EDIT: Already got a little backlash for my comments, probably for the best, so I've edited down my thread.
I personally love the "jam" mentality because it goes anywhere from a train wreck to incredible moments with musicians one would not normally get to be a part of. Only the "jam" makes it possible.
The Hawks have had several Blues Jams both at Pelleys and at Claudio's. Not everyone in The Hawks enjoys them as much as I do but they do it for me (they are all such cool guys).
We are probably going to do a Jam at the end of January. Because I love to jam with all of you... Not for any other reason.
Special Note to Guitar Players at the jam. If you're not taking a lead TURN DOWN so we can hear the guy who is taking a lead.
Last edited by Hawk on Monday Nov 21, 2011, edited 1 time in total.
I also enjoy the Wednesday night jams at Pelleys, although they start a little late on a weeknight for me to be there often. I have no clue if anyone is making money for the event (venue or organizers) BUT I HOPE THEY ARE, because that means the jams will continue!
Hawk wrote:I also enjoy the Wednesday night jams at Pelleys, although they start a little late on a weeknight for me to be there often. I have no clue if anyone is making money for the event (venue or organizers) BUT I HOPE THEY ARE, because that means the jams will continue!
After having played 20-25 of them, I can tell you that nobody on the music end is making any money...or even a complimentary drink for that matter.
They have a really good pizza special on Wed. though!
...Oh, the freedom of the day that yielded to no rule or time...
When I was younger, I enjoyed jams, particularly when I was too young to play clubs. Now, I generally hate taking part in them. Once in a while, they can be fun if you have cats who really click together. Mostly, I find taking part in them to be painful. Whether it's the leader neglecting the common courtesy of calling the key before starting the tune or trying to keep myself awake as I play the same three chord vamp while the guitarists play the same go-nowhere pentatonic wankery for 25 minutes, the "jam" just doesn't appeal to me.
I will occasionally show up at a jam, but it's strictly just to hang out.
Jams are still better than their close cousin, the *SHUDDER* open mic night.
"He's the electric horseman, you better back off!" - old sKool making a reference to the culturally relevant 1979 film.
I tell ya what though, as a starting musician, jams are pretty awesome for getting yourself out there and improving yourself and eventually the formation of bands, so i for one must speak up and say i love jams, I go to one every month up at the vets in cresson, and hope to be able to maybe enjoy one at pelly's..Deff let me know when the next blues jam will be, I don't wanna miss this one
i didn't get to read the original post before it was edited. but i will chime in on my opinions on jam nights. personally - they've helped me more than any guitar lesson has. because i go there to learn from the seasoned musicians (if they show up). i've met a lot of people who have become a core support for me musically. i also met one of my best friends and biggest supporters at a local jam night three years ago. (rip fran) anyways, i met ALL of my current band members at LOCAL jam nights.
soooo i'd say, they definitely have there positives.
but you also have some negative junk. overall in my opinion - from the experiences and the friendships. the good outweighs the bad.
the best advice i ever got was, jam with everyone even if they are 100 times better or a 100 times worse than you, you will always learn something.
I enjoy jams, both watching and participating in them.
From the watching side, the unpredictability of jam nights is always fun; you just never know what can happen when a particular combination of musicians converges on the stage and the magic happens! And it can only take two players who go off on that improvisational urge, and it's on! (I witnessed this at Pelly's jam night a few weeks ago, when Mark Panek on drums and Scott Imler on bass launched on a spontaneous 15-minute jazz rhythm workout; they were having fun, and I was having fun watching and listening to it!)
And I like participating in jam nights, usually joining in on bongos or other percussion. I like the challenge of matching my rhythm to what direction the rest of the musicians are taking the song in, as well as looking out and seeing the audience enjoying the end result. As Kayla said, you learn something every time you sit in on one.
Some jam nights turn out better than others, depending on who shows up and the overall vibe of the night; but when everything comes together, it's exciting and memorable!
Thanks again for the compliment JP. And.......I did have fun doing the jazz thing, what a workout and it was completely off the cuff, so even more fun. I have participated in some that were not so great, but as others have stated.... you can still learn from these. You just have to go into these with the mentality that you are there to have fun (I guess and this is JMO). You also have to understand that Jams aren't meant to be a polished item (this should be obvious). Either way Jams have their merits IMO. In 25 years I've never attended one where the players expected to be paid either, so am I missing something? I always thought they were (again) just meant to be fun. Enjoy!
Mama Corn formed out of Tim Klock's Open Mic at The Bar, and the bluegrass jam I used to host at the Hitching Post. Jeremy and I were talking casually after a Post jam one night, when he asked me who my dream band was, out of the people we had just jammed with. I told him my favorites, and he replied that his picks were the same. Less than 2 weeks later we were a band! Jams are effective for finding people, if nothing else... it's not a "try-out," it's casual and easy, and you still get a feel for someone's abilities, likes and dislikes, etc. I heartily recommend them!
I haven't been to the acoustic jam at the Hope Center in Bellwood on Thursday evenings, but I hear it's incredible! A customer told me they get 100 people there! They do bluegrass, folk, blues, and other acoustic stuff. I really need to get over there and check it out.
There's other jams that go on that you might not be aware of...Steve Sherrill hosts a ukulele jam every other Thursday night at the Hollidaysburg YMCA (I haven't been able to attend one yet due to my schedule, but want to).
A few weekends ago at Millbrook Marsh's Historic Harvest Festival, I saw an ensemble called the Tuesday Night Bluegrass Jam, which is a group of folks who get together to play bluegrass, old-timey folk and gospel songs every Tuesday night at the Pine Hall Lutheran Church in State College. Based on what I saw at Millbrook Marsh, their membership included seasoned bluegrass vets alongside college students and other beginners.
Both of these events welcome beginners to take part; another cool part of a lot of jam sessions, as it allows newcomers to get their feet wet playing alongside experienced musicians.
