This Session ONLY on 2nd and 4th Sunday of Each Month
Time: 5pm-8pm, 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month,
starting this Sunday, 9 February 2003.
Location (more detailed):
O'Flaherty's Irish Pub
25 North San Pedro Street
(near Santa Clara Street)
San Jose, CA 95110
Tel: 408.947.8007
There's a parking structure almost directly
across San Pedro Street, which is free of
charge when these sessions take place.
There's also a good possibility of free drinks
for musicians.
O'Flaherty's hosts a session every Sunday AND every Tuesday now as well! Sundays are still from 5:00 until 8:00 and Tuesdays are from 6:30 until 9:30 (or so). Tuesdays are intermediate-friendly, whereas Sundays tend to be a bit faster paced. Both nights are quite enjoyable!
One does not need to be a seasoned professional to participate in sessions, but because this is not a "beginner session" and it takes place in a public venue, it is important for the health of the music to maintain as high a standard of musicianship as possible. The pub owner and staff treat musicians well at O'Flaherty's and are very supportive of the music, and they do us a great service by providing us with a nice place to play and free drink. The musicians should return the favor by taking the time to consider if they are ready to play at a level comparable to the others at the session or not. If not, rest assured that the musicians VERY much appreciate listeners who are genuinely interested in learning the music, as the other patrons are generally much more interested in the hockey game and enjoying their cigars than the diddily-idely in the corner.
Lastly, whether you participate as a player or a listener, be sure to leave a tip for the waitress.
I agree. It is a performance and the players have a "responsibility" to the pub owner to provide a high standard of music for the enjoyment of the patrons. And for each other!
We regulars operate as a team and take our fun seriously! Certainly all of us are here to play as best we can and to strive to improve and there is a huge amount of support for those "iffy" tunes...it takes a village, as they say...but the O'Flaherty's sessions are not a stumbling ground for new players to get up to speed or for "showoffs" to blast through tune sets without regard to agreeable and steady tempos.
I believe the patrons are listening closer to us than we sometimes think and aren't always 'just sports fans' there to watch the toob...sometimes the patrons are actually FROM Ireland or otherwise know what a real Irish session (or simply good folk music) is supposed to sound like! Hate to get caught with egg on our faces!
But whether anyone outside of the immediate table is listening or not, we the players want to have a satisfying night of music making...it's no fun having to "deal" with players who don't understand the *rhythm* of a good session!
And as awkward as it is to say something to someone who doesn't immediately get it, it is paramount that the session players "communicate the code" as kindly and as clearly as possible with each other and with newcomers.
One person's ignorance, ego, or lack of ability can quickly ruin a good session. The players owe it to each other and to the pub owner to "keep the session clean" and running smoothly by being open and honest about the accepted and agreed-upon "feel" of the evening.
And by all means, one must tip the wait staff and answer patron questions with good natured replies! It's not just the music that brings folks back to a pub...it's the overall spirit of the night!
It's nice to know that folks are using the session to find traditional music in the area and we regulars are always delighted to have good players find us and join in the fun, whether they're new to the area or just passing through!
However, for those who are new to the genre or to their instruments, they should consider first whether they are *ready* to play in a session! Most of us who have been playing for awhile already know this, but some folks are really new and need to be aware of a few things before they sit on down at the table.
*If a budding player is still reading sheet music, that person is not ready to play in a session! * At least not at O'Flaherty's under any circumstances! That's what slow plays are for and most of us started in a slow play somewhere until we were ready to play at a reasonable speed and without sheet music.
Also, just "tooting along," fumbling around for notes, playing odd "harmonies," or pretending that one knows a tune is really impolite and disruptive. We can hear you...and so can the people who are there in the pub to enjoy the music.
It's really quite OK to sit out a tune if you're not ready to play it or to sit off to the side of the playing table to listen and learn. The beginning player should not seat himself next to the lead player or among the other experienced players .
I consider the playing table to be a stage, and until a person is ready to perform with the other players, it is agreeable to all of us for that person to enjoy the music from a safe distance. And by all means, that person should go home, practice, and join in the fun when they're truly ready!
They should listen to their trad Irish CDs....if they can play along with those tracks and up to speed by and large, then they're ready to join the session at O'Flaherty's!
There ARE no free drinks at O'Flaherty's! Each of us *earns* our meals fairly and squarely! And we tip the staff!
This Session ONLY on 2nd and 4th Sunday of Each Month
Time: 5pm-8pm, 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month,
starting this Sunday, 9 February 2003.
Location (more detailed):
O'Flaherty's Irish Pub
25 North San Pedro Street
(near Santa Clara Street)
San Jose, CA 95110
Tel: 408.947.8007
There's a parking structure almost directly
across San Pedro Street, which is free of
charge when these sessions take place.
There's also a good possibility of free drinks
for musicians.
# Posted on February 6th 2003 by Grack
Session Schudule Update
The sessions at O'Flaherty's are now EVERY SUNDAY, still at the same time, 5-8pm.
# Posted on August 5th 2004 by Grack
More info available?
Any more info on this session? Is it still going on?
# Posted on March 18th 2005 by soft black stars
O'Flaherty's adds Tuesday nights!
O'Flaherty's hosts a session every Sunday AND every Tuesday now as well! Sundays are still from 5:00 until 8:00 and Tuesdays are from 6:30 until 9:30 (or so). Tuesdays are intermediate-friendly, whereas Sundays tend to be a bit faster paced. Both nights are quite enjoyable!
# Posted on August 19th 2005 by Leap2Three!
A note to newcomers
One does not need to be a seasoned professional to participate in sessions, but because this is not a "beginner session" and it takes place in a public venue, it is important for the health of the music to maintain as high a standard of musicianship as possible. The pub owner and staff treat musicians well at O'Flaherty's and are very supportive of the music, and they do us a great service by providing us with a nice place to play and free drink. The musicians should return the favor by taking the time to consider if they are ready to play at a level comparable to the others at the session or not. If not, rest assured that the musicians VERY much appreciate listeners who are genuinely interested in learning the music, as the other patrons are generally much more interested in the hockey game and enjoying their cigars than the diddily-idely in the corner.
Lastly, whether you participate as a player or a listener, be sure to leave a tip for the waitress.
# Posted on October 8th 2007 by wbajzek
A Public Performance and Musical Satisfaction
I agree. It is a performance and the players have a "responsibility" to the pub owner to provide a high standard of music for the enjoyment of the patrons. And for each other!
We regulars operate as a team and take our fun seriously! Certainly all of us are here to play as best we can and to strive to improve and there is a huge amount of support for those "iffy" tunes...it takes a village, as they say...but the O'Flaherty's sessions are not a stumbling ground for new players to get up to speed or for "showoffs" to blast through tune sets without regard to agreeable and steady tempos.
I believe the patrons are listening closer to us than we sometimes think and aren't always 'just sports fans' there to watch the toob...sometimes the patrons are actually FROM Ireland or otherwise know what a real Irish session (or simply good folk music) is supposed to sound like! Hate to get caught with egg on our faces!
But whether anyone outside of the immediate table is listening or not, we the players want to have a satisfying night of music making...it's no fun having to "deal" with players who don't understand the *rhythm* of a good session!
And as awkward as it is to say something to someone who doesn't immediately get it, it is paramount that the session players "communicate the code" as kindly and as clearly as possible with each other and with newcomers.
One person's ignorance, ego, or lack of ability can quickly ruin a good session. The players owe it to each other and to the pub owner to "keep the session clean" and running smoothly by being open and honest about the accepted and agreed-upon "feel" of the evening.
And by all means, one must tip the wait staff and answer patron questions with good natured replies! It's not just the music that brings folks back to a pub...it's the overall spirit of the night!
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by Leap2Three!
No sheet music at O'Flaherty's!
It's nice to know that folks are using the session to find traditional music in the area and we regulars are always delighted to have good players find us and join in the fun, whether they're new to the area or just passing through!
However, for those who are new to the genre or to their instruments, they should consider first whether they are *ready* to play in a session! Most of us who have been playing for awhile already know this, but some folks are really new and need to be aware of a few things before they sit on down at the table.
*If a budding player is still reading sheet music, that person is not ready to play in a session! * At least not at O'Flaherty's under any circumstances! That's what slow plays are for and most of us started in a slow play somewhere until we were ready to play at a reasonable speed and without sheet music.
Also, just "tooting along," fumbling around for notes, playing odd "harmonies," or pretending that one knows a tune is really impolite and disruptive. We can hear you...and so can the people who are there in the pub to enjoy the music.
It's really quite OK to sit out a tune if you're not ready to play it or to sit off to the side of the playing table to listen and learn. The beginning player should not seat himself next to the lead player or among the other experienced players .
I consider the playing table to be a stage, and until a person is ready to perform with the other players, it is agreeable to all of us for that person to enjoy the music from a safe distance. And by all means, that person should go home, practice, and join in the fun when they're truly ready!
They should listen to their trad Irish CDs....if they can play along with those tracks and up to speed by and large, then they're ready to join the session at O'Flaherty's!
There ARE no free drinks at O'Flaherty's! Each of us *earns* our meals fairly and squarely! And we tip the staff!
# Posted on October 22nd 2007 by Leap2Three!
Still Going Strong on Tuesdays and Sundays in 2008 and Beyond!
Come on down to these fast-paced and friendly community sessions every Tuesday night at 6:30 and every Sunday at 5:00!
# Posted on November 26th 2008 by Leap2Three!