Jam Etiquette Question

[Passinwind]

Is there a rule of thumb about when the house bass player should sit down and let the jam session attendees play?

Example last night. I was passing through town and there was a Jam session from 8 to 11 pm. Almost 10 pm and the house player was still on stage and there were 3 bass players on the list waiting to play The furniture had been changed out several times already.

IME, you'd have to ask whoever runs the specific jam. I've played and/or run countless open mikes and open or closed (invitational) jams and no two ever had exactly the same expectations. One I played last year had ten performer slots and nine bass players, with one act just being solo guitar. There's another one where the house bassist will never stand down unless you go ask her face to face to do so. FWIW, at the ones I've run I was perfectly happy to never play a note all night as long as the players and the crowd were having a good time.

 

[IamGroot]

IME, you'd have to ask whoever runs the specific jam. I've played and/or run countless open mikes and open or closed (invitational) jams and no two ever had exactly the same expectations. One I played last year had ten performer slots and nine bass players, with one act just being solo guitar. There's another one where the house bassist will never stand down unless you go ask her face to face to do so. FWIW, at the ones I've run I was perfectly happy to never play a note all night as long as the players and the crowd were having a good time.

I guess that's why they have those Review options on the internet for clubs.

"Jam night bass player is a richard and won't let other jammers get on stage. Go somewhere else if you are a bassist looking to JAM."