Lessons learned about fostering creativity and collaboration in groups from participating and leading musical jam sessions

1. WINNING THE
GOAT RODEO
AVIVA W ROSENSTEIN
DOCUSIGN, INC. UX RESEARCH NERD & AMATEUR MUSICIAN

2. GOAT RODEO: A chaotic situation,
typically in a corporate setting…

3. “Where so many things
...go wrong that you
need to go right for
everything to turn out
not utterly disastrous.”
--Chris Thile

7. Sloop John B Chart
Key= G
G / / / So hoist up the John B's sail
G / / / See how the main sail sets
G / / / Call for the Captain ashore
D / / / Let Me Go Home
G / / / Let Me Go Home
C / / / I want to go home,yeah yeah
G / D / Well I feel so broke up
G / / / Please let me go home

8. Don’t bring a tuba
to a bluegrass jam.

9. HOW TO RUN A LOUSY
JAM SESSION
• Don’t ExplainThe Structure.
• Insist On Playing Something Nobody
Knows
• Show off.After all, it’s all about you.
• Don’t Bring Charts.
• Stop A Song To Critique Someone And
TellThem “You’re Doing It Wrong”
• Treat It Like An Audition

10. LESSONS I’VE LEARNED
FROM JAM SESSIONS
1. UnderstandThe Culture
2. Set ExpectationsAsYou
Go
3. Listen &Watch
4. Stay In Tune
5. Set A Rhythm
6. Set a Structure
7. Pay Attention and
Listen
8. RightSize
9. Don’t Over Contribute
10. Let Others Shine
11. TakeTurns
12. ShowThe Ropes
13. FindThe Right Times
14. SharpenYour Skills
15. Improve Over Time
16. Let Flow Happen

11. HOW DOYOU WIN A
GOAT RODEO?
Everybody has fun.
Nobody gets hurt.
Everyone learns
something…