Jam Session Sources

Subject: Jam Session Sources
From: Steve in Wisconsin
Date: 21 Aug 97 - 07:50 PM

Hi all-

We have been running a new folk/acoustic music society and hold monthly jams/open mics. The open mics do quite well. We are always surprised at the new talent that keeps showing up (we've been at this for nine months).

Our problem is the jam sessions. We end up with 25 people in a circle playing only bluegrass tunes (because of the simple chord structure-nothing against bluegrass) and it's very hard to hear lead breaks (if there are any). Singers are shy.

Any ideas on how to run a more effective jam? The "Rise-up Singing" book that I read about in another post seems like a good idea. Any other ideas for sources of music?

Thanks!

Acoustically,

Steve

Subject: RE: Jam Session Sources
From: Barry Finn
Date: 22 Aug 97 - 04:39 PM

If you have room, put those that use Rise Up Singing in the root cellar (ok I'm just teasing). The best I've seen usually start off with everyone, with or without topics & then other rooms are used by those of various skills & levels, leaving the kitchen for group chorus singing & late night die hards, if it's a party, it's fun & will last & be attractive. These are only hints, if it's going to be a seminar or an education, once those that came to learn, have satisfied themselves, they will go on to seek out what no man has seen before. Good Luck Barry

Subject: RE: Jam Session Sources
From:
Date: 28 Aug 97 - 02:47 PM

Congratulations on keeping homemade jam goin!! we do the same in southern Manitoba. Often the person who hosts the coffee house will ask people in turn to "give us a song" Another cool idea, to follow up on Barry's spread-it-out idea, is to put the names of all the guitarists in one hat, fiddles in another, and so on, and then "draw" a band who then have ten or fifteen minutes to work up a tune ... :) dennis

Subject: RE: Jam Session Sources
From: Jack (who is calle jack)
Date: 28 Aug 97 - 05:12 PM

In Cleveland, and in Boston, there are contra dance bands that have been going for over twenty years apiece using the "Open Band" concept, i.e. regularly scheduled rehersals to which anyone may come (and I mean anyone), and appearances at contra dances at which only those who come to rehearsal can play. Its a lot of fun (so I'm told, though I haven't tried it yet), but it also creates a kind of estuary where people can develop their interest and talents in folk and traditional music. Many of our local folk musicians got their start in Mud In Yer Eye (the name of the Cleveland band).

Best Regards

Subject: RE: Jam Session Sources
From: jeff s
Date: 15 Sep 97 - 10:47 PM

Steve, You really have to decide what you want the jam to be. It seems like you have a group that's reasonably happy (25 sounds like pretty good attendance to me).

I think Rise Up Singing works well for groups that are primarily interested in singing. The major benefit is that everybody is (hopefully) singing from the same page. They also aren't being asked to sing alone (much). The effect is that there's a whole lot more participation.

But if you're going to have everybody sing that leaves a lot less room for playing. Assuming that you have a bunch of players that want to do instrumental solos. You might not be hearing solos because they aren't trying to do them . Although with your numbers somebody had better be organizing the solos.

jeff s (is 21 days long enough between posts?)

Subject: RE: Jam Session Sources
From: dusterjim
Date: 21 Sep 97 - 07:48 PM

Just a couple of rules that we have incorperated at our jams 1. If you can't hear the lead, you are playing too loud

2. If you want someone to take a "break" (lead instrumental), you holler at them or make eye contact and give them a nod.

Subject: RE: Jam Session Sources
From: Steve in Wisconsin
Date: 22 Sep 97 - 05:50 PM

Thanks to all who responded. We have decided that our jams have gotten to big. They would be sing-alongs, but not enough people sing along. We're changing our format to "open mic" first and then allowing people to hang around to jam, but not try to organize this. This has happened naturally and the hottest "picking" of the night usually involves these smaller (3-8 people) informal jams. After the "open mic" people seem more relaxed too.

One tip I'd pass along that I picked up at a bluegrass jam is that whoever is leading the song lifts their foot to signify the last verse or chorus of a tune. That way everybody ends clser together.

Acoustically,

Steve