Section 5 of 6
The Circle
The jam is an institution in its own right, running in the car park in parallel with whatever is on the stage. Who starts, who takes the break, and the rules nobody writes down.
The chairs face inward because the circle, not a stage, decides who plays next.
Photo: K / Pexels4 pieces
The jam as an institution.
The car park jam
The parallel event to any festival: circles of players in the campground, open to anyone who can hold the form.
Circle etiquette
Taking a break in turn, and the unwritten rules that keep it working.
The slow jam
A circle run deliberately under tempo so more people can join.
Who calls the tune
Rotating the choice, and what that does to the repertoire.