During our Sunday afternoon benefit performances at the local brewpub, parents often bring their children to the bandstand to see and hear live music up close.
In between songs, the BRC founder will step down from the mini stage to greet the families and encourage the kids to freely strum his banjo. When the child becomes acquainted with the instrument and the parents have photoed the fun interaction, he then offers the youngsters to take “The Banjo Kid Pledge.” With their right hands raised, the children are invited to recite, ” I promise to always do what my Mom and Dad say.” The new inductees are then instructed, “You are now a Banjo Kid forever.”
Although non binding, this oath extends into adulthood and can be renewed on any Sunday afternoon. The above siblings recently returned with their parents to the brewpub brunch to reprise their recitation of the aforesaid vow. As they posed for the above ceremonial picture, a woman dining at the adjacent table pleasantly surprised us with her fashionable banjo earrings, and she took a photo of the kids` pledge reenactment. She then made a generous donation to the Children`s Hospital in the open banjo case stationed for tips in front of the G&F bandstand.
