Expert: Terrance Copley - 11/18/2007

Question
I and a friend play in an acoustic duet called The Greyhounds and have been asked by the place we play to start an open jam night which we feel should include acoustic and electric musicians. I already have a drummer involved. Do you have any ideas to share about promoting, making things run smoothly,time management etc? Thanks -Rich

Answer
Oh ya...Ive done this several times in the past 23 years where the band is was in at the time would host jam session (aka open mike ) on Sunday after noons. First is to have all the basics ready. You have a drummer and i assume you have a P.A. You need to check with the drummer to make sure its ok for players to use his drums if there is no room for 2 drums sets on stage. As a working musician, i know how it is when others use your stuff so make sure this base is covered just in case you have a drummer or a band with a drummer who wants to jam. One of the things that works for us is we would play 2 songs so that if there was a band, they would have time to set up next to us. Another thing we did was we had a sign up sheet for musicians/singers who wanted to jam with us that did not have a band. we had them write down there name, what they played or sang and what the song was they wanted to do...BE ADVISED....... YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE SONG AS WELL IF YOU ARE TO BACK THEM ! The best thing to do is to have a copy of your master song list available for musicians to look at and pick from, this way you know the song ! guest bands will know their songs and solo musicians will know theirs too. We would limit 1 or 2 songs from the artists in a row then we would play a few and so on. It depends on how many sign up. Please let them know they they should not perform offensive songs Ect !

MARKETING/PROMOTION

The club is responsible or should be for this. newspapers, radio, word of mouth and lots of advertisement posters in the club. Make sure you also put these up where musicians hang out like music stores ect.....
WANNA GET EVEN WITH FRIGGIN KARAOKE ???
you can put out the word to these people that they sing with a real band.

One more thing, in order to please almost everyone, make sure you are able to play several different styles of music, ask people to bring in the sheet music if they have it or get it off line and above all.......

be nice and they will come back and make sure they know they time limits of 1 or 2 songs.
you will get people that suck.....but thats the the fun part for you guys !

hope this helps

Terry Copley
The Catz in the Hatz (a rock band now playing jazz )
Rhombus Records
2008 Grammy Nominee's
New Jazz Artist of the year.