Tag: Art Fettig

  • Stringless Banjo? By Art Fettig

    My double-headed stringless banjo adventure

    Drums - BanjoI saw it listed in a senior’s programs booklet. “Share Your Songs”. I drove over to Chapel Hill to their Senior Center and met two young (by my standards but old by most’s,) gentlemen with guitars.  The notice said to bring our acoustic instruments.

    Are finger bongos an “acoustic instrument”? As opposed to electronic drums I guess they are but some folkish music followers sway towards the early Grand Old Opry tradition of banning drums from their stage.  I just said “This is my double-headed stringless-banjo” and they smiled friendly smiles, probably in deference to my obvious aging. What a joy it was watching these two gents having so much fun and producing such wonderful music individually and then together. Stringlessly,  I stumbled through the lyrics of a couple of my songs and they were most patient and kind.

    What a laid back relaxing way to spend a joy filled hour and a half. I was hummin’ all the way home.

  • Art Fettig: My Double-headed Stringless Banjo Adventure

    Art Fettig’s Monday Morning Memo 

    August 7, 2017

    In this Issue

    o  My double-headed stringless banjo adventure
    o  Say Something Good
    o  Points To Ponder
    o  A Little Humor
    o  Quote
    o  To Subscribe

    My double-headed stringless banjo adventure

    Drums - BanjoI saw it listed in a senior’s programs booklet. “Share Your Songs”. I drove over to Chapel Hill to their Senior Center and met two young (by my standards but old by most’s,) gentlemen with guitars.  The notice said to bring our acoustic instruments.

    Are finger bongos an “acoustic instrument”? As opposed to electronic drums I guess they are but some folkish music followers sway towards the early Grand Old Opry tradition of banning drums from their stage.  I just said “This is my double-headed stringless-banjo” and they smiled friendly smiles, probably in deference to my obvious aging. What a joy it was watching these two gents having so much fun and producing such wonderful music individually and then together. Stringlessly,  I stumbled through the lyrics of a couple of my songs and they were most patient and kind.

    What a laid back relaxing way to spend a joy filled hour and a half. I was hummin’ all the way home.

    Say Something Good

    Orange Community Players/Annie We just attended the final performance of Annie and I can vouch for the fact that not one person on that stage today left anything behind.  Everyone in the cast performed like a dedicated performer and it was such a joy to be in that audience.  During a musical number titled N.Y.C., featuring a stage full of people, one stood out for me. You’ve heard the expression “Lost in a crowd.” Well in this wonderful number one could say that Chantel Bryant might well be “found in a crowd” onstage because of her magnificent voice.  For me that was the highlight of the show, musically, and that says a lot because of the level of superior talent that shared the stage. Hillsborough, NC was truly blessed with this showcase of fine local talent and this production of Annie.  May God bless America and keep our troops from harm.

    Points To Ponder

    You never lose by loving. You always lose by holding back. Barbara De Angelis

    A Little Humor

    I just heard from Bill Bailey.  He isn’t coming home.

    Quote

    All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me… You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.  Walt Disney

    To Subscribe 

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  • Say Something Good – Church Choirs by Art Fettig

    ChoirChurch choirs.  Here at our church we are blessed with a terrific choir. Each Christmas time they present a special concert and this year I have been asked to introduce one of the numbers.  The other evening I attended their choir practice and for the first time I witnessed all of the hard work that goes into the preparation for each Sunday’s music.  America is truly blessed with great choirs and just think of all of the people who dedicate their time and their talents each week to make our churches resound with all of that beautiful music.  May God bless all of our choirs, our men and women in the Armed Forces and may He keep our troops from harm. – Art Fettig

  • My First Published Book by Art Fettig

    Art Fettig’s Monday Morning Memo

    July 24th, 2017
    800-441-7676 or 919-732-6994
    artfettig@aol.com

    In this Issue

    o  My First Published Book
    o  Say Something Good
    o  Points To Ponder
    o  A Little Humor
    o  Quote
    o  To Subscribe

    My First Published Book

    TypewriterIn 1973 I had my first book published.  I went to church one morning and they had a guest speaker who was endeavoring to sell us subscriptions to Liguorian Magazine.  He was introduced by our pastor as the Editor of Liguorian Press.  As I listened, the wheels in my head started spinning around and right after mass I walked back the adjoining pastor’s home and asked to meet the visitor.

    I cut right to the quick, “Father, how would you like to publish a humor book about raising kids today? About being an usher, a Dad, and such.”  I watched him closely and saw his eyes light up.

    “How soon could you deliver it?” He asked. “I had another guy who was working on a similar theme and I’ve been waiting for three years and he hasn’t delivered it yet.”

    “What time are you leaving?” I asked.  He said “Three o’clock.” I said, “I’ll bring it to you by then.”

    I rushed home.  I didn’t have such a book but I had an idea where I could get one. I went up in our attic where I had my office.  I pulled out a stack of articles I’d written and sold to other magazines and then I had a bigger stack of humor articles I’d written which had been rejected thus far, 29 articles in all.  I headed for my office at the railroad depot where I worked.  I arrived in my office and went straight to my typewriter.  I typed out the title sheet for the book.  It read “It Only Hurts When I Frown.  A Funny, Happy, Loving Look at Life.”  Art Fettig

    Then I wrote the material for the back cover.  That done, I took the whole mess into the Train Dispatcher’s Office where they had a big Xerox Machine I could use.  Almost two hours later I had made two copies of nearly 200 typed pages of manuscript.  I rushed back into my office, typed out a page with my address, phone numbers and such and then headed out to my car for a quick trip to the Pastor’s house.  I believe it was twelve minutes to three when I delivered my finished manuscript to that Editor, Father Farrell.  He looked at me and said, “I was just getting ready to leave.”

    I handed him the box containing my book. He sat down patiently and read the title.  He smiled.  Then he read the first article and laughed twice. He flipped through a number of articles and he was smiling all the way.  Then he got up, shook my hand and said, “I will contact you later in the week.”

    He did, and said “I will send you a contract.”  They published 3,000 copies and sold them all. Then I took over publishing the book myself and we went through three more editions.

    When people ask me how long it took me to put together my first book I tell them, “Oh, once I got the idea I did it in about two hours.”

    Say Something Good

    Conversation. With cell phones, texting, and so many other tech possibilities for communication saturating our lives today it really is a treat for me to sit down with a live person and have a good two way conversation. I’ve had some really great laughing sessions these past few days just sitting down with an acquaintance for a while and then signing off live with a warm handshake.  May God Bless America and keep our troops safe from harm.

    Points To Ponder

    Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained. Marie Curie

    A Little Humor

    GOD’S SENSE OF HUMOR.  While creating wives, God promised men that obedient wives would be found in all corners of the world. And then He made the earth round.

    Quote

    Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. Voltaire

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    References:

    1. ArtFettig.com

  • Art Fettig – Interacting to Communicate

    A very short video nugget showing Art Fettig, author, humorist and professional speaker, at a safety presentation for the military in Hawaii.