Give me a solid rehearsal or writing session, with good collaborators and a goal of either shows or recording. My whole reason for playing has always been to create original music; I started writing "songs" as a kid before I could even really play. Jamming is fun if it fuels productivity, and shows are fun if we have material we're proud of and we're firing on all cylinders, but playing "just to play" without that focus doesn't really do much for me.
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Gigging vs jamming?
- Thread starter MichelD
- Start date
I'm the opposite - I'm more than happy to lay down a groove, keep it consistent, and see what my friends come up with to go over it. Granted I have a fairly small list of people I will jam with, and come to think of it they're all pretty brilliant musicians...
So not all that opposite after all!
I do both. I'm happy to just stay at home and play but gigging is fun too. But I'm not so dying to gig that I will take crappy gigs. Currently I play out about 1 or 2 times a month and that is a good amount for me.
I've rarely been fortunate enough to have a day job in my chosen field. This means I've spend almost all of my working life doing things for money that I don't enjoy.
I expect to play music for money because it's the one thing I can choose to do to earn money. Even if it's not much, it's always going to be the most enjoyable paycheck I earn.
Life isn't all about money, but the least I can do is use music to cover the costs of the habit. I wouldn't have disposable income otherwise.
I expect to play music for money because it's the one thing I can choose to do to earn money. Even if it's not much, it's always going to be the most enjoyable paycheck I earn.
Life isn't all about money, but the least I can do is use music to cover the costs of the habit. I wouldn't have disposable income otherwise.
I love to play in just about any situation where there isn't drama. There's no comparison to feeding off the energy of a good crowd, though.
Smooth_bass88
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- Oct 31, 2006
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This is one of the main reasons I host my own, so that I can be assured that the people there will have some chops and the ear to play songs that we all have heard before. Open jams can really be hit or miss and I don't usually find them to be much fun or very entertaining. But they are good experience and practice for players who are just getting started or otherwise don't get much stage time!
Each makes sense, depending primarily on whom you are doing it with. Gigs or Jams with wankers are time lost to the Universe. Gigs or Jams with musicians who inspire you are manna from Heaven.
I have nothing against Jamming or Gigging but I have not found the right people to stay in a band or jam situation. After my last band dissolved I took myself out of that world. So now I just play and practice on my own for about 4 years now.
devnulljp
Supporting Member
I like to play, and I'm lucky enough to be surrounded by like-minded musicians to play with and a few decent places to play out. So I play out a lot.
I don't know if I'd be doing it so much if it was just a get together in someone's front room to jam. But whatever floats your boat, do what makes you happy.
I don't know if I'd be doing it so much if it was just a get together in someone's front room to jam. But whatever floats your boat, do what makes you happy.
So Anyway, sounds like the OP has found something that works for the group. I salute you!
I've done this a couple of times and at some point the 'house band' always got pretty tight with a lot of songs. 'Shouldn't we be playing somewhere?' always followed.
And then you're a gigging band with all the baggage that comes with that.
I've done this a couple of times and at some point the 'house band' always got pretty tight with a lot of songs. 'Shouldn't we be playing somewhere?' always followed.
And then you're a gigging band with all the baggage that comes with that.
I had been on a pretty hard "Play live to an audience or forget it" tact for the last few years, only signing up for things that had a clear playing live target. Getting a group together to play and make good music is relatively easy and fun, but had been unsatisfactory. I wanted it to go somewhere and have people enjoy the result of a lot of hard work. I ended up playing out about once a month, which is a lot for me with the fam-fam and job, in different a few groups. It was great, but the groups tended to play 'deep cut' and/or original stuff, which sounded fantastic but nobody really ever cares about - except for the other old white dude who freaks out when we'd play "When The Levee Breaks" or "Midnight Rambler".
Somehow I ended up in a Ween tribute band, which was a ton of fun because the audience knows the songs cold and will turn out to hear them. It is a little weird to be playing and have a bunch of dudes in the audience playing "air bass" and pulling off the same riffs and runs as you - and if you don't hit the part right, they let you know!
But with a new job, I've scaled back on the "playing live" commitments and have been content with the occasional casual jam. It is a great release and fun to just play. Once I get the new job under control, I might spin the the bass sideman thing back up - maybe find a "dance/party band", maybe a just to see how that goes...
Sidenote: I once worked with a sysadmin guy who played horns and toured the world in Glen Miller's band. After that, he stopped playing altogether because he said "Once you play in the World Series, everything else is a disappointment." I get that, it'd be hard to go from pro to playing in a dad band in some dude's basement...
Somehow I ended up in a Ween tribute band, which was a ton of fun because the audience knows the songs cold and will turn out to hear them. It is a little weird to be playing and have a bunch of dudes in the audience playing "air bass" and pulling off the same riffs and runs as you - and if you don't hit the part right, they let you know!
But with a new job, I've scaled back on the "playing live" commitments and have been content with the occasional casual jam. It is a great release and fun to just play. Once I get the new job under control, I might spin the the bass sideman thing back up - maybe find a "dance/party band", maybe a just to see how that goes...
Sidenote: I once worked with a sysadmin guy who played horns and toured the world in Glen Miller's band. After that, he stopped playing altogether because he said "Once you play in the World Series, everything else is a disappointment." I get that, it'd be hard to go from pro to playing in a dad band in some dude's basement...
I like both. I have a drummer/singer and guitar player that I have been playing southern rock/blues rock with for about 4 years. They are in their early 60's and just don't have the motivation to go out and gig. We played one lake party and that has been it. I have another band with a female singer and we do 70s/80s pop/rock/country stuff that is also fun and we gig about once a week. The other guys are basically poker night. Get together and have a few drinks and play, and I can scratch my itch to play that kind of stuff. The only thing I hate is sometimes we will really absolutely nail a song and it is a shame folks weren't around to see and hear it.
I came from small town in a semi isolated island on the west coast of Canada. there were frequent parties and people brought instruments and played. Before the island got a liquor outlet and licensed restaurant, my guitar playing friend was the bootlegger. He had an old Vox amplifier too and seeing as my cabin didn't even have electricity, I left my bass at his place and i'd go over on Friday or Saturday night. He'd sell a bottle of liquor or a case of beer to somebody then they'd stay and drink it with us and we'd play sometimes. other musicians might come too. It got so that I could play the whole John Prine repertoire in the key of G while blotto. it was great practice for playing my fretless too.
But in the city I moved too, I've played in various bands in numerous bars and clubs and folks talk about "Playing for people" and "entertaining," well what I remember most is people not even paying attention and talking. They paid more attention to the game on the TV screen the bars left on or the online gambling. I'm comfortable enough in my own skin that I don't need the validation of some drunk admiring my amazing bass playing.
Besides, in this town, there are only a handful of places to play and musicians have to pass the hat if they want any money to pay for gas.
But in the city I moved too, I've played in various bands in numerous bars and clubs and folks talk about "Playing for people" and "entertaining," well what I remember most is people not even paying attention and talking. They paid more attention to the game on the TV screen the bars left on or the online gambling. I'm comfortable enough in my own skin that I don't need the validation of some drunk admiring my amazing bass playing.
Besides, in this town, there are only a handful of places to play and musicians have to pass the hat if they want any money to pay for gas.
Gigging or recording is the goal for me. Working towards either of those by jamming with competent musicians is productive and inspiring.
I can play at home to “jam” or to create my own songs.
Occasionally I will jam with friends for fun but, with no goal in mind, I get bored of it quickly.
I can play at home to “jam” or to create my own songs.
Occasionally I will jam with friends for fun but, with no goal in mind, I get bored of it quickly.
I don’t get to play with others very often. Hectic work schedule, 4 kids between 7-17, a house, 3 cars, dogs, etc...
In other words, I’m obligated to a lot of things. Being obligated to 4 other people to play sounds awful right now. Someday.... but not now.
Informal jamming is awesome. Especially if the other person has as little agenda as I do, and just likes making amplified sounds.
In other words, I’m obligated to a lot of things. Being obligated to 4 other people to play sounds awful right now. Someday.... but not now.
Informal jamming is awesome. Especially if the other person has as little agenda as I do, and just likes making amplified sounds.
I haven't done "jam sessions" for years, because I can't stand "Blues In E" for hours on end with a string of people playing every note they know. I will play gigs with good players who are respectful of each other, and the gigs can be free or pay well, either one. I work with a core of 8 to 10 regulars who are adults, play well, and don't do musical masturbation.
