Comments on: Join Banjo Paul for a fireside chat-continued

By: admin

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:15:28 +0000

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)

By: admin

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:11:18 +0000

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…

By: saphine

saphine — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:01:35 +0000

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.

By: Jesse Taylor II

Jesse Taylor II — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:07:39 +0000

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

By: admin

admin — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:04:28 +0000

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!