I've finally convinced my parents to take me to some blues jams around town! I've never really been to an open mic night before, and I'm not really sure how everything works. What do I bring and are there any unwritten laws about blues jams that I should know about? Is it going to be more difficult to get up and play if no one knows me? Apparently I still look like I'm 14. So hopefully that won't be a problem.

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Bring your guitar and try to find out if you need an amp. Not all bands/clubs that host open mic nights supply amps. Just watch your sound levels. Nothing worse than someone overpowering everything else in the host band.

Find out what the rules are. In Pa, if there is smoking allowed in the bar, you have to be either 18 or 21 to even enter, it varies with the state and local laws.
I you can get in, just have fun. I've seen some amazing young people at open mic nights.

It might not be a bad idea to call ahead TGS.Just to find out if it is indeed a true open blues jam or if they have guests come in play. I like to go and observe first to scope out what type of blues jam it is.They may actually have several bands playing that night or maybe they may just have an acoustic jam that night.Nothing worse than showing up with your strat and finding out its an acoustic jam. . Different places have different ways of doing a "jam". Good luck and have fun.

Call the venue and find out who's "organising" the night. Quite often there'll be some dude MCing the night and doing a run list. They should be able to tell you what you need to know.

Otherwise just rock up to a couple and just watch what happens and then once you feel confident, bring your guitar to one.

Good luck!

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MIM Std Tele, MIM HSS Strat, Homemade Mongrel Tele, Blues Jr, Champ600, coupla pedals...sweeeet!

Most places will have amps, although I agree it's worth checking out beforehand. You don't ever want to have to ask to borrow gear. Most jams that I've seen have a house band, which might even be just a rhythm section; they just back up whoever wants to come up and play. Usually, as has been said, there is an MC -- typically some guy who will play the first few songs to get everyone loose.

Golden rules:

Thou shall not get drunk.

Thou shall not play songs that people know, or can easily figure out. Layla, for instance, is not a good choice. Thou shall also tell the other people what you're doing: stage communication is critical.

Thou shall have fun!

+100.......and......if you don't feel yourself equal to the level of talent you are seeing, continue to develop your chops until you feel comfortable to stand on that stage in comfort. Better yet, perhaps there is a venue where you can stand with equals. Many of us were fourteen once, and remember where we were then.

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"Another day in paradise!"

Well, I just went by there to try and see some live music and discovered that there's this certain rule about not getting in unless you're 21. Which means I have to wait a good four years before I can go see bands that I want to see. But the good news is that all ages are welcome for the jam, and I'm sure it's electric. I'm not sure about the amp situation though. I'll bring my Peavey and leave it in the car in case I need it. I'm not sure what to play though. I haven't really been playing blues long enough to know very many songs all the way through, and I sure can't sing. I could always volunteer to play rhythm guitar for other people, but chances are it'll be a song that I haven't heard or that I don't know how to play.

Here's what I can play, which of these would be a good choice? I'm really trying to learn songs other than the ones SRV played, honest. These are just the ones I'm confident playing, start to finish.
-Texas Flood
-Hide Away
-Tell Me
-Tightrope
-They Call Me Guitar Hurricane
-The House is Rockin'
-The Killing Floor
-Smokestack Lightnin'

And rock,
-Purple Haze (Probably not a good idea.)
-Crossroads
-Sunshine of Your Love

And/or I know I could probably just improvise something and jam. And I have a couple of days to brush up on my rhythm playing and maybe work up some more songs. I really hope they have a singer. I'm going to bring lyrics for sure and charts if I can, so there's less of a chance of a train wreck. It's ok to bring charts to a blues jam, right? Or is that not a good idea?

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You have a pretty fair selection for start but your comment about a vocalist gives me concern. Suggest you start out as an observer rather than a participant. You may find that this is a singer/player gig. You'd not likely find yourself backing a vocalist as a lead guitarist with the songs you chosen.

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"Another day in paradise!"

Yeah, it's kind of frustrating not being able to sing. I think that watching at first would probably be a good idea since this is my first time and everything. I'll still bring my guitar just in case, but I guess I shouldn't push it.

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Work on/refine your chops. Consider exploring instrumental virtuosos like Beck, Satriani, Vai, Johnson, Buchanan. You're going to need a backing band or tracks for that, but it will certainly broaden your musical palette.

Seek a group of your musical peers, players of equal skill, with whom you can mutually hone your abilities.

Be patient and persistent. You will find a niche.

Doc

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"Another day in paradise!"

Tex just bring your ax and get there early and mingle with the other players. Strike up a conversation about maybe two or three of ya just throwing down on a blues jam in E or A and that you guys will just trade off . I am sure you will find willing players, I have to say the younger players on the forum are doing us proud and are at a great time in there lives. Keep the Fender flag flying and good luck

Well....I just finished watching "Rush in Rio" on VH1 and it's time for me to sign off the 'don't get much sleep club' for the evening. Will catch you all on the rewind.

Rock on

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"Another day in paradise!"

TGS, I am in the same boat that you are .I usually bring the singer from my band with me , but there is one place here in town that allow you to sit in with the house band.They will play a "blues jam in a" or such and after getting to know them a little bit, they know songs that I know. It works out very nice.

Texas, you'll love jamming with others and will learn a lot more playing with others that are at a higher level than yourself. Most musicians love to pass on advice and tricks they've learned. Enjoy! Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.