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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > Tips for running a jam?
Tips for running a jam?
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SuperBee
3958 posts
Aug 02, 2016
6:55 AM
My local club runs a monthly gig with time for jamming in the second set.
I'd like to manage this a bit better than currently.
The deal is that a band plays the first and 3rd set.
The jam is a bit potluck. Tonight it was kinda great because a young guitarist turned up. He didn't know anyone, and we had no other jammers so I asked the drummer and bass player from the band to play a few numbers with him. Fortunately he was a really good player, and it went down extremely well.
But that was just lucky. Other times it's abysmal and people leave during the jam, which is miserable for the venue and the band, not to mention the jammers.
I'm thinking it would be good to manage the jam more actively so that the chance of something hideous is avoided, while still giving an opportunity for unknown/visiting/inexperienced players to participate, and provide some surety to people who would like to participate that they'll be able to, providing they are on time.
I have a couple ideas but I've never really run a jam...tonight was my first...and I expect there are members here who have some experience, so please if you would be so kind as to share your ideas, I would appreciate it.
Thanks.
Kingley
4032 posts
Aug 02, 2016
9:21 AM
Well personally I wouldn't have a band play the first and third set. What I would do is have a 'house' band. The house band would open up the night with maybe three songs. The idea being that people come in and put their names on as blackboard and are then called up in order for say three numbers (depending on attendance levels on any given evening). They would be backed by the house band without exception (unless of course they were an acoustic/solo/duo/band act).
Then the house band soloists would have to accept that when they are backing others, they may or may not get a chance to solo. In the event of not many people turning up the house band could 'stretch their legs' a little and play their own stuff. And/or the attendees at the jam could be given the chance to play say five songs each for example on quiet nights.

Having said all that my personal advice would be not to run the night. If you do then you have to accept that you will be the bad guy in many peoples heads. You simply can't please all the little all the time.

Last Edited by Kingley on Aug 02, 2016 9:21 AM
Littoral
1404 posts
Aug 02, 2016
12:30 PM
One strategy I've seen really work for the club and the patrons is 3 songs and done. People get to play and they each bring people. It can get pretty weird because it maximizes the number of players and some are awful -but that's fun enough for a short time. And then people step up from outta nowhere and are awesome. Ya gotta hold to 3 songs and done. I wouldn't use a house band or drums. Maybe basic percussion -a cajone works well. It shouldn't be a blues jam because you do want the professional opera singer sometimes.
nacoran
9177 posts
Aug 02, 2016
12:47 PM
Most of the open mics I've gone to do the 3 and done rule (or a timer- some performers will try to play Bohemian Rhapsody, Inagaddadavida and Stairway to Heaven) and then sometimes a big jam at the end, either an invite only or a free for all for a couple songs. (Or a couple of each). If it's invite only usually you give people a solo. If it's a free for all you can either give a few select people solos or skip the solo part altogether.

Knowing that they can get back up on stage at the end of the night keeps at least the performers around a bit longer. That's an open mic as opposed to a jam. We went to a lot more open mics than jams since we had a band and a lot of our own songs. A lot of times the hosts close with a number everyone knows pretty well that's easy to stretch out.

I think also, if you've got a couple good players with no ego problems who are willing and able to stay the whole night it's not a bad idea to offer them up as backing for anyone who wants it. One open mic I used to go to had a band that opened, but if anyone wanted a drummer or a guitar player to back them they were happy to go up and back them. When I ran a songwriter's circle things always ran better when I had a good guitar guy willing to play behind people if they needed it.

One situation you have to watch for, if people are getting to call their own songs, is people who bring their friends up. 5 people come in, sign up for three songs each and somehow all of them are up there for 15 songs. On a slow night, if they are all good, that's fine, but if you are having a hard time getting everyone a chance to play that's murder. If they aren't any good it's terrible.

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Rgsccr
439 posts
Aug 02, 2016
1:18 PM
I haven't run a jam myself, but I can tell you about the blues jam I've gone to for the past four years (it's been around quite a bit longer than that). This jam is very successful and draws a big audience (anywhere from 25-maybe 100) to the bar every week, almost all of whom listen to the music and often dance. The formula they use is the jam band plays a full set (50 minutes or so) from 8-9, after which jammers get to play. The jam band is composed of the guy running the jam (Billy Shew) who sings and plays guitar, a harp/trombone player who has been a pro since the 70s and one the best bass players in the Northwest (also a longtime pro). Billy then gets (usually) a top local blues guy on guitar and vocals, and a good drummer. Often the guests players bring a crowd themselves. Starting at nine, jammers get up to play - usually three or four songs unless there aren't many who have signed up. This goes on until 11:30 when the jam band plays a closing set. The jam band members are available to fill in all night depending on what instrument is needed. Over time this jam has developed such a good reputation that not only does it draw a good audience and keep the owner happy, but some of the best musicians in the Puget Sound drop in regularly even they are not the guest for the jam band. Despite the high level of musicianship normally on display, anyone is welcome and encouraged. Most nights the music is so good all night long you would pay to see it. Initially, I was a bit intimidated but quickly found that the others made me comfortable and helped me improve. Of course, the lion's share of the credit for this goes to the host, Billy, who fosters a great atmosphere for both jammers and patrons, and consistently finds great guests. He is friendly to all, fair and generally keeps things under control.

Last Edited by Rgsccr on Aug 02, 2016 1:21 PM
Mighty Slim
58 posts
Aug 03, 2016
8:24 AM
Here is a blog post about running a jam from Brett Littlehales, an excellent harp player who runs a successful blues jam in Washington DC. What he describes is what I am used to seeing.

http://bretlittlehales.blogspot.com/2012/07/i-run-blues-jam.html

THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

I Run a Blues Jam

I run a blues jam at a bar. I play blues music on the harmonica and sing. That's (some of) what I do.

Every Thursday, for the past seven or eight years, I've presided over a blues jam at a venue here in Washington, DC, called the Zoo Bar, across from the National Zoo.

Here's how it works: my band, the Big Boy Little Band, plays an opening set starting at 8:30PM. This set is usually an hour long. During our set, the musicians sign up, list their instruments, let us know if they can sing and if they have to leave early.

Then I go down the list and try to put bands together. Each configuration gets three songs (it used to be four but we'd run out of time) during which they play blues songs, a one- to- three- chord progression, usually structured around the singer's preference. I try to make sure that everyone who signs up, regardless of ability, gets their time onstage.

Does this seem simple? It does to me. There are jams like this all over the country, probably all over the world. But when you're dealing with a cross section of people with widely variant musical ability and opinions, sometimes it gets a little frustrating.

Like the time the the quartet of young (white) gentlemen came in to do hip- hop. When I told them we were a blues jam, the singer offered to "punch [me] out." I declined and told him to sit down or leave. He and his friends left.

Or the country- western singer who called me a name when I said he could only play blues. "Do you know who I am?" I said no, but that there were plenty of blues in country western. "Do a Bob Wills song. Or a Johnny Cash tune," I suggested. "You can use my band."

"Your band is shit," he replied. "Except for your drummer and guitar player. And the bass player." Needless to say, that's pretty much the whole band. Except for me.

Message received.

Of course, there is a plus side. Many new and good bands have formed at the jam. Complete bands may come down and play- the owner usually bar- tends on jam night and they may catch his ear. It's a great place to meet other musicians. I think most everyone would prefer playing live with other musicians than just playing along with recordings in their basements.


Several nationally known blues musicians have stopped by to play- our audience gets to hear them for free prior to their local appearance at a venue that is decidedly not free.


My band gets to play at least one hour a week (at the minimum) and this has obviously helped us tighten up and keep our repertoire somewhat varied. And we make money. Not a lot, but a little, with regularity.

Despite these highpoints, I've put together my own list of guidelines. Now, keep in mind that I mostly keep these to myself. They're for me, for my mental health. No need to outline them on a big board or the sign- up sheet. Frankly, they're really just common sense suggestions..

Having said that, I'm going to list them right here. Anyone from the jam who regularly reads the blog will be able to see them but I'll take that chance!

Here they are:

1. If you want to play, you must sign up.
Don't think that because I know you, or you're there week after week that I'll automatically get you up there. I won't.

2. Bring your instrument. If you're a drummer, bring sticks.
We have had a lot of wear and tear on our amps and microphones for which there is no compensation. Harmonica players in particular have used up at least two of my custom mikes. Plus, I get people asking if they can use my harmonicas! The answer is NO. Bringing your instrument is a sign of professionalism.

3. Play blues.
It's a blues jam. Not a country- western jam, not a rock jam and not a folk jam. It's not freestyle and it's not rap or hip- hop. It's not Reggae. The reason blues works is because of the form: usually 12 bars, a I- IV- V progression and some semi- familiar lyrics that rhyme, and because most forms of western music have some blues within its repertoire. It affords a certain amount of instrumental freedom and everyone gets to be a guitar god for about two choruses.

4. Not everyone gets to play with the house band.
Some do, some don't. If you feel that you have to play with the Big Boy Little Band, it means that someone else who has signed up won't be getting up on that set. Then we get backed up and the jam runs out.

Some jam- meisters do let everyone play with the house band, but they only get one song apiece and are charged $5.00 for the opportunity. I don't want to do this if I can avoid it. Warning: there is some pressure to change this.

5. Be nice.
Don't give me or anyone else a hard time. Questions like, "How come this guy is coming up? I signed up before him!" may be pertinent in restaurants or while waiting at the Whole Foods meat counter, but they are irrelevant to me.

Usually after we play our set, we have a full house of customers and jammers. Part of my job is to keep as many people there as possible, so I try to put up as good a configuration as possible. I also like to give the house drummer a short break as he has just completed an hour set, so there may be a wait.

If you don't want to tip, just say, "No thank you," when someone comes around with the tip bucket. No one wants or needs to hear a lecture on economics from an asshole in a bar.

6. Three songs or 15- 20 minutes, so tune up before you get called onstage.
And try not to decide what to play for 10 minutes.

7. Singers call the tunes.
It behooves you to sing if you want to do a particular song. Instrumentals can just go on and on. Part of my job is to prevent that, and to prevent "train wrecks"- songs that have too many chord changes that not everyone will be able to play. See rules 2 and 5.

The corollary to this is that good drummers and bass players can usually play as many sets as they want. Everyone plays guitar or harp, it seems, but few play drums or bass.

8. Drink or eat something.
It's a bar, for chrissakes!

9. Don't come in after 11PM expecting to play.
The jam starts at 9:30 (or so, depending on whether we have any good drummers signed up) and ends at 12:30 AM. By 11 I've pretty much figured it out. (Unless you're a drummer!)

10. Every once and a while, someone way better than you (or me) is going to stop by.
Don't be angry because you don't get to go up. Just sit back and enjoy them. They're really, really good, or I wouldn't have invited them, and you can learn something from them.
Ten is always a good number for a list, so let's leave it at that. There are a few more things, such as if I think you haven't had enough playing time I'll try and make it up in subsequent weeks, or if I think you sound particularly good that night, I'll try and bring you up with the Big Boy Little Band at the end of the night, but, mostly, I think that covers it.
SuperBee
3971 posts
Aug 05, 2016
2:40 PM
Thanks everyone. There's some great info in each of those posts, and plenty to consider. Much appreciated.
hvyj
3094 posts
Aug 08, 2016
9:30 AM
This is easier said than done since it assumes familiarity with the participants. But try to put together combinations that work. Don't put a weak bass player with a weak drummer, for example. If there's a drummer who listens to other instruments for "one" make sure the guitarist and bass player who go up with him have strong time or you'll have a train wreck. Also if you have a real good player, don't be afraid to let him stay up for more than 3 tunes and back up others. He'll be more likely to come back. FWIW
garry
660 posts
Aug 10, 2016
7:12 PM
There is a special place in Heaven for guys who run jams and open mics. It is such a gift to all those musicians out there who may not be in a band, but *need* to play. Bless you all for everything you do for your musical community.

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