Dean T - Posted - 04/04/2026:  07:00:06

We are playing outside tomorrow morning, before the sun comes up. A cold front came through yesterday, and the forecast is for 34° at that time. When I got up this morning, it was 37°, so I got an old pair of thin Cotten gloves, cut the fingertips off, grabbed my coat, stocking cap, and my banjo, put my picks on, and went out on the back deck, and played through the songs. It went surprisingly well, and tomorrow should be fine, despite being the coldest we’ve ever played outside. My banjo stayed surprisingly in tune… I thought it was going to freak out with the temperature change, but it didn’t.

So I just thought this might be a good topic of conversation. What do you all do, to make the best of playing outside, when the weather is on the cold side?

Jon Borcherding - Posted - 04/04/2026:  07:23:24

I've done a few Easter sunrise services (outdoors) but I'm usually playing guitar for those. My experience is that the guitar doesn't care too much about the temperature as long as there are no quick changes in temp. I put the guitar in my truck as soon as I get up, which is way before the crack of dawn because I have animals to feed before anything else happens. I don't take my guitar inside before the service, but leave it in my truck so it doesn't warm up. Fingerless gloves are a must because the instrument is COLD.

Owen - Posted - 04/04/2026:  07:48:30

Q: What do I do?

A: I don't.    

Several years ago in Winnipeg I saw a guy busking outside when it was well into the -30Cs ... and snowing.   I have/had no illusions, but IF I did, I think that would have changed my mind.

Edited by - Owen on 04/04/2026 07:49:02

Texasbanjo - Posted - 04/04/2026:  08:09:57

I have fingerless compression type gloves for picking when it's cold. Seems to work pretty good. Fortunately, I seldom ever use them because we don't have a lot of cold weather during festival season.

banjered - Posted - 04/04/2026:  09:16:06

When government starts doing more good than harm, and hell freezes over, we'll all be ready! banjered

calicoplayer - Posted - 04/04/2026:  14:56:40

When I've been offered cold weather gigs or jams, I've found that if I can't wiggle out of the gig (that's my preferred option), I'll try to play without metal picks, which seem to transmit the cold to my fingers too effectively. If there's an amplification system available that can make up for the volume reduction that comes from the bare finger playing.

It just may be my own idiosyncrasy, but in cold weather I can play clawhammer more effectively than three finger picking. Cold weather makes me lose any accuracy in three finger picking. And I just avoid playing any complex melodic pieces in cold weather. The audience just has to accept "I Walk the Line" rather than "Blackberry Blossom".

And when I've been forced into playing in cold weather, I keep my electric gloves nearby, all heated up and ready to use to warm up my old arthritic fingers.

But best of all, stay inside when it's too cold out. Better for you, better for your banjo, better for the music.

chuckv97 - Posted - 04/04/2026:  15:06:09

I was asked to play outside the market building during ice sculpture week,, I declined. Years ago I used to busk when temps were around the freezing point wearing thin gloves with fingers cut out, but my playing would slow down to 3/4 speed. I bought some of those hand warmers that hunters use because our jam hall gets cool in the winter, but I’ve yet to try’em out.

rvrose - Posted - 04/04/2026:  22:38:27

We donate an hour of Christmas music every year outside the grocery store for the"red kettle". The temp is often in the 30s. Once the banjo adjusts to temp in a few minutes it is fairly stable. I put a couple hand warmers that we use for hunting in my pockets an use them when I'm not playing during short breaks. I wouldn't want to play for much over an hour. If it is a church service they will probably keep it short if folks are setting in the cold. Have a great Easter service.
Rick

Dean T - Posted - 04/05/2026:  07:01:30

quote:

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Originally posted by rvrose

We donate an hour of Christmas music every year outside the grocery store for the"red kettle". The temp is often in the 30s. Once the banjo adjusts to temp in a few minutes it is fairly stable. I put a couple hand warmers that we use for hunting in my pockets an use them when I'm not playing during short breaks. I wouldn't want to play for much over an hour. If it is a church service they will probably keep it short if folks are setting in the cold. Have a great Easter service.

Rick

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Thanks Rick! It went really well. We got there 30 minutes early, and set our instruments out. Tuned up before we played, and everything stayed good. It was a crystal clear morning with deep blue skies. A perfect Easter morning sunrise. 

cottontop - Posted - 04/05/2026:  07:31:35

I've never had that problem. It is in the mid-80's here today in central Florida.
Joe

Dean T - Posted - 04/05/2026:  10:17:47

We were out in a for real cow pasture. I counted 19 folks outside, and there was a row behind them, of folks sitting in cars staying warm. So it was very personal. The guy who was supposed to bring a small battery PA, forgot it, and it was too late to go back, so we played acoustic, and the preacher had to turn it up a notch. The best part of the morning, was when a cow just trotted through the service, like it was planned. I’m still hoping someone got a picture of that.

Easter Sunrise, 2026

 

rvrose - Posted - 04/05/2026:  12:40:44

quote:

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Originally posted by Dean T

We were out in a for real cow pasture. I counted 19 folks outside, and there was a row behind them, of folks sitting in cars staying warm. So it was very personal. The guy who was supposed to bring a small battery PA, forgot it, and it was too late to go back, so we played acoustic, and the preacher had to turn it up a notch. The best part of the morning, was when a cow just trotted through the service, like it was planned. I’m still hoping someone got a picture of that.

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So cool ! I would have got up early to hear and see that service! Happy Easter. 

Rick

HarleyQ - Posted - 04/05/2026:  20:11:01

quote:

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Originally posted by cottontop

I've never had that problem. It is in the mid-80's here today in central Florida.

Joe

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But He probably didn't worry about a Hurricane passing thru   We had 80 in Tn last week, so it's not a big deal.

cottontop - Posted - 04/05/2026:  21:14:49

No, no hurricanes. Just nice warm sunny weather.
Joe