My First Week as a Musician in Myrtle Beach

I didn’t expect my first week in Myrtle Beach to feel like jumping into a river mid-current, but that’s exactly what happened. I arrived with boxes still taped shut, guitars still in their cases, and the faint hum of the long drive still buzzing in my head. I was so excited to be here, I decided to jump right in!

On Day 1, I drove to Wilmington for a jam session and played a second jam in Little River. By the end of the week, I will have played with four different musical groups, attended multiple networking events, unpacked half my house, and made more local connections than I ever expected this quickly.

This week hasn’t been quiet.
But it has been alive.
And that’s exactly what I hoped for.

Night One (Part 1): Wilmington — My First Carolina Jam

My very first night in Myrtle Beach, I got in the car and drove to the Wilmington jam, which runs from 5 to 8. I left around 7:30 so I could make it to my second jam of the night, but even in that brief window, I got a real taste of the local vibe.

The Wilmington jam, led by talented guitarist Jay Killman, was warm, friendly, and solid. I listened, took in the musical energy, and played two tunes—focused on groove, connection, and just letting the music breathe. It felt like a welcoming initiation into my new coastal surroundings.

As I walked out to the car at 7:30, I felt energized. Curious. Ready for the next thing.

Night One (Part 2): Jay’s in Little River — Rock Energy, Full Personality

I arrived at Jay’s in Little River right around 8:30. If Wilmington had a relaxed, listening-oriented energy, Jay’s had rock-and-roll personality written all over it.  Loud amps. Confident players. A real stage presence kind of vibe.  Run by bassist Benoris “Teddy” Webster, it was the second-to-last jam there as Teddy announced the jam would be ending after many consecutive years.

I played a few tunes and I got to observe a completely different slice of the Myrtle music landscape. Every jam has its own culture, and this one had its own unapologetic identity.  I wrapped up by 9:45, packed up the guitar, and by just after 10 p.m., I was home.

Two jams. One night.
Ninety miles.
A whole new world opening up.

Night Three: Main Street Taphouse — A Surprise Musical Connection

This one deserves its own chapter.

I arrived at Main Street Taphouse in North Myrtle Beach for the open mic and signed in at slot #13. They were only on #4 when I walked in, so I did the math: If every performer played their full time, I wouldn’t get onstage until after the jam was supposed to end at 9:30. I wondered: If it runs late, will they turn me away? Should I stay or leave? I debated it.  Part of me thought, “You’ve had a long week. You barely practiced. Just go home.”  But the other part—the one that brought me here—said, “Stay. See what unfolds.”

So I stayed. And that made all the difference. A few poets ahead of me finished quickly. A couple musicians who signed up had already left. The list moved faster than expected. Around 9:10 p.m., I was called up. I played my set, and mid-song, I noticed someone walk in carrying an archtop jazz guitar. That always catches my eye. He listened while I played, nodded a few times, and after I finished, he came right up to the stage.

“You want to stay up for a couple?” he asked. Absolutely. We ended up playing Moondance and Stormy Monday together—just two musicians meeting for the first time and immediately falling into a musical conversation.  It felt natural. He handed me his card afterward. We talked and made a new connection. And just like that, my third jam of the week became meaningful as well.

Four Musical Groups in One Week

Counting what’s coming next, this week sets a personal record:
Four different musical groups in my first seven days in Myrtle Beach.

Here’s the breakdown:

1. Wilmington jam

2. Jay’s in Little River jam

3. Main Street Taphouse open mic (plus a surprise jazz duo!)

4. Today’s session with a bassist and drummer I met on BandMix

And then Sunday, which will technically be Week Two, I’m playing with an organist and drummer I connected with through pre-move networking. For someone who arrived surrounded by moving boxes and a half-organized house, that’s not a bad start.

BNI, GNB, and the Business Side of Music

This morning, I went to the major BNI chapter on 501 at the Four Points Hotel. It was packed—lots of members, lots of energy, lots of opportunity. I introduced myself, talked about my bands, and made several promising contacts.

Tomorrow morning, I’m heading to a North Myrtle Beach networking group—GNB or something like that—to see what that ecosystem feels like.

Music isn’t just notes; it’s relationships. And Myrtle Beach seems full of people who understand that.

Social Media + BandMix

I posted in a few Myrtle Beach Facebook groups before the move, and this week the responses have turned into real conversations, leads, and invitations.  The BandMix connection became this afternoon’s trio session.  A Facebook referral became Sunday’s organ trio hang.  And several comments turned into helpful venue tips and musician introductions.  Momentum is building.

Not Much Practice, But Plenty of Musicianship

This week was light on traditional practice—very light. But it was heavy on musicianship practice:

• listening in unfamiliar rooms
• adapting to new players
• observing different musical cultures
• staying grounded in groove
• staying flexible in musical settings
• learning names, faces, and personality types
• being open
• being present
• being willing to jump in anywhere

This is the kind of practice you can’t get from books, metronomes, or YouTube.  It’s the real-world kind—the kind that sharpens your instincts and deepens your musical soul.

Why I’m Here: What I Want to Bring to Myrtle Beach

This week hasn’t just been about exploring jams and meeting musicians. It’s also clarified why I came here.

I want to uplift people’s spirits.

I want to bring something fresh to the Myrtle Beach music scene—something that blends:

• a jazz musician’s ear
• a rock guitarist’s fire
• a salsa bandleader’s rhythm
• a blues player’s honesty
• a teacher’s heart
• a spiritual seeker’s presence

I’m not afraid to groove.
I’m not afraid to rock out.
I’m not afraid to get quiet, spacious, subtle, or bold.

What I want is simple:
To make music that feels alive.
To bring people together.
To elevate the spaces I step into.
To leave audiences feeling better than when they arrived.

If I can accomplish that consistently, I’ll consider this move a success.

A Week That Sets the Tone

So here I am—just one week into my new life in Myrtle Beach, and already I’ve:

• played 4 jams
• met dozens of musicians
• attended two business networking events (and counting)
• scheduled multiple musical hangs
• made new friends
• found potential collaborators
• explored new venues
• unpacked half my house
• and said “yes” to just about everything that came my way

The rhythm of this week feels like a blessing—like the universe saying, “Welcome. You’re exactly where you need to be.”

If this is Week One, I can’t imagine what the rest of the year will bring.

But whatever it is, I’m ready.
Guitar in hand.
Open mind.
Open heart.
And a whole new musical landscape to explore.

Myrtle Beach, let’s make something unforgettable together.

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