Kinda freaking out... [Archive] - Mandolin Cafe Forum

Blind_Cowboy

Apr-06-2004, 1:30pm

I've been waiting for my first opportunity to attend a jam. And tonights the night. 1st Tuesday of every month. So I wake up and my wife looks over at me and says, "So, what will they be playing? Have you practiced any songs? What are you going to take, your mando or guitar? How many people are going to be there?"

All I had was three words: I don't know.

I hate that! Then, I check out their website and see pics from last months jam, and it's around 6 - 10 people, significantly older, and thus wiser, than I. Double Bass, 3 mandos, 2 - 3 guitars, a couple of b@^jos.

I don't know any songs. I've never really played with a group. I've always been a duo. And we don't even play that well together! I just started on Mando. What will I have to offer? And, my guitar is par for a rhythm player, but not much else. So i'm starting to think, "Am I going to be the one who crashes the party?" Ouch.

Maybe i'll just bring the Ukulele.

Blind Cowboy...

mandofiddle

Apr-06-2004, 1:52pm

All I have are these three words: JUST DO IT!

Seriously though. Bring your mando. If you don't know the songs, don't play loud enough to disturb the other players. Get there early, and let them know your a beginner before the jam starts. All these folks were beginners at some point too, and if they don't support and encourage you, then its not the right jam for you anyhow.

duuuude

Apr-06-2004, 1:55pm

Yep, go for it! Ya wo't know what ya need to work on for next time unless ya just go and do yer best. You'll be grinnin' from ear-to-ear by the time you leave, guarateed!
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

Bill James

Apr-06-2004, 1:56pm

You're thinking too much. Just go and if you don't have anything for them hang back and pick up the rythem. Tell a banjo joke and have some fun. Remember it's about having fun.

If you do play a break and make a whole bunch of mistakes, just tell em' it's the jazz version. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

Tom C

Apr-06-2004, 2:00pm

Sometime it's hard to get motivated if you are alone and have never been there.
But like mandofiddle says, just do it. People are friendly and will offere advise.
At least you can get familiar with the tunes they play for next time. You may even want to bring a recorder and ask if they mind if you tape so you can practice the tunes they play. Some basic, popular tunes to get familiar with
Salt Creek (A), Red Hair Boy(A), Soldier's Joy(D), Bill Cheatham(A), Old Joe clark(A), St Annes reel(D). Note a lot of fiddle tunes are played in A or D so they are good keys to become familiar with.

Christine W

Apr-06-2004, 2:10pm

My fist Jam I only new two chords and one of the regulars says come on up here they were sitting in a stage area. I said I only know two chords and I"m not kidding and he says so get up here anyway. That is the attitude of most of the pickers. I"m still real nervous pickin with other folks but at least I know more that two chords. It gets easier over time just breath.... relax and have fun:D

mandodude

Apr-06-2004, 2:29pm

Hey, Cowboy!

We're all lookin' forward to a report tomorrow morning!

Have fun, my friend!... although I know you will!!

;-)

P.S. Take the mando... if nuthin' else, at least you'll look way cool!!

Coy Wylie

Apr-06-2004, 4:00pm

A hearty "Amen" to everything that has been said and one addition: leave the guitar at home if you are serious about learning mando. Force yourself to commit to one instrument at a time even if you are just starting out. I look forward to reading your enthusiastic report tomorrow. Besides, most of the "older folks" are very happy to see younger folks engaging this type of music.

Blind_Cowboy

Apr-06-2004, 4:38pm

Ah hahaha...

This is a good community, I tell ya. Thanks for all of the warm advice and information. FWIW, self doubt is my second nature, but chickening out is unnatural. So, i'll be there, with bells on.

Funny though, nobody told me to leave the Ukulele at home:D

c3hammer

Apr-06-2004, 5:24pm

A good picker/singer from my area, Mike Iverson said, "jams are for learning and screwing up, gigs are for performing"!

"If you aren't blowing it and making mistakes you're not stepping up, challanging yourself and learning."

Fine words of wisdom if you ask me.

Cheers,
Pete

jiffyfeet

Apr-06-2004, 5:48pm

What a great post to see at the top, as I too plan to attend my first jam tonight. Also a first-Tuesday jam, you aren't in Escondido, are you Cowboy?

Good words of encouragement here for me as well. I am sure it will be a blast! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

levin4now

Apr-06-2004, 6:36pm

Have fun cowboy. Similar feelings when i went to my first jam. Wouldn't have been able to attempt a break, and warned them as such.

I remember sitting there, chopping away to some song, and visibly smiling as to what I was doing. It was fun!

(The sad part is I still couldn't take a break, but that's me.) http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

Blind_Cowboy

Apr-06-2004, 9:21pm

You aren't in Escondido, are you Cowboy?
Ah, unfortunately not. I'm down in Houston, Texas. And the jam was in Clear Lake. Would have been cool if we both walked into the same fray!

Blind_Cowboy

Apr-06-2004, 9:42pm

Update on the Jam:

Wonderful experience. I met some good players, and kept my back to the wall. Took the guitar and mando. Nice thing about bluegrass, G,C,D is your friend. Along with A,D,E and the occasional C,F,G. Major scales UNITE! Beautiful picking patterns, banjo chop added an element that kept me asking "What is that?!" And, I missed it when it stopped. But their is such a thing as too much of a good thing. 3 Dobros, 4 mandos, 4 banjos, 9 guitars, 2 violins (fiddles), and nobody brought a bass. Chaos for the first 45 minutes, then the frustrated began to leave. The melody and rhythm became tighter with every exit, until about 6 of us remained. Then it got fun... An older mando guy got tired and handed me his Flatiron A style. Nice instrument. Good body. Kind of one of those things where you go, "Ah, that's what a good instrument feels like. Got it.." Played guitar until I found a comfortable corner. Then I picked up the mando and stuck to open chords. It was nice to fill a part. Rhythm Mando!

Thanks for the good words and encouragement. I think I just found my next obsession.

Coy Wylie

Apr-06-2004, 10:52pm

Next assignment: find more jams so you don't have to wait a month before playing in a group again. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Flowerpot

Apr-07-2004, 11:45am

Or, next assignment: Find a friend who plays bass and make him drag it along. Personally, I think the bass is more than half the sound by itself, and it's pretty hard to enjoy a bassless jam. Kind of like hard rock without the drums. Oh well, glad you jumped in there and had some fun!

duuuude

Apr-07-2004, 2:36pm

Way to go, Cowboy, that was fun wasn't it? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

If ya don't wanna wait until the next one, do what I did & start yer own, you'll be suprised at all the responses you'll get.

jiffyfeet

Apr-07-2004, 3:07pm

My experience wasn't as good last night. The "jam" wasn't really a jam at all, it was more of a free concert. They claim to have a sort of open mic, but it was apparently all structured beforehand, as there were only two groups that each performed for a half hour before the main act. The first was OK, and the second was quite good. Maybe the funniest thing about the evening is that with the exception of two or three people in their thirties, I was the youngest person there by about 20 years. (I'm 30.)

When the main act was coming on I decided to leave. As I exited out the front of the place there was a jam going on outside with about 7 guys. I had met two of them and talked to them each for a minute, and when they saw me walking out with my mando case they each nodded to me. A third guy also looked at me then looked at my case.

I stood there watching them for three songs, and not one of them even acknowledged me, much less asked me to play with them. So I went home. I couldn't believe they would just let another musician stand there when they could have easily added me to their jam. Oh well.

Apparently there is a second tuesday jam that really is much more of a jam, and I will be attending that next week with a fellow cafe member. I am hopeful it will prove to be a much better time.

Blind_Cowboy

Apr-07-2004, 3:33pm

Coy Wylie

Apr-07-2004, 3:34pm

Don't be discouraged. In my experience, there are so many "toe-tappers" around jams(some of them carry around intruments too http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif) that there is not a lot of pointedly asking people to join in. In fact the pickers are usually so focused on their music they pay little attention to who is standing by. Around here the commonly accepted practice is if you want to join in you are welcome but you probably won't receive an invitation. Hang in there, be a little assertive and all will be well.

duuuude

Apr-08-2004, 11:14am

Yeah Jiffy, hang in there & keep on lookin', I've found a couple of so-called jams around my area that are pretty-much closed jams a big part of the time. But kept lookin until I ran across a few that welcome newcomers, and started my own in the meantime.

It will happen for you as well, just check 'em all out 'til you find the one that fits. Kinda like lookin for the right mando, it's usually worth the wait!
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

jiffyfeet

Apr-08-2004, 11:49am

Thanks for all the kind words. I didn't let it get to me, and as I mentioned, another cafe member and I are going to attend another monthly event next Tuesday. I am sure I will find a place for myself somewhere.

Dru Lee Parsec

Apr-08-2004, 12:23pm

Jiffyfeet: #

I was just going to say that you have to come to the 2nd tuesday jam at Fuddruckers in Grossmont Center but it sounds like that's the one you're going to.

Hey wait a minute? #I didn't realize what your mando cafe handle was. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif #I Know You! #I'm the other cafe member!

Yeah, the 2nd tuesday jam a lot of fun. #There's much more jamming outside and very friendly people. #I may even buy you a beer. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

By the way #You will notice that the tuners on my Breedlove now look an aweful lot like the new tuners on your Breedlove. #I made the same swap that you did and I really like them. #See you there!

Man, I don't care who it is. If I see a guy with a case, I ask him to play. I was teaching guitar lessons for awhile and used to stop other instructor's students in the lobby and ask them to play a couple of bars. I couldn't imagine watching a musician walk off with his case closed knowing he wanted to play. Damned shame, I tell ya.

That is one great attitude. I ALWAYS want to play. If we ever walk past each other with an instrument case I hope we stop each other.

BostonPops

Apr-08-2004, 1:19pm

Dang Jiffy,

That just bummed me out. I was hoping you'd post this morning with a, "Woo hoo" or something similar.. I went to bed last night thinking, "There's two of us on different coasts doing the same thing. Cool"

Man, I don't care who it is. If I see a guy with a case, I ask him to play. I was teaching guitar lessons for awhile and used to stop other instructor's students in the lobby and ask them to play a couple of bars. I couldn't imagine watching a musician walk off with his case closed knowing he wanted to play. Damned shame, I tell ya.

Well, if it helps any. Some dude in Texas was standing next to you in spirit last night. (Oh, by the way. When we turned to go to the car, my spirit flipped the other guys off for ya. Bad spirit, bad. ):D
Man: "Honey, who is that guy following you?"

Woman: "I don't know, but he's freaking me out. I stopped by the shop to pick up your guitar like you asked and he followed me all the way home telling me to play with him. The pervert."

Man: "Call 911. I'm gonna go kick his ..."

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Michael H Geimer

Apr-08-2004, 2:44pm

"Man, I don't care who it is. If I see a guy with a case, I ask him to play."

Hey. I just had the Mid-mo out at lunch, and a guy walked by with a guitar, so I asked him if he wanted to pick, and we did! Nothin' monumental, just a great lunch hour.

- Benig