What to Expect? 6 Days of Jazz!
We use the term "Delegate" to refer to the audience of jazz lovers, supporters, partners etc. Delegates pay a standard registration fee and can attend all events and programmed sessions.
"Musicians" register for a nominal fee and are either performing in (or retired from) a scheduled band, or are vouched for by existing attendees as a bona fide jazz musician. Please contact us if you are unsure how to be vetted and we will advise, and we can put you in touch with musicians to try and get you into a band!
Musicians attend alone or with your band - either way the emphasis is on the networking. For your first convention you may feel overwhelmed or a bit of an outsider, but you are encouraged to introduce yourself to musicians and attend the performances by other ensembles. We have some very colourful characters who would be thrilled to get to know you over a drink between sets - especially if it's your shout!
Most bands are "thrown together" from the various musicians who are attending, and getting involved at jam sessions and blackboard venues will get you known. If you turn up just to play your scheduled set and then leave, you won't get as much out of the experience.
You may see other musicians performing in half-a-dozen (or more) bands through the week. These are the ones who have been attending for years with established reputations for being friendly, capable musicians whom bandleaders will contact ahead of time and ask "Are you in too many bands already? Would you like to be in my band which will do XYZ theme or style music?".
Sometimes a musician changes their availability at the last minute due to family, work, health etc, and someone else may sit in for a set. When you talk to other musicians or bandleaders, you may ask about sitting in for a song or two in a set - most musicians will be open to it within reason, however some may have specific repertoire or plans for their performances.
Lots of opportunities to listen to bands and musicians from across Australia (and maybe some imports), meet new people and re-connect with old friends. Talk about jazz, or talk about nonsense!
What is Provided?
Each venue is equipped with a drum kit, piano/keyboard, bass amp, and a basic PA system. The rooms are not large so the focus should be on acoustic balance within the band - generally microphones are for vocals/announcing, and possibly clarinets or other soft instruments.
Drummers may wish to bring their own cymbals & snare, but please return the supplied cymbals to the kit at the end of each set so nothing goes missing.
Do Bands get Paid?
In a word: No.
Occasionally we may receive grant funding or sponsorship to bring in a special guest (past names have included Clark Terry, Shaye Cohn, Marla Dixon, Jon-Erik Kelso) but musicians pay a nominal fee to register whether they are in 1 band or 10.
Bands will generally be scheduled for 2 separate 45-minute sets across the week.
What Genres can we play?
You are welcome to play any type of jazz - but we'll give a proviso that the convention started as (and still has an emphasis on) Dixieland and traditional jazz. For example: music of the New Orleans, Chicago, and West Coast styles up through the 1950's and 1960's trad revival in the UK and Australia.
Lots of groups play swing and standards, an occasional bossa, samba, or funk within a set, early bebop etc. If your group is more "out there" in an avant garde, hard bop, atmospheric, cerebral style, you may have more of a challenge in winning over the audience BUT some of our most ardent "traddies" don't mind an occasional burst of something else... in moderation.
We say this to give you as fair an expectation as we can!
Example Schedule
(not specific, but gives you an idea)
December 26th
Day 1
Evening Welcome Party - Blackboard SetsDecember 27th
Day 2
Gospel Service Performance ScheduleDecember 28th
Day 3
Public Concert, Massed Band, or Parade Performance ScheduleDecember 29th
Day 4
Original Tunes Competition Performance ScheduleDecember 30th
Day 5
Annual General Meeting Jazz Picnic - Blackboard Performance ScheduleDecember 31st
Day 6
Performance Schedule New Year's Eve Party Midnight Massed Band