Blues Guitar Jams And How Your Band Can Profit From Them--No Kidding

By Mark Grove

This is an important post for guitar players and bands who are stuck spinning their wheels in local bands,and just going to jam sessions.Believe it or not you can succeed using jam sessions at a blues club to springboard to bigger and better things as a guitar player.

Most guitar players need to start their own band and jam with others to get leverage in the music business.There are a number of ways to help other players at jams,and start your own music
business,all from helping blues artists at club jam sessions.

My last article was on blues guitar jamming and how to become a better player by listening,yes listening. Anyway, a lot of players mainly just jam with their own band and players they know.

You should play guitar with people you don't know as well. This will give you an indication of how well you play with others and how good or bad you are.

Think about that!

You might be able to play fast chords and riffs, yet when it comes to mid-tempo and slow blues chords a local guitar jammer might be better than you 10 fold. They may be able to teach you a  thing or two. Don't think so? Get over it.

Okay, to the making money thing....

If your blues band plays clubs regionally in California, New York and Florida, or here in Canada. When you play these clubs make it out to their jam sessions,and bring a small practice amp.


Do this to learn something, not show your chops. By jamming with local players where you gig, you learn from others and learn how to play with others and develop relationships that may lead to session work for you. Or when you need a guitar player for live or studio work you can get a player who's playing you know.

As well, your band can give back by interviewing blues guitar players in the cities you play in and put those interviews on your site or blog. And you can put those interviews on the internet live through http://ustream.tv  and it's free.

This is giving back,and it brings back 100 fold to your band. Like I said in an earlier article, creating value for other players and blues bands doing interviews, and writing articles for them will help give them a leg up.

Okay, so this article has been more about helping other blues guys than making money.

Okay, if you've developed a good relationship with a player and their band is looking to get booked regularly, become their agent.

Why not?

You're helping blues artists and you can make money by booking them. You can get 10 percent of what they make. That's better than what pro athlete agents make. If blues artists see you're helping other blues men with press-kits and booking,others will follow suit.

When they see you do the writing press-kit material for free, and are getting gigs for other blues guys, they'll follow suit. Its all about helping others that will eventually make money for your band and music business.

Okay, you have to actually put in work as a booking agent for other blues artists. Learn from the American Federation Of Musicians who can teach you to be an agent and know how contracts work, and get work for other musicians and guitar players besides blues guys.

Think about it, if you have a band making money gigging regionally, and are booking other blues bands, the potential for making money is well over a thousand dollars a week extra in your band's pocket.

Okay, back to jamming.

Okay,we've talked about going to jams where your band plays in different cities. If your band is at the end of a regional touring cycle and taking a week or two off for practice and recording, play a jam in your hometown and keep doing the same with writing press-kit material, interviewing and booking local blues bands.

Yeah, its a lot of work isnt it?

Hire someone to be an administrator or help in your business for a small stipend. I know you're thinking that you can't possibly do all this. If your blues band has any guts at all they'll divide up duties and share in the profits.

You cant do it all. And take one of the blues or rock bands you write for and interview to open up for your band locally and some of your regional dates.

Oh, I almost forgot. Do Question and answer sessions after gigs for blues lads you are writing and booking for. Don't do it to promote your band, do it to help that band strictly.

Jamming, creating value for other blues bands will eventually help you get better gigs and get other blues men where they want to be. Its a lot of free work isnt it?


Create massive value for other musicians and you will get a lot of good karma back. You'll become a better player as well.

Don't just be into it for being the best player around and making money.

Help other guitar players to help others and do what they want,and that's play and let others enjoy their music.

Mark Grove