For all those currently sitting behind a laptop at home this evening with a cuppa whatever...my feeling is that gig patrons can be both adult and wild if they choose to be. There will be some that ruffle your feathers while you try to talk to a crowd. Reserve your best musician's jokes for an unruly crowd.
Thankfully, when I used to help close out the evening at a blues jam many years ago, both the house band and bar patrons were full of food, drink and mirth. My lead guitarist buddy Tommy W. and I would play with the house band for about 45 minutes until the jam host signaled to wrap it up.
Whatever crowd was still remaining at 12:30 AM would be the last of the house band faithful...more sensible patrons had already enjoyed their evening and had already gone home. Either rides were arranged, or spouses were asked to come retrieve their loved ones so all made it home safely.
Even though there might be someone who couldn't holds his/her liquor, each was treated equally. Contrary to more recent times, there were no incidents of fighting or violence that would have spoiled an otherwise good evening.
Although I'm not too proud to say it, my former blues jam host was one of the best examples of musicianship with dignity I've ever known. He only drank black decaf coffee and tea when he performed, was a gentleman, and displayed respect for his fellowman. If he disagreed with you, he'd ask a question to learn what you felt and thought, instead of forcing his opinion on you.
While there are still people who exude these qualities today, I can't help but wonder if the voices of reason are being silenced by more aggressive, prideful types that act on their base emotions and instincts like animals, not reason like humans.
The reason humans have been able to create and discover so much themselves is because of our capacity for learning. Yet, when impaired by alcohol or recreational substances, we revert to our base emotions and act out. This is perhaps the sole reason for my drinking only one alcoholic drink per evening. When asked if I'd like more, I politely say, "Thanks, I'm good."
My days of blues jams is past, though my love of music and open-mics has not waned. I am thankful for my former blues jam host mentor, and wish him well. I just hope that the spirit that existed at our blues jam finds its way to a safe haven of its own someday. Meanwhile, I am happy to be sitting at home watching and waiting, praying that those who spent their evenings at their respective gigs also make it home safely.
My cuppa tea my companion, the soft piano grooving slowly upon my computer. It is realized that what we do each day is never really done. Each new day arrives with its own troubles, as evidenced by the morning newspaper. A little maintenance is all that's needed, to help keep things working smoothly compared to bigger issues if we did not pay attention to that small noise when it was small.
