LA Steel Jam aka PerlJam

Jim Ives · Post by **Jim Ives** » 29 Apr 2006 7:27 pm

Thanks Mike for your hard work and a very successful jam.
How cool to be sitting in the company of players like JD, David Wright, John McClung and Al Vescovo, as well as others who are less well known but profoundly good players as well as nice guys.
-Jim

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 29 Apr 2006 9:48 pm

I want to thank everybody who showed up, especially those players who drove hundreds of miles to get here. Big Jim Baron, from Madera, David Wright from Modesto, Frank Carter from somewhere east of Sacremento, and The two players from Arizona, Billy Easton, and Troy Porter.)

I also want to thank John Hensch for providing the sound and the projections of the computer screen on the wall and on the giant plazma TV screen.

A lot of people pitched in at their own expense to make this a really enjoyable afternoon. I'm sure I left out some names that deserve mention.

All in all, it was one terrific day.

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My web site
[This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 30 April 2006 at 08:31 PM.]

Mark Cohen · Post by **Mark Cohen** » 30 Apr 2006 1:22 am

Thanks to Mike for making the effort to make this happen for everyone. Personally, I arrived too late to do any picking, but I enjoyed listening. Kudos

--Mark

John Walden · Post by **John Walden** » 30 Apr 2006 7:17 am

A big thank you to all the folks who put on the LA Jam. And to all that participated. A very humbling experience. Yet, I had a great time.
J. W.

Jim Eaton · Post by **Jim Eaton** » 30 Apr 2006 10:30 am

Once again the amount of fun I had yesterday should be against the law!
Big thanks to Mike P for putting on our yearly get together aka Perl-Jam. I think we had a record number of players this year, did anyone do an official count? Lot's of different make of steels as always. Zum,Emmons,Sho-Bud,Fessy,MSA,Carter,Sierra
Excel,Mullen,MCI,Fender - I thinks thats all of them. Great to see everyone from previous years and meeting some new faces this year. Big thanks to all they guys who make the sound and video happen for the event. Looking forward to everyone posting their photos, the group shot should be good!
"the only steelplayer in Santa Susana"
JE:-)>

Loni Specter · Post by **Loni Specter** » 30 Apr 2006 10:51 am

Mike,
Sorry I missed it! I had no car untill late in the day. My son "stole" it before I awoke.
It would have been #3 for me. Next year for sure.

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 30 Apr 2006 2:35 pm

Yeah, it was fun. Thanks, Mike...& Big Jim & John and co.
Lets do it again.

Jim Ives · Post by **Jim Ives** » 30 Apr 2006 5:07 pm

I've got a load of photos. Anybody want to help me out how I post them/ make them available. They are 3-4 mb per photos, so emailing is difficult.
-Jim

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 1 May 2006 8:19 am

Had a great time!!!!!!! look forward to the next one!
Jim....would like to see the pic, you need to re`size them... there very big files @3 to 4 megs....

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<a target="_blank" href="http://www.msapedalsteels.com"><img align="left" src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-4/1 ... GP0194.JPG" width="120" height="120" ></a> M.S.A.
M.S.A. Millennium
S-12 9 & 6
Bb is where it's at!
Peavey-2000-PX-300

David's Web Page
<marquee><img src='http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-4/1 ... 664150.gif' width=235 height=51 ></marquee>

Boo Bernstein · Post by **Boo Bernstein** » 1 May 2006 9:53 am

I got there late myself so didn't really have a chance to play ... but just wanted to reiterate everyone's sentiments that Mike did a great job. It was terrific to walk in and see all those steel players in one place -- truly a rare treat! Thanks for your hard work, Mike! Boo

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 1 May 2006 10:24 am

You know, everybody's giving me all the credit for making this happen, but all I did was book the room and make a bunch of phone calls.

The 2 people who really deserve all the credit are Big Jim Baron for bringing the computer and the rhythm tracks and projector, as well as actually running the jam, and John Hensch for providing the sound system and big screen TV.

The only "work" I did was trying to keep up with all the great players.

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My web site

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 1 May 2006 1:18 pm

Nobody goes there; it's too crowded.

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 1 May 2006 1:27 pm

Jim - just resize and save copies of the photos at 640x480. That's all you need for web use.

There are some free posting sites...you just have to look around a bit. I think Yahoo has one.

Cliff Kane · Post by **Cliff Kane** » 1 May 2006 2:35 pm

Thanks, Mike, and everyone for putting together a great jam. I really had a blast hearing all the great playing, and it was great to see and meet you guys. What a fun day!

Jim Eaton · Post by **Jim Eaton** » 1 May 2006 7:18 pm

Jim, talk to John McClung, I think he can host the photos for you.
JE:-)>

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 1 May 2006 9:25 pm

Re photos:
Jim, I can batch resize and put up on my .Mac website, but I must leave it to you to first edit out the junk shots, and do any levels/curves in Photoshop, I don't have time for that task...even on my own stuff, I think I'm 3 years behind processing my own pictures, yikes!

Send me a CD of your selects. Email me offline for the address.

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E9 lessons
Mullen D-12/Carter SD-10/Webb amp/Profex II+Lexicon MPX-110 OR Line 6 Pod XT

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 1 May 2006 9:34 pm

I counted 22 steels set up at one time! I think 18 was our record number last year.

Unfortunately, that more than fills up available space. I know Greg Vincent and Doug Livingston showed up, but probably saw the lack of space and simply left. That's a real shame, I'd have loved to hear their musical ideas.

To keep the event manageable, enjoyable, and successful for all, we can do a couple of things that come to my mind:

-make it a 2-day affair
- require advance signups, when space is gone, that's it. There could be a waiting list, too, plans often do change at the last minute.

the advance signup is looking to me like a good idea whether it's a one or two day shindig. I really felt awful that players couldn't even join the fun.

What say all ye?

Anyway: it IS a ton of work, especially for Jim Baron and John Hensch, thanks so much, gentleman, and Mike Perlowin, too (your phone calls are crucial!) for making it possible with your tireless and selfless efforts.

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E9 lessons
Mullen D-12/Carter SD-10/Webb amp/Profex II+Lexicon MPX-110 OR Line 6 Pod XT

[This message was edited by John McClung on 01 May 2006 at 10:35 PM.]

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 1 May 2006 9:35 pm

Re photos:
Jim, I can batch resize and put up on my .Mac website, but I must leave it to you to first edit out the junk shots, and do any levels/curves in Photoshop, I don't have time for that task...even on my own stuff, I think I'm 3 years behind processing my own pictures, yikes!

Send me a CD of your selects. Email me offline for the address.

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E9 lessons
Mullen D-12/Carter SD-10/Webb amp/Profex II+Lexicon MPX-110 OR Line 6 Pod XT

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 2 May 2006 3:49 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>-make it a 2-day affair
- require advance signups, when space is gone, that's it. There could be a waiting list, too, plans often do change at the last minute. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Both excellent ideas. I'll talk to the pwner of the restaurant about making it a 2 day even next year.

Doug, I'm really sorry you didn't get to play. It would have been wonderful to have had you join is.

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My web site

Jim Ives · Post by **Jim Ives** » 2 May 2006 7:02 am

Mike,
I know you like the restaurant( I do too) and it's close proximity to your home. Maybe it's time to consider a larger venue, ie another restaurant or some class room/ church or synagogue.
-Jim

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 2 May 2006 9:12 am

I second Jim Ives' suggestion of researching a better venue. The acoustics, or rather lack of any, in there make it impossible to get great tone, and the live bouncy sound from bare walls and ceiling gives me a big headache by end of day. It's hard to understand words spoken through the PA, one reason I abandoned the idea of adding a "share a lick/idea/pedal change" to the day, just too hard to hear anybody say anything.

Anyone know of a good Moose/Elks/Eagles lodge that would be central for everyone? They usually have a bar, sometimes food service.

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E9 lessons
Mullen D-12/Carter SD-10/Webb amp/Profex II+Lexicon MPX-110 OR Line 6 Pod XT

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 2 May 2006 9:46 am

It's true, the acoustics in the room are not the best. But use of the the room was DONATED. Of course the restaurant made several hundred dollars from all the meals we bought, but the use of the room itself was free.

Some years back I spoke to somebody at the local Eagles lodge and they wanted hundreds of dollars for the day.

If one of you guys can find a better location that's also free, I have no objection.

It is apparent that the jam is becoming too big and unweildly, and some changes need to be made. I think that the best solution proposed so far is to extend it to 2 days and have people sign up in advance. And perhaps limit the number of players to 15.

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My web site
[This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 02 May 2006 at 11:01 AM.]

Jim Eaton · Post by **Jim Eaton** » 2 May 2006 11:34 am

I like the idea of doing a 2 day jam. It could be set-up with 4 sessions, day 1 morning, day 1 afternoon, day 2 morning and day 2 afternoon. Limit the number of players per session to 10 or 12.
Maybe even have one session just for "newbie's" to let them get their feet wet with out any extra pressure.
Use cruse ship logic and have a "1st and 2nd" Lunch break. That way half the players could "do" lunch and the other half could keep pickin. I think we were "quiet" for almost 1 1/2 hrs when we all went to lunch at the same time on Sat.
If we could find a better sounding room, I would not have any problem with paying an admission fee to help off set the cost of the room.
JE:-)>

John Walden · Post by **John Walden** » 2 May 2006 12:02 pm

My 2 cents. This was my first time to go to any type of steel guitar venue, and I'm sure that I was the least qualified person there. I probably wouldn't have come if it wasn't strongly encouraged by my steel instructor to do so. I was not dissapointed at all. Yes, the room could have been bigger, and better acoustics would have been nice, but the tracks were loud enough, and I could hear each player good enough to hear the differences in playing style, and the differences in thier tone. Everyone was polite and friendly. If you split it to two days, you probably wouldn't have the same vibe in the room. So many great players, big names, little names, all at the same time made one hell of a vibe. As far as the newbie thing goes, without some pressure, life would be boreing! Thanks again for the experience! J. W.

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 3 May 2006 7:15 am

It sure was crowded. I wanted to hang out, but I couldn't even get in the door! I even went back 4 hours later and it was just as bad.