Bonnie:

We seem to think alike. They say you should wear a strap so you don't have to support the banjo with the left hand. Like you, I have one but can't seem to get it adjusted where it is comfortable. However, most of the time when I practice I'm laying back in my office chair with my feet up on the desk. My left are rests on one of the chair arms, and the banjo sits in my lap, and I frail away with my right arm. So, the banjo is pretty stationary when I take my left hand away. It's a bad habit I know, but it sure is comfortable :-). This may be a problem when I ever get good enough to be able to perform.

One advantage of open backs is that they are light enough that you don't get back trouble with/without a strap. Those BG banjos are HEAVY!

JAB