Jam Session Etiquitte; The Obvious

I've been going to jam sessions off and on for easily 20 years or more. (Yeah, I'm older than you might think. I actually got carded the other night going into a venue. Instead of taking out my Driver's License, I removed my hat. "OK, sir" said the guy at the door.) I believe the jam session to be a important part of a musician's development. I'm sure that many of us have been to great jams, and then the not-so good or worse. Some of it has to do with where the session is located, who is running the session, the level of the players, local cultural attitudes, how much the musicians have had to drink, etc......

There are already some posted lists of Jam Session Etiquitte on the web. However, here is mine, however redundant or obvious it might seem:

OMG, what if I forget the changes?

1. Don't be afraid. It's a jam session, not Carnegie Hall. If you are afraid to play in an informal setting(which most jam sessions are), then how can you expect to play when the pressure is on? Most of the time, musicians at jam sessions are just trying to have a good time. (There's always a Blues played at some point that anyone should be able to play on!) If you come to the session with good intentions, others will sense that. Try to gravitate towards encouraging musicians. Yes, some people will vibe you, possibly, but that says more about them than it does you. So don't let fear keep you from trying. Save the fear for when you see a Grizzly Bear running towards you, or if you are shipped off to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan from some reason....

These folks look like a BAND!

2. Make music! Don't just get up and show off! (Although some degree of showing off can be appropriate if it's done tastefully!) Most musicians will be more impressed if you listen and play with everyone as opposed to only listening to yourself and only caring about whether you are featured or not. Listen and interact musically with the musicians you are sharing the stage with. This is part of becoming a mature artist. You don't want to be like the guy at the party who goes on and on about himself and doesn't let anyone else have a chance to talk!

3. Have a tune, or several tunes in mind. Unless you are very experienced and know a boatload of tunes and never get stumped, you should think of a tune you know very well and ask the leader of the session if that could be the tune that you play on. Hopefully, this is a tune that you have practiced at home, and you really know it, not sorta know it if there is a chart handy. Furthermore, if a tune is called that you don't know, write down the name of the tune and learn it for the next time. And if you need to look at the fakebook, I don't discourage that. However, the next time you come to the session, you should try to be familiar with the tune.

4. Be sociable and respectful. It's ok to want to "sit in" and it's ok to network at the session. But don't be the person who shows up, demands to play on the first tune, plays his or her solo, then gives the band leader his or her card and runs out the door! Maybe listen to other people's solos? Maybe take off your coat and stay awhile? Again, the more respectful you are of others, the more people will want to play with you.

5. Don't wear out your welcome. Again, be respectful: while you might think that you have thirty-five great choruses within your grasp, you probably only have two.... three, tops. Unless your name is Kenny Garrett, or Herbie Hancock, or Sonny Rollins, you should not over do it. "Say what you got to say, and get out!" is the advice that's usually given. Build it up and leave them wanting more. Again, people will dig you for it.

If anybody has suggestions to add to this list, I'm open. Hopefully, my PSU students will read this before the jam tomorrow(Friday 3-5 in LH 47....)