In our continuing efforts to get you off the internet and out there playing music live we have visited a few JAM nights. This article is not about that. This one is about Open Mic Nights.

What’s the difference? Generally speaking, it is simply what it says: an open microphone on a stage in front of people. People get up there and play a song, read a poem, tell a few jokes or whatever is right for the venue and their talent.

Click through for an Open Mic video of a brand-new song!

” frameborder="0″ width="560″ height="315″>

It wouldn’t be honest to just tell you success stories. Sometimes Jam nights don’t work. It doesn’t mean that it was a bad Jam or a bad bar or a bad night. Sometimes there just aren’t enough listeners to go around. Local bar and grill owners are hit hard in this economy, just like everyone else. They count on an ever-shrinking entertainment budget of working stiffs who can afford a few beers and maybe a dinner night every so often. If their food is great they will be able to pay expenses; if the sale of booze can pay the rent and provide profit, that is a successful bar. That is also hard work. Once such local eatery, Ponderosa Bar and Grille on Shadel Rd. in Menifee,CA. has been a measured success over 17 years of service in the shape of great down-home food, reasonable drink deals, plenty of pool tables and great entertainment. With live bands and dancing Friday and Saturday, and karaoke Sundays and Thursdays, Ezra at the Ponderosa has been providing a great stage and dance floor to top local bands and tours, helping to hone a generation of young bands’ talent and professionalism.

Click  through for more and a video from the Jam!

Welcome to the next segment in our ongoing effort to promote playing some music with people you don’t know while making new friends and great memories.

Another fun thing about Jams is how they can make any special occasion extra special. On this occasion we celebrate our friends’ anniversary. Fifteen years they’ve been together and BaBa, who hosts a regular blues jam, was delighted to lend her famous jam to celebrate.

This is the first in what will be an ongoing effort to promote getting off the Internet, turning off your TV, putting your phone on vibrate and going out and playing some music with people you don’t know. It can be wildly entertaining and, as you make music, you will make new friends and great memories.

Click through for more and a new brand-new song!

A cool thing about being me is that people bring over really cool guitars for me to play. The other day, my friend Jerry stopped by with a “vintage” Ibanez ICEMAN with an 8-string neck. First of all, can something from the seventies be considered “vintage?” Second, OMG WTF how have I missed this guitar? I played a “Paul Stanley” Iceman years ago and it was very nice but this guitar has double-course first and second strings with two extra tuners sticking out the back. How cool is that?

Click through for more and a cool video

BareFootGuitar.com is really designed for guitar players. Some of our topics and technical jargon may be weird for others to read. Maybe you are not one of us, but you love one of us. We are not easy to get along with, are we? We like to be the center of attention, our creativity makes us absentminded and oblivious and music is a permanent mistress. It can be difficult. Count your blessings; it’s easier than living with a drummer.

We really do love you and appreciate you coming to our gigs and holding the jackets and sitting at the table talking us up to the drunks while we are on stage. We get it that you have heard all our jokes and have listened to the same 20 songs over and over and over again. Thank you. No, seriously, thank you!

Click through for ideas to make your favorite guitarist’s holiday brighter!