The new Me ( an essay on why I'm no longer called Alan)

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Posted by Gareth Banjoland on Sunday, January 18, 2009

In the Von Trolley Quartet my stage name/character is called Alan-the running gag is I like to be called "Super Alan" but much to my displeasure I am continously introduced by my fellow quartetians as (spoken in a dull monotone) "Alan". Or on occasion "Stupid Alan" (followed by Stupid Alan theme tune).

This is why when I joined the hangout I chose the user name Alan Banjovi, since I have made a few mates on here (believe it or not) and not suprisingly they often call me Alan, now nothing against people called Alan ( even though you are a boring bunch of twats) but.... I don't really want folk calling my house and asking for a bloke called Alan, firstly because if some one else answers the phone they will say " Nope sorry, no none called Alan here, mmmmm.... why don't you try the home for boring twats up the road"
And secondly because my name is Gareth and I already have several nicknames- Gazza, Spazza, Gaf, Cess (another stage name) and another will just confuse things even more.

This is why as the more observant of you may have noticed I have, thanks to Erics computer codalised magic, changed my username to the new and improved "Gareth Banjoland" What do you think?

Gareth is, obviously, my name and Banjoland is, I think, a rather clever pun on my surname "Bjaaland" which hardly anyone can pronounce and if they can, certainly can't spell.- Incidentally its Norwegian and means "the land of the goats herders hut"

So thats it, I'm no longer called Alan except when performing in The Von Trolley Quartet. And then its SUPER ALAN.

PS. Really, no offense to people who are really called Alan.

19 comments on “The new Me ( an essay on why I'm no longer called Alan)”

Alan Hill Says:
Sunday, January 18, 2009 @2:31:45 AM

Blow it ime changing my name to Gareth i did not realise being called alan is so uncool
all the best on your tour & wee pitt looks cute

bsa Says:
Sunday, January 18, 2009 @2:42:17 AM

Well if changing my name to Gareth makes me more interesting count me in.

All the best

Not Alan

Gareth Banjoland Says:
Sunday, January 18, 2009 @3:02:13 AM

If you are really called Alan don't despair there is hope .... http://www.curlyflat.net/cartoons/L281098.gif

5strings3picks1banjo Says:
Sunday, January 18, 2009 @3:27:39 AM

LOL You sound like a very funny person. Good luck Alan sorry I mean Land of the goat hearders hut. Look forward to meeting you one day.

jerseydevil Says:
Sunday, January 18, 2009 @6:23:03 AM

.......but everyone knew him as Nancy......

pluckyfingers Says:
Monday, January 19, 2009 @10:06:15 PM

"The artist formerly known as Alan Banjovi", would be a bit of a mouthful anyway,

fiveby3 Says:
Wednesday, January 21, 2009 @1:11:27 AM

People can say "you remind me of that Alan guy."

Laurence Diehl Says:
Wednesday, January 21, 2009 @9:18:01 AM

Well at least it's not Nigel. No offense to Nigels either.(Twats)

dixie kiwi Says:
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @10:20:55 PM

hey Gazza, Leunig (one of Australia's great cartoonists imho), developed a great cartoon strip a couple years back entitled "the Festival of Alan's", a month-long celebration. you'd diggit- I will post a image of it in my profile. best of luck in Chch at Buskers! cheers, mate ALAN (yes, an original alan)

Gareth Banjoland Says:
Friday, January 23, 2009 @7:14:15 PM

Cheers Alan (pffffft) Yes I posted the a web address of a copy in one of my above comments. It's a corker! cheers Gazza the Spazza

Grum Says:
Saturday, January 24, 2009 @5:23:17 AM

Gareth (nee Alan), Have just returned from my Scandinavian sojourn as discussed at Banjo Camp in December and discovered that a member of the Norwegian party (led by Roald Amundsen) responsible for causing such bitter disappointment to Capt. Robert Scott by beating him to the South Pole in 1911 was called ... Olav Bjaaland. Any relation? (or maybe that was Alan Bjaaland) Grahame

Gareth Banjoland Says:
Monday, January 26, 2009 @7:58:25 PM

Yep, Olav was my great, great, etc Grandfather. There a Bjaaland farm one can visit in Norway and its his old place, preserved for historical purposes.... Did you catch up with any norwegian bho members?

dpeters Says:
Thursday, February 5, 2009 @5:53:30 PM

Hey Gareth, Last time we met you were upside down pickin'...
Cheers,

Dave
2008 Maleny Banjo Camp

Don Borchelt Says:
Thursday, February 19, 2009 @4:26:25 AM

Free Alan Banjovi!

Forrest Says:
Monday, February 23, 2009 @10:34:41 AM

I was rather partial to the name Gareth until I read your post. ;0)

tanglefingers Says:
Thursday, March 26, 2009 @4:07:22 AM

we are all just a little bit Alan...underneath it all...

Brian G Says:
Saturday, July 25, 2009 @11:40:37 AM

yeeaar, come to think of it the Alan' I know are sort of responsible people too!!!

Sean ONeel Says:
Wednesday, November 25, 2009 @7:42:47 AM

The only other Gareth I've ever known of was Mackenzie Crook's character on The Office (BBC version)...that charater was a total prat, but very funny!