How often would you go to a steel jam?

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 13 Nov 2002 3:40 pm

I'm trying to decide how frequently to schedule steel guitar jam sessions. I've hosted two recently (8/02 and 11/02) and about a dozen and a half steelers attended each. For all of you jam goers out there (not just folks who come to the San Jose gatherings), how often would you want jams in your area to be held? Every month? Two months? Three? Six? How about weekly?

George McLellan · Post by **George McLellan** » 13 Nov 2002 3:43 pm

They were held twice a year here in Minnesota but were called Steel Guitar Showcases. They were discontinued about a year or so ago and I sure miss them.

------------------
SUAS U' PHIOB
Geo

Bob Hayes · Post by **Bob Hayes** » 13 Nov 2002 4:22 pm

I've been attending various Steel Jams/Shows about every 2 months..within about a 350 nile radious of East Tennessee...I've had a great time at each one that I've attended...So I would say that is a good figure,
Grouchyvet

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 13 Nov 2002 4:26 pm

I'd probably only be able to attend every three months or so. The first jam I attended was GREAT - highly recommended for all steel players!

------------------
Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

David Decker · Post by **David Decker** » 13 Nov 2002 5:45 pm

Hummingbird Music has a steel jam every month thru the winter. They take off June, July, and Aug. They average 20 steel players. I think the most was 27 last Nov. 2001. It goes from 1:00 P.M. till 7:00 P.M. on Sundays. They stage four at a time. All steel players pick a number from a container. Then they start with the lowest number and work up. The steel player with the lowest number each set stays up to play the next set also. It's a great time, and the system works real well.

Kline U-12, Emmons D-10, Evans FET-500-LV

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 13 Nov 2002 9:30 pm

At my age, I'd likely only attend once each six months. Too many other things to do musically and with the Forum.
I've driven 7.5 hours to attend one in Spokane, twice now, but it's a bit far to do more than once per year. The host was superior; the program well planned; and, the folks attending were super people.
I'd enjoy some other area events, closer to home I do believe.

Mike Weirauch · Post by **Mike Weirauch** » 13 Nov 2002 9:36 pm

The NTSGA has a Superjam every three months. (January, April, July & October) There are usually 9 players and the attendance will run anywhere from 100 to 250.

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 13 Nov 2002 11:12 pm

Damn Mike,I was gonna say that.

------------------
<pre> ~ ~
©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.
www.ntsga.com</pre>

Mike Weirauch · Post by **Mike Weirauch** » 14 Nov 2002 5:59 am

Damn Mike,I was gonna say that

......But I beatcha to it, Mr. VEEP!

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 14 Nov 2002 7:33 am

Hmmmm.... sounds like there can be a lot of variation in how jams are set up! I think I should clarify the type of jam I'm talking about. It's not a "performance" jam where a small group of select players take turns in front of a large audience, but rather it's a gathering of steelers who all set up their rigs in a circle and take turns playing a verse or chorus (or both) to BIAB tracks. Very casual, and rather all-encompassing. Of course, a lot of socialization happens on the sidelines, too. It runs long (10am-8pm) so people can come and go as their schedules permit. It's also held on Saturdays. I think I also should have talked about driving distance--I'd say up to 4 hours road time would be reasonable (beyond that would be the exception).

So, how often would y'all be interested in attending a jam if it were to consist of....

* 6-18 players,
* who all take turns playing in a big circle,
* that is held on Saturdays, and
* that is within four hours of home?

Thanks!

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 14 Nov 2002 7:41 am

Bill,
The Southwest Michigan Steel Guitar Club was in existence for the first six years I played and I was fortunate to be a founding member. Our first president was a veteran, so we got one of the local VFWs to spring for the room. We bought drinks and food and they were happy. At one time, we had as many as 20 steel guitars -- lap, pedal, reso -- and a volunteer backup band (mostly other steel players who played guitar, bass, and drums).

We met once a month and that seemed about right. Good luck. It was an experience of a lifetime. Players I met through that club are still dear friends today.

------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro

Keith DeLong · Post by **Keith DeLong** » 14 Nov 2002 8:14 am

The Atlantic Steel Guitar Club has a jam every month from September to June, we have a couple of regular singers and a bass player, attendance varies between 8-20 members. We have many members from around the Atlantic Provinces who don't attend the jams but they receive a neswsletter with news, photos, and tabs, and items to buy and sell. We skip December, but so far there is enough interest to keep it going once a month.
Keith DeLong
Nova Scotia Canada

John Gretzinger · Post by **John Gretzinger** » 14 Nov 2002 9:06 am

I'd love to see something here in the LA area. I've only been to one jam - the only one I have heard of in advance - and that has been over a year ago.

Something quarterly would be nice (actually, I'd like to go to one every week so I can learn more).

jdg

------------------
MSA D-10 w/Nashville 400
'63 Gibson Hummingbird
16/15c Hammered Dulcimer

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 14 Nov 2002 11:28 am

The problem with jams is that they are always scheduled so they conflict with work! Now if they could have them on Monday and Tuesday?.....

Larry Chung · Post by **Larry Chung** » 14 Nov 2002 11:38 am

Hi Bill:

I'd be interested in more than once every three months - I do play with a band, and play other instruments with other bands, and have a job and a life (but not a wife!). I'm just starting out, too, so every chance to play is helpful, especially in a friendly, accepting environment - I still get nervous!

I appreciate the opportunity to watch and listen and learn - and also to talk with other steelers. Once a month would be great - I promise to show up a little earlier, too.

Best,
larry

------------------
Larry Chung
ZB D-10 8+4; ZB Custom S-11 4+4; ZB Student Model 3+1 Yeeeeahhh, Bay-Bee.

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 14 Nov 2002 9:17 pm

Bill - We do that circle jam thing, once a year at Trufant,Mich.

It is a lot of fun and there are some great players there, but no Stars.

I wish we could do it on a quarterly basis. We get about 20 there and a dish to pass.

Clayton Lyons and Gene Caulkins , just two of our many top notch Michigan Pickers put the show on every year......Al

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 14 Nov 2002 11:57 pm

Gene,
Our's are ALWAYS on a Tuesday! Why don't you make one sometime?

------------------
<pre> ~ ~
©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.
www.ntsga.com</pre>

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 15 Nov 2002 12:41 am

I'd like to attend 2 or 3 a year. if they occur too often, they become routine.

There WILL be a steel jam here in L.A. on Frbruary 8. It's allready set up. All you So Cal players, mark the date. I'll post more information as the time approaches.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 15 Nov 2002 4:40 am

Hey Smiley that's a great start.....now, if you will alternate Tuesdays between Nashville and Oklahoma City I'll be there for at least half of the jams!

Gene

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 16 Nov 2002 9:27 am

Mike, I think you have a good point. I wouldn't want the jams to become so commonplace that the novelty is lost and they aren't fun anymore. But at the same time, attendees needn't come to every jam. If they were held every month or two, folks who don't want to get too much of it would just come as they see fitting. Relatively frequent jams would also make it more likely that at least some of the jams would fit into people's busy schedules. I got a lot of "I wish I could make it but can't this time!" for the Nov jam. I was also thinking that if an LA jam and a San Jose jam were scheduled too close together some attendees might be lost from one to the other. But since they are separated by 400 miles I think that's not too much of a concern (any comments on that?).

So now I'm debating going for early Jan 2003 or waiting until mid/late March. I may stick to three month intervals after that, though two month spacing is kind of appealing....

Bob Snelgrove · Post by **Bob Snelgrove** » 17 Nov 2002 9:16 am

I agree with Mike.

Too often might take some of the "magic" out of it. Of course, my first was the last one w/ Jay Dee and I don't think that magic will ever be repeated!

bob

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 18 Nov 2002 4:29 am

I'm fortunate to have two kinda local. I plan on attending the North Carolina jams
( MASGC) every three months or so and also attend the Saluda jams if I can fit them in to our work schedule. Next year ( 2003) I probably will venture off into Tenn. for one of those jams as well.

The jams are great, even if you don't plan on playing, it's great to see and meet all the players and listeners alike.

tp

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 20 Nov 2002 7:35 am

Hmmmm.... mixed sentiments along this thread. Maybe once every three months is still ok. Since there's a jam coming in LA in February as it is, I'll need to work around that. Maybe March. I just enjoy them so much I don't like long waits between them.

Here's the link to the LA jam:

http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum4/HTML/003412.html

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 20 Nov 2002 8:29 am

Maybe 3 or 4 times a year...if there was enough variety.