Oklahoma Organized: Banjo Organization with Lucas Ross!

by Taylor Vogel | SORT Organization Services

Lucas Ross is an actor/comedian, beekeepers' son from Minco, Oklahoma. He is a 7-time Heartland EMMY-Winner as well as winner of a national EMMY for on-air performance. He currently appears as comic relief on Oklahoma City’s NBC affiliate KFOR-TV. Lucas has appeared in feature films, as well as nationally on The Tonight Show, SyFy Network, Reelz, Nat Geo and Disney Channel. He won “Best Comedy Actor” at the National Independent Television Festival for multi-character performances in “Lazy Circles” an Oklahoma-based comedy co-produced with his brother, Marcus. Recently, Lucas worked on MARTIN SCORSESE’s Oklahoma-based film where he played banjo in a scene with ROBERT DE NIRO and LEONARDO DICAPRIO. Lucas currently appears alongside KERMIT THE FROG in American Banjo Museum’s ‘Banjo Roots’ program and has worked with Disney’s THE MUPPETS providing the banjo track for Kermit on multiple projects including a special performance of “Rainbow Connection.”

Lucas has worked on stage with Star Trek Voyager’s ROBERT PICARDO in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum as well as opened for “WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC, BÉLA FLECK and others in concert. He is a Deering Banjo artist and has released 4 banjo albums: “Son of a Beekeeper” “Banjo Farm” “Banjos in Space” and recently, “Aubrie and Lucas” which he recorded with his wife. When he’s not making TV, Lucas can be found at the American Banjo Museum in Bricktown, OKC as their Community Outreach and Promotions Coordinator where he develops educational programs and teaches their award-winning “Pick-a-Tune” class. Lucas is married to Aubrie who directs the non-profit Heartbeat for Hope that brings aid to children in Ghana, Africa. They have two children, two dogs, one guinea pig and a turtle.

Lucas was so generous with his time to share with us about all things banjo and give us a peek into how he manages the organizing aspect of being a performer!

Tell us about an early experience you had with a banjo! What sparked your love of this instrument?

I remember hearing the sound at the beginning of the original Muppet movie. Something about the brightness and tone just resonated in my brain even before I saw Kermit playing it. Years later I’d discover old Steve Martin comedy albums which he would use a banjo for both a prop but also showing off some serious skills musically. In my early days of ‘comedy’ I was asked to host a local pageant, “Miss Minco” and I saw this as an opportunity to borrow a banjo from a family friend. I was terrible, but something about the novelty of the banjo always drew me to it. Years later my wife surprised me with tickets to see Steve Martin in concert when he returned to touring with a bluegrass band. I set out to spend a year trying to meet him and learning the banjo along the way. One year later-to the day- I had learned how to play. Four days after that, I met him. Coming full circle with Kermit’s banjo playing, one of my recent projects was providing the banjo-track for some Kermit videos that came out this year. (I can retire now!)

You obviously have your banjo (or banjos!) to store and maintain. What other equipment is involved in playing the banjo that you keep on hand and must store or organize?
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Equipment needed to play my style of banjo (5-string) is typically three finger picks. Two metal picks for the index and middle finger, and one plastic looped pick around the thumb. However another style of playing is referred to as ‘Clawhammer’ or ‘Frailing’ which just uses a bare hand. I have a shoulder strap for my banjo that I wear whether I’m sitting or standing. Depending on the song or key I sometimes use a banjo-sized capo which is slightly smaller that ones used for guitars. This allows an easy option of changing the pitch or key by placing it across the neck/fingerboard. A tool kit with small screwdrivers or clippers are good to keep on hand for string changing, and tension maintenance.

What considerations must you take while storing your instrument in between practice and performance sessions? Do elements like temperature, lighting, and accessibility come into play?
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A hard shell case with good padding is important for storing/travel. If I’m ever flying I make sure to plan for priority boarding to make sure I can store it with me or in the front cabin closets. I have had some very different experiences with travelling and have been both over-accommodated as well as publicly shamed for bringing a banjo on the plane. Like any instruments storing and protecting them from the elements is crucial. Never leave any instrument in a hot or cold car. Banjos have several variables between the tension of the head (round drum-like part), to the tightness of the strings. The joke about banjo tuning/being out of tune is based on truth. Having so many parts (between 75-80) banjos can be very temperamental. Like many stringed instruments a change in temperature or a gust of cold air can shift it all out of whack. I have had experiences where I played with a large orchestra and sat near a draft. Every time the a/c clicked on, I was desperately trying to re-tune, usually mid song!

If you have multiple banjos, how are they arranged?

I have two main banjos I play but own 7 or 8? Is it bad I don’t know?? I keep my 1960s Gibson Bowtie in my desk my office at the American Banjo Museum. I also have an open back Deering ‘Goodtime’ Americana banjo that was custom made for me with a honeycomb head and my family’s honey logo in the peghead.

Since banjo is a portable instrument, what do you carry with you to performances in addition to your instrument, and what case and organizing equipment do you use while on the road?
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My honeycomb banjo is what I take with me to kids shows and I use Friday mornings on “Rise & Shine” a local light-news program I’m a co-anchor on. Because of the constant mobility and lighter weight I have it in a cushioned gig-bag that has backpack like straps. This one travels with me most everywhere. I also have a travel banjo that breaks down and can fit in a laptop size case for when I travel to Ghana, Africa with my wife for her non-profit. When I’m doing shows that require me to play multiple instruments or do stand-up or hosting that requires me not wearing the banjo, I’ll keep a small stand on stage. I have a small wireless speaker and microphone system I use for my small shows typically done in the summer. This has a headset mic and can play backing tracks if I need them.

If someone were interested in playing the banjo, what are three quick tips you would offer them?
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 1) Get your hands on a good quality instrument. It doesn’t need to be the most expensive, but it needs to be set up correctly for both sound and feel. If it’s an old rusty-stringed, loose headed banjo, it won’t sound good, and won’t feel good. If it hurts to play, you won’t keep trying.

2) Figure out what style you’d like to start on, three-finger picking, clawhammer, or plectrum/4-string (which is strummed closer to a guitar or mandolin).

3) Listen to the music you want to learn! I was familiar with Steve Martin’s original songs and fortunately he put out a song book with finger placement and tablature so I could learn the songs I was familiar with. That really launched me and encouraged me to keep learning.
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(I know you said only three but if I had 4, I’d say USE A METRONOME!!!!)

Thank you so much, Lucas, for a peek into organizing all things banjo! 

You can learn more about Lucas Ross by visiting his website, lucasross.com, and by following him on Twitter (@LucasRoss), Facebook (www.facebook.com/LucasRossOfficial), Instagram (@LucasRoss), and YouTube (www.youtube.com/LucasMarr).

If you're interested in trying out the banjo, check out the 'Pick-a-Tune' classes at the American Banjo Museum, where you can receive a basic, hands-on lesson on a provided banjo for FREE to anyone who's never played before!

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Oklahoma Organized is a series featuring Oklahoma business owners, personalities, and leaders as they share with us how they organize their passions. If you or someone you know would be an excellent feature for this series, reach out to Taylor!

(P.S.: Do you have a passion that you'd like to organize? We'd love to help!)