LOL... U guys still going at it?

I went to my town's bluegrbutt jam last night. 1 acoustic bbutt, 1 elec bbutt, 1 banjo, 5 acoustic guitars(why I took up other instruments), 1 elec guitar, one 8-string dobro(old fella who appeard to be a old time steel player), one accordian, 1 fiddle, 2 mandolins(myself being 1) and one 6-string dobro(me when my fingers got sore from mando).

The "jam" is mostly run by whoever is willing to start the most songs. As such there are several "old tyme" country lovers who dominate the selection. I've learned to just insert myself here and there with a song that I can fit on one page. I'm the youngest usually by a good 20 years or so... although last night there were a couple of younger observers.

What most of these "jams" need is a plain paper projector and a screen. That way any song totin dude can show up, plop down his song and at least everyone else can see the changes. Otherwise you have to rely on scanning the nearest guitar who does have a view and follow him or rely on your ear... but since I can rarely hear my own instrment that is problematic as well.

While I don't have all the issues AM has with the jam setup... I do find that folks generally just play to loudly. And depending upon the arrangement, it means that they can't hear the "tempo keeping" instruments. This of course means that the song breaks down at some point leaving most player to have to stop... look confused... and rejoin when whoever is singing starts back up.

So I find myself at several points in the evening just doing the proverbial mandolin chop to try to establish some sense of tempo. This is usually in vain. But, my chop is improving.... :)

Through all the various frustrations of the evening, I've learned to simply view it as an excercise in patience and human nature as much as it is about music. I made a few contacts which expressed the desire to hook up and play in a smaller environment where folks could actually hear what they were playing and work on songs... perhaps the best use of such events.

bogul

Feeling free to express myself beyond the conventional norms of spelling and grammar and the egotistical use of those norms to bully and intimidate folks.