Going to a blues jam tonight ... any pointers

[Bassmickeyd]

Life experience is the most valuable of all the experiences.
Next time, go early and ask to go on stage first. Talk to the bass player. If he's got an ego, ignore it, that's his problem. He was once young and or inexperienced like you. If there are some bad players/jammers there he will gladly let you get up with them and save the better players for himself. Accept it, it's always been that way. Don't cop an attitude. You're there to get experience and learn you get to stay wide open to do that.
Nerves, push them off to the side. Everybody's got them and everybody handles them differently. That's why so many drink at blues jams.
I remember 'wossing' out the first jam I went to. I laugh about it now. One day you will to.
G-luck

 

[lopxtc]

Yeah I will say this everyone there is very cool ... I talked with the house bass player when I first got there and this guy was down right laid back and no attitude or ego at all. I was admiring his Jazz Bass and he tells me its an original 62 and then next thing I know he takes it off and hands it right over to me and says here give it a go. I wouldnt never have asked to thumb someones 60's original and he just hands it over without blinking an eye.

Everyone there was cool and they all understood the nerves issue. Im getting a friend to come along next week so that will help with the nerves ... I know I can do it ... just got to get up there.

 

[bigfatbass]

I ended up just sitting in the background for the evening playing along unplugged

What? Are you a guitard player?

Seriously though, if you are worried about how you will come across at the jam, that is a good way to have them hate you before you ever play a note on stage.

It sounds like you found a jam with some friendly level-headed folks. GET UP THERE!!!! Even if you totally crash and burn, if you do it with a smile, and not too many apologies, you'll never regret it.

 

[LowDown Hal]

GREAT start man!!!

Now you know how the jam/place works, format etc.
Have fun next time! Maybe you can hook up with one of the guitar players for a smaller, informal jam?

 

[Andy Blowers]

I can only really echo others' comments, but go down, relax, groove, listen and enjoy yourself. Let that come across too. It doesn't matter if you only play roots the whole time, or walk. As long as you have fun, and go back next time, you'll be fine.

Fergie (Fulton) and I both go to one where I live, and everyone there is really cool. It taught me how to just play and not worry about screwing up. I also made a lot of friends down there, some really cool guys.

 

[synaesthesia]

All you need to do is play... it's an experience you can only gain from, whatever the outcome.

That said, if you want to prepare - learn some tunes that are familiar tunes, with identifiable riffs, and learn how to hear different turnarounds. Also, learn tunes like Stormy Monday, which don't fall under the 3 chord format 12 bar typical format.

 

[Jake of Bass]

Yeah I will say this everyone there is very cool ... I talked with the house bass player when I first got there and this guy was down right laid back and no attitude or ego at all. I was admiring his Jazz Bass and he tells me its an original 62 and then next thing I know he takes it off and hands it right over to me and says here give it a go. I wouldnt never have asked to thumb someones 60's original and he just hands it over without blinking an eye.

Everyone there was cool and they all understood the nerves issue. Im getting a friend to come along next week so that will help with the nerves ... I know I can do it ... just got to get up there.

That just reminds me of the first gig I played. It was at a music summer school, there were 400 or so parents, kids and friends and I was 15. We were totally pooping ourselves beforehand; afterwards we couldn't wait to play another gig!

Trust me, the hardest part is getting up there in the first place. Once you're going for a few minutes you'll settle in and start enjoying yourself. Just don't take it too seriously - I'm sure the other guys aren't either. They sound like great people to jam with and I'm sure they completely understand where you're coming from. They won't make you get up but they will encourage you to join in.

When you do get up, just find the groove and sit there. Once you're feeling it, then just try a small thing or two, and see how that goes. Take it easy and you'll know where your limits are and over time how to push them. Not everything will work, but the exploration is half the fun of a jam.