Hosting an Open Stage: Need Advice

[brianrost]

#2....you CAN have people pick songs that are straightforward that the band doesn't know. If you have a guy that is clear about what the tune does....it's a 1, 4, 5 and the chorus is 5, 4, 1. I've seen it work.

I've seen it work...sometimes. More often than not it's train wreck, even with very some simple songs.

It all depends on how well you know the skills of the players. If you have seasoned guys on stage that you know can handle something, go ahead. I've had guys show up at a blues jam and call Metallica tunes I've also had guys call simple rock tunes and then play them incorrectly causing a trainwreck.

So I stand by my #2...it's always the host's call whether or not to take chances on unknown tunes.

 

[Paulabass]

Sorry to go all the way back to the first post here- FRIDAY NIGHT? In my neck of the woods, the pros DO come to Jams, so they are on Thurs. or Sun. I could never draw the great players on a Friday, they all work that night.

 

[Koog]

Forgot to mention. We set up (and tear down) a full backline as if it were a professional show. Although we prefer they bring their own, instruments are available for players to use if they do not have an instrument with them. The backline and set up are great attractions to our jam. We frequently hear, "We continue to come because you have the best equipment and set up in the region." This along with the camaraderie and fellowship....and opportunity to play keeps 'em coming.

 

[Paulabass]

Forgot to mention. We set up (and tear down) a full backline as if it were a professional show. Although we prefer they bring their own, instruments are available for players to use if they do not have an instrument with them. The backline and set up are great attractions to our jam. We frequently hear, "We continue to come because you have the best equipment and set up in the region." This along with the camaraderie and fellowship....and opportunity to play keeps 'em coming.

Absolutely on the backline, or you end up with 15 guitar amps. I've never ever supplied instruments tho. Who's would you supply?

 

[FirewalZ]

Sorry to go all the way back to the first post here- FRIDAY NIGHT? In my neck of the woods, the pros DO come to Jams, so they are on Thurs. or Sun. I could never draw the great players on a Friday, they all work that night.

This is exactly what i told the venue....Friday night is a premium slot, folks like to dance, and the house band(like most) will be booked on Fridays from time to time. Because of this, we have an alternate trio of players available(G/V,B,D), seasoned local players who know a 1000 tunes. Im hoping swapping out house band members wont be an issue, if they're all solid players. However, I would rather this be on a Sunday, Thursday, etc, but ill do what i can to make it work.

 

[fhm555]

Beware the bands looking for exposure. We have a once a month blues jam that is almost always a good one but the jam master has had to break a few hearts when a band shows up and wants to play a set. The best way to avoid this is to have a sign up sheet and rotate individuals in the order they signed up. If you want to let bands have a go, wait til everyone else has had a shot before you turn it over to the band.

 

[Paulabass]

^ I welcome bands. They get three songs. It's not a showcase for them, it's a fun afternoon
of networking for EVERYBODY.

 

[stonetone7]

Beware the bands looking for exposure. We have a once a month blues jam that is almost always a good one but the jam master has had to break a few hearts when a band shows up and wants to play a set. The best way to avoid this is to have a sign up sheet and rotate individuals in the order they signed up. If you want to let bands have a go, wait til everyone else has had a shot before you turn it over to the band.

Yes, forgot all about that. We had bands showing up toward the end of our run as well. We gave them the same time limit as everyone else. Some never returned, but most did because we let them use our drums and amps. Good idea putting them at the end of the list, we just let the signup order reign, and some of the newbie solos and duos got intimidated or whatnot.

 

[FirewalZ]

I to have witness bands coming out to jam night and in the past the host limited them to the same time as everyone else, 3 tunes/15 min. In my area they seemed to come in one of two flavors, the younger/collage aged jam/original bands and the older retirees who have a group. But my plan will be that 1) they get the same time as everyone else and 2) are prioritized after individual, regular jammers. However, you do have to play this by ear and be ready to flex somewhat to keep things rolling, sounding good and keep folks happy.

 

[3Liter]

I to have witness bands coming out to jam night and in the past the host limited them to the same time as everyone else, 3 tunes/15 min. In my area they seemed to come in one of two flavors, the younger/collage aged jam/original bands and the older retirees who have a group. But my plan will be that 1) they get the same time as everyone else and 2) are prioritized after individual, regular jammers. However, you do have to play this by ear and be ready to flex somewhat to keep things rolling, sounding good and keep folks happy.

I don't see the point of this. Two reasons....you get grumpy people that don't want to wait all night for their 15 minutes of "fame" and 2. it lets the solo an unaffiliated jammers get to see what an amateur band is like. The band comes for the stage time, learning how to set up quickly and get their "sound" and deliver on a short timeline. If done correctly they are learning as much as everyone else....though using your backline.


I'm a working guy, but I'm going to an open stage tonight. My buddy plays we me every Monday at my house. He's retired, so he will go sign up early before I can get there. We'll get some stage time and experience playing with a drummer and bass player that are from the house band and not our usual guys.


Some of the conversation is about "sounding good" and some is about building the community. I presume that the bar just wants people in there eating and drinking. They likely don't mind if it's the public or the jammers doing the eating. So don't be too loud and repel any random public, but with the jammers you get a built in audience. I've always assumed that open mic nights are to fill a room on a dead night. If that's a problem on a Friday....yikes.

 

[Koog]

Absolutely on the backline, or you end up with 15 guitar amps. I've never ever supplied instruments tho. Who's would you supply?

Drummers play the kit our guy sets up. They usually bring their own sticks. The guitarist will bring 3 or 4 guitars and is generous enough to make one or more of them available to players. I have both a traditional P and a PJ I don't mind sharing. We all monitor the stage carefully, help players get set up and dial in the sound they want/need. This also gives us a chance to remind them about buttons, belt buckles etc., speed up changeouts, and also monitor stage volume and mix so it does not get out of control.

 

[FirewalZ]

I don't see the point of this. Two reasons....you get grumpy people that don't want to wait all night for their 15 minutes of "fame" and 2. it lets the solo an unaffiliated jammers get to see what an amateur band is like. The band comes for the stage time, learning how to set up quickly and get their "sound" and deliver on a short timeline. If done correctly they are learning as much as everyone else....though using your backline.


I'm a working guy, but I'm going to an open stage tonight. My buddy plays we me every Monday at my house. He's retired, so he will go sign up early before I can get there. We'll get some stage time and experience playing with a drummer and bass player that are from the house band and not our usual guys.


Some of the conversation is about "sounding good" and some is about building the community. I presume that the bar just wants people in there eating and drinking. They likely don't mind if it's the public or the jammers doing the eating. So don't be too loud and repel any random public, but with the jammers you get a built in audience. I've always assumed that open mic nights are to fill a room on a dead night. If that's a problem on a Friday....yikes.

I guess my point was that I don't mind a full band getting up and doing tunes, but they should have no more or no less time than everyone else. I just didn't want a band showing up and hogging everyone's time and I also agree its balancing out sounding good and building a community. As for Friday's, yes Ive tried to communicate the same message to the venue....

 

[3Liter]

After you get set up a bit, you could have bands be the "featured act". My old band did this. We played for 30 minutes with a firm cut off by the host. I really worked with the other hacks in my band to show up and get to business as quick as possible (I'd attended this OM many times and set this up for us).

Afterwards we joked amongst ourselves that if we signed up as 5 individuals we could each have had 15 minutes and 4 guests and had 1:15 of time.

 

[FirewalZ]

After you get set up a bit, you could have bands be the "featured act". My old band did this. We played for 30 minutes with a firm cut off by the host. I really worked with the other hacks in my band to show up and get to business as quick as possible (I'd attended this OM many times and set this up for us).

Afterwards we joked amongst ourselves that if we signed up as 5 individuals we could each have had 15 minutes and 4 guests and had 1:15 of time.

hmmm....not a bad idea...or a collection of regulars that end out sounding/playing well together could also become a "regular thing".

 

[Koog]

We have had several bands form as a result of playing together at our jam session. It has been a good way for players to develop contacts and find synergy.

 

[3Liter]

We have had several bands form as a result of playing together at our jam session. It has been a good way for players to develop contacts and find synergy.

We had similar at one I went to a bunch. They liked to play later than I did...they'd on late and stay late. They formed a band of it. Now, one of the guys was a bit dickish and would only play with some people so there'd be a drummer up there and he'd dismiss him for "his guy". Anyhow they formed a band. This host didn't have the pimp hand that the other guy that cut us off did. He was more casual about everything. Different strokes...