We have the lamest blues jam ever
I live in a college town. There's a Wednesday night blues jam. Or 'free jam' as it's called. It used to have a cover charge, and the last time I went, in April, I complained about the cover but paid it. I sat there for 1 hour and 15 minutes, and my name was 2nd on the list, and waited and waited. They called up other players, bassists and drummers, and the guitar player was the same for a hour. The 'house band' guitarist, I guess, I knew the guy. So then in walks a dude carrying a guitar case, and when they finish the song, they call him up to play.
Im like.....well.....that's not right.
I'd heard from others that's how this thing was run, but thought I wouldn't have to wait. I run a guitar instruction facility, and like I said, I knew one dude in the group. So I said 'screw it' and left, mentioned something to the door guy. Vowed never to go back.
Last night we got hit with a snowstorm, and I was at my studio practicing. There was a Facebook post from the bar that said 'Jam is on, don't be a pansy, come on out!' So I thought, "Well, there will be no one there, I'll be able to play. It will be fun'
I get there about 1030, they finish a song, and the bassist goes 'hey, we better make a list!' And gets a piece of paper and puts it on a table near the stage. I put my name at the top of the list. The only one on it. They play 2 songs, I wait patiently. Then the bassist looks at the list, and calls the next person on the list, another bassist. He moves over to the keyboards. They play like 5 or 6 more songs with this lineup, and then the singer goes to the list. He looks at it and says 'Ok, let's get Jose up here on guitar!' And my name isn't Jose.
I was livid. I walked up and crossed my name off the list. I've done sound for the singer's band before, and he's a really nice guy, but I couldn't believe this happened. I said 'Dude, I braved this blizzard to sit here for an hour and watch OTHER people get called up? It's bullshiv. That's not right.'
To which he, and the bass/keyboard guy go 'Oh! Sorry! I didn't know....uh, come up and jam now!' with totally innocent looks on their faces. I sad "No, guys, I'm done. This is bullshiv, the last thing I want to do is play music with you.'
I left, and sent a calm email to the bar's FB page.
Im still upset and disappointed. It used to be a really awesome jam, and the place was packed. Everyone got to play, and the 'list' was followed. But now, no one goes, as on the two nights I was there, maybe 6 people were in the bar, total. As an instructor, when my students ask about it, I tell them 'Forget it, don't waste your time'
So, is this really the worst blues jam ever? Can there be worse than this?