So thinking of playing Plectrum Banjo?

[thereallyniceman]

Me too!  I can think of 18 good reasons why :-)

I particularly like the girl with the musical wobbly head. I must try that in my next video ;-)

[Trapdoor2]

Hey! That second girl from the left is playing my Paramount!

[Shawn McSweeny]

Believe it or not  Ian, I recently joined the city's tenor and plectrum band. My reasons were only twofold. First there is no CB locally, so it was time to look for other options. Second, I figured if playing with a pick later in life was good enough for Ossman, it's good enough for me. (CB remains my preference).

I have an early B&D Super plec bought as a parts banjo on ebay and restored. The hubcap is missing. Essentially, it's a Silver Bell without  flange or resonator.

[Richard William Ineson]

I remember going for an audition with a jazz band in the 1960s, there was only one other candidate - banjo players were in short supply and high demand in those days, as clubs would not employ a jazz band unless it has a banjoist in it, so you didn't really have to be able to play the thing. The band's star number was 'When the Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabam' a good tune with lots of chord changes, I'd worked up a flashy solo for this tune and all went well at the audition. The other candidate had a very basic zither banjo with a flabby vellum and he couldn't play it. I didn't get the job, so I asked why not? The answer was that the other banjo player had a van, and would be able to cart the drum kit about.

[Jody Stecher]

Thanks for that, Richard!  That story has the unmistakable sterling ring of truth.

Richard William Ineson said:

I remember going for an audition with a jazz band in the 1960s, there was only one other candidate - banjo players were in short supply and high demand in those days, as clubs would not employ a jazz band unless it has a banjoist in it, so you didn't really have to be able to play the thing. The band's star number was 'When the Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabam' a good tune with lots of chord changes, I'd worked up a flashy solo for this tune and all went well at the audition. The other candidate had a very basic zither banjo with a flabby vellum and he couldn't play it. I didn't get the job, so I asked why not? The answer was that the other banjo player had a van, and would be able to cart the drum kit about.

[3iv8pyyhxxoiv]

 About 7years back , I was contacted by the Music Director of a local (and very competent) amateur operatic society.  They were putting on the Charleston-era musical "The Boy Friend" and the MD was desperate for a banjo player for the orchestra.  The conversation went...

MD  "I've tried everywhere and drawn a complete blank "Do you play the banjo?...

Me  " Yes....but it's a five stringer"

MD  "Can you play the tenor banjo?"

Me  "Well............"

MD "Have you got a tenor banjo?"

Me " Yes, but........"

MD "You've got the job........."

...........and I did the gig......(somehow...)

[Jocko MacNelly]

Yeah John Field, some years back I was contracted to play off the original Ferde Grofe parts with the Richmond (Virginia, US) Symphony on Concerto in F and Rhapsody in Blue. Not even owning a tenor I just brought my 5-string, tuned the first string to E and prayed nobody would know the difference, which they didn't. Didn't really have to do that much revoicing of chords either, as Ferde had a lot of triple stops.