I love music. Love banjo. Love jams. I’m a hack but I love it.

I used to play gigs part time in bands years ago, now I play at jams, busk a couple hours a week, grow a YouTube channel with banjo and guitar videos, and fill in on banjo when bands’ banjo players can’t make it.

Dunno.... I see myself as crappy*, but persistent and thick-skinned ... a few BHOers say I'm lazy and stupid. 

* - but, so far, my wife doesn't get up and leave the room when I "play" (?).  

I originally took banjo lessons in 1972 so I could play the instrument the right way in a not so serious less than prime time band that started mostly playing campus coffee houses. In the 80s (MP3 files here; audio set to video slide shows here) and then again from around 2006 to 2013, I played banjo in serious prime time (but part-time) bands -- by which I mean bands with nighttime, usually weekend, gigs at public venues. This included bass and banjo in a Celtic/Americana band and banjo in a bluegrass band.

My participation in both of these ended in 2013 when my wife and I moved to NYC for a three-year work-related relocation. During my NY years, I was a jammer. After my return to the DC area in 2016, the Celtic/Americana band resumed for annual St. Patrick's Day gigs (until the pandemic ended that in 2020). The leader of the bluegrass band got the group together for a couple of one-offs. And I've sat in a couple time with him and the band's former female vocalist on some of their duo gigs where they want the banjo to fill out the sound.

I also go to jams, but I'm not a regular attendee.

I play at home for myself more than I play with or for others. I subscribe to several online teachers, as much to support them as to learn new stuff.

I have been playing for money, seldom much, but still actual money, as a three-chord folkie hack, since the late 1960's.
I actually know more than three chords, and a few basic Bluegrass moves.
Learned to capitalize Bluegrass, as one is supposed to capitalize the name of ANY religion.
Mary and I are the TRYLENAIRES Sing-Along Banjo Band, and when people ask how much we charge for a show, my stock answer is
"$125 for about an hour... which means you get TWO of us for less than the cost of one plumber!"

I've been playing 30+ years in a band.  Our motto says it all :

"We play for food!"

The Mountain Men

I play banjo (3-finger) in a shambolic "80s" cover band called The Flying Pants along with a ukulele, two guitars, and an upright bass. Rockin' Madonna, ABBA, Blondie, Devo, AC/DC, Whitney Houston, The Clash, The Cure, The Thompson Twins, Violent Femmes, Tina Turner, Prince, The Pointer Sisters... you know, banjo music! We're very serious about not being serious.
I do attend occasional "bluegrass" jams with friends too.

I've been in bands, in jams and used to go to festivals regularly. Now there's no festivals or jams near where I live, so I mainly play for my own enjoyment. I do miss being on stage and jamming with others.

I play in a somewhat informal Bluegrass/Americana band called Whiskey Tango with guitar, bass, fiddle, and flute. We play for food, coffee, and gas money. Playing in a band provides practice motivation and some semblance of a social life.

I’m a professional musician and music teacher (I’m conservatory graduated violin/viola player)
I play Banjo (5str and tenor) and Viola in my band performing original Music, (not bluegrass)

quote:

---

Originally posted by BG Banjo

Just out of curiosity, who here plays banjo in a serious prime time band, who plays in a not so serious less than prime time band, regularly play at bluegrass jams or with friends, and who just enjoys playing at home for their own enjoyment?
 

---

I have been through all these stages at some point but happy just to play in my living room now!

Definitely not prime time, as that’s past our bed time. Our dive bar days are over, so now it’s Church and daytime functions. I don’t do jams these days, I’m more of a give me the set list and let’s practice, prepare and perfect type of musician. I was never comfortable in the play along to anything by ear in real time jamming atmosphere. I did it for years, but suffered from too much anxiety and imposter syndrome. Folks would say it would get easier, but it never did. I started with military friends, one of which I still play with today. These pictures are 20 years apart

quote:

---

Originally posted by Laurence Diehl

quote:

---

Originally posted by BG Banjo

Just out of curiosity, who here plays banjo in a serious prime time band, who plays in a not so serious less than prime time band, regularly play at bluegrass jams or with friends, and who just enjoys playing at home for their own enjoyment?
 

---

I have been through all these stages at some point but happy just to play in my living room now!

---

I'm in the same boat as Laurence, but I will add that I'm open to hooking up for an afternoon of musical fun now and again. Occasionally I'm still invited to do local evening gigs but I pass because I like to be in bed by 9:30 pm. 

I used to live to play fiddle at parties and festivals, now at 73 I just want to sit and play my banjos at home. I don't care if anyone ever hears me play or if I ever am thought to be worth hearing. I just love the sound and feel of it and do it for me.

Play in Bluegrass jams, open mikes, sometimes will assist in country bands wanting a little banjo, play at home , sometimes put stuff on Facebook so my friends can complement me on my skills, play at home almost everyday.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Greg Denton

I play banjo (3-finger) in a shambolic "80s" cover band called The Flying Pants along with a ukulele, two guitars, and an upright bass. Rockin' Madonna, ABBA, Blondie, Devo, AC/DC, Whitney Houston, The Clash, The Cure, The Thompson Twins, Violent Femmes, Tina Turner, Prince, The Pointer Sisters... you know, banjo music! We're very serious about not being serious.
I do attend occasional "bluegrass" jams with friends too.

---

Ah, yesss! The Violent Femmes.

From Milwaukee.

The Late Great Irene used to work with Victor DeLorenzo, when he was a member of the Theater X experimental theater troupe.

I'm self-taught, been playing for more than fifty years. I've played semi-professionally in a bluegrass band for several of those years, and they were the most enjoyable and fulfilling years of my musical life. That band comprised five musicians who (although all having day jobs) shared a professional attitude to music making and were determined to produce worthwhile music of which they could be proud. Nothing lasts forever, that band eventually split as life's pressures got in the way and sadly three of the members have since passed away. There are relatively few people playing bluegrass here in the UK, and I've never found anyone with the work ethic we shared in 'Cross Country'. The bands I've been a part of since then have always been (to me) a huge disappointment. These days I play along to the computer, learn whatever I like and avoid the hassle of dealing with lazy players (I can't call them musicians) who seem incapable of learning or remembering their parts. This may sound bitter, but I'm not. I'm simply a realist. I thank goodness for the technology that allows me to keep producing music without the personnel problems.

I've been teaching banjo regularly for about 30 years, but I don't get to gig on it often; aside from the occasional banjo fill-in gig, I mostly perform on banjo and guitar.

Been playing Banjo since I was 11 years old due to meeting Earl Scruggs and hearing the magical sound that Earl's banjo made, at a Drive In Movie (Earl and the Boys), played during the intermission in Richmond Va. I asked Earl how he made the Banjo sound the way He did when He played. He was wonderful and may have taught me my first roll--can't quite remember but it's very possible. Haven't stopped playing or teaching Banjo yet. I can't perform anymore because of a fused neck problem which prevents me from looking at the neck at all. Teaching is fine because I am always seated....Jack   p.s. Age? Oh yeah, I'm way up there and loving it...pps. Never drinking or smoking may be helping me along my way...

I always loved playing live with other musicians.  I played guitar and occasional drums in a bunch of original bands throughout my teens on into my early thirties…. Depending on the situation, we’d get to travel and occasionally open for national touring (rock) acts — some cool opportunities for sure, but often times the best ones were break-even monetarily. I was accustomed to doing it for fun, not compensation — it was always a side hobby in addition to the day job. Helped keep my sanity, and I'd just as happily do it for free.

Now I’ve come back to music living my best banjo life, playing locally in a small trio that primarily performs covers/standards at smaller bars, wineries, breweries, community events… I still love playing out, still love rehearsing, still love playing my banjo anywhere and with anyone who’ll have it. And while nowadays we do typically make some money… I’d still probably do it for free!

Tim,
I live with my Wife Ellen, a Greyhound and a Whippet in Hampton NJ....Jack

I didn’t know that, Jack Baker ! I’m still very much in the learning phase on banjo, trying to soak up what I can when I can… but rarely encounter other players in my neck of the woods. (Can’t think of many others outside of Mike Terris.)

Tim,
Great! Do you ever go to the Asbury Coffee Mill for Breakfast? We go there on weekends. You sound pretty good to me Tim. Just heard your media files...Jack   p.s. Going to Flemington today to see my Doc...HA

Been playing bluegrass hardcore since '86 although the "Circle" album was the spark that started it for me in the early 70s . Played guitar and sang lead in bluegrass bands while teaching myself to play banjo. Became the "festival freak" at jams because i play left handed ( lefty instruments )
Have taught banjo in the past and will be happy to do it again for anyone in the southeastern Va. and northeastern North Carolina area.
Retired now and do an occassional gig when called for.
If I EVER get up your way Jack, id love to pick a few with you

The pandemic wiped out two of the three jams I regularly attended. The third jam still goes on but friends have reported that it’s not as much fun as it used to be and at times can be downright unpleasant. I no longer drive on highways at night, and this jam is an hour away, in lower Manhattan, which means dealing with buses, taxis, motorcycles, motorized bikes, regular bikes, scooters, delivery trucks, pedestrians, and construction vehicles and construction sites everywhere you go, as well as reconfigured on-street parking (sidewalk, bike lane, parking lane, street) and expensive parking garages. So for the most part, with the exception of an occasional get-together with one or two friends, I play in my music room or back yard. I’m still learning stuff for the fun of it, but I miss the socializing of jams almost as much as the music.

The banjo has been an important part of my life since I started playing in late summer 1962. While in college and law school I played a number of solo coffee house gigs (I was an old-timey player then) and formed the original Old Hat Band with my friends John Burke and Pete Wernick (each a year behind me in school). I was in a busy bar band for close to five years in the late 1970s. When the band broke up, I was, for all practical purposes, away from the banjo for a dozen years or so. I resumed serious playing in the mid-1990s. Before the pandemic, I played volunteer gigs at local nursing homes and/or assisted living residences every couple of months, either solo or with a full band, and the occasional paying gig.

For nearly fifteen years, as a volunteer, I curated a bluegrass series for a nearby not-for-profit performing arts center. That series was nominated for IBMA event of the year for five straight years (2016-20), but at least for now is on hold because the bluegrass audience has not returned to pre-pandemic levels.