Jam Etiquette

Welcome to the North Bend Jam. To help make this jam enjoyable for yourself and others, please review the following considerations and jam etiquette.

~ What You Should Know ~

The senior center is a smoke and alcohol free site. Please be considerate to help keep the center clean and easy to reset at the end of the evening.

The Mount Si Senior Center is an organization that helps promote actvities and well being for Snoqualmie Valley seniors and community members. Know you'll have appreciative listeners enjoying the jam. If you bring children, please be aware of their activities and help them get settled in to enjoy the evening.

The North Bend Jam does not host a potluck meal. Food and beverage is available in town. Across the street from the center are restaurants ranging in style from Mexican, Terriayki, Seafood, Pizza, Coffee and Burgers. Other places are nearby within walking distance.

~ Jamming ~

We often have visitors from the community who come and enjoy listening to bluegrass music. Know you'll have an appreciative audience that will gather around you.

If you are a listener, you can help musicians by keeping conversation to a quiet level. Conversations near players can be a distraction. Sounds that are loud from a distance can be problematic. Players need to hear subtle harmonies, breaks and changes to be able to follow along.

If you are a player and want to join a small jam, players are eager to welcome other folks. It's always good form to ask if you can sit in. Some jams are small for a reason. Check with the players before assuming your participation is welcome.

Music at the jam is acoustic and rooted in the bluegrass genre. Bluegrass instrumentation is usually made up of guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, bass and dobro. If you play a different instrument, check with the folks you want to sit in with.

This is a great place to learn how a jam works, lead songs, try something new and take risks in a supportive place. Song selection is rotated clockwise around the circle. This allows everyone turns, share and know who has the song selection. If you are new to bluegrass, learning an instrument or want to learn bluegrass tunes from others, come join us!

Acoustics in the rooms carry sound well. This is especially true when the group is a large gathering of players. When playing, please do the following to help keep the circle going, playable and enjoyable for all.

Be aware of your volume to your neighbor and others. If in doubt play softer rather than louder.

Support the person leading the song by allowing their contribution to be heard by all, i.e. singing, chording, breaks, etc...

When breaks are taken, play backup quietly. The sum of the circle can easily drown out breaks.

Be aware how breaks are offered. Sometimes they rotate clockwise. Other
times they may be called by the person leading the song. Acknowledge the breaker or leader of the song with a nod if you want to take a break before it comes to you. If you decide to pass, you want the leader or the next person to know it is coming their way. This helps keep the song going and avoids a jam buster. Eye contact is key!

~ Discouraged? Don't Be ~

Sometimes a jam circle is small for a reason. Folks choose to play together in this configuration to have their jam controlled. Often one can learn by listening to what takes place in this setting. Don't be disappointed if they choose to keep their jam closed.