I work in very large enterprise corporate America in a complex of buildings with about 15k employees, dozens of floors and myriad conference rooms and sitting areas. It’s an anthill of activity. I have resisted taking my instrument to work because 1) I’m not very good and know very few songs 2) my practice is mostly repeat parts that I’m trying to perfect and 3) the instrument is loud even with a rag tucked behind the head.
Has anyone else ever made it a habit of practicing on breaks at work. If so, what was your approach? I’m not in a role where time is tracked and I tend to be at the office way more than I’m at home. I love to practice and this isn’t something I see every day amidst the cubicles and labs.
Thanks for sharing if you have done practice sessions at work and had strategies for that without causing problems for co workers
I play recordings on loop/repeat of whatever tune I am working on. It helps and is compatible with work.
I briefly did this when I worked at a corporate campus similar to what you're describing. I don't know what your office is like. But I stopped very quickly at mine. Not because I annoyed people, but the opposite.
I found myself drawing listeners. Even with my terrible playing, they wanted to listen. Listen and watch me while I tried to practice. Then they'd ask me about it, all sorts of questions, like some sort of festival Q&A event. It was a terrible experience for me. I found out that a few other coworkers played too and then they wanted to set up an after work jam. This is the railroad industry, and one person suggested that I play a railroad song to open the annual conference our organization hosted. It was entirely too much attention, and I felt that it was diluting my reputation as a respected professional engineer. So I stopped. I still hate when people look at me and listen when I play.
Maybe that's not an issue for you. But just be aware, that you might be worrying about the wrong thing.
Edited by - KCJones on 01/23/2025 11:41:35
I worked on an offshore oil rig for a year (7 days on & 7 days off) and brought a $50 bottle cap banjo that stayed in my locker. As my job was 3pm to 3am, I spent many hours during the day practicing, practicing, practicing. It helped a lot!
Edited by - trapdoor2 on 01/23/2025 12:02:47
Did it a couple of times, during warm weather, to play with a few friends during our lunch hour.
quote:
Originally posted by KCJonesI briefly did this when I worked at a corporate campus similar to what you're describing. I don't know what your office is like. But I stopped very quickly at mine. Not because I annoyed people, but the opposite.
I found myself drawing listeners. Even with my terrible playing, they wanted to listen. Listen and watch me while I tried to practice. Then they'd ask me about it, all sorts of questions, like some sort of festival Q&A event. It was a terrible experience for me. I found out that a few other coworkers played too and then they wanted to set up an after work jam. This is the railroad industry, and one person suggested that I play a railroad song to open the annual conference our organization hosted. It was entirely too much attention, and I felt that it was diluting my reputation as a respected professional engineer. So I stopped. I still hate when people look at me and listen when I play.
Maybe that's not an issue for you. But just be aware, that you might be worrying about the wrong thing.
This is MY SINGLE BIGGEST FEAR! I do not want people listening, wondering, wanting to hear "wagon wheel" or "dueling banjos" or "rainbow connection" or asking for an understanding of what I know almost nothing about.
Yup, way back when I was working for the railroad. I was on an extra board, and when the call came I would usually have a couple job choices. I would take a switch tending job, so I had a warm shanty and I was alone. There was more free time on that job. So that's my early years learning how Scruggs style worked.
Regards, Milo
Yes, for many years. We had a jam group at lunch. We attracted some attention and musicians would come and go, but we had a good core group. We started getting asked to play for low key events, and even formed a band out of it. I had a no-name bottle cap banjo that I got from goodwill, that stayed in my locker at work for years. It played surprisingly good.
Edited by - Dean T on 01/23/2025 12:32:57
Eons ago….then again I had a remote office which many times I was the only person in it and corporate was on an opposite coast. Managed some practice time due to the time differential. Stopped doing it as it kind of cut into actual work.
I think in today’s work environment, may possibly be “shunned upon”. People nowadays read too much into too many things. Found out when I got higher-up it’s always best to keep home at home and what you do at home - private annd anway from work- and do the same with work.
I have four hanging in my office. They are for sale and every so often I get asked to play.
Nicer to look at than most office decor.
I work in a shared office building where we occupy 1/4 of a floor in a six story building — along with some finance companies, an AI computing company, a food distributor, etc…
I bring my banjo into the office one day a week, as I go directly from there to rehearsals and don’t like leaving it in the car… It’s definitely been a conversation starter carrying it in — even got offered a gig at a political fundraiser once!
But I’ve never played it here, even when working late in a mostly empty building… HR guidelines aren’t clear with regard to high and lonesome sounds in the workplace. ;-)
I got fired from my first job for playing guitar at work. They hired me back when I threatened to play the banjo in the parking lot...lol
An audience can show up from anywhere. I was visiting at Thanksgiving went out in the back yard started playing and about 10 birds lined up on the fence and chirped along. No questions ask.??
I occasionally bring my banjo with me to work, but always early in the morning before anyone else shows up. This gives me about an hour to play as loudly as I want without blasting anyone's ear drums. I find it's a nice way to start my day. But I do have to feel particularly motivated to get out of bed earlier than normal.
Just that one time.
I am retired now...but I used to play at work some...in one case I was a low level supervisor...and had my own office...so...during lunch hour I could close my door and wail away...but some lunch hour client mtg got "disturbed" by that and I had to stop...and sometimes I would bring a banjo to work...my junk one...and I would leave it in my car...finish lunch in 30 minutes...then get in the back seat of my car and play for about 30 minutes...I even would do this in the winter..start the car...turn the heat up full blast...climb in the back and play...I strongly recommend this activity...having more than one session per day that is...assuming that you manage to also play at home/not work too...research has shown that your learn twice as fast if you can break up your practice times into two sessions...separated by at least a few hours
No. But unlike a banjo, I can fit a small accordion and a concertina under my desk, and practice Irish/Scottish/oldtime and tunes from other trad genres on them when working late.
