JAM Session Protocol

It totally depends on the experience level of the participants. If there are some good players and singers that will be attending, an 'open mic' format will work because the experienced folks can provide the anchor positions and keep things going.

If most of the participants are couch players, a really good way is to have one person be responsible to build a song list via email. Start at least one month out. Two months is better. This is good because people don't have to go in cold; they can prepare a bit and show up knowing the material and have more fun. It's less intimidating. This is how we do it because it's more inclusive for players with less experience.

The jam is by invitation only, and all invitees submit two or three tunes they'd like to play. They nominate their tune by title, the version (original artist) they want to do, the key of the tune, and what they want to do on the song (play guitar, play drums, sing, etc.). Fewer participants? five or seven tunes each. Some tunes will get traction with the group, and others won't.

The list, as it grows, is shared with everyone every few days and there is a slot for all the positions (vocals, bass, drums, keys, 1 & 2, etc.), and all open slots are up for grabs, first come, first served. We build the list in MS Excel or similar tabular worksheet. Identify every update by the version (ver 1, ver 2, etc.). That way players know they have the latest update.

Doing things this way alleviates lots of wasted time. Jams are for making music, not for herding cats. If everyone shows up cold and there's no list, the jam will turn into a bunch of old white guys playing I-IV-V instrumentals. Nothing wrong with that stuff, but not every tune.

Here's an example: someone wants to play a tune but doesn't want to sing it...and nobody in the group wants to sing the thing. Guess we're not playing that one. "Next good idea? Anyone?" Unless you have someone there specifically to sing, a lot of tunes will fall by the wayside. This is the reason why I sing at jams--because I don't like tunes to get kicked off the list due to lack of a vocalist. I'd rather not sing, but I will to ?rescue? a tune.

Have a few simple rules in the invitation email. A good one is "no band sets." This is a jam, not a showcase. Also, identify the person that will serve as the Volume Cop; they are responsible for keeping players from getting too loud (depending on the venue) because this can be a real problem. Example: I attended a jam at a bar in a strip mall that frequently had live music, and the manager of the hair salon next door came over and asked if we could turn down. It was insanely loud. If you need ear plugs, it's too loud. Anyone that gives the Volume Cop a hard time will be invited to leave. The jam is for everyone--not for Just Mr. Diva, Rock Guitar God.

You can make this simple or get really detailed. It all depends on the experience level of the players.

That works too...that is the open-mic approach.

gbfun,

Something you can do to keep things moving and be more fun for everyone is for each player to bring a chart for each of their two songs. Not just one chart, but a chart for each player. Lyrics and chords...that way everyone (even those that might never have heard the tune) knows where they are in the tune. For instance: if I'm attending a jam with five other players, I bring six charts for each tune I'll sing.

"A roomful of 5 watt Pignoses!"

One of the things we do when we have small electric jams in someone's house is a "Microcube jam." That means all guitar players have a Roland Microcube. Nothing larger. It keeps things sane.

For larger jams...

The Volume Cop: this should be someone other than the Jam Commander (host of the jam). The host directs the fun and serves as MC or appoints an MC, and the volume cop enforces the rules (the ol' Good Cop/Bad Cop approach).

Another thing we do for larger jams is have at least three attendees volunteer the use of their amp by other players. Generally, the amps are no larger than a ~30-watt 1x12 combo. No other amps allowed...but anyone can bring their pedalboard and plug into any available amp. This does several things; mainly (1) helps keep volume in check because nobody is playing through a Marshall half-stack, and (2) really cuts down on the backline--three guitar amps total--and allows the players to stick closer to each other so they can hear each other, rather than be spread out across a stage.

If you're not playing on a song, your guitar(s) and your pedalboard are off the stage as a courtesy to the musicians that are up there. Another rule (not really a rule) is we encourage players to leave their guitar stands at home. I've been to jams and have seen guitars get knocked off stands and damaged--some really badly, like broken headstocks. So I always advise players to have their guitars in their cases, or at least laying flat on their case/bag between songs. Some players really love seeing their guitar on a stand at a jam, so you will sometimes have those types. But they do so at their own peril.

All these rules (and more!) might seem a bit excessive and stifling to a free-form jam, but they apply equally to everyone so nobody's being unfair to anyone except perhaps the diva rock star types. And this is exactly why we post these rules of engagement in the original invitation email: it chases off the 'problem' personalities before they show up.

Other rules:
-Have fun
-Respect other peoples' gear
-Be fearless and play like a crazy person
-No drinks allowed on amps or other equipment
-If you *have* to noodle, do it quietly
-The Jam Commander (host) and Volume Cop have final say in any disputes.

Managing personalities is the most difficult aspect of a group dynamic.

Awesome Peegoo. Thanks !