1/2 pay for steel players

About Steel Guitarists and their Music

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David L. Donald
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Post by David L. Donald »

If you do ALL the PA set up connecting/tweeking, maintainance, most of the luggin, "buying", repairing, etc.

That is another JOB and not an easy or cheap one...
or everybody would be doing it.

This should be worth a small premium.
Here the villages negociate the band price, and then a cut for the "PA" afterwards in many cases.
Rick McDuffie
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Post by Rick McDuffie »

You're right Nathan. The other night at band practice, we decided to do one of the guitar player's "originals" (a good rockin' tune). Someone said, "But is that a country song?" I replied, "It will be when I put this steel part on it."

And it was.

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chuck lemasters
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Post by chuck lemasters »

I am working with a band that plays a variety of styles, but very little country music. I play steel on maybe a third of the tunes, the rest of the evening I'm on guitar. I get paid a little less than the other guys. However, I don't have to mess with the PA system. When the job is over, I pack my stuff and leave. I am also free to pick and choose which jobs I want to play. Because of the distances I have to travel, I pass on the dives and lower paying jobs. I could become a full time member of this band with equal pay but this arrangement works better for me.

chuck
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Eric West
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Post by Eric West »

Gene. That has happened to me a few times. One in the early 80s where the owner of a club in Eastern Oregon, Oren McCartney (Danny Breedon's father in law) used to give me 50$/nite to augment whatever three piece band he had. The never seemed to mind, and it fed me in a time that I was HUNGRY. I only had to call him a couple times, but I Still owe him a lot for those "living in the car" days..

Also a time when a couple of the dancing group got up a collection to "add me to a band" and it turned out to be more than the average. As well, one time, a guy that owns a local rail system sprung for my wages in the same band for his wife's birthday. ( playing that job was the least I could do, as I was dating her.... <blink>JUST KIDDING DICK..</blink> )

Lately the one band I play with on some of the "off nites" at Jubitz, the bandleader and sound man have been spiltting their wages to give me a full 75$. That "gets my attention".

I've ALWAYS appreciated those that have gone a "little farther" to help me. I always return the favor when the chance arises.

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EJL
Joseph V. Sapp
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Post by Joseph V. Sapp »

a Cut in pay will never happen for me. Currently, I have a SD-10 4X5, Fender blackface twin, Nashville, 4 space rack, pack-a-seat, amp stands, and mike stand. an endless supply of cables, and all the little things that make everything work like they should, I work with a band which is an hour away, band practice one night a week, gig three nights a week, and currently drive nearly two hours for our most distant gig. (Near Baltimore Md. ) take a cut in pay,,,,Sorry, I just dont see that happening. you owe it to yourself and what you have invested to receive equal pay. but then at 58 years old, I dont bend like I use to. I re-string every week, and taking a pay cut,,,Nope. that wouldn't even cover my Fuel and string bill. just my 2 cents. God Bless.

Joe
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Lefty
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Post by Lefty »

Total BULL PUCKY.....You should demand 2X pay.
Lefty
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Kurt Graber
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Post by Kurt Graber »

Fortunately, I'm on the other end of the spectrum. I haul in 2 rigs everynight. I hold my own on regular guitar as well as steel. Go ahead play some "Van Halen" !! and then Play "San Antonio Rose" the very next tune. The point is not to point out what I can do, it's what I don't do. I don't demand extra for the extra rig I haul in. I get the same pay as everybody else and as long as you are upfront about this Long before the first note is ever played (including a practice) than this will never be a problem. In other words, you always get the details of the band finances beforehand.
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