Nomenclature: Shows vs. Jams

Roy Ayres · From: Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

I have a problem with the nomenclature used now-days for gatherings of musicians for the purpose of applying their art – whether the gatherings involve steel guitarists only or musicians in general. I’m speaking of “shows” vs. “jams”.

To me a “show” is an affair where there is an audience – regardless of whether or not a fee is charged for admission. At “shows” the musicians are well advised to select songs that appeal to the audience and play them in such a way that the audience can recognize the songs. If it’s a lay audience, it is important to “stick to the melody” – at least for the first and last chorus. If it’s a so-called “jam” with an audience, then it’s really a “show” and the rules of a “show” should apply.

On the other hand, to me a true “jam” or “jam session” is an affair where musicians get together to enjoy themselves, to learn from one another and, to some extent, to “show off” a little to their fellow artisans. At a “jam” each musician should be able to select whatever song he or she so desires, without regard to whether or not the other musicians know the piece. True jam sessions, to me, have always been enjoyable in that they allowed me to try to impress my contemporaries and they forced me to take a stab at whatever song the others threw at me. True jam sessions are, therefore, a great place to learn new songs and sharpen your skills – especially your ear for chords and chord progressions.

I know that most of you don’t want to hear about “how we used to do it” but explained below is how we used to do it. When I was on the road, quite often we would get together after our concert or dance job with local musicians at someone’s house or after hours at a local night club, usually seat ourselves in a circle, and have ourselves a real ball -- usually with no one in attendance except the musicians and, perhaps, the night club owner or a few relatives of the musicians. No audience, no requests, no complaints from listeners that the music was too loud or the songs were too “jazzy” -- just a bunch of musicians having fun and letting their hair down on the kind of stuff they were not allowed to play to audiences. When it came around to our turn, we could pass or play – depending on whether we were bold enough to tackle whatever was thrown at us. And, if we reached for something we couldn’t handle, no one criticized us or laughed at us for trying. There was usually someone who would say something like, “Hey, man, that chord you missed was a (name of chord)” or some other helpful remark. We had fun and we improved our skills.

Since I resumed steel guitar a few months ago, I have played at “shows” and at “jams” (in the current sense of the word) and I have enjoyed them both. But, I often wish that now and then I could attend a real “jam session” where I didn’t have to please an audience.

Does this make any sense – or have I just let the music world pass me by?

[This message was edited by Roy Ayres on 27 January 2004 at 01:00 PM.]

John Steele (deceased) · From: Renfrew, Ontario, Canada

From the grim observations I've made at local clubs lately, the club owners would define them like this:
A "Show" features paid musicians.
A "Jam" features free musicians, and hopefully includes a bundle of their thirsty friends along to cheer for them.

I know that's not the definition you were hoping for, nor does it necessarily apply to the steel circuit, but that's what I'm seeing in the local mainstream clubs lately.

-John

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www.ottawajazz.com

Bryan Bradfield · From: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.

Here in western Canada, a jam usually means a "jam session", which is run as per Roy's definition (a bunch of musicians doing it for themselves).
The last time I was in Southern Ontario, in central Canada, a jam was short form for "jamboree", and was a show with free musicians, as per John's definition. In western Canada, this type of event is called an "open mic" night.

Bryan Bradfield http://www.members.shaw.ca/DirtyHatBand/

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

From my own point of view, a show is scripted, whereas a jam is not. Shows feature players (usually one at a time) who come prepared with charts, play a specified time slot, ect.. Jams are more spontaneous, and usually just about anything goes. Players swap steels and other instruments, and you play when you feel like it.

Shows are polished.

Jams are fun and unpredictable!

Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

At some of the Western-Swing Society jams around the southwest that I have attended, all musicians who wish to play must sign-in and their names are placed on a roster according to the instrument they play.

For each 45 minute set, a band is made up from the first name on each list, i.e., drums, bass, guitar, keyboard, steel, fiddle, sax, etc. The band for each 45min set is made up the same way throughout the day.

This makes for interesting combinations of musicians who in many cases have never met before getting on stage for their set. This is supposed to keep the "best" musicians from ganging up to play together all of the time.

Of course some will still find a way to play with their favorite musicians, but it usually keeps "organized" or "rehearsed" groups from hogging the stage. The concept is a good one when it's supervised and no one cheats.

www.genejones.com

Bryan Bradfield · From: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.

Gene - that sign-up situation sounds similar to the "band scramble" at a music camp I go to. Musicians sign up to participate, noting their instruments, and then the organizers ensure that each band has one guitar, one bass, one mandolin, etc., using the sign up sheets.

Doyle Huff · From: Broken Arrow, OK USA

Question for you Roy. A bit off the subject, but were you playing with Pee Wee in 1965? I saw Pee Wee in Independence Kan. in '65 and he had a young steel player with him but I didn't get a chance to find out who he was.

Roy Ayres · From: Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Doyle:
That would not have been me, as I was out of the music business and living in California at that time. It may have been Bobby Koefer.

Gene:
Back to the topic -- that approach is interesting. Sounds like it would be fun -- and it would present a good challenge for learning purposes.

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Edited for spelling. (My spelling is so bad I once paid $50 to spend the night in a warehouse.)

[This message was edited by Roy Ayres on 28 January 2004 at 05:17 AM.]

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

That's a great line, Roy. I'll have to remember that!

Don Walters · From: Saskatchewan Canada

ROFLMAO!

Thanks, Roy ... real belly-laughs are hard to come by these days!

Bill Llewellyn · From: San Jose, CA

Here's what the San Jose Jams have looked like:

Format: There's at least one small PA system and one or more Band-In-A-Box/laptop combinations to supply backup tracks. Generally we go around the room taking turns playing versus/choruses in each song so everybody gets a chance to show their stuff. There is also be time to chat and socialize during breaks. Some people arrive late and others leave early depending on their personal schedules, so we all accommodate a little shuffling about of steel setups through the day.

Guidelines:

* Have fun.

* Try to resist the temptation to play over other folks when it's their turn (even with a rhythm part).
* Try and let everyone get a chance to make a song request so everyone gets to play with at least one song they know well (depending on which backup tracks are available, of course).
* Try and keep active conversations on the side of the room with the tables and chairs.

That's it!

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Bill, steelin' since '99 | Steel page | My music | Steelers' birthdays | Over 50?

Blake Hawkins · From: Florida

This is a really good thread. I've seen some good ideas and ways of running a jam session.
At the Florida Steel Guitar Club, our meetings are jams primarily for the steel guitar players.

If we have more than 5 players (our usual group is 8 to 12) we break the jam into two sets of one hour each.
First, we do a "round" in which each steel player picks a song, plays a verse and a chorus and passes it around. When it gets back to the original player, he finishes the song.
Then we do a "solo" in which each player picks a song and plays it all the way through.
At the end of the set, if we have time, we will have one or two vocals.
We do have an audience of mostly other pickers, friends and family but all song selections are done by the steelers.
There may be 50 or 60 people in the audience.
We have a backup band of drums, bass, and rhythm guitar.
Mostly we want everyone to come and have a good time.
Our meetings are at Catfish Johnny's Restaurant in Lake Panasoffkee, Florida.
He has a large hall which has a stage with sound equipment, drums, bass, and electric guitar.
We are given free use of the facility so there are no charges to anyone.
We are always open to suggestions as to how to improve the jams.
Blake

Roy Ayres · From: Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Blake:

I love our jams at Lake Panasoffkee -- but I sure wish we had room to do it like Bill L's picture above. (I suppose we could if we put all of the tables and chairs out in the parking lot.)

Blake Hawkins · From: Florida

Roy,
If I read Bill's post correctly, they spend a full day with their jam.
It would be nice if we had more than two and a half hours to do ours.
Maybe, in the future, we can work something out.
From the picture, doesn't look like they have any room for wives and girl friends.

Blake

Bill Llewellyn · From: San Jose, CA

Blake,

Yes, we actually do have room.

It's a really good arrangement. The above photo only shows half of the available space and is a bit misleading in that regard. Click on the link below for a view from a few feet further back. (I'd have dropped the linked image here in the thread like the one above, but I'm having mercy on folks whose internet connection is slow, like mine.)

http://www.upbeats.net/backpack/llewellyn/steeljam-aug2002/groupshot3.jpg

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Bill, steelin' since '99 | Steel page | My music | Steelers' birthdays | Over 50?

[This message was edited by Bill Llewellyn on 28 January 2004 at 05:09 PM.]

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

Is that Vanetta? That must be Vanetta. "Hi Vanetta!"

Bill Llewellyn · From: San Jose, CA

http://www.upbeats.net/backpack/llewellyn/steeljam-aug2002/David_Wright_and_Vanetta.jpg

Blake Hawkins · From: Florida

Bill, Thanks for the additional picture.
Looks like you've got a pretty nice place.

Blake

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Many, many years ago, Larry Behm and possibly someone else whom I can't now recall, had the courage to put together a local "Steel Jam" at the Gateway Elks Lodge here in Portland. The first in this area, as I recall?
Since that time, I've attended a number of similar jams and from these experiences along with some suggestions here on this Forum about "the need for promoting the steel guitar"....I've taken these occasions where I'm guiding 105,500 lbs. of crushed cardboard and steel and sheet metal down the big roads here in the Pacific Northwest, and have given quite a bit of thought about a slightly different program.
I'm wondering how something like this might work: FIRST: Some REAL Top Notch, organized promotion in virtually every entertainment newspaper or whatever in the region, including POSTERS in popular gathering places including music stores. SECOND: Have qualiltly photo's of several different local musicians on these posters that will be appearing. THIRD: Visit as many local radio DJ's as possible; even club DJ's. And talk the event up with these legends in their own minds. FOURTH: The first year, offer it for "free" to all who wish to attend. FIFTH: Find a truly nice place, clean, wholesome, where all in the family might feel comfortable attending. SIXTH: The principal thrust of the event will be a display of INSTRUMENTATION, starting with a variety of simple lap steels and early day amps. SEVENTH: Another section of multi-neck non-pedal steel guitars with mid-range amps. EIGHTH: A section of as many different varieties of pedal steels; singles, doubles, universals. NINTH: Have owners of the various guitars "standing" behind their equipment, ready to greet visitors and answer questions about what they have displayed. Each could have a nicely prepared
single sheet of information about the guitar and where one might find a teacher and some idea of what the costs might be. TENTH: At about each 45 minute interval, have two or three of said musicians, put on a playing demonstration of their respective instruments. SHow the folks what can be expected from that kind of instrument; soft sweet; fast and loud, whatever. Moving to the next level of instruments, the same basic program. In the last hour of the program, 4 or 5 of the musicians with a house band, could put on a one hour show for the entire crowd.
Do these thoughts sound at all reasonable?
Or, have I been spending too much time alone, in the middle of the night, while under tremendous STRESS and traveling at speeds just short of "light" itself?
This would be a great opportunity for local and regional musicians to meet and talk about old times but better yet, no one would be there to feed their ego and attempt to outdue every other musician in the house.
At this EVENT, the GUESTS/Attendees will be the stars of the show. Sorta how new car sales rep's run the floor; see a customer, grab him, show him your interested in him and his questions. Don't let loose of him until his questions have been answered and he has your NAME and phone number to communicate further with you. WHAT SAY YOU?

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

I think the Mid-Atlantic Steel Guitar Association's (MASGA) are great. They're usually over a week end on both Saturday and Sunday. All the players regardless of their level of expertise set up around the room and pass it around playing to tracks. Then we'll have a part where you'll select some tracks to play a few tunes solo. At night they'll be divided into groups of 3 steelers or so and they'll play with the band passing it around between the participants. Every one gets to pick and it's a great fellowship type of event. The last one I went to, Herby Wallace was there and did a half hour show and then participated in the 3 steeler with the band format at night. There's one this weekend but I can't make that but I'll be at the jam in Wilson, North Carolina on March 13th and 14th at the Bill Ellis Convention Center. Have a good 'un..JH

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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

Roy Ayres · From: Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Ray,

That would be a great idea, but I'll bet it would wind up losing money. Many of the musicians in the region would attend, but I doubt if there are enough of them to cover the expenses. You would get a few fans but not in the numbers needed -- unless you had a very popular (and very expensive) singer.

When I was about 19 and playing professionally, my great uncle Ivy Martin, who operated an automotive junkyard in Becker, Mississippi, heard me play and said, "Boy, if you'll bring that thang down to my junkyard I'll bet I can get a dozen people to come and listen -- and we'll charge 'em a dime apiece." And, he was serious about it.

Now, THAT would have been a show -- not a jam.