people need to learn...

[SmallFry]

One of the most annoying things in the world is when you tell people that you play the mandolin and they say, "O yea, thats like a banjo, right?" The banjo and mando look and sound nothing alike. I normally come back saying "No, its cooler than the banjo."

Has anyone else had similar experiences? What did you do?

[onlyagibsonisgoodenuff]

Wait until they ask you to play "Dueling Banjos".

[Dave Hicks]

... not to mention a uke or a (!) dulcimer.

[John Flynn]

Oh yeah, I have gotten that. I understand someone not knowing the difference. What is moronic, though, is people who don't know, but they have to guess, I suppose thinking that will make them look smarter, which of course, it doesn't. I much prefer someone who just asks, "What instrument is that?" It is so much more honest and friendly.

The other conversation I hate is:

Some guy comes up to you on break and says, "Yew play a mandolin, huh?"

(I am thinking, "Why, look everyone, it's Captain Obvious!!!") But I say, "Yes, I do."

He says, "Mah daddy used to play the banjoh!"

(I am thinking, "Why am I not surprised?") But I say, "Oh really..."

[John Rosett]

my band was playing a gig at a bar a couple of years ago, and the crowd really didn't like us very much. now, we're not a bluegrass band, and don't have a banjo player. this young woman comes up to the stage with a scowl on her face and says to me,"why don't you lose those banjos and play some hip-hop i can dance to". i told her that they probably had her song on the jukebox next door, and she should go listen to it. i must have worked, because she left.
john

[ira]

i got uke much more than banjo. but it happens all the time (last night in fact, but another patron in the bar corrected, so i didn't have to).

[Bruce Evans]

I've had my uke called a mandolin and my mandolin called a ukulele. Ya just can't win.

[jim_n_virginia]

I once had a drop dead GORGEOUS blonde walk up to me and say to me in a sexy breathy type of Marilyn Monroe voice ... "WHY that is just the cutest little ole thang I ever saw in my life.... is it a lute?"

And I stumbled and said.... "Y-Y-YES it is.... it can be ANYTHING you want!"

[mandomiss]

Just yesterday I had my mandolin called both a banjo and a uke. Of course I was supporting my friends at their first real gig and since they're a metal band I guess I can't really expect their fans to know what it is.

[Jaded]

My parents and grandparents still insist on telling people I play a uke.

Some skanky lookin chick once referred to our upright bass player's instrument as "that big guitar."

But my favorite was sitting next to this big hair, not realizing the 80s are over chick, at a show my friends band was playing. Her young child pointed at the banjo player and asked if he was playing a uke and she replies, no honey, that's a guitar!

[chirorehab]

I was in an elevator in NYC with my mando and someone said " Hey is that a banjo?"

When I said that it was a mandolin, he replied, "People still play those things?"!!!!

I told him that we are in middle of a mandolin revolution, and in fact mandolins are taking over the world, one banjo at a time!

Eric

[Mark Normand]

At a jam, I actually saw an observer (30 yr male) ask the guitar player "lets see, now what is that you're playing?"
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Bandersnatch Reverb]

Jaded, the skanky lookin' chick obviously had great taste, because famous bass player Willie "The Lion" Smith referred to his upright as his big guitar as well.

To get down on a bass player is pretty nasty, since thats all they can do, but banjo players had a choice, ya know? I mean, if they can play the banjo, then they obviously had the skill and intelligence to use their hands for good, not evil.

[Songbird]

My mate walked into my room once, saw the mandolin and said 'wow, you've got a banjo' *rolls eyes*

On a side note, what's with all the banjo bashing? It's going right over my head.

[John Rosett]

"what do you call that little instrument you're playing?"
"i call it bruce."
-jethro

[Bandersnatch Reverb]

Although he was expecting a quiet vacation adventure on a small South Sea's island retreat, the din of three days constant pounding on the distant jungle drums had gotten the best of him.

Sleepless and harried, Mr. Smith grabbed the tour guide by the his lapels and asked, "Won't that drumming ever stop??".

The tour guide replied, "No sir, because then the banjo solo would begin!"

[London Al]

I dont know how well known George Formby is over in the States. He was absolutely massive over here on the island in the 30's and 40's. ( check him out in your search engines) My point is that you cannot walk into a bar over here carrying a mandolin or banjo or whatever, without some drunk pointing at you and shouting George Formby!!!!!
He actually played the ukelele!
When people ask me what I play, I often just say a variety of instruments called George Formby.
If you've never experienced this phenomenon, all I can say is it is "character building" #
Yours with great dignity
Al

[ebert5150]

Heres the one I got from a friend today at church. "Hey..thats what ya get for putting your guitar in the dryer." Kinda liked that actually :-)

[mad dawg]

Anyone ever get "Is that an Oud?"

[jim simpson]

No, That would be rude!

[AKUS fan]

When Rhonda Vincent and the Rage played at my University, the school newspaper had a picture and article written about it. The girl had incorrectly identified Rhonda's mandolin as a banjo and also said that one of the band members was playing a bass guitar. Boy did I set her straight in a letter to the editor! *shakes head*

[garyblanchard]

Whenever people question the name of the instrument I am playing I try to see it as a teaching opportunity. Too many people are unfamiliar with the variety of acoustic instruments, so I see the questions as a way to expand their horizons. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Tom C]

"people need to learn..., that a mandolin is not a banjo"
- Darn it, I've been in the wrong site for 2 years!

[K_D]

One evening at my son's soccer practice I was picking in my truck when a lady walks by with her kid and says "look that man is playing a banjo". I rolled down the window and called out to her as they strolled away "Ma'am, actually its a mandolin.. not a banjo".. Sometimes you just can't let such misunderstandings go unanswered. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Keith

[August Watters]

I'm guessing a lot of the stories here could be just honest mistakes by folks being unfamiliar with instruments -- but some of them seem hostile for sure! I've had similar experiences with people who automatically make fun of the music these instruments make, even though they know nothing about it. The banjo is more visible to most, which is why any instrument they assume they don't like is a "banjo." #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

So when you think about it, we ALL play the banjo! Let's all get our "banjos" out there in public, and face the ridicule of the public. I've been playing my "banjo" out front of my house, every evening when folks are walking home from work, to all sorts of reactions.

Once we educate the world to recognize our wonderful little mandolins, maybe we can all get back to ridiculing the REAL b@nj*s! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

August W

[John Zimm]

Imagine the comments these two fellows would get:

[Dru Lee Parsec]

One of the instruments that I play is theChapman Stick (http://www.stick.com). I once had somebody ask me if it was a Sitar. Someone else asked if it was a dulcimer. Now, I realize that a Stick is an unusual instrument, but if somebody had enough musical knowledge to know what a Sitar or a Dulcimer were then how could they confuse a Stick with those instruments?

But the one that just took the cake was when I mentioned to my boss that I couldn't wait to bring my new mandolin to the bluegrass jam tonight. He replied "There's no mandolins in bluegrass!" He honestly would not believe that bluegrass was anything more than guitar and banjo. Although I must admit, this is not the first time he's exposed the fact that he's musically challenged.

[mandopete]

I love to get the "...is that a ukulele?" question. #Here's the best answer I've ever heard:

"Sure itsa my kulele, whatu think, I steal it?"

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[Davetnova]

remember banjos are evolving

[Bluegrasstjej]

Oh yes, I've been in that situation MANY times. I actually thought Americans were more familiar with this stuff. I live in Sweden and it's understandable that folks don't know better, since the mandolin isn't much used here.

This just means that people don't know much about banjos either! I usually say that "oh no" what a blasphemy!!" and then I explain what a mandolin is and what a banjo is.

[Peter Hackman]

"That which we call a mandolin, by any other name
would sound as sweet"

[mandroid]

A friend, an older woman , [who joins in a small, regular (quite) casual jam], even gave me a couple 5 string banjo books.
thought I could use them - banjo tab- anyone?http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[billkilpatrick]

in reply to my question on how resonator instruments work, someone left this:

you push the little strings down
the music goes down and around
whoa oh oh oh oh oh
and it comes out here

works for ukes, banjos, mandolins, guitars...you name it.

i'll bet you more people have asked me if my oud was a guitar with a broken neck than people have asked you if your mandolin was a banjo.

if the string family had a mammoth family reunion, to which picnic table full of "cousins" would you direct me and my charango?

- bill