The Jam Session
The weekly jam session was originated at the start up of the Musicians club. The Club reserved every Saturday from 1 to 4pm to give the musicians a place to meet and play the music they liked. It was a slow start, we would have 2 to maybe 6 musicians show up and we would try to figure out how to play together. The summer of 2017 was the turn around the President had just shut the club down for the summer. A new member Mac McPherson and a regular Jan Dyer started having sessions in the afternoon in the library of the Pioneer center. This was the trigger for success, soon there was 4 players then 6 and so on. Sessions today have 8 to as many as 14 show up to share their talents. We never know just who will show up. We have had Violin, Ukulele, Cajone (box drum), mandolin, Conga drums and look out we have a Harpist in our midst. One of our members just bought a Harp. She is doing great and has entertained us with her talents at a couple of sessions already. Listeners are welcome to all sessions. We have an email list just for people that want to come and listen. We send out that email before each event and session. Session can be called by any member of the club at any time they can get approved by management. We try to have a jam session weekly at the Pioneer Center.
Coffee House
Pioneer Center Coffeehouse Origin. Guitarists/singers Jan Dyer and Mac McPherson cohost the “Coffeehouse”. Each had previously played acoustically in informal settings to small audiences -- their preferred format. Seeking a venue to play for an informal audience, Jan and Mac met with the Lifestyle Director to inquire about scheduling regular informal events in the Pioneer Center library to play coffeehouse-style acoustic music. She was enthusiastic about the idea, and they all agreed on a Tuesday morning once a month for an event called the “Coffeehouse”.
The once-a-month date was set aside for Jan and Mac to play their preferred style of music in an acoustic-only setting, i.e., no mics or plugged-in instruments. With this once-a-month opportunity, they decided to occasionally invite other club musicians to join one or both of them or to have the entire hour to present their own unique style of acoustic music.
The “Coffeehouse” was not originally part of the Musician’s Club, but it has since been folded into the club, with the Club President and the Lifestyle Director scheduling the dates for the upcoming year, and with Jan or Mac (or both) continuing to either play the entire hour and/or issuing invitations to other musicians as appropriate. “Coffeehouse” audience sign-ups are required, and the front desk limits the number of sign-ups to 30 people, which (because of no-shows ) usually ensures that about 25 listeners attend.
The once-a-month date was set aside for Jan and Mac to play their preferred style of music in an acoustic-only setting, i.e., no mics or plugged-in instruments. With this once-a-month opportunity, they decided to occasionally invite other club musicians to join one or both of them or to have the entire hour to present their own unique style of acoustic music.
The “Coffeehouse” was not originally part of the Musician’s Club, but it has since been folded into the club, with the Club President and the Lifestyle Director scheduling the dates for the upcoming year, and with Jan or Mac (or both) continuing to either play the entire hour and/or issuing invitations to other musicians as appropriate. “Coffeehouse” audience sign-ups are required, and the front desk limits the number of sign-ups to 30 people, which (because of no-shows ) usually ensures that about 25 listeners attend.
The Acoustic Showcase
A few members had ideas of different ways and places to play and share our talents with Sun City residents. The Showcase was suggested to the members by Terry Bart, a professional musician and a regular player of the club. The idea was taken from an open mic type event Terry used to attend. It was decided to start with an Acoustic Showcase and give each member a chance to spotlight his or her talents for a larger audience of residents that came to hear music by the members. The showcase has been a great success with over 100 residents registered and attending each event.
"Hootenanny" nowadays, the word most commonly refers to a music party with an open mic at which different performers are welcome to get up and play in front of an audience. Any Sun City Mesquite resident is welcome to perform. Acoustic instruments only (non-electrified). Bass guitars are ok and may be plugged in. Each performer will be welcome to sing one or two songs.