Finding one's niche.. easier said than done

[Bill Hankey]

Finding one's niche in life that will sustain through thick and thin, can be very challenging. It it as if it was meant to be. It's a big letdown to realize there may be better options, where we are more suited to the task of moving ahead. I feel that others may have experienced changes after much time has been devoted to a particular pursuit. Musicians, including steel guitarists, could easily share in these moments of evaluating and weighing their long-range dedications.

[Tim Whitlock]

I guess you're asking was it all worth it? At some point in my life it seems like music "chose" me and became my niche. I don't remember making a conscious decision that I wanted to be a musician - there was no epiphany. Access to instruments was always there and slowly over time I began to notice that I always felt happiest when tinkering with some instrument. By the time I got to high school I didn't want to go anywhere without my guitar and the best times were making music with friends or talking about music or thinking about music...

As an adult I found myself wondering if it was right to continue to make music such a large part of my life, and sacrifices were certainly made when the wife and kids came along. The time invested in pursuing the muse has not paid much in the way of tangible dividends and I have had cause to reflect on how I may have better spent my time and energy.

In the end, it all seems to take care of itself. Music is as much a part of my identity as my name and I'll pass both along to my grandchildren with the satisfaction of knowing that some little thread will continue on. I think it was worth it.

[Bill Hankey]

I would assume that the aforementioned rationale imposed regarding behaviorisms among musicians (including steel guitarists) is amply accurate. I can't believe that most are "On top of the world, looking down on creation" without regard for exploring new areas of interest. I'll let it rest at that.

[Dick Sexton]

Bill, there must have been volumes written on that and similar subjects. How to: "Finding one's niche in life that will sustain through thick and thin, can be" a very challenging endeavor. It always does my heart, good to hear of a child born into destitute poverty, go on to become a Doctor or Master in the sciences. Many times children born into wealth and opportunity, fall by the wayside, victims of the pitfalls of a much harder life. Reflecting back is easy. Making the right choices at the appropriate time, doesn't appear to be so. As I reflect back, my current situation is a direct result of the decisions I've made in life, with a smattering of luck, good or bad. When your 18, your choices are many and you have time to fail and recover. At 68, as I am, you have fewer choices and less time to recover if you make the wrong one. I choose to pursue the learning of the pedal steel guitar. My choices early on, hinder my continued development in that endeavor. I try not to grumble about that, the choice was mine not to learn to read music or study under the best players I could find. I do study now, as hard as I can, to become more knowledgeable and proficient. Personally, I think I know just enough to be a good member of the audience at a steel show. I'm OK with that, the choices I've made make that possible.

[Bob Russell]

Did you ever see that movie "Waitress"? There's a great scene in which Dawn, the waitress, asks her boss if he's a happy man. His answer is:

I'm happy enough.

[Bo Legg]

Bill between work, personal hygiene, household chores, medical cares, civic duties, church functions, family functions/ matters, special holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, vacations, etc., etc., PSG study/practice and playing gigs who has time to look for one's niche?
Niches are for folks who are very young still in school and single.

[Bob Russell]

Bill between work, personal hygiene, household chores, medical cares, civic duties, church functions, family functions/ matters, special holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, vacations, etc., etc., PSG study/practice and playing gigs who has time to look for one's niche?

Yup. Whether we want to admit it or not, most of us are already in our niche.

[Bill Hankey]

Bo Legg,

Those necessary commitments that mount as we age, create an urgency to fathom our destinies more intently. Nature has a way of cushioning our thoughts according to the times, so as to insulate a false sense in terms of realizing how much precious time can be squandered in the wrong department. Everyone is familiar with 20/20 vision, or closing the gate after the livestock has slipped away.

[Charles Davidson]

On top of the world,looking down on creation ? Where is the connection about steel guitars ? Or for that matter what does it have to do with the cows slipping out the gate. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

[Bill Hankey]

Bob Russell,

Indeed, a very good point made by stressing that we are caught up in a niche, like it or not. They say that twins will live similar lifestyles, even when they have no knowledge of how the other has chosen to live, or the company they keep. For that reason, we must reconcile with "chance" positionings, such as associations, and preferences involving entertainment. Responding to a thread of adventure, such as tackling the formidable pedal steel guitar, is an option always open to the intrepid musician who is seeking a real challenge. There are countless avenues of adventure that are never traversed throughout a lifetime. Getting bogged down by taking a few wrong turns in life requires a resolve to right the sense of direction to better places where opportunities prevail in greater numbers.

[chris ivey]

bill, you appear to have found your niche.

[Geoff Cole]

Yes Chris but you've got to love him.

[Charles Davidson]

I remember my grandma had a niche,it was a recess in the wall for her nick-nacks. But I never had one. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

[Bill Hankey]

Much ado is related to how we feel on a particular day. I remember hearing something about the way a person feels at the beginning of a day, and the claim that as the day wears on, feelings change for better or worse, depending more on body chemistry. I tend to believe that it's believable. Finding one's niche would be relevant to the reversible feelings that we undergo when returning to situations that create a sense of buoyancy and enthusiasm; such as musical interests relative to the pedal steel guitar's multiple challenges. The multiplicities of niches within the bounds of known experts both past and present such as B. Emmons, L. Green, C. Chalker, and their peerages, assures the student a holiday of excursions into the unpracticed reaches of ultimate finesse.

[Bob Russell]

Barney Kessel, the great jazz guitarist, once encountered a young student who was peppering him with questions, most of them along the lines of "Should I use this approach or that approach? Should I think this way or that way?"

Barney's advice to the fellow started out: "Introspection is not necessarily your friend..."

[Bill Hankey]

Bob R.,

Sadly, as it were, musical geniuses are immune to reproof. Blessed with talent and special skills from birth, their inherent qualities transcend to a motivity much greater than an average joe. Comparing a dachshund to a whippet in the speed department, would be much like placing a student in a room full of steel guitar speed pickers.

[Bob Russell]

Bob R.,

Sadly, as it were, musical geniuses are immune to reproof. Blessed with talent and special skills from birth, their inherent qualities transcend to a motivity much greater than an average joe. Comparing a dachshund to a whippet in the speed department, would be much like placing a student in a room full of steel guitar speed pickers.

It's an inadequate analogy. Dachshunds are born dachshunds; whippets are born whippets and that's all they'll ever be. Humans have the ability to refine skills. I'm still compelled to believe that any dissatisfaction with one's playing is better remedied through practicing than philosophizing. YMMV, as they say.

[Christopher Woitach]

I never had a problem finding my niche. Musician, plain and simple.

[Dave Boothroyd]

I'd just like to say a word in favour of not finding and staying in your niche.
In the past I've played in an orchestra playing 'songs from the shows' and the like. I would never listen to that music, but I learned a lot from playing it. Similarly with a Traditional Jazz band I used to jam with. At the moment I'm running a rock and roll band, and for the first time in my life, at 65, I'm playing conventional lead guitar licks.
When my grandsons are here, I walk up to the piano and play them Twinkle Twinkle, or Old MacDonald.
None of these are anything like my own music.

Then, in odd moments when I have musical time to myself, I sit down at the steel, and it feels as if all the new musical phrases and fills that I've been looking for, are just lying on the strings waiting to be played.

Cheers
Dave

[Barry Blackwood]

Blessed with talent and special skills from birth, their inherent qualities transcend to a motivity much greater than an average joe.

Bill, that's a myth that should have been put to rest a long time ago ….

[Joe Casey]

Who knows what anyones niche in life is or should have been if one hasn't achieved it by a very late age??.If one has always tried to take advantage of the hand or talent dealt to him, and felt he did his best as professional as he could then??..As of now this late in my life I have no regrets.. besides what good would they do me if I had any??.Life is what it is and when its over, I believe there is only one true Judge if we succeeded in making the best of what was given..There are those that have everything but leave the same way as all will ..I'm thankfull I was able to raise my family and do what I loved to do and make a living at it..After I survived Viet Nam everything else in my life was a plus.. What better niche is there??..

[Bill Hankey]

They have exclaimed for years that we are known or judged by the company we keep. "Birds of a feather, hang together." Bullies have a tendency to assemble in groups, it has been noted over the centuries. Most of civilization, including steel guitarists follow the traditional pattern of building their foundations on solid rock. Some of the most interesting groups choose to explore beyond common boundaries. The enormity of gold diggers in this day and age are without number, with everyone it seems either offering to buy, sell, or trade the precious metal. Opinions have become so universal, that sorting out truth from fiction is nearly impossible. This niche issue comprises an urgency to act accordingly when one wheel moves closer to the proverbial gutter. Satisfaction is elusive once our music gets bogged down through a lack of sustained interest in developing a workable niche.

[Nic du Toit]

Satisfaction is elusive once our music gets bogged down through a lack of sustained interest in developing a workable niche.

Yep.

Blessed with talent and special skills from birth, their inherent qualities transcend to a motivity much greater than an average joe.

Yep.

[Joe Casey]

Everybody has a certain comfort level..I'm not posting to insult or step on any toes..Just stating I found mine and believe everyone has to find theirs..I think Bill started with a good question..

[Dick Wood]

$100 reward for one lost Niche...There,somebody will find it now.

Hi Bill.