derwood400 - Posted - 01/20/2012:  21:35:16

My good banjo buddy and fellow BHO member PaulR has been attending an open mic/jam session in our area for some time now. For probably the last year or more, He has mentioned it to me several times, saying I should come on out. I just never seemed to have the time/nerve/gumption to really make an effort. For a long time I have dreamed of busking, performing for people, and just sharing this great old time music with others but just have never been able to overcome my nerves and fear of screwing up etc. I've played with small groups at Clifftop and small family gatherings, but never up in front of an audience with a mic and the whole nine yards. Well, tonight I just decided to go for it. Now or never. Get it over with. If you screw up, so what. Who cares. It won't be the end of the world.

Well, I gotta say, what a feakin' rush!!! It was so awesome. I really can't wait to do it again. I played three songs which the crowd seemed to find quite entertaining, and Paul and I did a clawhammer duet of The Boatman's Dance. I just wanted to share this, because I tend to be a bit introverted at times, but have wanted to do this for so long. If there are any "closet" banjo-players out there that really want to play for people, but just don't have the nerve, just do it! Don't put it off for three or four years or longer. Get a couple of tunes down pat, and just find yourself a venue. Yes, it's scary as all hell, but it's incredibly rewarding.

Ok, I gotta try and go to sleep now. Just had to share this.

Edited by - derwood400 on 01/20/2012 21:37:03

ChrisA - Posted - 01/20/2012:  21:48:03

Congrats! I think getting up and playing on stage gives me a different outlook on playing music entirely. The more I do it, the more I realize that a performance is much more than the sum of it's parts (your playing/attitude/ect.,). No matter how much you mess up (to a point, I suppose), the fact that you're getting up there and sharing has a big impact on your audience - though they may not realize it. The more you just relax and play, the more you will sink into the experience (and people notice a difference). More than I used to worry about making musical mistakes, I was self-conscious of the fact that I make hilarious faces while playing an instrument. At some point I subconsciously started to exaggerate them onstage rather than suppress them because I stopped caring, and I think it makes me put on a better act as a whole. When you get more comfortable with an audience you won't make fewer mistakes, your mistakes will just start being awesome.

I still haven't been onstage with a banjo, but I'm hoping I get a chance to do it soon!

banjo bill-e - Posted - 01/20/2012:  22:01:25

Very cool, durwood!

minstrelmike - Posted - 01/21/2012:  09:02:01

Sounds good.

But a jam is different from an open mike.

At a jam, you play _with_ others and don't play _for_ the audience.

It's more like band practice with random people except you aren't practicing for anything in the future at all, you're just making the music right here right now with them. It's a Baba Ram Dass sort of attitude (Be Here Now).

Glad you went and had fun. Do more things with banjo with more people for more fun.

dewbanjo - Posted - 01/21/2012:  09:33:56

derwood, I went to a "jam" but what it really was.. a group would have about a 1/2 hour, play, sing, then another group would do the same while about 100 local residences listened, lasted till about 10 pm. I asked when I first got there where's the jam... I was asked "what do you play?"...banjo I said. Well, go see Frank and we will "fit" you in.

Frank, harmonica player explained to me how the evening occurred... actually was an open mike by signing up for a spot. He said their group was first and I could join them. Three guitars, bass, harmonica, and my banjo. I asked to sit in behind the bass player where I could hide... they just played whatever tune... from Elvis to Roy Rogers to ??? etc.... longest 1/2 hour in the world...but loads of fun. However, I haven't been back now for about a year. I found it difficult to play the different tunes, tunings, etc... just off the top of my / their heads.

I'd like to get up the nerve, sign up for a spot, play my tunes, but I don't know if I have enough tunes to play for 1/2 hour. Currently can claw out about 8 tunes without tab... some of the players were using music/tabs... but I'd rather just play what I know without tabs.

So the question becomes: Should I try and sign up for 1/2 hour??? or, maybe see if I could play in the backgorund during the "break time" part way through the evening???

Sure would like some comments back from you and others too...

PS: did you use your Enoch???

derwood400 - Posted - 01/21/2012:  10:09:27

Yes, I realize that there is a difference between an open mic and a jam.  This is by most people's definition, an open-mic. But, the regulars who attend it kind of have formed a "house band" if you will, who back up the person who's turn it is to perform.  So, its kind of like a jam to them, but with an audience there watching, and its partly open-mic, because people take turns going up and performing.  If you don't want the band to back you up, you just tell them.  They're cool about it, they don't care.  They will gladly sit it out if you want to perform solo.  This is fairly common format for these kind of things around here.  Ergo, the thread-title of open-mic/jam.  

When you get there, you sign up.  They call the names in order of the list, and when your name is called you go up.  You play two songs.  Then the next person goes.  After they go through the list, if there's time, they go through it again, and this time you perform 1 song.  You just tell the band the key, and I just told them if there were any weird chord changes or odd chords thrown in somewhere and then we just went with it.  The odd time there was a bit of a train-wreck, but they would just get it straightened out and keep playing through it, and sometimes they will stop and start over again.  Its really easy-going and relaxed.  No one is too serious.  They're just there to have fun and play some music.  And the audience was a lot of older people who were just there to enjoy some good old music and have some refreshments and social time.  They play a lot of old country from the 50's, 60's, 70's etc, old time gospel, folk music and a bit of bluegrassy stuff.  I played a Charlie Poole song, and a couple other old songs from the 20's and 30's, and then Boatman's Dance was just a fiddl-tune version with no vocals.  I didn't use any tabs, but I did have the lyrics on a sheet of paper.  I can remember lyrics when I'm sittling by myself, but I didn't want to freeze up on stage and forget the words.  I think in the future I might try to decide what songs I'm going to do ahead of time, and make up some sort of chord sheet for the rest of the folks there, just to make it a bit easier for them to back me up.  

Don, I can't really tell you what you should do.  I guess it depends on how you felt after attending that "jam" the first time.  If its for a 1/2 hours slot, you could do it, I'm sure.  You play your 8 tunes for about 3 minutes each and tell a few jokes, or a little bit on some of the tunes, and the 1/2 hours would probably go by pretty quickly.  It might be more difficult though being up there by yourself.  I dont know.  I gotta say, it was actually kind of comforting having a band behind me.  I hit a wrong chord or note a few times, and it pretty much got covered up by the band, so that really helped me personally.  You could always talk to them.  Maybe they would let you do a shorter set during the break or something. I guess it just depends on the people who have set it up and the format that they want to use. 

Also, Don, I got a Will Fielding Rooster model a couple years ago, and that's what I played last night, but next time, I'll likely take both it and the Enoch so I don't have to keep changing tunings.  

nyartist - Posted - 01/21/2012:  11:50:42

That's great to hear! I've found a local open mic that I went to but just to check it out for friendly vibes -and it was. But in the process of taking my voice lessons (see my post in the same forum as yours) I still don't feel quite ready to get up there and sing with my banjo. One thing concerns me is that they use a PA system and I'm afraid that having never used one I'll just freak out. Do they have one at your open mic?

hdplayer - Posted - 01/29/2012:  04:06:50

What a great and inspiring story! Thanks so much for sharing. I'm very new to the banjo but I just love it so much I can't wait until I have enough under my belt to share it with folks! Loved the joyous tone in your OP. Glad you got the rush and the after-glow!

banjoy - Posted - 01/29/2012:  04:21:18

Hey derwood400, I can relate. I am naturally shy too.

I started playing classical violin at age 10. When I was 13, I was told I had to play a recital. I had never heard of them, had no idea what one was, and once I found out what it meant, did NOT want to do that!!!

The big day and big moment came. It was at Twitchell Auditorium in Spartanburg, SC, which at that time probably seated 1500. I think there were 8 or 9 people in the front row, mostly other students and teachers. No matter, I about pooped in my pants when I was on stage. I know for sure I was pouring sweat I was no nervous.

Flash forward a few decades, and now do I not only not get nervous, I enjoy the interaction with people who I am playing with, or who are listening. It is a rush. A very good one. I'm glad your first stage experience was a good one. The key is getting past the nerves to begin with. You'll be back.

I agree there is a lot of blurred lines with what a "jam" and an "open mic" is which was pointed out above. I agree. You were participating in an open mic, not so much a jam. Sometimes there will be jam sessions on stage. I think anytime there is a stage, or microphones, involved, it's not really a "jam" per se, but more an open mic, which may have elements of an open jam. There can be a little crossover, but it all can be good.

Did you have to get past any nerves to make your post, about getting past your nerves? ...

Thanks for that, it brought back some good memories.

Edited by - banjoy on 01/29/2012 04:22:07