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Use common sense and common courtesy.
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By Norm Shaw
Juke joints certainly are getting popular. Just check out the number of folks in our survey of blues types and others on the previous page who would recommend taking an out-of-town guest to a juke joint.
But going to a juke joint isn't the same as going to a Beale Street bar. It's not even the same as going to a local hole in the wall. There are certain unwritten rules that must be observed at a juke joint. And the first rule is the most important: These rules are not applied equally to everyone. Always remember that if there's a place for situational ethics, it is in a juke joint.
A recent incident at Junior Kimbrough's place near Holly Springs, Miss., is an excellent case in point. A Chicago man returned there recently. It was his third trip there over the past few years. When he started taking pictures, he was informed there was a $50 fee for photographers. He said he'd never paid it before. He said other people that night weren't charged $50. The bottom line, though, is that at that time, there was a fee. That's the rule, he was told.
So for your help, here are some pointers we've learned in our forays into the world of jukes.
- Observe the house rules. If there are rules posted, obey them. These rules are not posted for your entertainment. It doesn't matter if the people next to you aren't following the rules - they may be family or in the band and get special treatment.
- Don't bring your own alcohol unless you know it's OK, and never bring your own beer. Some clubs, such as Green's, allow alcohol because they only sell beer. Others don't. In some places, you can get some butt-kicking corn whiskey. If you know bootleg liquor is available, be discreet about buying it.
- In fact, always be discreet. Don't stare at people. Everyone should have learned in the second grade not to stare, but some folks just can't help themselves. Don't do it. However, know that people will stare at you, especially if you look like a tourist.
- Which brings us to: Tell people you're a first-time visitor. Odds are you'll be welcomed with open arms regardless, but it never hurts to say, "I'm new at this, so let me know if I do something wrong."
- Don't be afraid to dance, especially if you are a female. And if you are a female, you will be asked to dance. Might as well do it, 'cause your date probably doesn't want to dance anyway. Don't get uptight if someone asks your date to dance, either. It's part of the scene.
- Actually, don't get uptight about anything. People go to a juke joint to relax, forget work and party. Don't mess it up for everyone by being a jerk.
- Don't be afraid when someone talks to you and you can't understand a word he or she is saying. A recent encounter with a totally drunk crackhead went very smoothly by just repeating, "Yeah, I know what you mean" to everything he said (we still have no idea what he was saying). Don't be afraid to ask someone to repeat something, too, especially if they seem interesting.
- Use common sense and common courtesy. Don't go into a place thinking you know all the answers. Be observant and follow the flow of the place. Common sense will tell you if you are messing up. Don't mess up.
All of this may seem fairly straight-forward, and it is. By basically being a nice person, you will have a great time. And truly nothing beats a night at a juke joint.
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