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So You Went To An "Open" Jam.......
- Thread starter ZenG
- Start date
You mean your wife and 3 guys? I can't say I'd like those odds.
I went through a season of attending them. all except for one-sucked.
I would accompany people at times as a sideman and it was embarrassing and painful at times.
I did go to one packed well-known blues jam and it was so good and tight that all I did was watch; first time I didn't pull out my bass. the house bassist was a gal playing a G&L 2500 and she was deadly on it and I wasn't about to screw with their mojo.
I would accompany people at times as a sideman and it was embarrassing and painful at times.
I did go to one packed well-known blues jam and it was so good and tight that all I did was watch; first time I didn't pull out my bass. the house bassist was a gal playing a G&L 2500 and she was deadly on it and I wasn't about to screw with their mojo.
Hello everybody, this is my first post.
Back when I was living in South Florida, I used to go to various blues jams at Cactus Catina.
It starts out fine and fun, then egos get big and the whole thing turns into a head cutting contest.
The best thing to do is to have a couple of beers and enjoy the show.
Mostly the novice players go on first, then the better players and pros who play in local bands, then the "nobody's better than me" types.
On a good night, it can be a experience so down a few more beers and enjoy the freakshow when the clones/wannabes enter the room.
The last one I went to had a shirtless tattooed guy with long blond hair brandishing a Epiphone Firebird who whooped and yelled while he played, then you had another guy who wore a hat and a bunch of scarves who played out-of-tune versions of "Riviera Paradise" and "Pride and Joy" on a Squire Strat. When things get out of hand with the bad players, the man who runs the blues jams pulls the plug and sends them off the stage, He sent Johnny and Stevie packing after 2 songs each. My favorite was this yuppie who came in with a black Armani suit and clip-on ponytail. This guy had a fancy inlaid PRS with dragons on the body and fretboard, a $8000 axe. This guy spent most of the night opening up the case to oohs and aahs to everybody in the place. When it was his turn to shine, he stood there playing open G, C, and D chords not even playing in key with the people on stage, after one song he got the boot. A bunch of kids got up there playing a metal version of "Crossroads", in the process broke both heads on the bass drum. The drummer's $40.00 ported front head was ripped from top to bottom, the beater broke though batter head. The best part was the guys that show up with vintage Strats and Les Pauls who go there to humiliate the other players when it breaks into a full-on head cutting contest, the egos take over.
The only ones who act normal during all of this are the bassists.
Blues jams are fun to meet other musicians in the area, and to get your jollies off on stage, and impress the ladies
Back when I was living in South Florida, I used to go to various blues jams at Cactus Catina.
It starts out fine and fun, then egos get big and the whole thing turns into a head cutting contest.
The best thing to do is to have a couple of beers and enjoy the show.
Mostly the novice players go on first, then the better players and pros who play in local bands, then the "nobody's better than me" types.
On a good night, it can be a experience so down a few more beers and enjoy the freakshow when the clones/wannabes enter the room.
The last one I went to had a shirtless tattooed guy with long blond hair brandishing a Epiphone Firebird who whooped and yelled while he played, then you had another guy who wore a hat and a bunch of scarves who played out-of-tune versions of "Riviera Paradise" and "Pride and Joy" on a Squire Strat. When things get out of hand with the bad players, the man who runs the blues jams pulls the plug and sends them off the stage, He sent Johnny and Stevie packing after 2 songs each. My favorite was this yuppie who came in with a black Armani suit and clip-on ponytail. This guy had a fancy inlaid PRS with dragons on the body and fretboard, a $8000 axe. This guy spent most of the night opening up the case to oohs and aahs to everybody in the place. When it was his turn to shine, he stood there playing open G, C, and D chords not even playing in key with the people on stage, after one song he got the boot. A bunch of kids got up there playing a metal version of "Crossroads", in the process broke both heads on the bass drum. The drummer's $40.00 ported front head was ripped from top to bottom, the beater broke though batter head. The best part was the guys that show up with vintage Strats and Les Pauls who go there to humiliate the other players when it breaks into a full-on head cutting contest, the egos take over.
The only ones who act normal during all of this are the bassists.
Blues jams are fun to meet other musicians in the area, and to get your jollies off on stage, and impress the ladies
- Oct 7, 2000
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I think the first page of this thread is stupid so I did read any further. People calling people stupid for thinking people at jams are stupid, and then people stupidly defending each other for stupid reasons that I must be too stupid to understand. Stupid stuff.
There is a recording studio/music lesson school about 2 miles from me. They teach bass and guitar amongst other instruments and the studio is world-class.
They had "open" jams there attended by the teachers, great musicians and the aspiring wannabees.
They shut it down because:- players with very limited skills would show up and insist they be included even though they could play almost nothing.
They almost had an altercation one night when a guitar shredder was asked to leave because he couldn't do anything except shred a couple of riffs. He got mighty upset when shown the door.
They came up with another idea:- get the jammers together and pick one song for everybody to work on. Not really a "jam" if you're there methodically teaching a bunch of people how to play one song.
Anyway......that idea didn't fly and since then there's been no more activity.
About 20 miles from me is a pub that has open jams regularly. However they are quite clear that that it will be Blues only. I don't mind Blues at all but don't want to be doing that on a regular basis.
My Craigslist notion was :- Look for maybe two other guys besides myself ( I'd be bass, plus maybe an acoustic guitar player and a keys player) working on complete reworks of certain covers with an easygoing feel. Not looking for a rock band.
They had "open" jams there attended by the teachers, great musicians and the aspiring wannabees.
They shut it down because:- players with very limited skills would show up and insist they be included even though they could play almost nothing.
They almost had an altercation one night when a guitar shredder was asked to leave because he couldn't do anything except shred a couple of riffs. He got mighty upset when shown the door.
They came up with another idea:- get the jammers together and pick one song for everybody to work on. Not really a "jam" if you're there methodically teaching a bunch of people how to play one song.
Anyway......that idea didn't fly and since then there's been no more activity.
About 20 miles from me is a pub that has open jams regularly. However they are quite clear that that it will be Blues only. I don't mind Blues at all but don't want to be doing that on a regular basis.
My Craigslist notion was :- Look for maybe two other guys besides myself ( I'd be bass, plus maybe an acoustic guitar player and a keys player) working on complete reworks of certain covers with an easygoing feel. Not looking for a rock band.
it's cool one of them is a saxophonist so you know he can really blo*POST CENSORED*
I'm at a stage of my life where, for several reasons, I don't want to commit to a band. Nevertheless, I love making noise with other musicians and improving my skills. Jams are the ticket. They're typically on a week night, and are hosted at a local mom-n-pop bar.
Bar owners don't host jams out of the goodness of their hearts. They're doing it to boost revenue, and it's most likely on what's typically a slow night. If I go, I make plans to arrive early and hungry. I have a decent bar-food meal and leave a generous tip to the staff. If I'm not hungry, I order club soda or a brew, but leave the same tip had I eaten. The jam will have a better chance of survival if more people would do the same, and the money goes directly into the local economy.
Each jam I regularly attend has a different vibe. Some are well structured, others are more laid back and loose. Some are attended or hosted by well-known local and national talent. One member of a host band is Berklee trained. So just chatting with these musicians is inspiring, and you wouldn't as comfortably get that opportunity in any other setting.
After attending several times, you'll know who of the regulars you enjoy playing with. A sensitive host will try to make that happen if it's your wish. There will be occasional train wrecks, but when things click and folks in the next room leave their seats to see who's playing, it's a great feeling.
Still, there are issues. What do I say to someone who asks me to play a set with them, after I've already played, and others are waiting for a turn? How do I deal with being assigned to a set with a musician I would otherwise enjoy playing with, but who refuses to keep his volume under control? How do I tell the 'prima donna' I don't wish to play with him...without becoming one myself?
Like others are suggesting, I would find some local jams and go to the ones which offer the style of music you enjoy. You can decide to just attend the jam initially, or bring your instrument. No one will expect you to nail any song, or make any commitment to come back. After all, it's just a jam.
Find one (or more) you like and go. Expand your musical vocabulary. Jot down the names of the tunes being played and learn the ones you like. Have a bit of fun.
Bar owners don't host jams out of the goodness of their hearts. They're doing it to boost revenue, and it's most likely on what's typically a slow night. If I go, I make plans to arrive early and hungry. I have a decent bar-food meal and leave a generous tip to the staff. If I'm not hungry, I order club soda or a brew, but leave the same tip had I eaten. The jam will have a better chance of survival if more people would do the same, and the money goes directly into the local economy.
Each jam I regularly attend has a different vibe. Some are well structured, others are more laid back and loose. Some are attended or hosted by well-known local and national talent. One member of a host band is Berklee trained. So just chatting with these musicians is inspiring, and you wouldn't as comfortably get that opportunity in any other setting.
After attending several times, you'll know who of the regulars you enjoy playing with. A sensitive host will try to make that happen if it's your wish. There will be occasional train wrecks, but when things click and folks in the next room leave their seats to see who's playing, it's a great feeling.
Still, there are issues. What do I say to someone who asks me to play a set with them, after I've already played, and others are waiting for a turn? How do I deal with being assigned to a set with a musician I would otherwise enjoy playing with, but who refuses to keep his volume under control? How do I tell the 'prima donna' I don't wish to play with him...without becoming one myself?
Like others are suggesting, I would find some local jams and go to the ones which offer the style of music you enjoy. You can decide to just attend the jam initially, or bring your instrument. No one will expect you to nail any song, or make any commitment to come back. After all, it's just a jam.
Find one (or more) you like and go. Expand your musical vocabulary. Jot down the names of the tunes being played and learn the ones you like. Have a bit of fun.
That's the same reason why the jams at Cactus Cantina were shut down.
Once the pros get up there and jam, the clowns all come out play open chords like they are at a hootenanny and can't follow a simple blues progression. The guy who ran the jam used to rip his hair out when 6 of them got up there strumming out of tune with each other, it was quite a cacophony. A cellist even showed up to jam, at least she knew a I-IV-V progression. Instead of the showoff shredder, we had these guys who would show up with vintage Strats and LP's just to humiliate the other players. The guy who ran the jams let them hang since they were his buds.
The owners of Cactus put a end to it and went the pseudo jazz route.
The jams at Club M were more civilized but didn't last.
The guy who ran the jams there called out the song, if you didn't know it, you couldn't play.
That's how you weed out the musicians from the wannabes.
