Forum - Banjo Ben Clark

My First Jam

#1

I’ve seen other folks post their first jam experience, so I figured I’d share mine too in hopes it’ll help someone. Well, first one outside of Cabin Camp. Probably nothing new here, just reinforcing what we’ve heard before:

  1. THE CASE - The weather was bad, so I showed up with my banjo in a Calton case, stickers and all. Apparently, a Calton makes people think you’re AMAZING. A very welcoming and talented banjo player told me afterwards “as soon as you walked in with that case, I thought this place was about to get turnt up!” So, I won’t do that again, but for an ever so brief moment, without playing a note, I was the best picker in Central Virginia. Ok, on to more serious stuff…
  2. THE SONGS - There were songs I’d never heard played in keys I’ve never played. This is a big win. One of my goals this year is to learn and play more by ear. I have some 1-4-5 homework to do so I can vamp along regardless of the key or capo placement. I was trying to watch the guitar players’ hands as he played in the key of E, with a capo on 2 but I was just a spectator at that point. I’ll get ‘em next time.
  3. LEAD - Have 1 or 2 songs you can kick off. Certainly not a requirement to have a good time, but you’ll be asked if there’s a song you want to play. The group will play at the speed you set. I kicked off Fireball Mail. I went well. I also kicked off Little Darlin Pal of Mind, it did not go well. Check that box.
  4. PRO TIP from one of the regulars - if you know the lyrics to a song, you only need to play long enough to get the group started, then just drop out and sing. The rest of the group will take it from there.
  5. DISCOMFORT – It took me 3 years to get over myself and go to a jam. Those 3 years of worthless anxiety was infinitely worse than the pain of reality. Just like exercising, the hardest part is putting on your shoes. No growth comes from being comfortable, so embrace a little discomfort like a warm blanket and then reap the benefits of growth.

A quote from one of the regulars “hey, I thought you sounded good. Unless someone asks you not to come back, you’re good enough to come back.” Me - Thanks?

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#2

That is an excellent tip! I find it very difficult to pick & sing at the same time. Then one day I noticed how often Earl would stop picking in order to sing.
No point in me screwing up two tasks!

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#3

Congratulations, @Brent.H! My first jam was with a professional group. I was borrowing one of their guitars, and, I was so nervous, I played the G chord a fret lower than it should be. That lead me to believe the guitar was out of tune, so I proceeded to try to tune it, but I got the tuning pegs missed up, so I got the guitar out of tune for real! Finally, I got everything ironed out, and I’ve played with them multiple times since then. As long as you didn’t do anything like that, you had a very successful jam! :rofl::rofl:

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#4

Great feedback and sound wisdom! Glad you enjoyed it!

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#5

Brave start, congrats!!
You like the “Me” quote(s), don’t you?! :wink:

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#6

I literally laughed out loud! I have to admit, I’m guilty of seeing a Calton case and thinking exactly what those folks thought.

You and me both. I had always assumed I’d be the worst picker at any jam session. Turns out, no one really cares how good you are as long as you try. Everyone I’ve picked with has been very encouraging… Even going as far as saying “I wanna do (fill in the song name.) Mark, can you kick this one off for me?”

Awesome to hear you had such a good experience.

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#7

I had the similar reaction when I took out my Stelling at a jam in Edinburgh. I even had one lady spectator who complained about how loud it was. I politely explained to her that my model didn’t come with a volume control. Needless to say I wasn’t invited back to that jam again. This for me was a big plus as I had no intention of ever returning. Reason: They had a dominant fiddle player who scratched away at his fiddle all night. There is one thing worse than a loud banjo is a scratchy fiddle player who can’t play a note to save himself.

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