An innocently ignorant question

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 6 Sep 2010 7:42 pm

About how many folks (players, exhibitors, spouses) attend ISGC? I've never been (sadly) and I probably don't have an anywhere near accurate mental picture of the scope and range. What is recent-years' attendance compared to the previous years?

Jim Mathis · Post by **Jim Mathis** » 7 Sep 2010 7:41 am

Ben,

That is a good question. I am sure somebody has a count, but I am guessing around 1,200 to 1,500, and this year seemed a little down.

Does anybody have a more accurate count?

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 7 Sep 2010 7:45 am

Back when it was at the Chase Park Plaza, I think the attendance averaged around 3,000.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 7 Sep 2010 8:23 am

Jim, What was the lineup of steelers like back then?

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 7 Sep 2010 2:25 pm

I was a lot less seasoned back then, but to me, it seemed like every major steel player that I knew anything about was there. I don't remember if there was an amateur night back then or not.

Some that I remember were Emmons, Chalker, Day, Rugg, Jernigan, Isaacs, Mooney, Byrd, Remington, Winston, Bowman, West, McAuliffe and on and on. As I said in another post, everyone seemed to be trying to outdo the other, and I didn't dare go to the bathroom or get something to eat, for fear I would miss something.

JERRY THURMOND · Post by **JERRY THURMOND** » 7 Sep 2010 8:22 pm

the Chase park was much smaller the the Millenium, that is why they moved.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 8 Sep 2010 4:01 am

It was smaller but personally it had better vibe and sound than the "Clarion" when they moved downtown.

But, the Kingshighway area of St Louis is probably a good area to avoid now..

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 8 Sep 2010 9:40 am

We loved the Chase Park Hotel.
Eddie Lange lives by it and says it's a great area!

Rob Parker · Post by **Rob Parker** » 9 Sep 2010 11:04 am

I think the attendance is near 2500 people or more. There are so many rooms with something going on, all the people are not in the main auditorium at the same time.
And look at the list Mr Jim Smith posted..Sadly most of the ones on that list have departed..and others have some health issues..
I liked the Chase, but the growing crowds made it neccessary to relocate.The main auditorium holds about 3000 people. And I have seen it packed, with standing crowds around the periphery, so many it was difficule to walk..
I hope people continue to support this great show..there are still some great players performing, and some " new kids on the block " to carry on our great tradition of presenting our instrument to the fans.
My thanks to the Scott Family for their hard work and dedication for producing this show...
RP...'come on in'...

Jeremiah Hanley · Post by **Jeremiah Hanley** » 9 Sep 2010 11:46 am

I agree with Rob Parker, for I know he's a man with tremendous knowledge about facts and figures of the steel guitar world! I also want to add my thanks to Scotty and family for all the hard work and everything they have done to promote the steel guitar. I found the convention to be an amazing place! People who do not even play steel guitar are as fascinated with its sounds as I am. No matter who plays the steel, it will have a different tone to it. It's just like our voices, brought out by our vocal cords.....they all sound different! It's something how our fingers even identify us. The convention is a melting pot of the world over....with steel guitar music. People came by our booth from Germany, United Kingdom, Japan, etc. and from California to New York proving that the United States, along with these others, accept the steel guitar. It's really remarkable that people of faith stopped by and talked with us about their love for steel guitar music, also. It's just like Doug Rolfe said, "Steel guitar makes gospel music even better." We have a gospel program on steelradio.com the 2nd Sunday of every month from 2-4 p.m. central standard time. I hope many of you are our listeners!!

Don Lanier · Post by **Don Lanier** » 10 Sep 2010 8:06 pm

This year was a bit different then last few, the vibe was different but not bad or worse, But with many of the "Greatest" Steelers passed in recent years, the Loss of Bobby, and Paul Franklins schedule change left many to Ponder whats happening in the ISGC Hall. I saw many many folks out in the Rooms, Roaming the halls and viewing and visiting with freinds, Dealers and Musicians. Its still a melting pot of the Steel World and I believe everyone should come and enjoy the BIG SHOW.

Im a new guy at the ISGC, I never got to meet many of the Greats, although I did get to see Emmons, Papa John, Helms and Paul Franklin play at previous shows, I was awestruck, and still am when I think back about the Show with TEN of the Worlds Greatest steel players on stage at once, Sasser, Wright, Dodd and many others who I dont know but I see and hear every year, Rusty Rhodes, Dave Easley and again others, I dont mean to leave anyone out and please dont be offended if I didnt mention your name here.

But I think anyone who comes to the BIG SHOW is one of the greatest, your on your way, to play in the Big Band, with a group of guys that make you shine, and can make your day and your set, Magical, and they always are. I think we need to really realize the Magical place that the ISGC is, The Magic thats happened there, and the Magic thats gonna happen. I dont think anyone wants to say the ISGC has seen its glory days as I dont believe that. There are many pickers waiting, Learning and yearning to get out on that stage and show there stuff, and outdo the next guy.

Numbers may say its down, attendance is slower, But the VIBE that is the ISGC is alive and well and this years Pickers showed Nobodys better then them, I was impressed by many steelers this year, Guys I had never seen and heard, and I hope they get another chance to come to the BIG SHOW, and for those of you who wonder do I go, or maybe its over, maybe Ive missed the glory years, Dont look at it that way.
The Instrument that IS the Steel Guitar and all its Genres of Country, Gospel, Rock or Swing is that it still brings smiles to peoples faces, and toe tapping throughout that hall, NO the ISGC is alive and well and we all Owe the Grand Ole Show a visit to renew freindships, Make new ones and see whose gonna shine and take that position that Mooney, Day, and Huey, and many other Great Ones have layed down a challenge, Get your Steel, Get out on that stage, and show em whose got it, come see the Big Show and Support the EVENT and the MUSIC......

I hope to see you soon my freinds,

Don Lanier
Sound Booth ISGC...

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 12 Oct 2010 8:59 am

Ben,like many others who have posted I could never take timeoff from my gigs in years past to attend, because we needed the income to eat and survive.

After I retired from playing, I finally attended my first St Louis event a couple of years ago when one of my friends was inducted to the HOF.

It was a good experience, but I will probably not return because I am nearing my 80'th birthday and I get so tired with very little activity.

Having said that, it's been a good life and I have no regrets.

Gene

Bill Moran · Post by **Bill Moran** » 6 Nov 2010 4:04 pm

Jim Smith wrote:I was a lot less seasoned back then, but to me, it seemed like every major steel player that I knew anything about was there. I don't remember if there was an amateur night back then or not.

Some that I remember were Emmons, Chalker, Day, Rugg, Jernigan, Isaacs, Mooney, Byrd, Remington, Winston, Bowman, West, McAuliffe and on and on. As I said in another post, everyone seemed to be trying to outdo the other, and I didn't dare go to the bathroom or get something to eat, for fear I would miss something.

I know what you mean. It was a show and we all WON.
It will never be that way again. The masters are gone or just retired. God love them !!!

I know I do.

Bill

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 19 Apr 2011 1:07 pm

My first convention was in 1974 at the Holiday Inn at Bridgeton, Missouri, not far from Scotty's music store.
Buddy Emmons,Curly Chalker,Jimmy Day,Speedy West & Zane Beck were the main players.
I believe the attendance was around 150--200 people.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 3 May 2011 4:56 am

Yes, each year is less & less.

Jay Jessup · Post by **Jay Jessup** » 7 May 2011 2:21 pm

Theresa,
Tongue firmly planted in your cheek I suppose?
While the world economy isn't exactly on fire at the moment, I will step out on a a limb and predict it will be better than the past three years.
I happen to run a business that uses thousands of gallons of diesel fuel a month and while I didn't have to buy any this week, if I did it would have been 40 cents a gallon cheaper than two weeks ago which is in line with what the experts I count on for forcasts predicted. They all said we would hit a high point some time this spring and the prices would begin to decrease throughout the summer.
So I am suggesting that when you add all that to the fact that pedal steels seem to be showing up in more and more places recently--- I think it's time for everyone to seriously consider heading to Ole St Louie for Labor Day this year.
Waddya think?

Jay Jessup · Post by **Jay Jessup** » 7 May 2011 2:24 pm

Whoops---double post!!

DeWitt Scott · Post by **DeWitt Scott** » 10 May 2011 10:14 pm

Bill Moran - This information is a result of your posting. Players that performed at the International Steel Conventions. I know I will fail to mention a lot of players names so I apologize now. The reason we left the Chase Park Plaza Hotel was they closed the Plaza section and that cut us down to only 350 rooms.

J.Byrd, A.Rey, H.Remington, L.Green, H.Rugg, T.Brumley, B.Emmons, L.McAuliffe, C.Chalker, H.Wallace, J.Newman, J.Crawford, D.Jernigan, Z.Beck, Z.King, W.Myrick, Bob White, Tommy White, S.West, J.Day, J.Tharpe, W.Murphy, J.Murphey, L.Oceans, M.Fujii, W.Winston, A.Petty, S.Jackson, R.Wiggins, G.O'neal, Johnny.Cox, Joan Cox, D.Mullen, J.Vest, T.Crisp, Scotty, M.Anderson, T. Morrell, B.Isaacs, Billy Bowman, T.Roots, B.Seymour, J.Farina, G.Hogan, P.Franklin, B.Bouton, S.Basore, S.Jory, G.Fields, R,Mooney, R.Wever, D.Helms, Jr.Knight, D.Hammit, Bobby Black, Jay Dee Maness, L.Owsley, B. Robinson, R.Elliott,T.Bethel, R.Hicks, J.Cohen, L.Sasser, M. Sigler, C.Lettes, A.Brisco, D.Overbey, T.Dodd, B.Ferguson, B.Stafford, M.Sweeney,J.Loessberg, A. Stewart, B.Rivera, J.Wright, R. Beavers, B.Reid, M.Johnson, D.Curtis, A.Perkins, C.Cashdollar, M.Mays, LT.Zinn, P.Whitewing, B.Garret, N.Hamlet, J.Hughey, H.White, and many more!

I meet a player doing my travels and someone will always come up and say, "I really enjoyed playing on the Convention". His name was never on the schedule. He must have been invited by another player to join him on his set. Plus many players play in the distributors booth that I do not know about.

Bill, thanks for prompting me to post this players list even though it is not by any means complete. I apologize again if a players name is ommitte. All the information I needed to list all the names in is in a box at my home. Scotty

Keith Hilton · Post by **Keith Hilton** » 12 May 2011 6:39 pm

I played the Convention as a invited player in 1996. I followed Ralph Mooney.

Wally Moyers · Post by **Wally Moyers** » 15 May 2011 7:30 pm

Scotty,

Your a legend in your own right! I remember when you and Big E came to Lubbock back in the 80s, I really enjoyed your playing and teaching. You have done more for Steel Guitar than anyone in my opinion. Something about your St. Louis show creates musical magic.. It is sad to see so many of the great players retire or pass away, but there is a new crop coming up that will carry on the masters tradition. Thank you for your dedication and hard work!

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 19 May 2011 12:52 pm

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An innocently ignorant question

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