Re: [Harp-L] Amateurs and pro Jam Sessions at a Club Editorial

[IcemanLE@xxxxxxx]

Has anyone mentioned the fact that the open jams are hosted in a bar and the 
motivation is usually for the bar owner to make money? Without this basic 
premise working, the bar will discontinue the jam.

With this in mind, is it the jammers that fill the bar, spending money on 
drinks and food while waiting to play, or is it the hope that the music will draw 
patrons who sit, listen, eat and drink?

In my experience, most jammers don't spend money. They will nurse a beer or 
ask for water while waiting for their next learning experience. It is John Q 
Public, the non musician, who comes in for dinner or spends money on an evening 
of entertainment.

Now, does John Q Public want to hear a wall of noise, drummers that can't 
keep a beat, inyourfaceStevieRayguitarists, for 3 songs/set? Will they return for 
this experience?

I think "probably not". 

So, part of the responsibility is to provide some semblance of enjoyable 
responsible music. Sure, jams are a learning experience, but part of the bigger 
picture is responsibility to the audience. Jammers that ignore this aspect, are 
too self involved or simply aren't at a level that allows a group jam to 
unfold need to hone their skills with their buddies in their basements/garages. 

Yes, it is tough to be told that you are not feeling the groove and not 
connecting with the other musicians and/or audience, but this is a necessary aspect 
to improving if you ever want to overcome these inadequacies.

There was a percussionist that started sitting in with the smooth jazz band I 
play with at a house gig on Tue nights. He set up next to me, so I had the 
pleasure of hearing everything he did right up close. My comment to him the 
second night was, "Don't play right out of the gate. Let the music begin, hear 
where the groove is and where the spaces are, and then decide what to play that 
will add to the equation." He looked me right in the eye and said 'OK, but it 
didn't change one iota of what he did. He continued to start playing 
immediately without concern for what was going on around him, mostly destroying the 
groove. This gentleman was not allowed back again. 

The Iceman