• How We Work

    Mission

    “The Second Line Social Aid & Pleasure Society Brass Band is a large, not-for-profit, “raucous, stomp-your-foot-and-belt-out-the-choruses” activist New Orleans-style street band based in Somerville and Cambridge, Massachusetts.” Our mission is to fight for social justice causes and support community events while having fun and spreading joy through our music.

    History

    The Second Line Social Aid and Pleasure Society Brass Band was born in 2003 when an ad hoc group of musicians played together with Bread and Puppet Theater in a march opposing the beginning of the Iraq war. Trudi and John are founding members still with the band. The first HONK! Festival was dreamed up and organized in 2006 by five members of SLBB.

     

    Over the years the band has supported many progressive causes including:

    • SEIU fight for 15 rallies

    • The Women’s March

    • The Dyke March and Pride Parade

    • The Climate March in NYC

    In the past we have performed at:

    • The Honk Festival

    • Pronk (Providence, RI)

    • HonkTx (Austin TX)

    • Honk Fest West (Seattle)

    • Sbandata (Rome, Italy)

    • Les Fanfaronnades de Trentemoult (Nantes, France) Crash Detroit (Detroit, MI)

    • Honk NYC (New York, NY)

    Music

    Our primary musical and cultural inspiration is the American NOLA brass band experience, and our repertoire draws heavily on that long tradition. But we also feel a kinship with (and borrow repertoire from) the larger American folk and town band traditions, as well as the rich and vast post-colonial explosion of indigenous brass bands and protest music the world over. Ragtime to klezmer to hip hop, no genre or musical inspiration is off-limits.

     

    Anyone who wants to suggest a new tune needs to provide sheet music and/or a recording in advance of our first run-through whenever possible, and agrees to lead that part of rehearsal.

    We have an extensive book with scores and links to us or others playing our songs at secondlinebrassband.org/book.

     

    The Book is divided into 4 sections:

    • Developing Arrangements: songs that are in the works
    • The Ready List: songs that we can do at a gig without working on beforehand.

    • The Dusty List: songs that we know but need to run through before performing.

    • The Vault: songs that we used to play, songs that we tried but that didn’t click.

     

    New members should focus on the songs on the Ready List.

    Rehearsals

    Rehearsals are called weekly by the Rehearsal Coordinators. Rehearsal begins at 7:30 sharp every Tuesday night and are held at Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church at 155 Powder House Blvd. Rehearsal should be your priority on Tuesday evenings.

     

    The Rehearsal Coordinators set up a gig for each rehearsal (usually several in advance) in the gig-o-matic. Band members should indicate in the gig-o if they are coming. Rehearsal Coordinators send out a call for tune suggestions and compile a setlist that is a combination of the requests and 3 tunes (in sequential alphabetical order) from our Ready List.

    At least 24 hour e-mail notice is required to cancel for weather, or to suggest a change of venue. Any changes or cancellations will be posted on the front door of the Church.

    Sectionals

     

    Once a month we take part of a practice for section breakouts.

     

    Leading Tunes During Rehearsal

    All members are encouraged to practice tune leading during rehearsals. Most of our repertoire have written forms to follow which are linked to next to each tune on the book web page.

    Gigs

    Our policy is to take a gig only if it is consistent with our mission and we can adequately cover all the sections of the band. We do not take gigs if we cannot represent the band in its best light.

    We do not use substitute musicians.

     

    A Gig Coordinator (see Members Roles (2020-2021) will take on the responsibility to advocate, coordinate, and determine whether we can perform the gig and a gig leader or co-leaders to determine set list and lead the tunes.

    Gig Request Process

    Gig Request Form People request us to play through this Google Form. The request form is a Google Form that resides on the SLBB Google Drive in a sub-folder (My Drive>Second Line Brass Band>Website>Forms>SLBB Gig Request Form). When the form is filled out, an email is sent to the Gig Coordinators at secondlinebrassband@gmail.com. This email account is currently watched by members of the web team and Ken.

    When the request comes in the gig coordinator sets up a gig in gig-o with the information from the form. If the band decides to take on the gig and can get enough members, the Gig Coordinator for that gig sends a link to our second form (My Drive>Second Line Brass Band>Web Site>Forms<SLBB Gig Information Form)>that provides us with further logistical info. The info from this form does not come to the email but is put into a spreadsheet (My Drive>Second Line Brass Band>Website>Forms>SLBB Gig Information Form (Responses)).
     

    Leading Tunes at Gigs

    This is an ad hoc role but often the Gig Coordinator will lead. We rotate musical leadership at gigs and practices on a volunteer basis so step on up when you feel comfortable.

     

    Gig-o-matic

    We use the gig-o-matic.org web site/database to post and manage gig communication between with band members, action organizers, and the web community through an RSS feed from gig-o up into our web site news page.

     

    Gig Attire

    Our colors are black/white and especially red (not orange, maroon, mauve, purple, pink!). You should be attired such that, even without an instrument, you are obviously a member of the band. Bling and flare are very much encouraged! For reference: (Color samples and photo from cheat sheet here.)

    Member Responsibilities

    Band Roles 2020 - 2021

    Organization

    We have no leader, and all musical and other decisions are made democratically by discussion and voting with a desire for consensus. In the absence of a leader, and knowing that everyone’s availability is different and changing, members volunteer to take on different leadership roles as listed below. Some roles are up for renewal every year in July but if you are interested in working on a particular task feel free to contact those who are currently listed to offer!

    Participation

    Full-time members

    Full time members agree to keep their availability for rehearsals and gigs updated on the gig-o-matic. Anyone can suggest a gig, or a song, or volunteer to lead a rehearsal or performance, and is encouraged to seek help and guidance from other band members. Full time members should make weekly rehearsal attendance and band gigs a priority but subject to your availability.

    Occasional Members

    Occasional members are members who have left the band in good standing (alumni) but wish to be able to play with the band occasionally. Their names stay on gig-o-matic marked as occasional and when gigs are setup one can choose to invite or not invite occasional members.  

    Prospective Members

    If a prospective member contacts the band but the section doesn’t currently need another member the prospective member's name can be added to our Prospective Members Spreadsheet for future consideration. At other times due to attrition or general need, and there are no candidates in the Spreadsheet, a section and/or the band can start searching for a candidate and when one is found the following process is followed:

    1. When a prospective member contacts the band they are pointed to the band’s mission statement and are requested to seriously consider their commitment to that statement.
    2. If the prospect is still interested, the appropriate section is informed of the prospect’s interest.
    3. That section decides on whether to invite the prospect and then decides who should be their mentor to help them get oriented, help with repertoire where necessary, and explain to them, with regrets, if they don’t work out.
    4. The band as a whole is informed of the process and invited to let the mentor know if they have any concerns.
    5. If there are no concerns, the prospect is invited to 3 rehearsals.
    6. If, after the 3 rehearsals, the section has approved the new member then the band discusses that prospect’s prospects and accepts or rejects the new member.
    7. The prospect’s mentor informs the prospect of the band’s decision.
    8. If approved, the mentor arranges for the prospect to be added to the mail list and Gig-O-Matic.

    Band Meetings

    Monthly

    Discussion of important band matters takes place at the monthly meeting which follows the first band practice of each month. The meeting is called and facilitated by members of the Issue Resolution Committee and topics for discussion should be submitted to them in advance when they post a call for agenda items. Topics include discussions of issues that inevitably come up for a large group such as organizational structure, polices regarding gigs and mission, and communication between ourselves and others.

    A link to the online meeting notes will be sent out following the meeting.

     

    Yearly

    In July there is a special meeting during which band roles are reviewed and some roles, such as the IRC, turnover to new members.

    Policies and Procedures

    Inviting New Members

    If a section (or the band) feels that a new member is needed to ensure we have coverage for gigs, the section discusses and if they agree:

    1. The band and/or section checks our spreadsheet (need link) that contains a list of people who are being considered. Or, the section or band can look for possible candidates who they feel would agree to our mission.
    2. The candidate is invited to audition.
    3. If they are interested they are pointed to the Members page and asked to carefully consider the mission and member commitments.
    4. The candidate participates in 3 practices.
    5. The section brings it to the band for a vote (could be a monthly meeting or after practice).

    Occasional Members or Alumni participation

    Occasional Members or Alumni are folks who have left the band in good standing but would like to occasionally play with us. They are always welcome to do so based on the following criteria:

    • Let the band know ahead of time that they will be joining us so that the gig leader can deal with any concerns they might have.

    • Familiarize themselves with the set list to establish those tunes that they will be able to participate in and those they will have to lay out for.

    • Dress in the band attire as specified on the gig-o.

    • Sign up on the Gig-o as an “occasional” and indicate that they will be there.

    Guest Players

    Guest Players should be asked to do the following:

    • Contact the band well before the gig so that the affected section and the band can collectively decide whether this is desirable.

    • Familiarize themselves with the set list to establish those tunes that they will be able to participate in and those they will have to lay out for.

    • Dress in the band attire as specified on the gig-o.

    • Only participate in the sessions/gigs/parades that the band has agreed to.

    • Exceptions are allowable if, at least, the gig leader and the affected section members are in agreement.


     
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