It takes two to tango::

Comic jams, also knows as Comix Orgys, Saloons, and an assortment of other names are usually live mostly improvised events. Groups of artists gather to draw collaboratively, not in the classic sense as many do work with other creators over a longer time on books, but on the spot and improvisationally.

Jams are often part social gathering, part informal -- or even sometimes formal -- work shops for artists and storytellers, and part art/book fair. Some are large events or part of larger events such as the monster party jams Rupert Bottenberg has hosted or those held at past EXCLAIM MAGAZINE (Can music mag) Anniversary Parties in Toronto. Others are as simple as two or more friends getting together on a sunny Sunday afternoon to doodle together. There are monthly or otherwise regular Jams held in a number of North American Cities that we know of already. The Toronto Monthly Comic Jam, The NY Bowery Bowel Movement, the Bay Area Comix Saloon, the Polypop Comix Orgys, The lucidcomics Monthly Jam in Lubbock Texas. There are probably more of them out there than we know about, if you know of one tell us about it.

Jams are excellent ways to facilitate the networking of local comics communities of authors and artists. If you would like to start running a Comix Jam in your home town, here's some suggestions about how to go about it.

People ::

You need other people, at least one other, to Jam. Other wise your just drawing alone in public, which can be fun but this is not Jamming. If you know others who would like to join you start buy planning with them.

Flyers, Posters and word of mouth are still the best grass roots option to promote this type of event. Be smart about where you leave them both, think like yourself, where would YOU pay attention to these small squares of paper telling people about your Jam. Think like the sorts of people you would like to attract to the jam, where would they?

Also a web page can help get the word out and you can use it to publish the finished pages. Even just a simple one listing time and location of the Jam, an email address, and a short explanation of what a Jam is. You put the URL on the flyers and people will go to it to find out more.

Getting the Jam listed in your local weekly Alt paper is a good idea. As is announcing the event on Message boards like TAC, inxslutz, NACAE, TCJ, the Kingdom, ComicCon, SAVANT, gigposters, etc.

Also check to see if If your community has a public radio station, or college station that announces events. Send them by email or fax a Media Alert.

Place :: Find a spot

You can easily hold a private Jam at your home with friends.

But if you want to run a more public one somewhere then you might want to look into local public gathering spaces. Community Halls, Cafés, Bars, Diners, Lounges, meeting halls, whatever works for you.

Also atelier/studios can work quite well, like an artist's workshop or a classroom at an art school.

Personally we suggest that Cafés and Bars make the best options, especially if they have both food and drink available. For those you can look around the area you would like to hold your Jam in for a Bar or Café that has a nice atmosphere you wont mind spending several hours in, and that won't mind a group of regular customers coming in and taking over part of the space.

Ask if they have a slow day, if you can give them guarantied business on a slow day they are much more likely to agree to host you.

Of those that aren't willing to have a more formal arrangement, many will at the least not mind if you only need one to 3 booths in the back of the bar or a single large table in the corner of the café.

If you have a studio space you can set it up there. In that case or with any other space that does not come with food or refreshments, we suggest you provide at least some nibbles and drink (water coffee tea). A good jam lasts 4 to 8 hours, snacks are important. If that proves to be a problem, make it a pot luck/BYOB affair.

Start Jamming::

Get some paper, a couple of friends (you don't need to be artists but it helps), and start drawing, that simple....almost. One of you goes first, drawing a panel, a set of panels or a whole page if you like. The goal is to start telling a story. At some point, once the first has taken their turn or is able to communicate what they plan to the next artist, the next artist picks up where the first leaves off continuing the narrative. This continues until one of you or the group decides to end the story. It's as simple and as complicated as that. The only real requirement is that more than one artist is involved, other than that you can divide up the work any way you like, here are some examples of how...