Best location

Ken Williams · From: Arkansas

On a thread a few weeks ago I was moaning about there being no gigs around here. Someone posted "move". That got me to thinking, where would be the best place in the world to be a steel player? By best, I mean there is plenty of work, both live and session. Real country music is appreciated. Pay is above average, etc. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not about to pack up and leave the old homestead. But, if I did, solely for the sake of playing and earning a little extra income, where would it be?
I know that this may be an impossible question to answer ,and, there may be no such place, but it's just something I had on my mind.

Ken
http://home.ipa.net/~kenwill

Larry Robbins · From: Fort Edward, New York

Let me know and Ill split the rent with you

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

I think it must be Texas. From what I hear, every band in Texas has a steel player and they don't even need to rehearse.

------------------

Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
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Chris Lasher · From: Blacksburg, VA

My impression from the posts this old thread of the forumites that already live there is that Texas isn't as "hot" a location. Then again, it's probably better than a lot of other spots.

Atlanta is now the #1 market for Top 40 albums, but my gues is it probably does not have much to boast for either studio work or live country gigs, save for the big tours that roll through it.

Sounds like you're asking where you can find Heaven. There are quite a few good guidebooks for that, but it's going to take a while and a lot of hard work

Like Larry said, if you find it here on earth, give me a shout and I'll split the rent with you, too.

[This message was edited by Chris Lasher on 03 March 2004 at 07:44 PM.]

David Doggett · Posted 3 Mar 2004 8:30 pm

There seems to be a lot of steel work in Texas and out of Nashville. But there also seem to be a lot of great steelers in those places who can easily beat a hack amateur like me out of all that work. It's all about supply and demand.

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

I believe the best place to find work playing
country music is ANYWHERE in the U.S., IF you have the right players, the equipment, and the
professional attitude (hard work and REHEARSEL) to do it. We started our band four years ago when everyone said that it would never work and there is no work or money in country. Pure B.S. The problem is the players. Players who don't know music theory (harmony theory anyone?), can't sing on key, can't tune their instruments, are over weight and poorly dressed. Players who won't buy good equipment. Bands without good P.A. equipment (10-20 thousand dollars). Bands without decent lighting (5000 dollars).
Players with poor attitudes. Players who don't undersatnd marketing and planning.
Sorry, I'm not buying it. I've been playing 35 years. The band that I'm in is booked six months in advance for good money. We open for Nashville acts nearly every month in big venues. Our drummer is up for awards, as well as our band. The lead singer has got a degree in Marketing and Communications. We watch other bands form and breakup every year.
Why? They refuse or don't have a clue as to do the hard work, arrangements, and rehearsal necessary to make a band that people feel are worth to pay money to go out and see. Its all how much work you put into it.
Drop me in any major city in the U.S. with the right players and I'll be working the local rock club playing country music. It won't be Ray Price (the young people will not listen to it) but it will be country. This is not bragging, its fact. If you have a good band, you WILL work. It all comes down to the players and how professionally organized you are. I stopped playing for a couple of years until we got the right players together. I AM fortunate.
This strikes a nerve with me because I was talking with a local classic rock player
who also hears the "there's no place to play"
line from other players. His band works four nights week and they are booked nearly a year in advance. They all support themselves
playing music. A local Elvis impersonator here made over six figures last year. Why? He's got a GREAT presentation and he works hard at what he does.

[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 03 March 2004 at 08:41 PM.]

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

Kevin.

AMEN!

Success or Failure isn't something you go somewhere to find.

You bring it with you mostly.

Oh, there are better and worse places for it, but you either want to work and do, or don't, and find a thousand reasons not to.

I've always seemed to work, and balance my life to keep The Muse™ in the proper perspective.

If I moved somewhere else, I would too.

EJL

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

Ken,
Times are tough in the live gig scene these days. There are plenty of places to play around NYC but its hard making a living around here.

If I'm not busy enough what I do is go out and listen to whatever live music I can find. It sometimes leads to something good.

Good luck, Bob

Roger Edgington · From: San Antonio, Texas USA

I agree with Kevin. It takes more than a couple of good ole boys to make a real band.

Our band only plays once a week, but they are good jobs. We have arrangements, clothes, good PA, lights and a DJ if needed on breaks. I,ve been with this band nearly 10 years now.

Lawrence Lupkin · From: Brooklyn, New York, USA

C'mon Bob! Don't start inviting competent steel players here. Then I'll never get a gig!

Nicholas Dedring · From: Beacon, New York, USA

Lawrence, it didn't strike me that bob was creating an enticing pitch for people to move to New York...

Yeah, there are lots of places to play here, but none of them are going to give you much of anything to do it. Hearing a friend refer to having a "good show tonight" because (well, because he had fun, but ALSO, because...) he made $36.00 for playing for four hours.

That was a tip jar kind of arrangement, for a seven or 8 piece band... but still, jeez.

Lawrence Lupkin · From: Brooklyn, New York, USA

That's why I like playing Hank's, Nicholas. Those two free cans of Pabst more than make up for the ten dollar bill I leave with. That is if I stick around until the final band is finished.

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