Fisher’s Jam Hole

Acoustic Circle Etiquette

Hosts: Marc & Tommy Joe Fisher

Secretary: Sheila Blakely



To Everybody
The Fisher’s Jam Hole wants to welcome those who are here to have FUN, make FRIENDS, and who love MUSIC. We encourage you to share the experience by bringing like-minded friends and family. Please be courteous and polite:
1. No BAD VIBES or BAD ATTITUDES or DRAMA… if you’re not here to have a good time, please go home.
2. If you must be critical or have a confrontation; PRIVATELY take it out of earshot…
3. Mind the audience…watch your language and behavior if children or “sensitive people” are present.
4. If you bring children, they are your responsibility. Teach them to respect the music and the Jam Hole. If you cannot control or discipline your child, do not be offended if someone else does. Same thing goes for dogs.
5. If the circle is crowded and you are not a player, please do not sit in the immediate circle…offer your chair to a player.
6. NO SMOKING inside the building when there are large crowds or during cold weather when the doors are closed.
7. Clean up after yourself and others. If you see something that should be done…DO IT!
8. Please contribute what you can…pay dues and make contributions (of money, paper towels, toilet paper, etc.).

Do Not Disrupt The Music:
This is a social event focused on music…most of us came to play, sing, or listen and players need to hear the nuances of the music… the circle cannot be heard when lots of people are talking…so, please:
1. Keep your voices down…please step away from the circle if you must have loud or extended conversations - especially if you are in the circle.
2. Newbies are often not aware of how loudly they are talking. If you are a “regular”, please help the circle by asking newbies to keep their voices down.
3. Do not take offense if you are “hushed” by others, for you were the first to give offense.
4. Do not interrupt players during a song. Wait for a break to exchange greetings, farewells, etc.
5. Do not fire up and rev your motorcycles during a song. Please wait for a break.
6. Singing along is encouraged, but - unless otherwise requested - this is usually reserved for choruses or for harmonies.
7. Groups that split off should sit far away enough and lower their volume so they don't disrupt the main circle.

Circle Czar
The circle czar is in charge of keeping the circle moving in an orderly fashion. Tommy Joe Fisher or his designee will act as the circle czar. In Tommy’s absence, Sheila Blakely or her designee will act as the circle czar.
1. The circle will normally move in a counter-clockwise direction, but may be reordered by the czar.
2. The czar may interrupt the circle to honor a guest musician or group requests.
3. The czar may ask players to exchange seats for balance and variety to keep two of the same instruments from standing next to each other.
4. The czar may request a change in musical genre. If there are too many ballads in a row, the czar may ask that the song leaders choose more up-tempo tunes for awhile.

All Players
Everyone - regardless of musical ability - is invited and encouraged to join the circle. Participating in the circle is a privilege…not a right…and jamming is an exercise in sharing and cooperation. These rules apply within the circle:
1. Abide by the czar’s instructions.
2. Respect other players. Remember, everybody was once a beginner. Make this a positive experience for all…
3. Curb your ego…”stars” or “guitar gods” are not welcome.
4. Be quiet and respectful once a song has started.
5. Do not “noodle” in the circle - especially during songs.
6. Be in TUNE…tune carefully…tune often…tune before it is your turn. Do not tune in the middle of a song.
7. Play in accord in with the other musicians…do not hijack the timbre or the tempo.
8. Watch your volume. If you cannot clearly hear the song leader or soloist - you’re probably playing too loud.
9. If the song is unfamiliar, listen before joining in - and take a break if you don’t know what you’re doing.
10. Watch other players for visual signs to slow down, speed up, sit out, take a lead, end the song, etc.
11. When the song is over quit playing!
12. Never play loudly into anyone's ear.
13. Jams are not practice sessions or music lessons. If you want to learn or practice, take it out of the circle.
14. Be aware of your level of intoxication. One player “under the influence” can really wreck a jam.
15. No jam-busting. Those who interrupt the circle, take turns out of order, play multiple songs in a row, etc. can cause the jam to break up. You may be guilty if people start leaving the circle shortly after you’ve arrived.

Taking Turns
The circle will normally move in a counter-clockwise direction unless reordered by the czar.
1. Everybody in the circle gets a “turn” - including instrumentalists and vocalists. When it’s your turn, you may request accompaniment from other musicians. The other musicians do not forfeit their turn because they participated as an accompanist.
2. Players may skip their turn at their discretion - not at the discretion of others.
3. If a new player joins “mid-circle”, the circle will make a complete rotation before it becomes the new player’s turn.
4. If you leave the circle for an extended period of time and rejoin “mid-circle”, the circle will make a complete rotation before it becomes your turn again.
5. If you inadvertently get “skipped” in the circle - or see it happen to another player - call attention to the oversight immediately.
6. Medleys of multiple songs may count as more than one “turn”. The czar reserves the right to ask a “medley player” to skip his next turn because they have already taken more than their allotted time.

Song Leader
When it is their turn, the song leader will start and end the song:
1. Know what you are going to play before it is your turn and know the song from beginning to end.
2. Try to stay with familiar songs…obscure and difficult tunes are difficult to jam with.
3. A song should last no more than 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Keep song introductions down to less than 1-minute.
5. Announce the song's key and/or chords before starting.
6. During the song, designate solos to the jammers by calling out, nodding, or “pointing” with your foot.
7. Try to give every jammer / soloist a turn. If there are too many musicians, the next song leader should give preference to the jammers that were left out.
8. Indicate the end of the song by saying something like “One more time” or by lifting your foot.

Jammers / Soloists
1. Not every song was intended to have instrumental breaks and should be left that way.
2. Solid rhythm is essential to good jamming. If you are the primary rhythm provider, do not play a lead unless another player can carry the rhythm.
3. Feel free to fill in with stanza breaks, walk-ups, walk-downs, lead ins, and other embellishments - but don’t play over the vocal stanzas. Share embellishments with other jammers.
4. The song leader will designate solos to the jammers by calling out, nodding, or “pointing” with their foot…otherwise, solos go around counter-clockwise.
5. Indicate your desire to play a solo by making eye contact with the song leader.
6. Jammers may skip their turn at their discretion. Signal your pass by taking a step back or shaking your head.
7. Jammers should clearly signal the next player in the circle if they want them to take over or join with them.
8. Don't be a jam hog. Share the circle and let everyone have a chance at leading.

Percussionists
1. If you start a song…please, finish the song. Don’t get distracted in mid-tune.
2. Drums can get LOUD…match your volume to the song. Play with brushes rather than sticks.
3. If there is more than one percussionist, work together - this is not the time to show off your individual ability. Do not singlehandedly alter the beat.

If The Circle Gets Too Large:
1. Keep your eye out - make room for new players so they can enter the circle and feel welcome to do so.
2. If you are not a player or vocalist, please do not sit in the immediate circle…offer your chair to a player.
3. If you are a jammer that will not lead songs or if you have a large instrument (drums, upright bass, etc.) please move immediately behind the main circle…be careful not to play directly into another player’s ear.
4. Tag team by leaving the circle after playing a few tunes and encourage a sideliner to take your place.

Bibliography

MUHL5321 Topics in Ethnomusicology

2^nd Draft Bibliography

Nov. 2^nd, 2009

Roger Landes

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