[Harp-L] Jam Session Learning Curve/Horror Story Redux

[Bob Cohen <bcohen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Well I think I can fairly say I'm on the road to becoming a "real" 
bluesman.  It's amazing just how much truth there is in the cliches.  
Last night was my first paid gig as the host for a jam session.  When I 
arrived, there was a group of three . . . uh, musicians on the stage 
playing. Since the owner permited this, I let them play for about 45 
minutes before asking that they leave the stage. 

I and my guys set up and did about a 45 minute set before opening it up 
to the musicians in the house.  During our set, the guitar player from 
the Drunk-As-A-Skunk Trio stood in front of the bandstand saying, with 
an extremely aggresive delivery and demeanor that grew to meanacing by 
the set's end, "All right.  It's out turn now."

Ignoring him seemed the best course of action.  I  brought up all the 
jammers present and about midway through the night, brought the house 
band back up to give the audience a tighter set. Then Stevie Ray 
Drunk-As-A-Skunk resumed his post in front of the bandstand and started 
grabbing one of the microphones and talking to the audience while we 
were playing.

When it became abundantly clear that ignoring the guy wasn't working, I 
stepped off the band stand and asked the owner and the bartender for 
help.  That looked at me and said, what's the problem.  I explained, 
they shrugged.  Not being a quiter, I did my best carry on.  Finally I 
disconnected the mic the guy was fooling with.  At which point, he did 
the same to me. 

Responding to his action aggressively would have resulted in 
fisticuffs.  Having spent thousands and thousands of dollars on dental 
work, and being a lover not a fighter, I went back to ignoring the 
jerk.  After the set was over, another "whole" band showed up.  I gave 
them the stage for a while.

Four really badly played sixties rock tunes later, the audience was 
gone.  I and the house band got back up on stage and you guessed it.  
Mr. Drunk-As-A-Skunk was back at his post, only he was even drunker, 
nastier, and meanacing.  Finallly I said "eff it."  We got off the stage 
and packed up our gear.

I informed the owner of the situation.  She talked with the guy one more 
tim.  He did apologize, mumbling something like it was the alcohol not 
him and that he was jealous because we sounded good.

When it came time to settle up for the night, the owner slipped out back 
and told the bartender not to pay me.  I pushed the issue and then she 
reluctantly gave me half the agreed upon fee while inviting me back for 
next Wednesday.

Shrug.  Somehow I doubt I'll go back but if I were to, do folks have 
suggestions on how to deal with situations like this?

Bob "I'm Glad I've Still Got All My Teeth" Cohen