Although the Banjo Rehabilitation Center is exclusively a “banjo shop”, our sturdy little CEO sagaciously promotes musical diversity to enrich the artful climate of the workplace. In the attached informal photo, the CEO gently instructs the grandfatherly BRC founder on the modal features of the Mixolydian scale by using the harmonica as a teaching tool. During this back porch tutorial, the CEO points-out that the harmonica (as played by Jimmy Fadden) was seamlessly merged into the Bluegrass ensemble as heard on the ground-breaking double album “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” released a generation ago. Because of his progressive commitment to staff education and respect for history, the CEO quietly reaffirms to all his richly deserved place in the BRC Hall of Fame and Book of Life.
Undaunted by tepid seasonal sales of our official T-shirt line, the BRC support staff is all smiles for the 2011 holiday photo. Our elf-like CEO (right front row in mother’s lap) used this opportunity to help his shop staff to de-stress, refocus, and energize for the coming year by recounting the imperative that the BRC goal is to maintain the banjo at the center of the Bluegrass music tradition- America’s home grown hillbilly jazz. To crystalize this sales strategy, our elfin VP of Sales (back row left in Grandma’a arms) invoked a marketing slogan for 2012:
“It don’t mean a thang,
If it ain’t got that twang.”
In recognition of this stirring and timely marketing catch phrase, our CEO promoted the VP of Sales to Senior Vice-President of Sales, much to everyone’s acclaim.
Our young Vice-President of Sales also generously serves as the walking tour guide of the BRC 5 String Museum as pictured. After answering visitors’ many questions about the permanent banjo collection on display, she closes sotto voce with the comment that the BRC Founder is affectionately known to her as “Grandpa Doc”. As the guests depart, the VP of Sales instructs them that the Board of Directors is planning a BRC Banjo Pickers Hall of Fame annex to the Museum. Nominations are encouraged and should sent to the BRC including a photo of the musician with banjo and accompanied by a brief bio. Self-nominations are welcome.
Since the inception of the Banjo Rehabilitation Center, its unique mother of pearl identifier “BRC” appears inlayed on our products that are sold on eBay (see photos). As part of a public advocacy initiative, the support staff had a think-tank contest to develop an alternate message for the BRC label. The entries were:
Banjo Remain Calm, Bargain Real Cheap, Banjos ‘R’ Cute, Better Run Cacophony, Behold Righteous Celebration, Burn Routinely Crisp, Be Respectful Courteous, Back-off Really Contagious, Blues Rapidly Cured, Beguiled Readily Charmed, and Buying Requires Cash.
The safety-minded support staff unanimously declared the winner:
Banjo Remain Calm.
This sturdy little Concertone banjo uke (alias banjo ukulele, banjolele, or banjulele) is an antique gem and neighbor’s keepsake that was restored under our BRC pro bono program. There are two schools of pedigree hypothesized about the lineage of Concertone banjos ukes. Most collectors report that Concertone banjos were manufactured by Stromberg-Voisinet, which later became the Kay musical instrument company, and were marketed in the 1920-30’s through Montgomery Ward catalogue sales. Some collectors maintain Concertones were made by Slingerlands, the company famous for its drums, and these banjos were also retailed through Monkey-Wards. A fading hula girl on the aging calf skin head, probably sketched by an early owner, was re-traced to preserve the Hawaiian imagery. Until the owner claims this precious restored keepsake, it will be under the watchful protection of our highly trained BRC K-9 Security Patrol.
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