Musician Forum - Band Discussion Board - BandMix

Hey anyone out there just want to get together and Jam???

The short answer is no. This 2011, people don't just get together to jam anymore (unless you're very old or very young). There has to be a point to it, some goal or direction. Figure out what you want out of music and then list the steps required to get there. Good luck.

The point is to play just for the love of playing, not for the spot light just for the fun of it , the goal is always to get better at playing your instrument and learning from others, why do you have to be really old or young to want to do this? That is a sad statement.....

Sad but infinitely true.

You don't have to set fame and fortune as a goal.
But those whom seek to further their musical skills most always want / need a viable goal.

I love to " just jam " with the band.
But it is only a small part of the big picture.

Why else would these guys get together on a regular basis for five years running ??

I will ask it again, am looking for people who want to speak through their instrument I have played in front of 16 thousand plus people I now just want to play with some musicians who just love to play.

me-0-yu wrote:I will ask it again, am looking for people who want to speak through their instrument I have played in front of 16 thousand plus people I now just want to play with some musicians who just love to play.

Oh, I love to just play. But, I love my expenses getting taken care of too. The tools of the trade aren't free.

I'd love to jam with you but we live too far apart, when I jam I get to play stuff that I really like which makes it fun more so than playing a gig where a band has to play what people like but a gig gives a band an audience and that is priceless.

jimmydanger wrote:The short answer is no. This 2011, people don't just get together to jam anymore (unless you're very old or very young). There has to be a point to it, some goal or direction. Figure out what you want out of music and then list the steps required to get there. Good luck.

Jimmydanger is a VERY professional guitarist. He's coming from a viewpoint of being rewarded commensurate with his experience. Just getting together to jam isn't something that I do either. Occasionally I'll help out at a benefit jam session, but I don't enjoy supporting people gratis when somebody is making a profit (skinflint venue owners) off my efforts. Some people are past the jam stage in their development. There are plenty of people, some very good players, who enjoy jamming. The problem in KC is that a lot of them are hosting jam sessions or attending jam sessions for free, and that takes $$ away from other good musicians who deserve to be rewarded with their FAIR SHARE OF THE PROFITS. Just getting with people at their or your place to jam is fun. Putting together a jam session at a venue for FREE may be fun for you, but it ruins it for the pros who DESERVE A PAYCHECK. Good luck in your search...

I would think a local search in your area of the country might bring you better results.
Just sayin...

The ideA OF HAVING A POINT OR DIRECTION TO JAM IN "2011" IS PLAIN bULLsHIT. You get together and jam and you find others who are up to your skill level or above if they will jam with you. You use jams to selectively find the band members that best will move ahead and become the next Rolling Stones or Pink Floyd. This idea of having a direction is why Justin Bieber & Lady Gaga are heading the concert lines in "2011"; You are wasting so much time with your twisted thinking that the MARKETING COMPANIES are setting your music scene for you,,,.

So it's twisted thinking to decide up front that you want to be an original metal band? Or a local cover band? Or Lady Gaga? You must have a goal to be even modestly successful in a band or any business venture. The days of just getting together to jam are long gone, and your profile is a testament to that fact. You're 53, with no music posted on your profile, you refuse to pay for membership but you're willing to scam the system by posting your email address. You may even be a great player but no one will ever know, because your attitude is so poor.

jimmydanger wrote:So it's twisted thinking to decide up front that you want to be an original metal band? Or a local cover band? Or Lady Gaga? You must have a goal to be even modestly successful in a band or any business venture. The days of just getting together to jam are long gone, and your profile is a testament to that fact. You're 53, with no music posted on your profile, you refuse to pay for membership but you're willing to scam the system by posting your email address. You may even be a great player but no one will ever know, because your attitude is so poor.

What do you know about my attitude other than I wont pay for this sh8t. I jam instead...

Jam on brothers.

Im with Jimmy, Ive got 35 years under my belt as a guitarist. Am I saying that I wouldnt jam, no because there are situations I get into say at a party or some ones house that i do jam with people sometime.

There are some huge exceptions to this Phish among others are considered jam bands, but they really take it to another level.

I think Jimmy and I at one point or the other have sat around with others jamming, but he and I for the most part are past that. The term Jam to me is just a bunch of inexperienced musicians trying to figure out thier instruments. Why do they do this? Cause they dont take the time to really learn music from the ground up. Hey man lets get some beers and hang out and make music, everybody that plays has gone thru this, theres nothing wrong with that. But to put that on a site like this when you have eveything from people that dont know jack sh*t about playing to very experiencd players is just asking for a slam fest.

Good Luck jamming and hopefully it will lead you in some direction in music!

Here's an interesting ad that is on my local CL:

I am a 'mature' musician.
It is enjoyable to read the ads posted in the 'musicians' section.
Some ads are informative, some ads are a glaring product of immature/adolescent reasoning.

I found my present band and, more importantly, band-mates through Craigslist.
It took many auditions and meetings to find the personality match-ups that work.
Music (especially bands/groups), in my opinion, is as much about matching egos/interpersonal relationships as musicianship.

When I responded to ads (and even when posting my own) I was brief but informative as to my abilities and expectations.
When I auditioned, I came prepared so as to find the musical 'fit' quickly ... or not.
When I evaluated the audition (both from a responder and presenter) I offered an honest but friendly reply.

There were many auditions that quickly became dead-ends because the group didn't have a direction or the egos were simply overboard.
There were many auditions that I thought went well but the reality was that I didn't 'fit' - that's life.
Although there were times that it seemed a daunting task to find a 'like-minded-group', the effort was worth the work.

Know what you want!
ALSO, know who you are!
If you don't know the answers to those two questions, you will have a difficult time finding anything that pleases anyone, especially yourself.

Suggestions to those posting or responding to ads;
- Let people know who you are, personality wise (NOTE: This is not a psychiatric session)
- Be clear in your objectives, performance / genre / time commitment.
- If responding to an audition, show up when you say you will and come prepared.
- Be honest in your abilities and expectations.

Remember that most people who develop a music ability have, as a normal outcome, a strong ego.
Bands/groups are either socialist or dictatorial.
A socialist group will eventually find it's personality through constant 'group-thinking' (takes time, however).
A dictatorial group is quicker to develop given the personality cult by the primary organizer.
You, as the responder or the poster, must decide what you want and be clear/honest.

If people insist on 'playing-head-games', there will be more irrational rants on this site.

Too bad we are so far apart. I like to jam with anyone as long as they are good and adaptable musicians. I don't have any goals so to speak, other than getting to be a better picker. I feel that I need all the practice I can get.