As You read This Little Story, Keep in mind, I am a Beginner and before this incident happened,
I had NO IDEA of the "POWER OF THE BANJO"
A .Funny thing happened to me , thought you guys get a kick out of,....I finished work early and I was undecided yesterday afternoon as to whether to go Fishing or Practice my Banjo, so My Wife, eager to get rid of me, suggested I'd take my Banjo with me on the boat and do Both. Sounded like a Cool idea, so i went for it. (Took My Cheapo Open Back Beater Banjo with me )
Well I was just loading my gear into my Jon Boat and As soon as someone at the Boat Launch spotted my Banjo in the Boat I learned a very valuable Beginners lesson....NEVER take a Banjo out in Public unless you are well prepared to "Entertain" everyone....Who Knew?????????
Banjo = Instant Popularity!!! It's Like Having a Box Full of Puppies With You.
I was just hoping for some peace & quiet on the lake with two of my favorite things, Fishing & My banjo. The Very Last thing I wanted was attention and here, before I even got my Boat in the water, I found myself being Begged to play this song and that song. I felt like an idiot....They were all very, very dissapointed when I told them I can't really play anything well. I'm just a beginner & was just practicing...... My 10 seconds of Popularity were Gone in a Flash....oh well....
But When I finally got out to the middle of the lake dropped anchor & got my Line in the water, this one guy screamed at me from shore, "Come on, Play Something for us on that Banjo Man " Well, I tried my best to ignore him and I was regretting brigging that Banjo with me at this point and afraid of making a complete fool of myself if I tried to play anything but that guy & his buddies just wouldn't let up so I couldn't resist Pickin up the Banjo and Playing the only things I know how to play, (Kinda,Sorta) Cripple Creek, the first half of Dixie & the First Half of Dueling Banjos.....Shockingly I made No Mistakes at all....I was on a roll & .Couldn't resist finishing off with the first song I ever learned how to play, "Somewhere over the Rainbow"....I thought it all sounded like Crap echoing across the water but they loved it. It was like a crazy dream, I Felt like a Kid, It was a Blast....it was a silly day I'll never forget.
When I got Home I told my wife I learned two Valuable Lessons Today,
1) NEVER take your Banjo Out In Public unless You can Play it.
2) If You want Fish For Dinner, Practice First, Then Go Fishing!
I'm Sure Every banjo Player has experienced their Crazy, "First Day in Public" By accident Thrill.
Life is Good With Banjo, Godspeed, DanO'