jojo25 - Posted - 12/07/2021:  08:53:20

just wanted to put in my 3.14 cents worth on "will we ever return to normal?"



It sure don't look like it will. The world seems to be on an insane trajectory. I go to smallish sessions...6 folks or less...and that is all thank you. Even at 6 I feel that I am pushing my limit on what I believe to be reasonable risk. For me it is all about cutting off vector paths for the virus. I actually have a small...6...session to go to in about 2 hours...these sessions are a life line for my soul.

Edited by - Bill Rogers on 12/07/2021 11:43:50

jojo25 - Posted - 12/07/2021:  09:01:47

oh...and while I am in whining mode...I really miss CROMA...cancelled in 2020 due to both the virus and their losing their site...also cancelled in 2021 and for 2022...I have no clue as to whether it will ever be reborn...and I am not at all certain I would go if it was...what with the virus...and having to drive solo over 900 miles...and all the gear I take.

I don't know if I will ever again be comfortable in a large group of folks...for now I take great solace in being able to play tunes almost every day with my partner JK...and if I am lucky I get invited to a small session once a week...but invites for larger sessions I do not accept...one group in Madtown is doing 8 people sessions indoors...no can do...beyond my limit.

YellowSkyBlueSun - Posted - 12/07/2021:  09:52:44

Jam circles that exceed about a half dozen people aren't much fun anyway. Nobody wants to hear 3 guitars and 2 banjos played at the same time.

wrench13 - Posted - 12/07/2021:  10:02:47

I wish our jams locally would be invite only. We can get 12-15 people, of varying degrees of ability, and instrumentals take FOREVER to go thru. And most solos are hinky jinky collection of notes. At the jams in NY Central Park decades ago there was an inner circle of people who knew what they were doing and an outer circle of beginners. Too bad that isn't observed any more, at least locally.

As far as cancellation of jams, some here have been going on. I just worry about events, since my bands whole 2021 schedule of concerts was cancelled, and now it might be 2022 also! All (but 2) were outdoors but the sponsors and promoters are erring on the side of caution.

doryman - Posted - 12/07/2021:  10:12:28

I've been the organizer of an event (not banjo related) for the past 20 years. Like everything else, covid shut it down. Honestly, it was a lot of work, all volunteers, including me. While the whole covid thing sucks, I must admit that it's been nice to take a break from all the work that was involved with this event (a running race/fundraiser). I don't know that I'll bring it back although I could do it now in my State. This makes me wonder if many smaller festivals might suffer the same fate. I imagine that they are all a lot of work and no one is getting rich from them. Most of the volunteers are older folks too and perhaps they aren't around any more or aren't willing to expose themselves to crowds anymore.