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Post by digiboy on May 29, 2023 13:23:56 GMT -5
Have not been on here in a while. This is probably an age old question but I figure this group will have some good replies for me.
I am running a weekly "open blues jam" at a club/small bar. Only been at it about 3 months.
We have a steady flow of good players who are regulars and I know play well. But into that group, there are almost always 1 or 2 new faces every week who are wild cards. They often turn out to be great surprises, excellent musicians who are welcome to return. OTOH, there are those who just don't fit. Either poor players or show-offs with no sense of what a jam is supposed to be. Often it's both.
I think you already know my question by now. What do you do with the ones who don't fit? They are paying customers and every new face there certainly is helpful to the club. But to the other participants these players are a detriment to the quality of the jam. Once you realize you have a problem player, do you pull them after one tune? Tell them they don't fit and ask them not to come back? Put up with them and hope the others will be tolerant? Is there a diplomatic solution.?
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Post by Leftee on May 30, 2023 10:41:47 GMT -5
Some folks are just tone-deaf, so to speak. But does the club want to alienate paying customers? I think management has a role in the decision.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on May 31, 2023 11:16:05 GMT -5
I've never participated in an open mic event but know the dynamic of the type of players you mention. Honestly, I think it goes with the territory. "Open" being the key word. Maybe some well articulated "rules" about volume, stage time, solo time, amount of notes allowed in a solo (hah, kidding). But the more the event is 'curated' the more likely it'll just turn into a talent show with a pecking order. So to answer the question, I don't know if there is a diplomatic solution when dealing with the egos of musicians.
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Post by reverendrob on Jun 1, 2023 2:44:14 GMT -5
The thing is you're going to have to make a call, but it's also one where those folks may bring their people with them for all you know who make the bar money (and that's what management is going to say).
They may also get better - you can pair them in the future with folks who have more of a clue and can play over their stupid, et cetera.
They may also just be having an off night.
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Merv
Quarternote
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Post by Merv on Jun 4, 2023 0:53:07 GMT -5
Is it clear the jam is intended for advanced or intermediate players?
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chucksmi
Wholenote
Posts: 174
Formerly Known As: Offshore Angler elsewhere
Age: I saw Jerry Live
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Post by chucksmi on Sept 11, 2023 15:53:25 GMT -5
"Open" means open. So let everyone play. But yeah, there are tricks of the trade. If you get that one person who may be in over his head, first off, try as hard as you can to accommodate them. Play Pride and Joy or something else that easy. It's always nice to seek out that person during the break or after the show and meet them and encourage them and ask what they are comfortable with. But first always try to help them. I'm a grizzled old pay-hungry whore performer now but I got my start from kind people at an open jam back in the days when I sucked. Just be kind and respect what a big thrill it is for the beginner to play with a real band. As long as they aren't sending the audience for the doors who cares? Beginners may even have super chops, but listening while playing is a different skill they won't have and you need to be ready for that. Also, for the "guest" rig keep it very simple, like one overdrive pedal. Then again, if you want to ditch someone you can always break into Help on the Way/Slipknot or something similar to quiet them down.  Really, for the jams I've hosted for internet forums it wasn't the beginning players I had the issues with. It was intermediate weekend warriors who insist on raising the volume to 100dB. I've booted people for being obnoxiously loud but never because their playing was awful. The other tough one is when you get the guy who wants to do his original tune and it's always some minor key introspective emotional ballad that makes no sense to anybody but him. Chuck |
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telebob
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Posts: 32
Formerly Known As: Tele-Bob
Age: 64
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Post by telebob on Oct 13, 2023 15:02:38 GMT -5
Chuck, I recall a very good player hopping up on the stage next to me during the last jam you hosted who had chops out the wazoo, but he played so loud and so selfishly I had to put my guitar down and just stop. I first asked him politely to turn down but he wasn't having it.
The guy got all miffy and strutted off to the door all dog faced and hurt.
Where the OP is concerned here, you need to just tighten things up a little and limit everyone's time sitting in with the host band. Each player gets to play two or three songs and then leaves the stage to be replaced by someone else. This gives you the opportunity to stop a problem before it goes on for too long, and a chance to talk to the guy before he's feeling all settled in with the group. Once everyone has played, you can start at the top of the list again. Rotate them in and out. Keep it moving.
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