{"items": [{"author": "Ruthie", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/691029569082?comment_id=691056100912", "anchor": "fb-691056100912", "service": "fb", "text": "Thanks Jeff!  I really enjoyed playing in the bida open bands when I lived in Boston, and I felt like they did a great job balancing sounding good with being welcoming to new and intermediate musicians.", "timestamp": "1412695884"}, {"author": "Ben", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/691029569082?comment_id=691058256592", "anchor": "fb-691058256592", "service": "fb", "text": "My local pickup band (known around these parts as SPUDs) has been an institution for almost 30 years.  Our system is to have rotating leaders pick tune sets from our reasonably-sized standard repertoire which are distributed ahead of time - works well both for people who like to read music and those that want to practice learning by ear", "timestamp": "1412696960"}, {"author": "Jeff&nbsp;Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/691029569082?comment_id=691061125842", "anchor": "fb-691061125842", "service": "fb", "text": "@Ben: tune selection is important, but it's not most of what a bandleader needs to do. People can learn how to play tunes any time; what you're learning in an open band is how to play for dancers and how to play with others.<br><br>(Added a section to the post on tune selection.)", "timestamp": "1412698439"}, {"author": "Benjamin", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/691029569082?comment_id=691393300162", "anchor": "fb-691393300162", "service": "fb", "text": "That sounds like a great time!", "timestamp": "1412866539"}, {"author": "Jeff&nbsp;Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/691029569082?comment_id=691393639482", "anchor": "fb-691393639482", "service": "fb", "text": "@Benjamin: Want me to write you when there's another?", "timestamp": "1412866755"}, {"author": "Benjamin", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/691029569082?comment_id=691393988782", "anchor": "fb-691393988782", "service": "fb", "text": "I can't promise I'll be able to come, but sure!", "timestamp": "1412866922"}]}