What we’re about
Every 5-10 minutes, half the band takes a seat and is replaced by 2-3 musicians from the audience, the new group of random strangers jam on chords picked on the spot and improvises a fresh funk rock segment!
Random Strangers Jam is a 100% improvised musical experience taking over NYC with an ongoing residency every 1st, 3rd and 5th Monday at Shrine World Music Venue in Harlem. Simply bring your instrument (drums, keys, mics, amps, PA/DI provided) and join an upcoming jam, totally free!
Random Strangers Jam began in 2022 as an experimental concert experience by Berklee drummer Skylar Demetri and now includes group members Alex Tovar (guitar) and Samario Hardy (bass).
After years of COVID forcing everyone indoors and into a default "observer" mode streaming TV and music, we've developed a show experience where YOU as an audience member become part of the actual performance.
Think back to those jams of yesteryear - that pure desire to have fun and create something new with other open minded people - and we've made that our show experience for anyone who wants to participate. No cover songs, no albums or singles - just a stage where you are invited to explore and be a part of something more. Sign up to jam at our next show!
Random Strangers Jam's first residency was a 5-show series in 2022 to initially establish pinkFROG Williamsburg's Sunday Jams, followed by a 6-show residency at The Solera in Bushwick in partnership with Chelsea Records NY and Sustainable United Neighborhoods (SUN). Past shows include a series of 4 bi-monthly jam sessions at Rockwood Music Hall and a one-off session at Silvana Harlem in 2023.
Upcoming events (1)
See all- RSJ Sunday Reserve: Original Song and Jam Recording SessionThe Music Building, NY, NY$45.00
Hosted by drummer Sky Demetri at Manhattan's iconic The Music Building.
Wish funk rock jam sessions on stage were longer? Have an original song you wish you could get a quick live demo of with a live band? We're making it all happen with our Random Strangers Jam Sunday Reserve Sessions! Get tix at ReserveAJam.com. Use coupon code OGSTRANGER for $15 off.
Agenda:
2-hour slots with 90-mins playing time:- 15-minute set up, introductions, sound check, level setting
- 45-minute improvised jam
- 45-minutes original songs
- 15 minute break down and file transfers
For original songs:
- 10 mins x 4 songs - no covers!
- 1 song per person
- You must share a rough demo minimum 48h before the session
- If >4 songs are shared, a poll will be held by email to make selections
- Each song limited to 10-minutes: enough for 1-2 live demo takes
- Unclaimed song time will be used for jamming
How it works:
In the days leading up to the jam, attendees can submit their own original song for the grou to demo during the original song segment.You must bring a pair of WIRED headphones and your own 1/4" and/or XLR cables.
Audio is recorded directly into a Behringer UPHORIA UMC1820 and Logic Pro 11. Video is recorded using a minimum of an iPhone 13 Pro. Audio and video processed through OBS creating a synchronized file of the iPhone video and the raw Logic Pro audio.
A copy of the video and the original Logic Pro file (so you can do your own mix) will be shared on site if you bring a hard drive, otherwise it will be uploaded to a private google drive within 1 week. You have 1 week to download the files from the date they are uploaded before they are deleted.
Slots Available:
· 1 other drummer for subbing out every other
· 2 guitarists
· 1 bassist
· 1 keyboardist
· 2 freestylists/vocalists
· 1 other instrument (djembe, sax, trumpet, trombone, etc.)Note: Additional members of the Random Strangers Jam house band may occasionally be on site during sessions and will be limited to 1/3 of jams or songs if they overlap with reserved slots.
FAQ:
| Curious about our Sunday sessions but still not quite clear on what exactly you would be signing up for? Here is a FAQ to consider before you sign up for $30 using coupon code OGSTRANGER:
Q. Do I need a whole group to sign up? How does it work?
There are 7 slots available to reserve for each session. You can sign up alone, or you can sign up for yourself and with friends - either way, you'll show up to a full band on Sunday.
Sky is on house drums and will also operate the recording equipment every week.
There is a drum slot available too, so if someone reserves that, Sky will switch off every other jam/song with the other drummer.
The idea is to provide space for as many people as possible to participate in these sessions while also backstopping any missing slots or cancellations with our house band so that every session is as fulfilling as possible.
So, if there's a last-minute cancellation, we will aim to have a house band member fill in. If no one signs up for bass, then we will schedule Samario to attend. If no one signs up for keys and it sounds like some songs need keys, then Maggie will come out. If there's no guitar, Alex will attend.
Q. Where is it and what is the agenda?
RSJ Sunday Reserve Sessions are hosted at our rehearsal space in The Music Building at 584 8th Ave in Manhattan near Times Square.
Sessions are 2 hours long and include 15 minutes to set up, 45 minutes recording fully improvised jams, 45 minutes recording original songs, then 15 minutes to break down and share the session files.
Q. How do we record original songs if we haven't played together before?
Original songs must be shared with skylar@randomstrangersjam.com by FRIDAY 5pm before your session. The tracks will be put into a google drive and shared with the attendees for that week so that everyone has a chance to listen through the songs before showing up on Sunday.
Q. What happens if all 7 people or none submit an original song to record?
Songs submitted by the 5pm Friday deadline are prioritized. If all submissions are received on time, then a doodle poll will be shared with the participants to anonymously vote on whether to cut the improvised jam time and work on all songs or select the 4 songs they'd like to work on. If the majority vote to record all songs, then the jam portion will be shortened. If the majority vote on song preferences, then the 4 songs with the most votes will be recorded.
Songs are limited to 10 minutes each and 1 per person.
Unused song time will be used for additional jamming.
Q. If my song isn't selected, can I cancel and move to next week?
We will accommodate re-bookings for a $10 fee, however, there is no guarantee your song will be selected if you move to a different week, therefore, we encourage you to stick with it and recognize this is what it is like to be in a band - sometimes your song doesn't get picked first but you still have a chance to add your own touch to the songs that are being worked on. You can make what the group picked, even better. That's what it means to be part of something larger than yourself - our philosophy encourages this kind of cooperative musicianship.
Similarly, if you don’t particularly like one of the songs, recognize even in a band - one of your bandmates may not love your song but they do it anyways because they want to elevate your voice by giving you space to be heard and adding their own voice as well. This is what music is about. Collaboration. Elevating eachother, not just ourselves. Don’t let ego get in the way of a fulfilling fun experience - you might learn something new.
Q. How does RSJ justify charging $45 when jams on stage are free?
Hiring a videographer or photographer for an event has cost RSJ anywhere from $150-500 per hour in the past. The gear for a home studio costs atleast that much, plus time for an engineer.
If you take a look at other NYC jam sessions, most charge $10-20 covers, some charge up to $60 - with no guarantee how much time you'll play, cover songs are more likely than anything original, and you DEFINITELY won't get audio and video recording files.
At RSJ Sunday Reserve Sessions, we're guaranteeing you'll play throughout the session, you'll get a chance at recording your song AND get the full Logic Pro file to mix yourself at home as well as a video file to use for your portfolio.
For $45, it is a steal - which makes signing up now for just $30 using coupon code OGSTRANGER the recording demo deal of the summer.
Q. What if I just want to have the Random Strangers Jam house band - not other random people - record my songs?
The Random Strangers Jam house band is available for studio band services but that would be on a case by case basis and at a different rate - please email skylar@randomstrangersjam.com with samples and info so we can discuss. |
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