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Worthy Convos: Carmen Hudman on Bringing Mahjong to the Masses
We started Worthy Convos to highlight people doing good and interesting things in our community. Carmen Hudman is the founder and genius behind Bam Good Time, Fort Worth, which offers lessons, open play, league play, and mobile parties for lovers of American Mahjong. Bam Good Time is committed not only to celebrating American Mahjong, but also to building a community of players and friends letting everyone know that anyone can play American Mahjong and to building a community of players and friends. Carmen kindly answered our questions for this Worthy Convo.
Tanglewood Moms: Can you give us a little about Bam Good Time, Fort Worth?
Carmen Hudman: I’m Carmen Hudman, founder of Bam Good Time, Fort Worth. We’re a mobile mahjong event business offering social open play, beginner lessons, strategy lessons, league play, and tournament action. We even rent beautiful equipment and set up everything you need to host a beautiful mahjong party. We’ll soon be adding weekend mahjong getaways as well.
TWM: Why mahjong? What about the game made you want to start Bam?
CH: The ancient game of Mah-jongg is inherently a communal, highly shared social tradition. American Mahjong continues to see a massive social revival. I love it for many reasons, but pulling people away from screens into face-to-face, focused interaction is one of my favorites! I was hosting weekly mahjong in my home. My friends and I would have dinner, play, and enjoy the evening. They started bringing friends, introductions were made, and we taught them how to play the game. Eventually, the group became too large for my home. The idea for Bam Good Time was born in that house one night, playing with my friends. So many friends of friends of friends wanted to learn. I am a teacher in my day job, as well, so it came naturally to me!
TWM: Can you tell us a little bit about the events you organize?
CH: Bam Good Time hosts open play and beginner lessons at rotating Fort Worth venues, currently Boomer Jack’s and Greater Goods Collective. We have also collaborated with businesses to co-host open play and private events, including Sanders Travel, Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty, a local law firm, and others like that. Open play is for intermediate to experienced players looking for casual practice and social play. Beginner lessons teach newcomers the fundamentals of the game and prepare them with the know-how and confidence to run their own rack at a table. All equipment is provided, and events include mahjong prizes and rack trinkets for extra fun.
TWM: What makes the Fort Worth mahjong community unique?
CH: As I said, the game is inherently communal; however, today’s American Mahjong can sometimes take on a more exclusive vibe, and people perceive a barrier to entry. Bam Good Time is unique in that I’m mobile, inclusive, and no membership is required. I welcome players of all levels, and we’re growing! Fort Worth’s mahjong scene is unique, too, in my opinion, because there are quite a few groups in our city. We’re all trying to achieve the same goal: growing the game and giving our players a sense of community. As we like to say at Bam Good Time, there are plenty of rules about HOW to play, but no rules about WHO can play.
TWM: What are some common myths about mahjong that you would love to bust?
CH: The biggest myth is that it’s hard. Are there a lot of rules? Yes. Does it take a couple of tries to understand it fully and play confidently? Absolutely. But give it a try, and you’ll love it. My new player lessons leave players able to run their own rack and read the card during guided play after just the first lesson. Within a couple of open play events, they’re playing, asking the right questions, and joining in the fun.
TWM: Do you offer classes?
CH: Yes. Beginner lessons are $40 and teach players the fundamentals of the game. I offer lessons individually or in groups of four. They can be taken on open play nights or scheduled privately at your location or a public space.
TWM: Who can come to your open mahjong events?
CH: Open play is geared toward intermediate and more experienced players. Beginners are welcome, too, and we guide them through a lesson first so they’re table-ready.
TWM: What is your favorite thing about hosting a mahjong event?
CH: Anyone’s first “MAHJONG!” It is exhilarating as a learner and gives me a warm feeling of pride as the instructor. I also get so much joy in my heart listening to friends’ greetings as they enter, the laughter and the click of the tiles during play, and the “see ya next week” as the players leave. One guest said to me, “Thank you so much for bringing me into this fold. I didn’t know what I was missing!” That just puts a huge smile on my face.
TWM: Do you have a favorite moment from one of your events?
CH: A favorite event moment had to be the entire evening of “Merry Mahj”, our Christmas in July event. Everyone was so excited about the theme and dressed for it! We were overrun with Christmas cookies and Christmas mahjong tiles. That night was just like Christmas, magical.
TWM: What do you hope your mahjong players take from an evening at a Bam event?
What I hope players take away is the community we are building and adding to. New friends are being made at the table, and old friends are CH: connecting weekly. I’ve been thanked for giving this community to people who aren’t otherwise getting social connection in their world. I’ve been approached so many times at event spaces by passersby asking how they can join us. It’s a beautiful thing.
Please be social with us! Follow Bam Good Time Fort Worth on Facebook and Instagram. And join our growing Facebook group for all things local Mahjong, “Tanglewood Mahj.”
