Read this before your first one
How it works
The shape of a Tuesday night, what to bring, and how to get on the list — whether you're a soloist with a backing track, a band wanting a set, or someone who just wants to play with other people.
- Doors / setup
- Gear load-in, setup and check-ins happen before the start time
- House band set
- About half an hour to open the night
- Then
- Guest bands, soloists and walk-ins, in whatever order the night takes
- Sign-up
- Online signup coming soon...
The running order
What happens, roughly in this order
Nothing here is rigid. The order shifts with who turned up and what the room wants, and that improvised quality is the point — but this is the shape it usually takes.
Setup and checkin 6:45 pm
The house band sets up the backline. Coordinate with Nate for sign-in. If you're here for the jam, no worries if you miss the sign-in. You'll get a chance to sit in later.
About 45 minutesThe house band opens 7:30 pm
The Turn Ups work out a short set, about half an hour, and kick the night off. It also doubles as the sound check for everything that follows.
About 30 minutesMain event starts at 8 pm, ends roughly at 10 pm
Guest bands
Full groups play short sets — covers, their own material, or both. A band changeover means swapping instruments and resetting a few channels, so guest sets get grouped where possible rather than scattered through the night.
Short sets, back to backSoloists take a turn
Some play to a backing track off a phone or laptop, plugged into the board. Others ask the house band to back them — see below for how to make that easy.
A song or two eachOpen Jam
The part that makes it an open jam rather than an open mic. Players who came alone get put together with whoever else is up, and the house band fills in the gaps.
Until the night endsGetting on the list
How to get a slot
- 01Bands — get in touch ahead of time. Band sets need to be planned around changeovers, so this is the one that really wants notice.
- 02Soloists — sign up on the night, or ahead of time once the signup form is up. Say whether you're bringing a backing track or want the house band behind you.
- 03Walk-ins — just tell the house band you want to play. That's the whole process.
If you want the house band to back you, name the song and the key when you sign up. They can cover a lot, but the answer is much faster — and much more likely to be yes — when they've seen the request before you're already on stage.*
Gear
What's provided, and what to bring
The venue's system, indoor or outdoor depending on the season.
Guitar and bass amps, keys, drums, mics, mixer, and DI. All of it belongs to the house band.
Guitar, bass, horn, whatever you play. Plus sticks if you're particular about them.
Pedalboards and amps are welcome if you'd rather use yours.
On a phone or laptop with a headphone or USB-C out. Have it cued before you're up.
Already handled.
First time
If you've never been
Come a bit early. The setup happens in the open, so it's an easy time to find the house band and say what you'd like to do. Tell them your instrument and whether you have something specific you want to play — that's enough for them to slot you in.
You don't need a set worked out, and you don't need to be good. The house band are working musicians who spend their week adapting to other people's playing; sitting in with someone new is the normal case, not a favour.
The uncertainty is the fun part. Figuring out on the fly what to play with people you've just met is what makes it a jam instead of a recital.
Still to come
Coming Soon...
- 01A signup list — so you can communicate before Tuesday if you have something specific to what you want to play, as a soloist, with a band, or in a jam.
- 02A songlist — what the house band can back you on, so the answer isn't a guess.
Neither replaces the walk-in. Turning up with nothing arranged will always work here, although early signup helps immensely when you already know wnat you want to play.