KenR - Posted - 05/06/2025:  12:41:29

Please share where you are playing fiddle regularly.

Every Wednesday, 1-4pm, at the Iron Mountain Coffee House, Davis, OK, Ron (guitar/vocals) and Sherri (guitar/vocals) and Ken (fiddle) play a mix of original tunes/songs and covers.

Every Thursday, 7-9pm, at Portrillos, Sulphur, OK, 3-7 musicans play original and cover tunes, featuring guitar, harmonica, bass, banjo, fiddle and vocals.

Gallaher - Posted - 05/09/2025:  08:19:44

My spare bedroom, the front porch and jams! Seriously

It’s kind of frustrating. I play guitar and sing in a duo with a mandolin player. We’ll probably play 20-30 shows this year. Would love to fiddle in our act but I kind of need to hold the rhythm down. We’ll work it in eventually.
It’s surprising how many jams I attend that I end up chunking out chords on guitar.
I live in an area with lots of retirees, I love that people pick up an instrument or relearn later in life. Not everyone has the same level of commitment.

wrench13 - Posted - 05/09/2025:  10:49:29

Every Tue @ Barrel Inn, an open BG jam session going on 12 yrs now (I've only been going for 2+). Mostly to hone up licks n tricks.

6-8 gigs a year w/BG band from the Barrel Inn gang.

12-14 gigs a year @ festivals w/my pirate band, The Brigands. 24 yrs playing w/my 2 sons.

1X month @ Long Island Bluegrass Club monthly jam session

1X a year running the fiddle workshop (5 yrs now) @ Long Island Bluegrass and Roots Festival.

Sundry pick up work.

Brian Wood - Posted - 05/09/2025:  11:24:14

By the creek in the mornings, with rushing water an a few birds.

pete_fiddle - Posted - 05/09/2025:  12:54:19

in the living room

Lonesome Fiddler - Posted - 05/09/2025:  16:48:08

On my back patio when my wife isn't around. In the garage when the wife IS around.

alaskafiddler - Posted - 05/09/2025:  19:55:33

As far as regular schedule, the only regular playing out is every Thursday night at a brew pub;  OT group (fiddle, banjo, guitar). Also fairly regular is First Friday Art Walk event (first Friday of every month).

Other than that, it's standard fare mix of various gig/events and days; in few different bands (and genre). Still do some public performance and bar gigs; but mostly it's dances, weddings, fundraiser, occasion type events; and fair bit of private house dances/parties.

Though not regular fixed schedule or normal gig; last summer ended up solo fiddle busking quite a lot, few days a week; generally just decided that day, depended on what else needed or wanted to do; or weather or mood. Not sure how much will busk this summer, can be a bit taxing; (though some days rewarded well, even paid better than some gigs ).

As well, though not like scheduled gig; I do also fairly regularly just informally/socially get together with friends to play music, generally try to at least once a week.

tonyelder - Posted - 05/09/2025:  20:27:54

every monday night session - with the 4 very best OT musicians in this area - HANDS DOWN!



My OT banjo friend has moved away - or at least too far away for a easy commute to our Farmer's Market routine on Saturdays. I could play solo - fiddle, but we are talking about finding something that may be in the middle - making it easy for both of us. Hopefully things will work out.



Other than that - its just me, in the evening in front of the computer or on the back patio.

Edited by - tonyelder on 05/09/2025 20:29:30

ShawnCraver - Posted - 05/20/2025:  06:23:38

We did some street busking for Word Fiddle Day here in Wichita, KS. Busking really isn't a thing here. But we had a good time and earned enough in tips for pizza and a pint afterwards.

This city has changed a lot. I used to maintain a busy schedule in the city playing at the various coffee shops/quieter stages/non alcohol hangouts. They've all closed down now, so I'm not playing much at all in public lately.

TuneWeaver - Posted - 05/20/2025:  08:40:25

On the 100 block of Kirkwood, Bloomington, Indiana you can find me busking...2hrs, on most days that the temps are over 50.

Also, when the weather is warm I busk in Nashville, Indiana several times a week..usually 12-2..

Every Tuesday evening 6-8 at a friend's house.

doryman - Posted - 05/20/2025:  13:50:15

Every Tuesday night with my band, and friends of the band (we haven't gigged since COVID, but we still get together every week to play). I also attend a monthly jam at a local pub. I jam a lot more than that, but everything else is not regularly scheduled.

farmerjones - Posted - 05/20/2025:  14:19:17

Tuesdays weekly jam. Now it's summer, there's Foodtruck Fridays , and Farmers Markets on Saturdays.

NCnotes - Posted - 05/20/2025:  19:08:23

Slow sesh in the local park on Sunday afternoons - weather-dependent.



Regular session at a laid-back bar, two Saturday afternoons a month. This session was founded by a guitar/mando friend, first guy I ever met the very first time I tried to play Irish Trad…so I make an effort to go!



With just my flute friend if she texts (unpredictable)



O’Carolan house session with a harp, and potluck! Once every month or two.



Alone in my garage a lot (my equivalent of the “woodshed” )

( there are weekday night sessions around, but it's a hassle during the workweek...so I mostly go to weekend sessions.)

Edited by - NCnotes on 05/20/2025 19:16:35

buckhenry - Posted - 05/21/2025:  16:06:14

Every day, alone at my place...
Once a month with the 'Mountain Pickers Association' at 'Birdsland'.
There're a few sessions in the big smoke, but I ain't goin' that far...
And there's the 'Peninsula Folk Club', too far in tother direction...

NCnotes - Posted - 05/21/2025:  20:04:10

What are people’s personal driving radiuses?

I max out at about 30 minutes…
I complain a bit if I have to drive 45 minutes or 1 hour to play…have turned down some house sessions due to my wimpiness about driving.
Are other people less wimpy?

The park session for me is a 9 minute drive.
the bar session is a 20 minute drive.
O-Carolan is 10-20 minutes depending on who is hosting.
If it’s more than 30 minutes, I really have to think if I wanna go!

buckhenry - Posted - 05/21/2025:  20:20:19

I have a very small radius, the super market and back is as far I've been lately.
Fortunately 'Birdsland' must be less than 5 minutes away....

wrench13 - Posted - 05/22/2025:  05:22:41

Personally I max out at about 1-1/2 hrs, for jams etc.
The band - we max out driving at 6-7 hours. Longer then that, we get flown in.

ChickenMan - Posted - 05/22/2025:  08:00:25

Lol, if I limited my drive to 30 minutes, I couldn't drive from one side of the city to the other, and well over half of my music takes place outside of the city completely. I drive 45 minutes just to practice for one band and soon will be driving that twice a week for yet another band's practice. As far a jamming goes, there are the occasional bluegrass options usually within approx 20 minute drive, old time requires me to organize if I want that to happen and I don't do that much anymore. Regular Irish sessions are 20-30 minutes away depending on the day, but I haven't been to one of those in a very long time.

Edited by - ChickenMan on 05/22/2025 08:01:25

Erockin - Posted - 05/22/2025:  09:10:03

M-F 5:30-6:00am with Coffee

NCnotes - Posted - 05/22/2025:  18:16:59

Wow yes,ok, the above confirms my driving wimpiness!

ChickenMan - Posted - 05/23/2025:  10:26:59

quote:

---

Originally posted by wrench13

Personally I max out at about 1-1/2 hrs, for jams etc.

The band - we max out driving at 6-7 hours. Longer then that, we get flown in.

---

6-7 hr drive and I'd likely price myself out of the gig. I hope you get paid a large 4 figures (5 even) for that.