Looking To Hire Steel Player (Ks,Ok,Mo,)

Edgar Pro Case · Post by **Edgar Pro Case** » 17 Dec 2002 2:55 pm

Still looking for a steel player to complete my show. Based out of Central Kansas, will start with weekends and never be out over 4 nites at once. I worked with Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, Ty England, Marty Haggard, Opryland USA Playing steel myself but now I'm trying for a new record deal and need steel to back me. Got a MCI Tour Bus to boot. I very rarely get on this forum so please respond by email to WC Edgar at wcedgar@alltel.net Thanks

Hal Higgins · Post by **Hal Higgins** » 17 Dec 2002 3:08 pm

Is New Orleans, LA too far away for a steel player W.C.? E-mail me with details of the gig and requirements, etc. or call me @ 504-812-9018. HAL

'85Emmons D-10 LeGrande w Edgar Pro Case[This message was edited by Hal Higgins on 17 December 2002 at 03:10 PM.]

Edgar Pro Case · Post by **Edgar Pro Case** » 7 Jan 2003 5:34 pm

Thanks for the nice call today Hal. Glad the case is doing you a good job and hasn't been thrown out of a 747 or used for a wheel chock for a Greyhound Bus. I'd like to find someone in Kansas or Oklahoma or southern Nebraska to play steel on my show but it's pretty slim pickins out here for people with any intonation that can get away from the hog farm long enough to come pick. WC

Hal Higgins · Post by **Hal Higgins** » 8 Jan 2003 7:31 am

W.C. It was nice talking with you, also..The steel case is a monster...and is great protection for my '85 LeGrande. Don't have to fly with it very often, but when I do, it's reassuring to know that it's protected well. It's real heavy, though. Don't forget to e-mail me concerning the wheels for it.....Hope you have good luck finding a player up that way for your show. If I was a little closer it might work out, oh, well...HAL

Keith Murrow · Post by **Keith Murrow** » 8 Jan 2003 10:23 am

..[This message was edited by Keith Murrow on 26 October 2004 at 03:37 PM.]

Edgar Pro Case · Post by **Edgar Pro Case** » 12 Jan 2003 11:47 am

You would think that there would be more than 2 steel players in this area looking for an easy hard country steel gig but I guess not. Hope it wasn't the fact that you had to have good intonation that scared them all away. Everone bitches there is no real country music out there but no one will even answer my ad to pick steel on my show. Go figure!

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 12 Jan 2003 7:06 pm

You ever get out to Ca, Call....

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Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 12 Jan 2003 7:50 pm

" ...will start with weekends and never be out over 4 nites at once."

Alright, does that mean that someone answering your ad will be looking at 35 hrs of rehearsal, and starting "weekends" being another 15 meaning 50 hrs for what $150? That's about $3.00 an hour. Is that "with room and board?

" I'm trying for a new record deal and need steel to back me. Got a MCI Tour Bus to boot."

I'm not getting what kind of contract you *do* currently have? Now, is that MCI bus in *your* name? Is *it* part of a contract that you *currently have*? Does the band live in it during the week? Is it parked at your house?

"Hope it wasn't the fact that you had to have good intonation that scared them all away."

No, I think it was your representation that you don't have a contract with a "First Tier" Company, more than a nonspecified "weekend job", and arranging "tours" that only last 4 days.

Possibly too that considering it takes about 20 years of "On the Job Experience" to have "good intonation", that you are looking for a skilled tradesman who is willing to work two days a week, rehearse possibly another two or three days who might or might not be hired at this point, and do this for a "starting wage" of less then $5.00 and hour.

I don't know what good dedicated workers skilled in shovelling hog$#!# are expecting to get with "good shoveling technique" are willing to work for in the Heartland, but I'd sure hope its more than $5.00 an hour to start with a "weekend job" til the farmer actually gets some "Real Pigs". Hell, maybe even if he's got a "Cenex Truck".

"Ever(y)one bitches there is no real country music out there but no one will even answer my ad to pick steel on my show. Go figure!"

I think what you are looking for is somebody that will put out a $20,000 outlay in terms of their time, equipment, knowledge, and living expenses, for a joint venture with someone who has as credentials, playing steel for "Ty England,Tim McGraw,Marty Haggard,Opryland USA, etc" We don't know how long, who else you know, maybe a sample on the "toteseat" website would help, a song/setlist, and or a list of "clubs" you have or will have dates at.

I think possibly searching out a "Bandleaders Forum" where you could gain a better perspective on what it takes to "Hire a Skilled Craftsman".

As "Steel Players", I for one have heard much better sounding "deals" that I wouldn't even thing of driving 50 miles to check out. Most of the Demo CDs end up getting flipped out my pickup window and the Jewel Cases go under the seat for future ice scrapers. Especially if the "bandleader" is "looking to start playing weekends." I make $350/week most weeks just on pickup gigs, and usually 2 or three a month besides weekends. That's actually about half of what I make in my day job paving most of the year. I've got 20+years of solid experience at both.

Now, when I'm not willing to be a "dedicated truck driver" or a "well intoned pedal steel player" for less money than I'd make picking up pop bottles for, does that make me a "flaky driver" or an "out of tune steel player"?

I sense your frustration. I feel your pain.

It's really kind of a "Catch 22" my friend. Without a Band, it's hard to get a Gig. Without a Gig, it's hard to get a Band.
My surprise, is that being an accomplished player with "good intonation" and playing with the top names you have indeed played with, you are surprised at the lack of interest.

I'm sure not.

I dunno. If you posted more specific information, you might get a couple of us to offer to fly right on out and plug in.

Some of us have airplanes.

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Eric West
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[This message was edited by Eric West on 12 January 2003 at 07:56 PM.]

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 12 Jan 2003 8:15 pm

WC, Mike Hermsmeyer is a really great player not only on pedal steel but several other instruments and is looking for a job playing.
He lives in Branson. I know a lot of fine players in Northwest Arkansas, Southwestern Missouri, Tulsa and Southeast Kansas who could fill the bill for the right gig. There is no shortage of good players in the area.
Jerry Roller

Edgar Pro Case · Post by **Edgar Pro Case** » 13 Jan 2003 3:50 pm

Thanks for your replys. One question for eric only, What the hell planet are you from? b0b, go ahead and close er up before the question and answer man bores us all to death. WC

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 13 Jan 2003 4:51 pm

Mars.

Just was willing to kind of take your post for what it was, and go with that, as I well understand the problems you are probably faced with.

Then I realised that you actually ARE a Steel Player, and should know better than to start off on "Why nobody responded to your ad". I wasn't and am not disrespectful to your "resume" or anything else.

I just couldn't help but think that you should not really be surprised that without any specific information, or unless ( and I'm not saying you're not 'worthy of it') there is immediate recognition of a "reputation" say in the case of Bruce Bouten, Buddy Emmons, Paul Franklin, or the rest of the "Gold Record" club, it's kind of hard to tell whether or not you're kind of "kidding" about "starting out with weekends" and having an "MCI Bus". I looked very hard, and racked what's left of my brain without being able to see whether you have any current contracts, as having an "MCI Bus" would tend to imply.

I just didn't see anyhing more than I see or hear from dozens of singing truck drivers that have had a few too many beers at the local truck stop I've played at in 27 different bands over the last 22 years.

Don't feel bad. I passed on similar long shot with Jerry Kilgore in the mid 80s, I cut a Demo for Gary Bennet of BR549 thinking he was going off to get ground up in Nashville, and there are tons of other "opportunities" I have passed on. You're in the best of company, there's no doubt.

I have no regrets, and of course I'd encourage beginning enterprises. I've long ago resolved to not discourage anybody.

On the other hand. When I've seen ads for a "full time pedal steel player" I have faxed my "Job and Salary" requirements as follows:

1. Equal pay to other band members, negotiated as to particulars for "Bandleaders" or other "special circumstances"..
2. Reheasal or other labor paid at no less then the pertinant States' minimum wage.
3. Tax status to be a "Full Time Employee" as far as Federal and State Tax Withholding, and SSGLI contibutions.
4. Per Diem expenses when out of a 100 mile radius.

In other words, Bill, to be treated with the same respect due your everyday pig farm employee even without 20 years of pig$#1# shoveling experience.

Nothing more, Nothing Less.

I appreciate your emailing me, and hope I've answered your "rhetorical" question of my planetary origin.

I am a Heavy Equipment Hauling Truck Driver. I play only on evenings of weekdays, and weekends, but pretty much full time plus recording. I think I am pretty well known by the local Portland OR crew on the forum, as well as a few others. Been doing it for 25 years at least, mostly 'full time' on the PS, and since 63 on banjo and guitar. I'm not really a stranger to the "ropes" of our given 'pastime'.

I wish you luck. Sincerely.

I merely answered the question of "people being afraid of not having 'good intonation'" or people "bitching about the sorry state of Country Music and implying that they were "unwilling to do anything about it" by "not answering your 'ad'". I think it needed a little clarification, and that maybe there was a lack of, as I said, specificity in your original post. After your last post I answered it purely from my perspective.

It seemed to solicit an answer, so I answered it.

Just like I'm answering this..

Yours Truly.

Eric J Lundgren[This message was edited by Eric West on 13 January 2003 at 05:02 PM.]

Edgar Pro Case · Post by **Edgar Pro Case** » 13 Jan 2003 5:07 pm

Eric, I'm from Pluto not Uranus as previously stated in other posts, Ha! Thanks for the nice Email and If I ever get Red, Westly, Wichita and the boys up to the Northwest we'll stop by the VFW and say How Dee! Ha! See yas, WC

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 13 Jan 2003 5:33 pm

Like they say around here..

"Meet me at The Moose".

It'll work out.

Always a welcome mat at my house.

Always.

It always "Milkin Time" somewhere..

EJL

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 13 Jan 2003 6:40 pm

Wichita is a familiar name. Is "Westly", Steve Westley? Just saw him back from an MCI "tour" deal while tearing down the other nite.

Maybe not.

EJL