Bluegrass Nights Pickers Page

* Criteria for getting on the Pickers List for Bluegrass Nights:

Experience performing in an established Bluegrass Band
Have a large memorized repertoire of Bluegrass standard songs and fiddle tunes
For tunes you don't know, you need to be able to follow and figure out how best to contribute
No music stands, ipads, etc. on stage
Be able to take lead breaks and improvise in any key AND/OR provide tasty rhythm and back-up to lead players and singers.
Highly desireable that you sing leads and harmony (lyrics memorized, of course) , but not required.

Bluegrass Nights at the Black Rabbit Mead Co. are hosted by the Northern Nevada Bluegrass Association. They are monthly celebrations of the finest Bluegrass musicians in our region (or for pros that may be passing through). They take place on the 2nd Saturday of each month, 7 to 10pm. At this point, we're in the "trial period", and will hold 6 Bluegrass Nights - Sept. to March. In order to play at a Bluegrass Night, pickers need to meet the criteria shown above.*

Neither NNBA nor the Black Rabbit are offering compensation for these appearances. The contents of the tip jar will be distributed in equal shares to all players that perform. If we can turn this into an event that consistently draws good crowds, the bar owner is willing to extend our run. The "monetization" is minimal (tips and merch sales, if you bring any), but if we're successful in consistently packing the place, it will become a cover charge event where players make better bank.

The purpose of the Bluegrass Nights are for us to engage new audience and introduce them to some typical Bluegrass music (played WELL!). It's pretty much a "commercial" for NNBA, and for regional highly skilled players. The audience is not likely to be familiar with Bluegrass, and we want to "hook" them!

Though the show starts at 7, we ask pickers to get there around 6, so they can do some jamming and figure out who will play with who. There's a sign-up Board with 8-10 slots on it, each slot is 15 minutes long or 3 songs. NO MORE THAN FOUR people can sign up in a slot. Bass players will be available, but don't count as one of the four. Stage is set with instrument and vocal mics only. We're going "old school". Players are asked to NOT bring any of their own equipment (except instruments). Upright bass will be on stage available for use (with a DI into the soundboard), so don't bring your own. Also, there is one individual Bose S1 wireless speaker on stage for guitars if you choose. It is rigged with a NUX B-5RC 2.4GHz Wireless Guitar System.

Players need to sign up online, in advance. Signups are limited to the first 12 people that put their names on the list located here The sign-ups close when 12 names are on the list, .or on the Wednesday before the 2nd Saturday. At that point, the people who signed up will get an email confirmation which will include the names and email addresses of all the other folks that have signed up, so you'll have some time to contact each other if you like. If people sign up who don't meet the criteria, we'll contact them and explain the vetting process. Players may combine themselves as they like -- playing with their bandmates, or with old friends, or with total strangers. It's especially fun and spontaneous to see random players just get on stage and pick and sing.

We do ask players --- PLEASE NO ORIGINAL OR NON-BLUEGRASS-SOUNDING SONGS! Old Time tunes are welcome, but we are a Bluegrass community, and we want to honor and respect our genre. We don't want too many "rules" but we do want to assure that everyone that signs up will get opportunities to play. If people sign up for too many slots in a night, we reseve the right to ask them (politely) to make room for others.

NNBA believes that the Bluegrass Nights at the Black Rabbit is a great way to build appreciation for all of you great players, and for you to share with the general public your talents, announce your upcoming shows or CDs, pass out business cards, etc. Yeah, we know it sounds a bit like the dreaded "exposure" issue, but we believe it's a lot more effective than social media. We look at it as a way to promote YOU, and NNBA, build audience for your paid shows and for our festival, concerts, and educational activities. Look at it as a FUN way to "give back" to NNBA, and "pay forward" to the people who see/hear you and become inspired.

We guarantee that --- even if you only play ONE Bluegrass Night it will be FUN!

Feel free to contact info@nnba.org with any questions.