’09 was quite a year…2010 will be even better
I‘ve been doing some reflecting and thinking over the last couple of weeks about the Banjo Paul Empire and just what it’s come to mean to me. 2009 was a pivotal year for me, which I think will lead to an even bigger 2010. Along the way, you have become a great big part of the fun and the success that I’ve experienced. I spent some time in my last blog post sharing some random thoughts, ideas, and plans with you. Things having to do with the future…and the past. Here I carry on the conversation.
Change is inevitable. Except from a vending machine
In my last blog post I began sharing the genesis of Banjos Rule and My Banjo Life. I also talked about a setback that occurred early in the year for me, which is that I lost my day job. Now, I realize in the grand scheme of things that my setbacks are just speed bumps in the middle of the road of life. It’s not like I contracted cancer or lost a family member. They are aggravating and inconvenient setbacks nonetheless, and when they are occurring they don’t feel very good.
Losing a job is never fun, but as we so often find out, it appears that God has a bigger plan in mind for me. Freeing myself from being tied to a day job and reliant on that paycheck meant that I could be free to think on a grander scale. I get to try the self employment thing that I’ve been wanting for a long time, and I have to say that it’s going good. I highly recommend it. Working the day job meant that there was very little time to further my education or progress in my field. Since losing the job in January of ’09, I’ve had nothing but time to learn, study, and progress. What a blessing.
One step forward, two steps back…
Sigh. Aggravation. Frustration. I guess it’s just part of life. And, it’s part of every bluegrass band when it comes to trying to find personnel that mesh and get along. I joined a band…or rather, helped form a band called Black Canyon Bluegrass Band, and we had a pretty good run of about 3 years. The four of us got along great and we had a really good thing going. This was a group that was getting some attention, and it was something that I could sink some time and effort into. Or so I thought.
At the tail end of 2009, Black Canyon Imploded. And it really blindsided and frustrted me. It’s given me a bit of a sour taste in my mouth which is hard to wash out. It’s hard to really fathom what happened; it’s kind of like being one of the few people who aren’t in on a joke. Two of our members left, saying they were both burned out from gigging too much, and also that they really weren’t looking to be in a straight bluegrass band. They left in a very inconsiderate way; left the remaining two of us hanging with a gig left to play and no band. (We had to cancel the gig.) It’s one thing to feel burned out and like you just want to lay low and not let music take up so much of your time, but it’s quite another for me to walk in to a jam session less than a month later, only to find the two ex-band members warming up with their new band. Wow. Thanks Ken and Tony. Way to be classy.
Click me! Click me!
A new year, a new start, new opportunities
Well, as you can tell by the last blog post and this one, 2009 was quite a year for me. There were some aggravating set backs, but there are also some life-changing new directions in self employment and music opportunities. It was one of the best years of my life, really, when I look at the grand scheme of things. To be recognized by a global community for my banjo playing via Banjos Rule and My Banjo Life is very gratifying. I love helping people out and entertaining. Developing my own business in a field that I fell in love with (web design and coding) is wonderful beyond words. I’ve even launched an online lesson program so that anyone anywhere in the world can take some lessons from me. It’s really exciting to think that this instrument that I fell in love with is rewarding me back with an income stream. I’m a lucky guy.
I even got to stalk celebrities!
Of course I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that I got to hang out with the Oak Ridge Boys one day in December of ’09, as well as sit at the feet of banjo master Peter Wernick of Hot Rize during his advanced banjo camp, to which I won a scholarship. (That was January of this year.)
Seeing Peter pick, hearing his teaching and his thoughts, ideas, and criticisms of my own picking, has my mind in a real whirlwind. On the one hand, I learned some esoteric, high-end tips and techniques that I can grasp intellectually, but that I haven’t been able to put into practice yet. I feel a bit intimidated maybe. I’m unhappy with the way I used to do several things, and even though I know how to get beyond them, I no longer have the successful band to work with for applying the new found knowledge and becoming that hot picker. Of course I can practice and work up stuff on my own to some extent, which is important, but it’s like I always tell my students: you need the exposure of picking with other live bodies to really work this all out. I feel I’m at a real crossroads in so many areas.
Show Banjo Paul some comment love
Well, there you have it friends and neighbors! Two rambling blog posts from Banjo Paul. I’m excited about some opportunities, frustrated by others, uncertain of some things, and feeling a bit intimidated in some ways. I think 2010 is going to be quite a year for me, showing decent income as a banjo picker as well as a web designer. This is also going to be the year that people come to realize that they can count on me for help on the banjo…more so than at any time in the past. I would really love to get some feedback from you on these blog posts. How is your picking coming? How did your year go personally? Have you seen improvement in any area of your life? Have you found frustration in trying to keep a group of musicians together? Is the economy rough where you live? Who made that long distance call to Denver on my phone? Oh, wait…scratch that. Never mind that one. Anyway…if you’d like to comment & give me and my readers some feedback, please feel free to do that below in the comments section.
Thanks go out to you, my loyal readers, and I can’t wait to experience a really good year together. Stay in touch and pick ‘em if ya got ‘em!
Banjo Paul
“Wunse, I coodn’t even spel bango pikker…now I are one
www.banjosrule.com (main site)
www.mybanjolife.com (blog)
Click here: Ultimate Metronome
This year’s starting out pretty well for us. Carolyn and I actually got to play in an impromptu bluegrass band (banjo, mando, guitar and bass) about a week ago and we had a riot. But it’s a once- or twice-a-year gig with some friends. Not exactly an opportunity for growth, but it’s something.
My own picking’s coming along more slowly than I’d like but it’s coming. I got distracted from FMB when I started working on Red Wing, so I need to get back to that. But I feel like I’m moving out of the shallow end of the banjo pool.
Hey Terry, nice work on getting to play in the impromptu bluegrass band! That’s so important for your musical development. I’ve always been impressed that you show up to the Pass It On Jam Session and try your hand at picking and singing some numbers. At your self-professed stage of being in the shallow end of the banjo pool, that’s daring and puts you a cut above the rest. I can tell you that when I was more at the beginning of my journey, I was scared witless and could not have done what you do. So kudos to you! I always enjoy your comments on my blog posts and I thank you for being here. See you at the jams and keep on picking!
Paul, you and I go way back. I remember this tall, handsome kid, who seemed to have a thing for hats, coming up and introducing himself. Back then, I was touring a lot. You had talent. That much was easy to figure out. Little did I realize just how much talent you really had, both as an entertainer and as a musician.
I’ve followed your website and blogsite and the development has been a wonder to behold. Either this was what you were meant to do or you were born under a lucky star, or both.
As you know, my days on the road are a thing of the past. Now, I relive those days through you. Oddly enough, the experiences you’ve had seem to paralell some of my own. It’s great mental therapy to consider that I’m not the only one who ever struggled with losing his “day jobs”, or with the break-up of bands consisting of musicians who didn’t have the good sense to realize what a true gem it is to find yourself associated with dedicated musicians.
You’ve forged ahead and that’s inspirational. LIke myself, you’ve ceased to rely upon other men who reap the greater share of the benefits from your talent and sacrifice, while writing you a paycheck only barely large enough to allow you to make it through to the next paycheck. Of course, your chosen profession is along more intellectual lines while mine demands more physical effort, in the line of carpentry and agriculture, but it boils down to the same thing. You’re studying and developing your craft and using the profits to make investments in yourself.
Also, like yourself, you’ve encountered the “personality factor” that goes with every musical endeavor. I know full well that the break-up of a successful band can leave you feeling like you’ve “come up short”. Rest assurred that you really haven’t. The experience you gained has allowed you to move forward in ways even you might not yet realize. Keep learning and advancing. Sure, you’ll expand your repertoire into areas that nobody around you will be able to follow, but those areas will be building blocks for the foundation you build upon in your next performing band. (I’ve lost count of all the tunes I’ve learned that were never performed onstage, and likely never will be. My current musical associates lack the skills to properly render an acceptable performance.) None the less, bits and pieces of those tunes often find their way into tunes they can perform. (As you know, I’m a bit of an “improv”, seldom playing a tune exactly the same way twice.)
You’ll bounce back. I have no doubt of that. It may not be in a “strictly bluegrass” band, but you’ll find a musical outlet. Your situation isn’t like mine. You’re in an area full of good musicians and “musical happenings”. I look forward to you founding a new band. I know you’ll have the ability to take the music into areas the other members never dreamed possible. I’m looking forward to hearing some of that.
In the mean time, keep up the good fight. It inspires me. Musically, I’m in the twilight of my life, but your words and experiences give me hope. Who knows, we may, once again, meet backstage at some festival.
Oh yes, it wasn’t me who made that long distance call to Denver on your phone. Just so you know.
Best Wishes, pal,
-Jesse
Well hey there my old friend! It’s really good to see your reply to this blog post. Your message was uplifting, inspirational, reminiscent, and a joy to read. Thanks for the encouragement, the memories and the stories. Keep in touch! (Oh, and I’ll cross you off the list of suspects for that long-distance call on my phone)
Hey folks, well done for actually playing in front of others, that’s a huge step forward on the banjo stepladder.
I hope 2010 will se me really improving as a banjo picker. I’m heading to Michigan in June for a holiday and will be meeting friends of Robes and Kristin and of course, Paul.
I have decisions to make, huge life changing decision, but am taking my time gathering information. Do I sell my house, buy a smaller place and take a year off work and go see the world OR do I stay and invest a bit more in the house, rent out a room and carry on with my job, which I love by the way, for another few years? The fuel bills for this place were an awful lot and not looking likely to get any smaller next winter. I’m also suffering from itchy feet and restless soul syndrome!
I would welcome any views and opinions.
Hi Elizabeth! Good to hear from you as always. Looking forward to seeing you in June. I read your dilemma about the life changing decisions with great interest. I can tell you how I’d vote: sell, the place, get something smaller, and see the world! If you are in a position to make that happen financially, I think you should take advantage of it. You’ll never be sorry you did it, and just think of the adventures you’ll have. Houses and jobs and what-not will be around when you get back, but if you wait on seeing the world, there may come a time when you no longer can hangle it physically and financially. Take advantage of it now! I’m pretty jealous…