The banjo is a true gift, to me and to you
Every now and then when I’m feeling particularly wistful and contemplative, I’m struck by the gravity of just what it has meant to me to have this thing called "banjo" in my life. Who could have known when I took my first lesson at age 16 that the banjo and me would become so intertwined and mutually identifiable?
As I write this I’m at the ripe old age of 43. In the grand scheme of an entire lifetime, I’m maybe just a little less than halfway through, if I’m lucky. I’ve got the same amount of time left…or hopefully a little more…as has already passed, depending on God’s plan for me of course. And, in this current day & age, 43 is still young. For me to speak as a wise old veteran may seem a little over the top, but there’s no denying I’m getting long in the tooth and that there are a couple generations under me now! 43 years went quickly, but at the same time it’s not exactly just a drop in the bucket. I’ve experienced an awful lot in this life, and I’ve gone down the road a few miles if you know what I mean.
As I said, the banjo and I are one and the same, and what a powerful gift that is. The vast majority of people in my life have never known me without a banjo in my hand. I can’t remember not having a banjo in my hand. When you think of Paul, you think of banjo. The banjo very much feels like another appendage on my body; like a useful extension of myself and my personality. I’m not the best in the world, not the best in this country, not the best in my state, not even the best in my city. But I am knowledgeable and competent on the banjo, and that is worth more than gold to me.
Do you ever groan when asked to play your banjo?
So now that you’ve read my deep and poetic musings on what it’s meant to be involved with the banjo, let me get to the main thoughts of this blog post.
When I play banjo, it often makes people very happy. There’s nothing like an appreciative bluegrass crowd at my stage shows, hooting and hollering. And to have a crowd gather around a jam session that I am in and be so into what’s being played that they just stay right there for several songs or more is a really cool feeling. But…it’s not always thrilling to get asked to play the banjo.
There have been so many times when someone has encountered me and my banjo outside of a musical situation and have asked me to play. Perhaps I’m heading to or coming from a gig; maybe I’m putting it in the car or taking it out; maybe the banjo is just in the building where I’m at for a non-musical reason. Maybe they’ve come to my house for a visit. No matter the scenario, I can think of lots of times when I’ve been "found out", or when the cat has been let out of the bag. "YOU PLAY BANJO?! REALLY?! THAT’S SO COOL! CAN YA’ PLAY SOMETHING FOR ME?!"
Too many times my immediate internal reaction is oh, please no. Because I know this person has no knowledge of bluegrass or banjo. Most likely, they aren’t a fan and won’t ever become one. For about half a song, it’s "yuk yuk" cool, before they start losing interest. They invariably will slap their knee, dance around wildly, laugh. And then comes the request to play one…or both…of the two most requested songs that people who aren’t educated to banjo or bluegrass ask for when they find out I play: The Ballad of Jed Clampett, and Dueling Banjos. All in all, revealing my banjo playing tendencies in the wrong setting leads to much mockery or poking fun at the genre and instrument.
What I just described is a very common scenario, but something else that used to happen to me and might be happening to you right now is that when I was a beginner who was actively learning and didn’t know a lot, I would get asked to play before I deserved to be playing for anyone. I had the same oh please no reaction then too because I didn’t know much and wasn’t confident.
Never miss a chance to play your banjo for others
I‘ve learned over the years to take a different attitude when it comes to everything I just described. I’ve learned to take the title of this blog post to heart, and to adopt my role as the Banjo Ambassador. I get it out now and pick. Maybe all it takes is half a song and then I can put it away. Or maybe I keep the listener engaged for 2 or 3 songs. No matter. For that brief half a song moment, I’ve made that person smile. I…and you too if it’s you picking…make a deep, deep impact on that person. They now know a banjo player, and that’s a pretty neat thing. So what if they "yuk yuk" it up and dance in a silly way? So what if they slap their knee and bring out all the stereotypes? You’ve brought a moment of lightness and joy into their lives. Whether or not you realize it, you’ve made a lasting impression on that person. 10 years later, when the person you played for happens to get in a discussion about banjos or banjo music, they will say "I knew a banjo player once…" For non-pickers and non-fans, it’s a unique and really cool thing. And who knows how many people you’ve turned into bluegrass fans over the years thanks to your willingness to be a banjo ambassador?
It doesn’t matter if you aren’t a touring professional. Even a rank amateur rolling off a few measures of Cripple Creek in a sloppy way will do so much more than you can imagine for our "cause". Did you get an invite to bring your banjo to a social gathering? Afraid to because you only know two songs? Don’t be! You get it out, you play those two songs. When you’ve played both songs 4 times each, you noodle around and make some "banjo-ey" noise, and you just see how happy you make those people. They’ll move on to other conversations and other music and other topics and won’t appear as if they’ve been moved, but you can rest assured you moved them. Can you think back to the days before you picked up a banjo? Remember how unique and mysterious and wonderful it seemed? Can you remember the first time you were in the same room with a banjo player? Well, the people you play for now know a banjo player, and that’s a really great thing you Banjo Ambassador you!
Show Banjo Paul some comment love
What have your experiences been? Have they been similar to mine? Do you ever groan about having to play in the wrong setting or for the wrong people? Have you ever been glad that you agreed to pick for someone after it was over, even though you secretly didn’t want to at first? I’m real curious about your experiences and also your reactions to this article, and I hope you’ll tell me about them in the comments area below. Thanks in advance and as I always say: pick ‘em if ya got ‘em! Banjo Paul out.
I just found this website. Back in February when you wrote this, I had never even held a banjo at all — but when I signed up for a workshop in NC on a whim, I fell in love — didn’t see that coming!
I really enjoyed this article, chuckled at several points through it — and thank you for writing it. My husband began to badger me to play as soon as I returned to MI from my trip (when I bought the banjo). I knew I wasn’t ready then, ha! I’ve been asked a few times since, but more along the lines of “oh, you’ll have to play for us sometime!” Since I’ve not yet had my banjo with me at any of these moments, I didn’t have to truly worry.
But this article has given me good food for thought — and I think you are right. Most folks just want to hear a little — even if they aren’t true fans, a banjo makes people smile. I figure I’ll start out playing for my grandsons — a very uncritical audience, to be sure, but good practice still. My instructor even helped out by writing up a banjo solo piece for ‘Old MacDonald’. So, ahem, I think my debut will be comin’ up here soon!
Hey Lauren,
Wow, thanks so much for the great response and feedback! It’s really gratifying that people like you will share your experiences. I don’t know how new to my website you are, but if you have been looking awhile you know I haven’t posted in ages. That’ll hopefully be changing soon. But back to your comments, it sounds like you are on the road to a healthy attitude towards your banjo playing and towards your job as a banjo ambassador. I’m proud to welcome you into the club and I hope to hear from you again! Take care and as I always say: pick ‘em if ya got ‘em!
Banjo Paul
I’m very new to the website Paul (just found it today) — and I do hope you will soon be able to post again. Everything I’ve seen here so far is great quality, very encouraging, and truly inspires me. To me, it seems like the banjo world can only benefit from Banjos Rule!
Well Banjo Paul with this article you hit the nail on the head. I am a beginner & have had a very critical friend of my husband’s ask me to play. I get nerveous most of the time in front of my excellent instructor, Bill. So…I do not want to play nor have I,in this situation with our friend? I know that I would screw up & just don’t want the shame! I have played a little for a friend who did not ask me to play. There you go.I do aspire to play, eventually, in nursing/retirement homes to be a true banjo ambassador & to fill their day with some wonderful joy. For the banjo is a VERY happy instrument! I know that I would need a guitarist to join me so it would sound decent. I’ll figure that out when the time is ripe. In the meanwhile I wear my banjo t-shirts & am a bit of an amdassador that way I feel. That’s my story & I’m sticking to it! May you have a carefree banjo filled day. You are such an inspiration that hey, I’ll go pick my lovely Gibson banjo right here & now! Best regards from N.Little Rock, AR. You have helped me inmeasurably in the past. Many thanks.
Darlene! Thanks for the comments and I’m so glad you are reading my blog posts. I exchanged emails with your teacher and he says you are a true inspiration as a student. Hang in there, keep on picking and learning, and take a chance in front of others one of these days, even the critical friend. I’m pretty sure you’ll find out that it turns out better than you thought, even if you “screw it up”. And doing the nursing home thing is a WONDERFUL goal! Go for it. Stay in touch and thanks for commenting.
Many people have asked me to play something for them. I have lived the exact scenario that you have written about. Usually I really mess up whatever I TRY to play on the spot and under the gun. Very Frustrating. I will never give up though because the Banjo makes ME happy!
Hey Bob! Thanks for the comment. You know something? If the banjo makes YOU happy, then by golly that’s a winning situation in my book. Not only can the banjo bring joy to those who hear you pick, but the banjo should first and foremost enrich your own life. Keep on picking brother!
I tell them I will play what I know & will stop for money
Great blog post Paul !! As a beginning student only in my second lesson as you know since you are my Banjo teacher, I have not yet had to experience any of the situations you have been in. When friends hear that I have a Banjo, I get “cool I like Banjo music” and my wife say “close the ____ door when you are practicing”. Someday I am sure that I will go through some of the things you and other Banjo players go through when others see that great instrument in my hands. For now getting my fingers to reach and play chords G,C and D over and over a hundred times a day is my life on the Banjo. I am sure by lesson 20 or maybe even 30 I might have a simple song down enough to play when others ask. Honestly, I can’t wait until the day comes when others ask me to play and I do have a couple of songs under my belt.
David (Banjo Pauls student)
Hey Dave, thanks for the comments. You said that when friends learn you play banjo they say “cool, I like it”, but my experience has been that those same friends, as they continue the discussion, start naming blues tunes and country tunes and even other unrelated stuff. That’s the time when I feel like rolling my eyes as they ask me to play, because I know they don’t get it. But as my article alluded to, that’s the time to get it out and play anyway! Spread a little joy and be the Banjo Ambassador. They may never come to fully appreciate bluegrass, but they’ll appreciate your little bit of picking and love it.
And rest assured…the songs are coming in the lesson program! Stay tuned…
Paul,
I enjoyed your Banjo Ambassador thoughts. Yeah, picking and spreading joy is infectious. I know, so’s the common cold. And like the cold, you can just say “excuse me” when you’re done. But a cold usually doesn’t bring smiles. And that’s nothing to sneeze at. Hey, Paul, keep picking that joyful sound. — Mike
Mike, I love your sense of humor and thanks for chiming in. You forgot to mention that you can pick your nose and you can pick your banjo, but you can’t wipe your banjo on your pants.
“[i]Did you get an invite to bring your banjo to a social gathering? Afraid to because you only know two songs? Don’t be! You get it out, you play those two songs. When you’ve played both songs 4 times each, you noodle around and make some “banjo-ey” noise, and you just see how happy you make those people.[/i]”
I can relate to the above statement. Just before Christmas, my wife and I were invited to a small casual dinner party at a co-workers house. My friends kept asking if I was bringing my banjo, and I kept deflecting the questions. When all was said and done, I should have brought it. It would have been laugh, and everyone would have enjoyed it. Live and learn. Sometimes the confidence just isn’t there.
Tim
Hey Tim, I’m so with you on your comment. I can remember absolutely trembling at the thought of playing for other people, especially as a beginner. I’d love to hear about the experiences you have when you finally do bring the banjo to such a setting! That’ll be fun for you, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now.