do, you have to screen them a little to avoid train wrecks. If a horn player comes up and lays an egg, you can smile, shake his hand, kick him offstage after two choruses, and tell stories about him later. If a bass player can't play the tune, the whole thing crashes...

billoetjen · #13 03-07-2011, 03:31 PM

Went to a notorious local open mic twice (swore I'd never go back after the first time, should have stuck with that) in which the house dudes are all egoists and uber competitive. Absolutely refuse to share the chord structures, etc...
I got my revenge when one of them inquired to join a tour that I was going to be part of... slammed him down hard.
So, if you're a house band at an open mic: please, be kind.

Passinwind · #14 03-07-2011, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billoetjen

.
So, if you're a house band at an open mic: please, be kind.

I've hosted many open mikes over the years, and played many many more. That plea cuts both ways, believe me!

Sparkdog · #15 03-07-2011, 03:51 PM

Jam nights will suck the life out of everyone involved unless they are organized and someone is clearly in charge. That someone is usually one of the members of the house band.

The house band supplies drums, backline and PA unless the club has one. Everyone except drummers and possibly keyboardists are expected to bring their own instrument, it is NOT cool to say "Hey man, can I borrow your bass?"

The house band generally plays the first set, then opens it up to jammers. The organizer keeps track of who came in first, either with a sign-in sheet or just eyeballing the door, and puts together different lineups. Don't expect to play more than 3 songs at the most.

Bass players are often the rare breed at these things, so yes, the house bassist may get stuck onstage for extended periods of time. When I've been involved in these things I always make it a point to invite my bass playing buddies down

The talent level you can expect is all over the map. I play with a blues/jazz/funk outfit that also hosts a jam...these guys are hardcore pros and attract other players at the same level, they are a BLAST to play with and it's a real learning experience.

You will also encounter guys who haven't mastered the art of tuning and this is their only outlet for playing live, but that's part of the deal. Everybody has to start somewhere, right?

Billnc · #16 03-07-2011, 08:48 PM

I have a rule, if I am the house bass player and the MC or organizer puts up three guitars, I'm outta there. Nothing like three sets of Stormy Monday changes going on at the same time really friggin loud.

Everyone gets their chance at an open mic, but if the trainwrecks are too numerous the house band should play a few songs alone.

Stumbo · #17 03-07-2011, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve S

... their drummer quit so for the past three open mic's, I found the drummers and invited lots of other musicians to come and play.

I suggest that you stop finding musicians for them and let them deal with running their own band. Oh, ....they don't have a band...guess they should retire from being the "house band"

Quote:

I began to reexamine what was going on and noticed that the two friends are constantly chugging pitchers of beer during the whole nite. The more they drink, the louder everything gets.

Well, there you go...nailed the problem. Seems like they are there to get their drink on....if the owner doesn't care...don't worry about it. But they won't change, they just want to "rock out" and get wasted while doing so.

Quote:

At this stage in my life, I rarely play out anymore so I was looking forward to going to this....

Oh, well...you tried, they failed. Since you're not getting what you want out of the deal, IMO, time to move on. Or maybe put together your own band and take the job and run it like it should be run.

cassanova · #18 03-07-2011, 10:03 PM

I was part of an open mic house band. Most times it was me and one other guy. The band leader ran a pretty tight ship though. If anyone messed with volume/eq settings or any of the gear, then when they finished the song they were done for the night.

What pissed me off most about it was the inconsiderate asses that would set their drinks on our gear. Too many times I'd tell people "hey man, it's an amp, not a table." Most people would adhere to the demand, but those that didn't were done as soon as the song was finished and not allowed to get back on the stage for the duration of the night.

I'm also fortunate that it wasn't a blues jam most nights. The music varied from impromptu blues & jazz, rock covers from the 60's - 2000's, some reggae, and oldies. All in all though, I wouldn't do it again.

Downunderwonder · #19 03-07-2011, 11:59 PM

Seeing as you have all the musician friends lining up why not see if someone has a PA and go do your own open mic?

You don't need a whole lot of drums, just a cajon or djembe will do if the players are any good.

Steve S · #20 03-08-2011, 12:09 AM

I don't drink anymore either so don't go to clubs often. I wanted this to work for these guys but I've realized that nothing is going to change. I've enjoyed reading your comments about your experiences with these kinds of gigs so thanks everyone.