Once again, I find myself playing host-band MC at 2-3 jams a month here in Dallas. Once again, time to set some boundaries I've found useful in the past.
Fellow jam hosts - Try these and LMK how they work for you.
I've been hosting and attending local jams at venues for decades. These are some GENERAL RULES-OF-THE-ROAD I ask be observed WHEN IT'S ME RUNNING THE HOST BAND & JAM.
First, this is important - HEY INEXPERIENCED GUYS/GALS: If no one's told you this, you're some of the most important players who come out to the jams. We were all there at one point and you give us a chance to pay it forward.
That said, this is mostly aimed at INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED SKILL LEVEL musicians who come out to jams where I host.
1. PRACTICE ACCEPTANCE - Jams are a crapshoot. I'll do my best to put you up with like-talented players, but it doesn't always work out. Keep coming back and I promise you'll have some moments of inspiration with like-minded/like-talented musicians.
2. SHOW PATIENCE FOR OTHERS - If you find yourself up there with lesser skilled players, maybe you're there to help shepherd them the same way someone did for you at one time. If you can't be helpful when it's your turn, maybe you're not a good fit for jams where I host.
3. If, in your past when you were coming up, more experienced musicians treated you badly because maybe that was just part of the culture back then, DO YOUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT S*** ENDS WITH YOU. If you try to pay THAT forward, I will pull the plug and you won't be welcome back.
4. Come to jams I host expecting to JAM, to LISTEN to others and to play in a way THAT HELPS EVERYONE SOUND BETTER. If you do, you WILL have moments of shear brilliance & joy, sometimes when you least expect it.
5. Do NOT BRING EXPECTATIONS OF PERFECTION. If a drummer or bass player isn't at your level, or if a guitarist or keyboardist doesn't have experience with the exact same style you want to play, FIND COMMON GROUND. If you continue to stop songs mid way or show disrespect for others, you'll be pulled and asked to not come back. You want perfection? Do that with your own band.
6. Understand that YOU'RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO BE IN CONTROL - See #5. Trust those around you to do what they do; Sometimes the music will take on an organic form of its own for better or worse. Aim at "For better", though prepare to accept when it's "For worse" - See #1.
7. DON'T TAKE THIS S*** TOO SERIOUSLY OR PERSONALLY. Goal here is to try to have fun, not make yourself and others miserable. The top of my jam sign-up sheet says "No Whining". Don't be that guy/gal.
8. Do NOT BE AFRAID TO FAIL. Sometimes you have to push your own limits at a jam to hopefully move forward, learn and experience those moments where it all pays off. Maybe you're not doing it right if the wheels don't come off every now and then. Learn to laugh when they do.
Fellow jam hosts - Try these and LMK how they work for you.
8 RULES-OF-THE-ROAD FOR OPEN JAMS
I've been hosting and attending local jams at venues for decades. These are some GENERAL RULES-OF-THE-ROAD I ask be observed WHEN IT'S ME RUNNING THE HOST BAND & JAM.
First, this is important - HEY INEXPERIENCED GUYS/GALS: If no one's told you this, you're some of the most important players who come out to the jams. We were all there at one point and you give us a chance to pay it forward.
That said, this is mostly aimed at INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED SKILL LEVEL musicians who come out to jams where I host.
1. PRACTICE ACCEPTANCE - Jams are a crapshoot. I'll do my best to put you up with like-talented players, but it doesn't always work out. Keep coming back and I promise you'll have some moments of inspiration with like-minded/like-talented musicians.
2. SHOW PATIENCE FOR OTHERS - If you find yourself up there with lesser skilled players, maybe you're there to help shepherd them the same way someone did for you at one time. If you can't be helpful when it's your turn, maybe you're not a good fit for jams where I host.
3. If, in your past when you were coming up, more experienced musicians treated you badly because maybe that was just part of the culture back then, DO YOUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT S*** ENDS WITH YOU. If you try to pay THAT forward, I will pull the plug and you won't be welcome back.
4. Come to jams I host expecting to JAM, to LISTEN to others and to play in a way THAT HELPS EVERYONE SOUND BETTER. If you do, you WILL have moments of shear brilliance & joy, sometimes when you least expect it.
5. Do NOT BRING EXPECTATIONS OF PERFECTION. If a drummer or bass player isn't at your level, or if a guitarist or keyboardist doesn't have experience with the exact same style you want to play, FIND COMMON GROUND. If you continue to stop songs mid way or show disrespect for others, you'll be pulled and asked to not come back. You want perfection? Do that with your own band.
6. Understand that YOU'RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO BE IN CONTROL - See #5. Trust those around you to do what they do; Sometimes the music will take on an organic form of its own for better or worse. Aim at "For better", though prepare to accept when it's "For worse" - See #1.
7. DON'T TAKE THIS S*** TOO SERIOUSLY OR PERSONALLY. Goal here is to try to have fun, not make yourself and others miserable. The top of my jam sign-up sheet says "No Whining". Don't be that guy/gal.
8. Do NOT BE AFRAID TO FAIL. Sometimes you have to push your own limits at a jam to hopefully move forward, learn and experience those moments where it all pays off. Maybe you're not doing it right if the wheels don't come off every now and then. Learn to laugh when they do.
