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Mutlu
by Gary E. Andrews - 04/15/24 07:08 PM
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Leafs
by Gary E. Andrews - 04/05/24 01:49 PM
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A lot of the recent topics got me thinking about this one.
Playing out, there are many different venues, from the "three and out" at an open mic to the grueling 4 hours of covers in a dark and smoky bar.
There are a lot of other opportunities in between.
I have found a lot of satisfaction with playing on small to large stages at different sizes and genre of music festivals, and the respective campfire jams in the evenings.
There are some other "in town" jams going on, but most are late on week nights.
Would like to know of open jams that are going on during reasonable hours for working people, where you can go in, not drag a ton of gear.
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That's a good question.
For me, the ideal gig would be a half hour set where I'm not supplying the PA, and there'd be a large crowd and I get paid, even if it's just a little bit. That satisfies all three of my fave requirements - I don't like playing 3 hours, I don't like playing for 3 people, and I don't like playing for free.
But of those three factors, the size of the crowd is most important. I will not play to empty seats any more. I mean, sometimes it happens despite your best planning, but let's face it, there are some venues who will book you but they've got no customers (ever.) I don't need to name those venues here. I stopped playing at a few places because they were just too dead. I no longer need the experience and it's not worth my time.
I'm VERY interested in playing folk festivals and that's something that I'm starting to try to work on. Won't make any money but will have the opportunity to play in front of decent crowds. Money is the least important of the three factors.
Actually there's an unwritten fourth factor that most of us probably also consider - don't play your music in front of people who hate your style of music. LOL!
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Murphy's in Clearwater 25000 Hwy 19 Monday's 8-11 pm. You can either jam with the band,Gator tooth,or bring your own band. Complete PA and drum kit are supplied.
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John Kelley's Hide Away Cafe on central avenue in St.Petersburg. Thursdays starting around 7:30. Open mic more than open jam.
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I'm VERY interested in playing folk festivals and that's something that I'm starting to try to work on. Richard, Check out http://www.FOFF.org
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I will not play to empty seats any more. I mean, sometimes it happens despite your best planning, but let's face it, there are some venues who will book you but they've got no customers (ever.) I don't need to name those venues here. I stopped playing at a few places because they were just too dead. I no longer need the experience and it's not worth my time.
I believe I have played at a couple of the same places you have. No more!
I'm VERY interested in playing folk festivals and that's something that I'm starting to try to work on.
Sounds like you know what you want and that is half the battle.
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A couple of other open mics I am aware of through friends (I have not been to them):
Got Wine and Cigars in Dunedin, Tuesday evenings.
Three Birds Tavern (formerly Cockney Rebel) in St, Pete on 4th St N, Thursday evenings.
In addition to some of the other "wants" mentioned above, I will not play at places with poor sound systems. If I am not using my own PA, the person in charge of the house PA needs to set it up properly and pay attention to the mix. That includes using functional reverb, setting the EQ so it is not total mud, and playing it loud enough to compete with TVs and crowd noise. Without that, you will sound crappy even if it is the best performance of your life.
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Steve, thanks for the URL - I'll definitely check it out.
I've just started working on the songs for my next CD - one of the songs I'm writing is about my grandfather, who fought in WW2 on a PT boat in the Pacific. Should be a good story in there somewhere. The funny thing is that I'm writing story songs and playing them on acoustic guitar, so apparently it's "folk" music. But I don't use traditional folk melodies or anything. I don't listen to any folk music.
Just goes to show how silly categories are, but people insist on putting everything in boxes with labels. I guess I'm folk/pop or something.
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Jolli Mons in Dunedin has their open mic on Mondays. 7-10pm. The only empty room that I perform in is at home.
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I'm writing story songs and playing them on acoustic guitar, so apparently it's "folk" music. But I don't use traditional folk melodies or anything. I don't listen to any folk music.
Just goes to show how silly categories are, but people insist on putting everything in boxes with labels. I guess I'm folk/pop or something.
Richard, you should have no trouble at the folk festivals. You will be memorable because of your talent and because you won't sound like everybody else.
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