From: AM@highwire.net   
      
   "bogul"  wrote in message   
   news:Xns966E658475259bugulbugus@129.250.170.91...   
   > LOL... U guys still going at it?   
   >   
   > I went to my town's bluegrass jam last night. 1 acoustic bass, 1 elec   
   > bass, 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.   
      
   A very wise decision, indeed, in your particular case, Bogul.   
      
   I had a very enjoyable jam with a gypsy accordianist and a guy bowing a saw   
   this week - - - in an un"organ"ized setting on a town plaza in beautiful   
   weather with a lot of people enjoying and tipping this act - - - for its   
   unconventionality.   
      
   AM   
   --   
   ***************************************************   
   "Oneness is not achieved through conformity or subordination, but   
   through the full expression of everyone's unique piece of the puzzle."   
     --AM, the Synthesist   
   ***************************************************   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)