Jam bands - advice on setting-up?

Subject: Jam bands - advice on setting-up?
From: wilco
Date: 18 Sep 03 - 10:42 AM

Our local jam has gotten pretty big, with twenty to thierty people every week. I want to ty something; tell me if it will work, and how to do it.
    We have fiddlers, guitar players, banjo players, a base player or two, mandoline players, autoharps, and harmonicas.
    To encourage people to meet new folks and play music with them, I would like to set-up one-time jam bands at these open jams.
    You would have a "rythm" jar for guitars and other rythm insturments, a jar for fiddles and harmonicas, and a jar for bass.
You would also have a jar for a few simple, common songs that everyone would know.
    You would drop your name in the appropriate jar, and then someone would draw the names out and build as many three or four person bands as possible. Then each group would draw a two or three songs from a jar.
    You'd go off with your group, work out the songs, and then get together a half hour or so later to do a show.
    What do you think?

Subject: RE: Jam bands - advice on setting-up?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Sep 03 - 10:46 AM

I think you shoud talk to Linda Littleton who does this every year as part of the annual "Folk College."

~Susan

Subject: RE: Jam bands - advice on setting-up?
From: Sorcha
Date: 18 Sep 03 - 11:33 AM

Some festivals do this and call it a Band Scramble. There is usually some goofy prize for the winners. Us, we just get in a big circle and somebody calls out a song/tune. If you know it, play along. If you don't, stay out.

Subject: RE: Jam bands - advice on setting-up?
From: wilco
Date: 18 Sep 03 - 01:08 PM

WYSIY: How do I get in touch with Linda Littleton?
Sorcha: We're getting new people every week, and the song circles are getting way too big. This is not something we would do everyday, but maybe once a month.
    We recently started a new traditional music association, and we are actively seeking new members, closet pickers, people who want to find people to play music with, etc. This would kind of break-up the larger groups to smaller bands, where people could get one another a little easier.

Subject: RE: Jam bands - advice on setting-up?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Sep 03 - 02:00 PM

"Jam band" - sounds delicious.

Subject: RE: Jam bands - advice on setting-up?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Sep 03 - 02:57 PM

PM me for email address.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Jam bands - advice on setting-up?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 18 Sep 03 - 04:51 PM

McGrath,

Setting up a Jam Band could prove a sticky problem.

Robin

Subject: RE: Jam bands - advice on setting-up?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Sep 03 - 04:57 PM

Play Jelly Roll, or Good Bunch of Biscuits.

~Susan