Funny thing acoustic drums are mostly not occuring in those acoustic open mike jams, because simply they're too loud, maybe a cajun or some hand percussion are used. But then of course you would be extradited from the premises if you show up with a drumkit and go "heyyy, it's completely acoustic!!!! What's the problem !?" No miking up at all.
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Brutal open Acoustic jam experience
- Thread starter JGbassman
- Start date
Anyone who walks away from a jam session that feels that they were somehow slighted or treated unfairly is welcome to attempt to start their own open mic or jam night and revolutionize the practice by making everybody completely happy every night.
Those that have run these events understand what I'm saying... no matter how hard you try or however fair you could possibly be, there's always going to be an issue the crops up. Sometimes it's your fault sometimes it's not. But we're all humans and some people get upset over little things and other folks don't.
Finally, if you're out there being stubborn about the use of the word "Acoustic" for an open mic which happens to use a PA system, well then you're sort of like the same guy that makes fun of zombie flicks because there's no such thing as zombies.
It's entertainment folks it's supposed to be fun, don't be so critical.
Those that have run these events understand what I'm saying... no matter how hard you try or however fair you could possibly be, there's always going to be an issue the crops up. Sometimes it's your fault sometimes it's not. But we're all humans and some people get upset over little things and other folks don't.
Finally, if you're out there being stubborn about the use of the word "Acoustic" for an open mic which happens to use a PA system, well then you're sort of like the same guy that makes fun of zombie flicks because there's no such thing as zombies.
It's entertainment folks it's supposed to be fun, don't be so critical.
D
Deleted member 165050
Guest
And anyone that runs an open jam ought to try to be st least somewhat accommodating and without attitude, even if they know they can't please everyone. Unfortunately, the various underlying agendas rarely allow that to be a priority.
I've found that I have to advocate for myself by having appropriate sized gear and being ready to make good communication with hosts and sound people.
People invite me and think all will work but mostly are thinking about their own needs and or don't have the technical understanding to know you can't just plug in here or there.
It's okay not to alarm people. You want to make a statement or play music? Some people are prejudiced. Meaning they come with some preconceived ideas that all electric is bad or loud. Yes it's ironic that some folks, pun intended, listen to music on stereos and have huge PAs at bluegrass festivals.
Anyway ABGs do look appropriate. Besides that they often sound quite woody. You can get past cheap electronics and acoustic pre amps that sound clacky and lack warmth. Yes I love the sound of a contemporary 5 string active bass with acoustic guitar because it can sound so woody. Thing is though to not alarm people. Let them learn that electric bass in their setting is not Limp Bizkit.
When you can see your way financially find yourself a great sounding small amp. I don't like being in monitors because rarely can they handle electric bass. I've played some large shows where the back line or my own gear were just better at accurately reproducing my bass.
People invite me and think all will work but mostly are thinking about their own needs and or don't have the technical understanding to know you can't just plug in here or there.
It's okay not to alarm people. You want to make a statement or play music? Some people are prejudiced. Meaning they come with some preconceived ideas that all electric is bad or loud. Yes it's ironic that some folks, pun intended, listen to music on stereos and have huge PAs at bluegrass festivals.
Anyway ABGs do look appropriate. Besides that they often sound quite woody. You can get past cheap electronics and acoustic pre amps that sound clacky and lack warmth. Yes I love the sound of a contemporary 5 string active bass with acoustic guitar because it can sound so woody. Thing is though to not alarm people. Let them learn that electric bass in their setting is not Limp Bizkit.
When you can see your way financially find yourself a great sounding small amp. I don't like being in monitors because rarely can they handle electric bass. I've played some large shows where the back line or my own gear were just better at accurately reproducing my bass.
Shoot, you should see my girlfriend when ER comes on... There are definitely Zombies out there...
I found out there is another bassist that shows up for this particular jam occasionally, and brings a small amp to play through when he does. From my understanding he is the only other bassist that plays there. I was also told he wasn't that good, and fumbles around the fretboard when others are playing, being some sort of annoyance, as was described to me.
This tells me a few things.
1. This issue isn't there being a bassist, it's having the bass in the monitors.
2. A small amp is a requirement, and bringing your own is the expected norm for this jam.
3. The group might be put off by a rudimentary bassist, that is bothering people when he plays.
Knowing these things now, it opens my eyes to why I was met with underlying opposition as I was. In their eyes, I was poorly prepared by not having an amp, I requested to be put in the monitors, which is a taboo for bass there obviously, and possibly they were expecting another less that stellar experience with a bassist. (The latter I cannot confirm or deny, and "good" is a subjective word.)
I'm not keen on bringing an amp to a jam where I'm only playing a few songs, so I might go this route a few times and call it good. I'm not a huge fan of jams anyway, and mostly hitting this one for my friend. I have two big shows with my main band this weekend, so I'm probably going to pass on tomorrow's jam session. Once I get another jam down there I'll post about my experiences about second time around.
This tells me a few things.
1. This issue isn't there being a bassist, it's having the bass in the monitors.
2. A small amp is a requirement, and bringing your own is the expected norm for this jam.
3. The group might be put off by a rudimentary bassist, that is bothering people when he plays.
Knowing these things now, it opens my eyes to why I was met with underlying opposition as I was. In their eyes, I was poorly prepared by not having an amp, I requested to be put in the monitors, which is a taboo for bass there obviously, and possibly they were expecting another less that stellar experience with a bassist. (The latter I cannot confirm or deny, and "good" is a subjective word.)
I'm not keen on bringing an amp to a jam where I'm only playing a few songs, so I might go this route a few times and call it good. I'm not a huge fan of jams anyway, and mostly hitting this one for my friend. I have two big shows with my main band this weekend, so I'm probably going to pass on tomorrow's jam session. Once I get another jam down there I'll post about my experiences about second time around.
Somewhat related.
There was a bluegrass jam that I used to frequent. You should have heard the bitterness I received when I showed up with my Ovation Adamas. "Get that plastic piece of @#&* off the stage"
Somewhat related.
There was a bluegrass jam that I used to frequent. You should have heard the bitterness I received when I showed up with my Ovation Adamas. "Get that plastic piece of @#&* off the stage"
In more than 50 years of playing I've never heard such a thing at an open mic/jam ... and I've played with and for a LOT of bluegrass musicians.
Show up with a Contrabass Balalaika. They're great, sound a bit like a good ABG instead of an upright, and project well.
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In my 50+ years of playing, this is about the only time I can recall something like this happening. (don't know what made it pop into my brain)
This comment came from a husband/wife team who thought you needed a 40 year old Martin to play bluegrass.
D
Deleted member 165050
Guest
That's a nice bass but I think I prefer the one Turid from Katzenjammer is playing here:
I suppose there's always gonna be one in the crowd ... but most have the sense not to say it ...
Probably sound a lot better with flats ... and tort, of course.
Show up with a Contrabass Balalaika. They're great, sound a bit like a good ABG instead of an upright, and project well.
Show up with a Contrabass Balalaika. They're great, sound a bit like a good ABG instead of an upright, and project well.
But then you'd be scolded for being a commie, and lynched and thrown stones at. There's always something for them to pick on.
Maybe if you brought a Mexican Guitarrón you'd be excused, MAYBE, but then the hecklers from the audience would go "hey, go build that wall!!!" 
Oh BTW, why he's wearing the glove? Etienne MBappés long lost white brother? Michael Jackson? Instead of using flats he gets that warm thump from gloves?
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But that's one plugged in as far as I can tell! Sacrilege!
I think this bickering from purists, is something in the vein of the "True Scotsman" argumentation fallacy. Change out the word scotsman to acoustic in there. That people wants to hammer down their stance as valid by applying some sort of preferential right of interpretation what "Scotsman/acoustic" is.No true Scotsman - Wikipedia
Change out the word "scotsman" to any religious beliefs you have there. "Not any true christian does this", "no true muslim does like this" and off you go. Or acoustic, bluegrasser, hair metalists, whatever.
"No true Scotsman is a kind of informal fallacy in which one attempts to protect a universal generalization from counterexamples by changing the definition in an ad hoc fashion to exclude the counterexample. Rather than denying the counterexample or rejecting the original claim, this fallacy modifies the subject of the assertion to exclude the specific case or others like it by rhetoric, without reference to any specific objective rule ("no true Scotsman would do such a thing"; i.e., those who perform that action are not part of our group and thus criticism of that action is not criticism of the group)."
"Imagine Hamish McDonald, a Scotsman, sitting down with his Glasgow Morning Herald and seeing an article about how the "Brighton Sex Maniac Strikes Again". Hamish is shocked and declares that "No Scotsman would do such a thing." The next day he sits down to read his Glasgow Morning Herald again; and, this time, finds an article about an Aberdeen man whose brutal actions make the Brighton sex maniac seem almost gentlemanly. This fact shows that Hamish was wrong in his opinion, but is he going to admit this? Not likely. This time he says: "No true Scotsman would do such a thing."
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My most recent favorite was the "open jam" at which the only way you could take the stage was to either be known by the promoter or vouched for by someone known by the promoter. He would actually take to the mic looking for people to vouch for individual players. Needless to say, it didn't last long.
I would recoil immediately! Boomerang comes back. There's nothing stopping me in getting in that debate. I would immediately respond "And your Martin that contains extinct and threatened mahogany and banned rosewood, and EBONY nuts and bridges!? SHAME ON YOU!!!" TWICE!!!"
Yeah. THAT's telling them!I would recoil immediately! Boomerang comes back. There's nothing stopping me in getting in that debate. I would immediately respond "And your Martin that contains extinct and threatened mahogany and banned rosewood, and EBONY nuts and bridges!? SHAME ON YOU!!!" TWICE!!!"
I like the jams where all the names go in a hat, and the promoter draws several names at random to get on stage and play together. I've learned a lot from that kind of spontaneous musical situation.
