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Topic: How To Approach My First Steel Gig? |
Al Carmichael
From:
Sylvan Lake, Michigan, USA
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Posted 28 Mar 2005 10:26 pm |
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Everybody's been incredibly helpful and kind here, so I thought I'd ask.
First, I have been playing music professionally for over 30 years, so I know the ropes of what not to do on a gig and all that--my questions are very steel specific. I'm only playing steel on about 8 tunes and the rest will be guitar. I plan to play simply and not try to go outside of what I know I can pull off comfortably--especially for the first gig.
I'm still not sure about how to set my effects. I use a bit of echo and reverb, but sometimes what seems perfect when you are playing alone changes when the instrument is "in the mix". Any rules of thumb?
I plan to set up about two hours early, let the instrument acclimate itself to the room and practice a bit under phones. I always find that with steel, I need a few minutes of warming up before feel in sync. Hopefully this will carry over when I switch from guitar to steel.
I don't know what the lighting will be like. I'm hoping I can see the strings, but I'll have to trust in the grips I've practiced. Any tricks for playing in the dark? LOL!
Anything you could add or suggest would probably help. I'm a bit nervous, but everybody's got to start somewhere. I'll let you know how it goes! |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 29 Mar 2005 2:40 am
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Al, congrats on the first Steel gig..I'm sure it will be great fun.
From where I sit, I would recommend no effects other than amp reverb for the first outing. It will be enough to worry about just playing and doing what you feel comfortable with.
The rule of thumb for effects is, "If you are not sure, don't use them"..
One less thing to worry about first time out..
use the KISS rule
Have fun !
t |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 29 Mar 2005 8:21 am
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If you get nervous pretend that you wearing only underware....oh ... that doesn't sound right. Forget that one.
Try to have fun and give it all you got. If you can only get one note together play it like its last thing you get to do in this world.
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Bob
intonation help
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Herb Steiner
From:
Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064
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Posted 29 Mar 2005 8:44 am
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Good luck on your first steel gig. Mine was a network TV show and I was as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.
I would only add this: the audience wants to like you, they're looking forward to your music. Retrun the favor and show the audience you like them, and don't worry about the mistakes you're gonna make. Those are the things you learn from.
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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association
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Tony Palmer
From:
St Augustine,FL
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Posted 29 Mar 2005 8:47 am
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| My advice would be: don't overplay and make sure you place your amp so you can hear your steel in order to play in tune. |
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Jan Jonsson
From:
Gothenburg, Sweden
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Posted 29 Mar 2005 9:50 am
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Hi Al,
I was in the same situation two weeks ago when I made my debut on the pedal steel (at a country festival with 1200 people in the audience). The advice given above concerning not overplaying and placing your amp so you can hear it are very useful! I did exactly that and came out with my feet still on the ground. Several mistakes, yes, but I don't think they were of the serious type.
It is definitely good to place your guitar on stage a long time before you're scheduled to play. This stage had hot, low-hanging, spotlights so I prepared by setting up the guitar a couple of hours before our show. The light were mean to my Sho-Bud as well as my Nocaster, but, with the help of my Peterson tuner and a couple of silent tuning manuevers it worked surprisingly well.
Good luck with the gig!
-- Jan
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Sho-Bud Pro II Custom 8/4, Fender Stringmaster S-8, Fender CS Nocaster
[This message was edited by Jan Jonsson on 29 March 2005 at 09:51 AM.] |
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Dwayne Martineau
From:
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Posted 29 Mar 2005 12:10 pm
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This is the ONE thing that always seems to guarantee a good show...
Sit quietly somewhere and visualize the entire set.
Play through all the songs in your head...
...hear the other instruments, see your steel parts, and you'll be confident and laughing when you're on stage.
It never fails.
At the show, don't worry about effects. Just get your volume to the right spot so you can relax and play without holding back.
Oh yeah, and a little glass of Maker's Mark goes a long way...
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Joe Miraglia
From:
Jamestown N.Y.
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Posted 29 Mar 2005 1:03 pm
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Herb, "First steel gig on an a network TV show" now thats starting on the top.  . Mine was at a telent show at a mid winter fair. The chickens where louder than the singer and me. There where cats,and dogs adding to the noise,this was all in doors.Well it was a start for me anyway. Joe [This message was edited by Joe Miraglia on 29 March 2005 at 01:07 PM.] |
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Drew Howard
From:
48854
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Posted 29 Mar 2005 1:36 pm
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Slowly.
Another Michigan steeler. Well, alright!
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Drew Howard - website - Fessy D-10 8/8, Magnatone S-8, N400's, BOSS RV-3
[This message was edited by Drew Howard on 29 March 2005 at 01:37 PM.] |
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Jon Light (deceased)
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 29 Mar 2005 2:20 pm
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Good stuff above.
As per Herb---the audience wants to like you and there are very few people who don't like--no, love--the sound a pedal steel guitar, even if they don't know it yet. Make your steel speak, simply and beautifully, and you will have people coming up to you after the show wanting to tell you about it. Guaranteed.
I'll absolutely agree with Dwayne--except I just recently switched to Rebel Yell.
And for god's sake, ask someone before you go onstage if you've got your pants on.
[This message was edited by Jon Light on 29 March 2005 at 02:21 PM.] |
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Larry Strawn
From:
Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.
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Posted 29 Mar 2005 4:32 pm
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Al,,
Play like your in your living room! Relax, and enjoy.. And you can do like I do, wear a big hat,,no one can see your face to tell how scared you might be. lol..
Larry |
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Al Terhune
From:
Newcastle, WA
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Posted 29 Mar 2005 4:47 pm
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Playing in the dark: Back when I played out often, I used to practice all the time in my garage with the lights out, and only sunlight coming in under the doors. Barely could see your hands and fret board. It came in real handy at a couple of clubs where the lighting was almost equally dark.
Have fun and good luck! |
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Michael Garnett
From:
Seattle, WA
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Posted 29 Mar 2005 6:04 pm
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Don't do like me and use up all your good licks in the first song! Play big long chords and smile a lot. Somebody will approach you and ask you what that contraption is, tell them it's an electric cheese grater. There's a good chance when the stage lights get turned on your tuning will go flat.
If you get nervous, read the famous "Pucker Factor" article by Jeff Newman:
http://jeffran.com/article/pucker/pucker.htm
Especially this sentence:
3. Learn to not give a damn about any mistakes.
Good luck
-Garnett |
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Larry Strawn
From:
Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.
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Posted 29 Mar 2005 6:15 pm
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I especially like #3!!!
And that's a good thing!!
Larry |
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Russ Tkac
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Posted 29 Mar 2005 7:31 pm
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Al,
If you make a mistake...look at the bass player and give him a dirty look!
When I played my first gig on steel, I was nineteen and didn't worry about too much. I wish I was nineteen again! 
All the best,
Russ |
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Al Carmichael
From:
Sylvan Lake, Michigan, USA
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Posted 29 Mar 2005 9:36 pm
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Thanks everybody! Great advice and some good laughs too! I think this gig is gonna be a lot of fun and--you gotta jump in the water sooner or later, right. I will play simple stuff. Its one thing to tear it up in the practice room at home and another thing to have one shot at everything in a live context. I figure that if I can just stick to the basics and try to go past my comfort zone, I'll be OK.
I hope the lights aren't a hindrance to the tuning, but I've got my Korg MT-1200 dialed in very well and I'll have it there.
Drew--I'm gonna try and catch you on a Monday night pretty soon.
Mike Garnett--I have a copy of that Jeff Newman article--and he's right. We only learn by doing and we cant be afraid or we'll never accomplish anything.
Dwayne Martineau--exactly how small a glass of Maker's Mark are we talking about here? LOL!
Oh, and I'm planning to wear the shoes I practice in. Nothing screws me up worse than the wrong shoes! Anyway, thanks again and I'll let you know how it went. |
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Pat Dawson
From:
Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, USA
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Posted 30 Mar 2005 7:29 am
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I bring my own light with me. It's a music stand clip-on light bolted to a boom stand. It might look a little goofy, but I've got to be able to see and I don't want to rely on what might be (or not) at the venue.
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1970 Emmons D10
Nashville 1000 |
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Hook Moore
From:
South Charleston,West Virginia
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Posted 30 Mar 2005 7:40 am
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Everyone has different ideas but I think you are never more comfortable than in your own enviroment. If you use a little delay and reverb at home, use it on the gig and set your gear so YOU can hear YOU well. Use whatever makes you comfortable and confident to your advantage, and enjoy..I`m betting you will be the best steel player the band has on stage with them that night.
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www.HookMoore.com
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