Suffering Heath
60 posts
May 18, 2014
3:25 AM
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Mornin' Peeps -
I'm wondering what y'all bring to open blues jams - ESPECIALLY when you don't know lots of people there.
Do you bring your own amp?
Do you hope to just plug into someone else's amp?
How many tunes do you realistically expect you play?
Keep doin' the thing,
Heath
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http://www.thebluesprofessors.com
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rockmonkeyguitars
83 posts
May 18, 2014
3:43 AM
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I bring a handful of harps
1 mic
2 mic leads
1 small, home made, battery operated amp
It all fits into a reusable grocery bag so it's not a lot to carry around.
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Frank
4289 posts
May 18, 2014
6:27 AM
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I'll wear a double breasted harmonica belt that holds 32 harmonicas which includes 12 chromatics...I'll also proudly tote in a harp king 6/10 and hook it to a bassman which I use in front of me for monitor needs - of course with that set up I expect to play no less then 10 songs, 5 of which will be instrumentals. And mind you- I make sure I'm the best dressed harper with in 5 city blocks. So that's what works for me :)
Okay, okay - enough BS, hahahahahahahahahahahaha...
In those situations when your a stranger of sorts --- cozy up to the other harp player/s and break the ice - with a line like..."Bet I can play harp better then you" (kidding again) but you knew that? :)...
Seriously though, just introduce yourself to the harp players there and talk shop - they'll ask you did you bring your harps and are you going to jam, from there just mind your p's and q's and have fun...
If no harpers are there, then listen to some songs and figure out which musician you find particularly interesting and when you get a chance go say hi, let em know what you enjoyed about their playing..,eventually let him or her know you play harp and that usually will lead into finding your way to the stage at some point.
Sure you can also walk in and immediately find the jam leader and sign-up too... what ever you do, enjoy the atmosphere, the music, the people and the rest will unfold and take care of it self naturally :)
You don't need to bring an amp, unless you want too...
A mic can come in handy...
How many tunes to do...1 to 3
I'll bring an "A" harp, I'm lazy as hell and could careless if I play, I'm a farmer... not a musician :)
Last Edited by Frank on May 18, 2014 6:47 AM
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Kingley
3580 posts
May 18, 2014
7:17 AM
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I'd just take six or seven harps and play off whatever mic they have available. Sometimes I'll take an SM57 and a lead with me just in case. In those scenarios an easy set up is the best way forward. Also if they ask me how I'd like the PA channel setting I just say…. "However you like. As long as people can hear it that's all that matters". It's important to not be a pain in the backside or too have an inflated ego at these kind of things. That will get you much, much further along with folk and get you invited back up again.
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Barley Nectar
394 posts
May 18, 2014
7:30 AM
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I always take the harp case and an amp that suits the jam. Cords, mics and a delay pedal are in the case. If I'v never been there usually 15-20 W amp. Usually get at least two songs. Most jams open up later in the evening and thing start to cook. If your a good cook, you'll play a lot.
I found that the best initial representation of your ability's at a new jam is a well worn harp case. It is like a calling card. Works for me...BN AKA Goose
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jbone
1620 posts
May 18, 2014
3:00 PM
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Usually just some harps. If I do take a sm57 and I'm asked, I look for the highs to be cut, lows, up some, and add effects on the channel and that's it. Mostly though I will just play either through the house harp rig or the vocal mic.
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa7La7yYYeE
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jnorem
211 posts
May 18, 2014
3:39 PM
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I guess I would take my instrument case that also holds my microphone and cable, and my amplifier.
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Call me J
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CarlA
504 posts
May 18, 2014
3:40 PM
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EARPLUGS!!!!!!
It doesn't matter what you bring to most jams,as you will most likely not be able to hear yourself either way. Just pray you still have your hearing left the next morning!
Last Edited by CarlA on May 18, 2014 3:41 PM
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The Iceman
1663 posts
May 18, 2014
3:47 PM
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I bring my own harmonica mic, long high impedance cable, short high impedance cable, old digital echo unit, small extension cord and hi/lo adapter.
I plug digital echo into extension cord and plug into A/C. Plug long cable into my mic and plug into digital echo. Plug short cable into output of digital echo, plug into hi/lo adapter and unplug one stage mic, attaching cable to hi/lo adapter.
Then tell sound man to roll down highs for that stage mic input and remove all effects. Get quick sound check with my echo unit volume output set half/way until I can hear the harmonica. This gives me stage control of my sound through this volume control on the echo unit, as many jam scenarios have creeping volume during the tunes.
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The Iceman
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ridge
507 posts
May 18, 2014
5:36 PM
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I bring other people, money and a good attitude. The rest takes care of itself.
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Ridge's YouTube
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STME58
824 posts
May 18, 2014
5:57 PM
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I bring a briefcase with a full set of major keys and a few minor, an Ultimate 58 and cable, and my lousy Epiphone amp I hope I don't have to use. I have a trombone in my car in case there are too many harp players.
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MN
316 posts
May 19, 2014
4:51 AM
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If I'm new to the jam, I just take harps and an SM57 and xlr cord, plus a lo-to-hi-z impedance converter (in case I end up plugging into a house amp instead of the board). I might also take my Lone Wolf Harp Break loaded with a fresh battery.
If I know the jam and it makes sense to do so, I'll bring my own amp and my BlowsMeAway Productions wood bullet or Ultimate 545S.
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Rhartt1234
127 posts
May 19, 2014
5:18 AM
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Depending on the size of the room I'll bring my Bassman or my Pro Junior, my harp case and a brushed aluminum JT-30 since there's no paint to chip when I let some fonzanoon borrow my mic and he drops it.
I also bring a guitar. I suck, but I'm still better than most guitar players at Blues jams.
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GamblersHand
504 posts
May 19, 2014
6:25 AM
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After struggling with pa's and feedback-prone amps the last few years I've taken my Marble Max along to jams. Probably I'm just spoiled and want to get "my" sound. Seems to do the trick, about half the time it gets mic'ed to the p.a.
Plus 7 or so harps, mic. Occasionally I bring a delay pedal as well.
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Lonesome Harpman
154 posts
May 19, 2014
7:12 AM
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Going to a new place? Of course bring Amp,Mics,and harps. I also bring a duffle bag full of stuff that I might need,if not,I leave it in my car, no harm right? If you have equipment,try and be prepared. Don't count on the jam host to hold your hand, help the host make it right for. Don't touch their stuff without asking first. Showing up completely needy might not be a good way to break in to a new jam. Other stuff, I have a short and a long mic cable xlr, a short and long 1/4 to 1/4 cable. A flash light. The most used thing in my bag at jams is an extension cord and a power strip. You may have to unplug someone, have the courstesy to offer a spot on your power strip to them. MARK YOUR STUFF, do something like wrapping colored electrical tape and customize your stuff so everyone knows its yours. Gear heads will love you even if you can't play anything but a four draw.
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Littoral
1078 posts
May 19, 2014
7:47 AM
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Scope it out, people, gear, go slow, be nice. The head hunter crap really irritates me but I'm also competitive as hell so I work really hard to check myself. I love the idea of being able to set up in less than 30 seconds so if I don't know much already I'll bring everything I could need and prefer to use my own amp but expect to use my ultimate 57. What actually happens may just be a quick switch of the an existing vocal mic with the 57 or I'll plug into a board -in either case I'd try to add my Lone Wolf Octave (which I'd do quickly with the right cords, a lo-to-hi-z impedance converter and/ a DI as needed). Pedal has a fresh battery. Then I'll have a great time, under play until its my turn and then take no prisoners. 1-3 songs & get off the stage.
Last Edited by Littoral on May 19, 2014 11:04 AM
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harmonicanick
2162 posts
May 19, 2014
7:59 AM
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Jams are social occasions, so I too bring money, friends and enhancement
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Greg Heumann
2725 posts
May 19, 2014
8:16 AM
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All good advice above. Every jam is different and it helps to get a feel for how it is run and who is in charge. Going once or twice without the expectation of playing might help. If you DO need to supply your own amp, get your mic and cable out (and pedals if you use them), get them all out and connected and stash them in the back of the amp before you go up so you aren't the guy delaying the start of the song while you set up. And more importantly do NOT spend 5 minutes tweaking the settings on your amp and pedals after you're up there. Don't play a bunch before the 1st tune. Know your settings. Turn it on, give a quick toot to make sure it is working. Adjust the volume after you start to play with the band if necessary.
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***************************************************
/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
Bluestate on iTunes
Last Edited by Greg Heumann on May 19, 2014 8:17 AM
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Tuckster
1408 posts
May 19, 2014
8:31 AM
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I usually just bring my harps and a good attitude. For 3 songs,there's no sense bringing an amp and wasting time setting up. They usually want you to be ready to go without a lot of f**king around. Unless there is a harp specific amp,I'm going to hear myself better through a vocal mic into the PA. I have started to take along a 57 and cable because they sometimes only have 1 mic for vocals.
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MN
317 posts
May 19, 2014
10:52 AM
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Lonesome Harpman wrote: "Going to a new place? Of course bring Amp,Mics,and harps. I also bring a duffle bag full of stuff that I might need,if not,I leave it in my car, no harm right? If you have equipment,try and be prepared. ..."
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This is good advice if you're driving to the jam. I usually bring a more minimal arsenal since I live in a city and take public transportation to 99 percent of my gigs (a big reason why my amp of choice is a Marble Max).
A lot of guys mentioned pedals ..... I've come across some blues jams with a "no pedals" rule. The idea is to keep everything as simple as possible so as to minimize down time, and lessen the risk of technical hiccups. Point is, bring everything you're comfortable carrying (be it on the bus, or in your car), but be prepared to go with the flow.
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A440
155 posts
May 19, 2014
1:07 PM
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There is a bi-weekly Open Mic night at a tiny bar in my neighborhood. Different players there each time, and a lot of free beers flowing to anyone who plays. I show up with 3 old reliable Special 20s: A, C, D. I play on one of the two vocal mics that are set up (SM 58s). I love the simplicity and spontenaity of it all.
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Mighty Slim
11 posts
May 20, 2014
1:16 PM
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Here is a very small thing I haven't seen mentioned above but which is sometimes handy at jams, at least for me. I have a note card taped to the inside top of my harp case with a list of about 12 tune titles (and their key) I can sing, which I find handy when I am asked to sing/name the next tune/lead the band late into the jam, and a lot of tunes have already been played. Having the list there to look at reduces the time it takes to suggest something that would otherwise be required if I have to search my brain, which is subject to frequent failures in recall under pressure. I hate when the jam comes to a halt because no one can think of the name of a song to play that hasn't been done earlier in the night. Having a list as a crutch helps me.
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Diggsblues
1334 posts
May 20, 2014
1:40 PM
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I bring a Mic, octave pedal, two 2016s and full set of GMs and special 20s. I play a lot through the PA and
it sounds kinda like this.
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Joe_L
2476 posts
May 20, 2014
6:06 PM
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Do you bring your own amp?
Only if I know that I want to stay for the duration of the evening. I'm the type of person who will let others use my equipment. I tend to bring an amp, if I know the host and expect to hang for a couple of hours.
I am completely content playing through a vocal mic. Quite often, it is just me and my harps. I would also prefer to lead the band, unless someone else has more experience.
Do you hope to just plug into someone else's amp?
If someone else is willing to let me use their equipment, I use it. It's a great way to try out gear.
How many tunes do you realistically expect you play?
This depends on the number of people waiting around and the host. Two or three is customary. I like to get in and get out. It don't like to overstay my welcome. If they want me to play more, I will do it.
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The Blues Photo Gallery
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clyde
372 posts
May 21, 2014
6:11 AM
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Diggs
Dig that tone
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dougharps
617 posts
May 21, 2014
6:37 AM
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If it is an open jam playing just 2 or 3 songs I just bring a full set of harps (and a mic and XLR cable just in case). No muss, no fuss, get up and play and sing.
If I have a standing invitation to sit in as a sideman on some songs and the band has told me they prefer me to bring an amp, I will bring an amp.
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Doug S.
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