What line of work....made it possible for you to play steel

Gary Sill · Post by **Gary Sill** » 31 Jul 2002 7:43 pm

I own a Verizon Wireless store in Mt. Zion, IL . Also market Dish Network out of the same store. Also, have an insurance agency and am a Registered Investment Advisor Representative for Investment Planners,in Decatur, IL

I keep busy, but still practice 1 to 2 hours a day working on my S-12 Universal, Zum.

William Steward · Post by **William Steward** » 1 Aug 2002 4:44 am

The music bug got me early...I am not sure whether to thank or blame anyone. I got the steel bug late in life although I got my first 'job' in a bar band at age 16 (can't remember how that was allowed!) playing organ with a country troupadour named Tom Alexander. After another 30 years of part-time piano playing in r&b, jazz and blues bands I have come full circle to playing country music in a bar again and getting enthralled with steel guitar. Luckily I took some time out to finish university and now work as an architect building resorts, banks and shopping centres here in NeverNeverland. Music has sometimes paid a lot of my bills but that has usually been a secondary reason for inhaling all that second hand smoke. Eventually I hope to leave the piano at home!

Kirk P Dighton · Post by **Kirk P Dighton** » 1 Aug 2002 5:38 am

I started out in farming (dairy) then progressed to where I am now, A Paramedic Specialist / Operations Supervisor for a progressive ambulance service in Cedar Rapids Iowa. Moving toward consulting in OSHA safety programs. Have a western swing band that plays 3-5 times per month, for fun and $'s. If you want to do it, you will find a way.

Kirk

Johan Jansen · Post by **Johan Jansen** » 1 Aug 2002 5:48 am

Working parttime as a teacher on primairy school, and a parttime working , and very understanding and loving wife

JJ

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 1 Aug 2002 6:57 am

I earned extra money while in law school in Ontario playing dances and stuff - that was when I was really starting out on steel, having been a guitar player and singer before. After law school I spent about a year and a half playing six nighters in and around Toronto, and was all set to go on the road with my brother's band when he decided to grow up and (sigh) go to law school. Pretty much got dragged kicking and screaming into a legal career, but have had an interesting and reasonably successful 20 year career as a labour lawyer, arbitrator, counsel to Government, and Chair of a couple of Administrative Tribunals in Toronto, Vancouver, and for the last seven years my home Province of Alberta, where I was Chair of the Labour Relations Board and am now a partner in a small, specialised and (knock on wood) quite succesful law firm, where I represent various trade unions and employees. Firm is called "Blair Chahley Seveny" and my spouse Leanne Chahley (a labour lawyer by trade as well, who I met back in Toronto, and who basically started the practice from scratch after we moved here from Toronto in 94 to be closer to my oldest kids)) is one of my partners. Working harder than I ever have in my life, with a couple of my kids still quite young, and building a new business and all that, but a lot of freedom comes with being your own boss, and I am finding more time to get my steel chops back. And to go to St. Louis and Dallas etc.

Jim Eaton · Post by **Jim Eaton** » 1 Aug 2002 7:20 am

Started playing 6 stg guitar when I was 13.
Played in high school bands, lot's of Surf music and Rolling Stones tunes!
Got out of High School and took a little 3 1/2 year tour of S.E. Asia with the Navy as an aerial combat photographer. Got out of that alive and when I came home went to work at the music store where I first took lessons. Got started on Steel about 72'when UPS delivered our start-up order to become a Sho-Bud dealer. You had to buy 3 guitars to become a dealer. We had 2 of the 3 sold to customers already, so I guess you know who bought the 3rd one!

Worked at the music store, gave lessons, and played locally for about the next 5 years then 10 years on the road with different folks, then I burned out on the whole thing and took 5 years off from playing at all.
Now I work for a software company (in fact the software we make is used by Sierra to make their guitars)and play for the love of playing again.
To quote Joe Walsh "Life's been good to me so far"
JE:-)>

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 1 Aug 2002 7:49 am

I am a Mechanical Engineer, specializing in designing off-road construction equipment, primarily trenching machines that dig in solid rock. I have designed machines ranging from 120 Horsepower, weighing around 16,000 lbs, to 1500 Horsepower, weighing 500,000 lbs. The Lord and this line of work, and has been very good to me. I have accumulated a collection of 6 D10 steels, 50 guitars and basses, and a pickup load of amps, plus a mandolin, a fiddle, a rare Mosrite dobro, and an upright bass. My Son and I also have a home studio.

I only play music for the fun of it. I've only played one paying gig, and the pay barely paid for the gas to get there.

------------------
Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 1 Aug 2002 8:15 am

Ray Montee !! Way back when I started a thread about old time country AM radio, I think you asked me: Paul, What have you started here ??

Now the roles are reversed and I want to ask you the same thing. And I'll give you the answer too:

One of the nicest sounding threads ever and a warm insight into more members of this Forum than I think anyone of us would have guessed at the start, especially you !!

Jody had it right !! You Da Man !!

!!)

Best Regards, Paul[This message was edited by Paul Graupp on 01 August 2002 at 09:21 AM.]

Tim Harr · Post by **Tim Harr** » 1 Aug 2002 8:25 am

Active Duty US Army for 16 years.
Currently a Sergeant First Class (E-7) "that is three up and two down...."

Guitarist / Vocalist with the US Army Band - 10 yrs - the rest....
Army Recruiter / Career Counselor and now
I work for the Headquarters, US Army National Guard Bureau as an Instructor / Writer / Course Developer for National Guard Recruiting & Retention Division Nationwide

(Iam a recruiting School Teacher)

I play on weekends and enjoy teaching guitar & steel....

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 1 Aug 2002 9:08 am

I work at Intel in a Microprocessor R&D and Manufacturing plant[s] here in the Silicon Forest of Oregon.
We spend alot of time trying to build a better mouse-trap and pump out the P4's!
This job has allowed me to go to alot of steel conventions!!!

Disclaimer:
I don't know jack about computers!

Earl Foote · Post by **Earl Foote** » 1 Aug 2002 9:08 am

I am a mechanical engineer at a gear plant in Houston. We manufacture gears and repair high speed gearboxes for petrochemical plants. I do reverse engineering and AutoCad. I play on the average about 90 gigs a year.(pedal steel, Telecaster,bass, and vocals)

Cameron Parsons · Post by **Cameron Parsons** » 1 Aug 2002 12:15 pm

I am a full-time college student. I play about 3 or 4 gigs a week which is my main source of income. Also, I am a licensed funeral director and embalmer, so I occasionally work at the local funeral home.

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 1 Aug 2002 1:21 pm

Okay........For me this has been both fun and educational.(Thanx Paul!)
Now what about the other 3,180 Forum Members.....who have NOT responded as yet?
Are we to believe they don't have day jobs? If that's the case, at least share with the rest of us how you managed to accomplish THAT feat!
Inquiring minds want/must know!

Fred Jack · Post by **Fred Jack** » 1 Aug 2002 4:06 pm

Ray ... LONG HOURS AND SHORT PAY! regards,fred

Rob Hamilton · Post by **Rob Hamilton** » 1 Aug 2002 5:00 pm

As of four weeks ago, I don't have a day job. But it hasn't stopped me from playing my steel and Tele. For 27 years I worked as a software engineer -- for U.C.Davis, then for a No. CA startup, then for Digital/Compaq/H-P, then took an early retirement. But the truth is, I'll need to get a new day job; I'm just 'practicing' the art of being retired.

With regards to the topic title, I play steel guitar *despite* my line of work

. I have played guitar and bass in several paying gig bands over the years, but not yet on steel. One of these days though... I'll be ready.

I'll echo what has been said -- this is a great topic. It helps to know everyone a bit better.

--Rob
Sho-Bud Pro-I, '66 Tele Custom, '62 Vibrolux

Larry Beck · Post by **Larry Beck** » 1 Aug 2002 7:20 pm

This day job stuff is all well and good, but perhaps we should be more concerned out what some of you guys are doing at night.

Semi- seriously:
Computers (security, white hat penetration testing, consulting, general systems integration and web design just for fun.)

Mike Cass · Post by **Mike Cass** » 1 Aug 2002 11:13 pm

Until my health gave me some interesting moments a few years ago,
for 30 years my day gig consisted of sobering up & practicing for my night gig

Since then, the kindness & generosity of the steel community has affoded me the opprotunity to work at home on your guitars while playing an occassional gig or session.
Only day job I ever had was a 2 week stint @ 18 yrs old working for "Do-All", welding bandsaw blades. Not a bad gig except for the wear & tear on my hands..(they looked like Id just lost a fight with a cougar

). I might've hung in there a bit longer, but I called in sick one day as I had a gig on the outskirts that night. When I showed up to play, my boss @ Do-All was sitting at the bar. Since then, Ive never darkened the door of gainful employment

Fred Martin · Post by **Fred Martin** » 2 Aug 2002 4:20 am

Worked 25 years for the Forest Service in several stats as a Fire Fighter, Timber Contract Administrator, Law Enforcement and whatever comes up.

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 2 Aug 2002 4:26 pm

I never intended this to be an invasion of one's privacy..... Tho't it might be interesting to learn more about THOSE WHO DO PLAY steel guitar. We've got a doctor, a lawyer, (No native American Chief!??), and a funeral director with just about one of everything else in the middle.
My concern is what the 3,175 non-participating Forumites do? Having this kind of data at our disposal, I felt, might
better help us to sell the legitimacy of our beloved instrument.
C'mon! Let's hear from you folks. Okay?

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 3 Aug 2002 6:13 pm

Well, it appears obvious to me, that 3,174 Forumites would have each of us believe that they never had/don't have to rely on a day job or whatever. Thanx to those of you honest enough to share with your many friends.

Chris Bauer · Post by **Chris Bauer** » 3 Aug 2002 6:50 pm

Clinical psychologist for ten great years, followed by five so-so years as managed care came in, followed by five DISMAL years after managed care came fully in... Most recently I have gone 'to the dark side' to work as an administrator and am in charge of the Child, Adolescent and Family outpatient community mental health clinics in Nashville.

All of this has been puctuated by intermittant spasms of working as a corporate trainer, songwriter, and as a lousy but highly enthusiastic steel guitar player.

P.S. Rob Hamilton - do I know you from Davis? We seem to have been there for a number of overlapping years and from a time when it was still too small of a town not to have run into most everyone at some time or another![This message was edited by Chris Bauer on 03 August 2002 at 07:56 PM.]

Jerry Gleason · Post by **Jerry Gleason** » 3 Aug 2002 11:43 pm

I run a scientific imaging lab at the University of Oregon. I'm not a scientist myself, but I assist researchers with microscopy and digital imaging problems. I manage several shared flourescence microscopes, and a big contraption with a lot of lasers in it (laser scanning confocal/two-photon microscope). I also do technical photography and have a small film lab where I process E6 slide film. I used to do a lot of black and white processing and printing, but there's not much demand for that anymore.

It's a fluke that I ended up with an academic gig, since I never went to college myself, having wasted my young adulthood playing jazz guitar in night clubs. Photograhpy was always my hobby, and somehow that led me down this career path in spite of myself.

I still manage to gig about as much as I really want to and still keep a full-time day job.

Tom Diemer · Post by **Tom Diemer** » 4 Aug 2002 3:30 am

I was a factory worker for nearly 25 years. Was hit head on in a car accident by a drunk driver in 1988, and was forced to retire at 37 in 1991.

Since then, I've become a network engineer for a local computer company. CNE, A+, MCP, etc.

I've played lead guitar since high school. After playing in clubs and bars for years and years, I started playing with the steel going on 2 years ago, Carter Starter first, then upgraded to a D-10 Carter.

I'm currently playing guitar, and some steel, with a small country gospel group with my daughters, wife, and 2 best friends. Working in the steel little at a time as I get better.

Tom

Jimmie Misenheimer · Post by **Jimmie Misenheimer** » 4 Aug 2002 8:28 am

I've done about everything, but for the last 24 years I've been a service manager in a pretty good sized music store. We are a dealer for one of the "more popular brands" of equipment (no, I won't mention names), but if I did, I'd bet that more than a few of you would know how I stay so busy. Just a "slightly" off of the subject thought though. I noticed that a few of you are/were police officers. Now I don't know how things work where any of you are, but here in Indiana University - Home Of Bloomington Indiana (oops - got that backwards, but it's really hard to tell), if you were on the police, or sheriffs department, you WOULDN'T be playing anywhere but Church, or in your basement. It's NOT ALLOWED. No clubs, taverns, "line dance" halls, or anything like that. Not only that, you can't work in any place like that in ANY capacity - bartender, bouncer, or even checking I D's. Strange part of the country huh??? Jimmie