So You Went To An "Open" Jam.......

[ZenG]

My musical undertakings consist of playing keys and bass, learning covers, writing and recording my own stuff (or reworkings of covers), singing, all done at home.
I have plenty of recordings of famous groups that I fire up and sub as the bass man.

No problem.....all good.

Lately I've been contemplating putting an ad in Craigslist to get together with some older dudes for informal playing and jamming etc. just for the hell of it.....

There are also some "open" jams not too far from me. Pub variety mostly.

When I think "open" jam I envision a bunch of people awkwardly fumbling through shopworn blues tracks,
mainly because everybody's likes are different and nobody knows anybody else's songs....

I've never participated in one.

I'd be interested in hearing your results from attending "open" jams......

 

[hdracer]

Why don't you go to some instead of making stupid assumptions?
The ones I attend are run by some of the best musicians in town.
You will have a much better chance of finding people to play with at a open jam than CL

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Obviously your neighborhood will have the most influence on how the open jam plays out. Every venue is different.

 

[two fingers]

I've been on both ends. I have attended many, and was the house bass player for one for several years.

They are great places to network. Most have mostly positive people cheering each other on.

Stop by. I think you will meet some like-minded people to jam with.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Only way to know, is to go, and each one is different. Not only by location but also by night.
It matters who is hosting the jam. I have been to metal jams, blues jams, country jms, good ones, bad ones. I have shown up and been the only bass player, and consequently spent 3 hours flying by the seat of my pants.
So the answer to your question @ZenG ....

Is maybe, it depends, maybe not, it depends


If you are in a working band, it's a great way to network, and add to your fan base ETC....

take a chance, go hang.

 

[hdracer]

You explained nothing, Mr. Stupid.

You were the one that assumed everyone attending a jam was a fumbling hack.
Get out of your basement and show everyone how much better you are than everyone else.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

You explained nothing, Mr. Stupid.

Not exactly Zen Mr. Preconceived notion.
Positive actions, attitude, and friendliness go a long ways.... Blues in "A" can be fun give it a try... or were you looking for creative free-form jazz improvisation?

 

[pcake]

every open jam i've seen is different, but my favorite for years was at harvelle's in santa monica, hosted by larry johnson and the new breed, as i recall. a friend took me the first time - he sang and played blues harmonica - and almost everyone who played sounded like a pro (some were) who had been playing together for years, probably because they were experienced and usually played standards or at least well known tunes. there were a couple intermediate players, but most just rocked every time i went. i always had a great time, and sometimes gary busey would show up, play a little harmonica, then sit down and look embarrassed.

i've been to others, and never seen that awkwardness happen you're concerned about. i used to play guitar at some, it was fun and i met some cool players i knew for years.

go to a few without an instrument just to get a feel for them and see which has a vibe that suits you.

 

[Chris 'Wighat' Jordan]

OP, there are plenty of lame jam sessions - often lame in the exact way you describe. There are good ones, too.

My band hosts one every Monday night. All three of us are professional musicians that can play any type of music. We get there early and hang-out. During this time we greet any early-bird jammers. We start the jam off with three songs and then get the first jammer up. You can play by yourself or have the band back you. Sometimes they bring charts for the difficult, obscure or original stuff.

We keep an eye-out for jammers all night and greet each one personally and talk through what they might want to do. This is happening in a big time tourist spot so we get folks from all over. Sometimes whole bands show up. One drummer we use for subs sometimes also does shows with Charlie Robinson and brought his guitarist and bass player. Those guys tore it up. For some weeks now a friend and veteran pro has been there all night with his B-3 and Leslie. Last week we had a boogie-woogie guy show up and wail on that same organ. I'll use the jam to get comfortable singing a song that's not ready for prime time, etc.

Our jam is fun for everyone including the audience but it takes gracious, attentive and flexible hosts: that's what brings in the jammers.

 

[Hevy T]

I have to admit I am tired of going to open jams as a non singing bass player. You are at the whim of the guitarists songs. If you try and get them to play a song that they don't know they will shun it. However you MUST play the stuff that they know!!!

I play rock and blues rock, sorry I don't do country but they try and make me though I have seen and played with the same guys at the same jam at different times and we do hardish rock and blues!!!

 

[hsech]

You explained nothing, Mr. Stupid.

That was a rude response to someone trying to help you.

 

[Chris 'Wighat' Jordan]

That was a rude response to someone trying to help you.

It was actually a tongue-in-cheek response to someone else's rudeness.

 

[dreamadream99]

To the OP, I didn't think any of your assumptions were stupid, and am shocked at the meanness of the second post.

Open jams are tough on bass players. Everyone else can be a sideman--fill in where they want. Bassists have to provide the foundation for the entire song. Often you are called upon to fake a tune you've never heard.

My advice is go as a spectator a few times. You'll become aware of the other players that fit your style and repertoire. Then when you're ready, bring your instrument, and try to go up when they do.

 

[twinjet]

That was a rude response to someone trying to help you.

+1

Just go to the jams and quit wondering about what could be. I don't know of anyone who succeeded by only dreaming. Gotta take action.

 

[steelbed45]

You'd be spot on with your assumption where I'm at. I was looking at the local open jam as an opportunity to network. The first time I went, I noted that I was the only player not in a band. I went back 5 times, (either I was really hopeful or just bored,) with the same results. What was the point? I already know how to play "Mary Had a Little Lamb". I guess the one interesting thing was playing with drummers with off senses of time or who chose "out of the box" tempos...you can't bedroom practice for that.

I did what you were thinking of. I simply placed a CL ad and found some older guys to jam with once a week. It took me going through a frustrating process to get there, though. Good luck in meeting your goals.

 

[Max Blasto]

OP: I recommend that you go to the local Open Jam/Mic and check it out. Have a nice night, buy a couple of beers, and take it in. And then do that the following week and the week after. So, at least three. Now you have a feel for what's going on. On the second or third visit, introduce yourself to the MC. He'll tell you how his sign up sheet or call up process works. Tell him what you play. If after three visits, you think you can have a good time up on stage, let him know that you'll like to give it a go. If after three visits, you think it's a clownshow, go home and write a new song about it. But if you keep going up there, you'll develop a rapport with people then things get fun.

I like open jams because it's a kind of crap shoot for musical experience. Some times you get to be with Kim and sometimes you wind up with Khloe. But if you like playing on the fly, or if you suck at it and want to get better, this is a great way to do it. At worst, you practiced. If you happen to wind up on stage with some serious bangers, you go home that night realizing that something totally cool just happened and everyone in the room is better for having heard it. That's live music.

I will say this: As has been mentioned upstream, if you don't sing, you don't call the tune. Most open jams hear the term "bass player" and figure you're there to follow. Most of the time, if someone wants to play a song, they're singing it. If you can sing, tell the others the changes and show the drummer the rhythm, and they have to follow you. Please don't expect it to sound like your home demos. It won't . This is why blues jams are the most popular format for most open jams: keep it simple enough for 5 random guys to groove together on. "Siberian Khatru" won't work in this environment. If you can't sing, play the bass to whatever is going on.

But most importantly, please keep your mind open. It's an "open" jam, not a "you guys are bozos" jam. Nothing's worse than hearing some guy who thinks he's the izzshizzle tank in a local pub because he thought he was a rock star and didn't bother to get to know the other cats on the scene.

 

[okcrum]

One way you get invited to the closed jams is to go the the right open jams...check them out first.

 

[bigboy_78]

If you go to jam hoping to play something ground-breaking, you're tripping. Mostly you end up providing a backup for singer/guitar dude, a flailing along with singer/songwriter girl. They are a great place to meet other musicians though. I don't play much at jams anymore, the regulars know I'm there and that I can play if needed, but I mostly go to socialise and talk crap about gear purchases.

 

[Neon Blues]

I love Open Jams. I find they really develop your range and improvisation. Couldn't think of a better way to develop your playing and improve your ability to gel with other players.

Of course, I play a lot of Blues Jams but used tom play as the only bass player at an Open Jam in Darwin, Australia which ranged from Blues to Funk to Jazz and had some really amazing musos.

Go for it!

 

[SteveCS]

Agree with everything @Max Blasto said above.

The free-for-all sessions are very much a crap-shoot, often descending into chaos. Some are better organised, with slots and a 'bill' - turn up by 7:15 and you get on the bill. Turn up after 7:30 you might get lucky.

The one I go to regularly (monthly) is well organised. There is good variety (not just blues/12-bar) with some very talented musicians turning up to play a mix of covers and originals. Although I go with a couple of friends and we have some rehearsed material, I usually sit in for the whole session. Some tunes I know well, some I know well enough to busk/improvise/play by ear, for those I don't know my ear is good enough to be able to have something in mind by the time the second verse comes around or occasionally I get handed a lead sheet. If not, I just sit it out and it doesn't matter. I've been asked back and often get compliments from both the players and audience for my playing, more so when they realise that most of it is improvised. I have also been asked to work with one of the published regulars on a couple of tracks in November.

Chaotic or organised, these sessions can be a really good way to hone your chops without too much pressure, meet some new talent, put yourself out there and have a good laugh at the same time. I would recommend doing it at least once.