Unanswered Request

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 15 Nov 2006 10:33 am

Lets dissect a bit:

This forum's pool of writers, obviously are selectivity conscious, as they deftly steer around issues that may tend to raise eyebrows.

Are you sure we're both reading the same Forum????? Most participants I'm aware of have no qualms about engaging in heated debate.

my straight forward comments

Sorry, Bill. I don't think many would categorize your comments as straight forward. Some of the most obtuse ramblings I've ever seen have emanated from your keyboard.

an example?

Then the speed picking controversy, snowballs in on the blind side, as it gathers unwarrantable impetus.

Do you really think this sentence is easily understood?

Speed picking is a myth, in that, it is not the ultimate method of delivering the shortest duration of note patterns.

Sounds like a rationalization put forth by one who is unable to do it. Face it: Some songs are written to be played at a rapid tempo. I have no clue what your definition of speed picking is, but for most of us it is the optimization of picking, bar movement, and other techniques to make playing uptempo easier. Who ever represented it as a method of delivering the shortest duration of note patterns????? Anyone can repeat the same note over and over more rapidly than they can play any other passage but who wants to hear that. Maybe (as usual) I miss your point here.

I'm sure the HUF is a wonderful invention. You have spoken of it often on the Forum and some have actually seen it. Don't you think if it were a truly miraculous improvement others would have beaten a path to your doorstep to manufacture them?

I agree with the downward plunge conclusion and mean no disrespect, but trying to decipher what you actually MEANT among the verbiage of your last reply firstly made me TIRED, then MADE ME CRAZY!!!

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 15 Nov 2006 10:43 am

We answered 3 off the wall requests tonight,

One I had no clue anyone else had ever played.
The Devil Went Down To Georgia.
Not a complete train wreck, the people liked it.

Walk On The Wild Side,
which had Sweet Jane and some Bowie thrown in during the tag, just to be confusing.

And Folsom Prison, as a Johhny Cash request.

We had several other request,
and those ALL were for our originals too!

We had a requests fo The Waterboys... yeegawds.
We did Where Two Rivers Flow, one of ours.
So the crowd was pleased, and all is well in Bophut.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 15 Nov 2006 2:01 pm

Larry Bell,

Everything in life boils down to a trade-off, whereby it is common knowledge never to underestimate anyone's abilities. Nothing in life is more belittling than to attempt to wrongfully evaluate a persons skills prematurely. It is distasteful to learn at some later date, that you may have been way off the mark in passing judgment. Wisdom prevails amongst those who compete seriously in competitive activities. If there is a semblance of promise evident in a players ability, I refrain from immediately deciding at which category of levels he/she appears to be in. Language, musicical performances, demeanor, etc. are reliable methods to acquaint oneself to the potential aspects of a given performer. Many physical impediments can and do prevent a large number from reaching their full potential in musical terms. BTW, three finger triad rolls are quite useful to lock into the fast tempo selections. I appreciate your candid responses.

[This message was edited by Bill Hankey on 15 November 2006 at 07:07 PM.]

Darryl Hattenhauer · Post by **Darryl Hattenhauer** » 15 Nov 2006 6:41 pm

Bill,

Agreed. If a band offers to take requests, they shouldn't arrogantly dismiss reasonable requests. And by the same token, when listeners make a request, they are asking somebody to do them a favor, and they shouldn't resent it if the band can't play something, or if the band doesn't want to play something that would turn off the audience. For example, way back as a little kid I was at a Victor Borge concert, and when he asked for requests some guy yelled out, "'Hound Dog Man', by Elvis." I'll bet even Borge knew that "Hound Dog Man" was by Fabian.

I can't believe the hassles you guys who play out have to deal with.

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"My help comes from the Lord, maker of Heaven and earth." (Psalm 121:1-2)

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 16 Nov 2006 3:20 am

Darryl H.,

There is nothing more important while playing "gigs", than appeasing those who are making it possible for you to earn some cash flow. It doesn't matter if it happens to be a cranky manager, bartender, or a irascible "patron" delivering sly innuendos while you are trying to prepare for a show. As long as they don't snap you on the nose with a rubber band, it's best to keep your cool. Forty nine out of fifty bookings usually are filled with fun and laughter. I was playing steel guitar in Westfield, Ma. one rainy evening, when an elderly "gentleman" emerged into the room with a cane. The band consisted of just three musicians. I played all the fill and lead on the steel guitar. The band had taken notice of this elderly man who started rapping our stage area with his cane. He came within inches of the bandleader's toes with the tip of his cane. It became a major distraction throughout the evening, as the band played on. Of course, proper management of the staging area, would have included guidance of the "cane man" to a seated position. Really though, playing steel is a "piece of cake" compared to many jobs that involve taking daily risks as part of the work.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 16 Nov 2006 12:19 pm

Darryl Hattenhauer · Post by **Darryl Hattenhauer** » 17 Nov 2006 11:11 am

Yep. Over Vet's Day weekend, I was thinking about the jobs people have in the military. That's when I quit complaining about all of the pc crapola about my job.

Roger Trahan · Post by **Roger Trahan** » 18 Nov 2006 8:54 am

Bill, I'm persently playing with a band every weekend and the requests just don't stop coming. Lucky for us one of the members has been in the music scene for 40 years and can do part of any song so we all give them what we know and must times there satisfied. The trick is to listen like crazy if you don't know it to follow the chord structure. It's always fun and chalanging to do this on the spot, and the more you do it the easier it gets. God Bless Roger

Bobby Montgomery · Post by **Bobby Montgomery** » 18 Nov 2006 10:08 am

It would help sometimes if the requester knew the title of the song. While playing in Sioux Falls, SD in the 70s a lady aksed for "THE WILD SATALITE" i responded "never heard of it" she then proceeded to hum the music to "The WILD SIDE OF LIFE"

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 18 Nov 2006 10:11 am

What happens when the band tries their best to comply with a request then are chastized because it was not done to the requesters satisfaction?

I have been caught up in this on at least four occasions where the poor singer or musician was insulted or told to shut up because he or she was not doing the song or tune the way someone thought it should be done.

I agree that a reasonably professional band should have a handle on trying to fulfill requests: to a certain extent.

There is no way in hell that I am going to play or sing "The Old Rugged Cross" at a bar amongst a bunch of drunks.

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(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!)

Randy Beavers · Post by **Randy Beavers** » 19 Nov 2006 7:59 am

Many times I seen people request a song simply so they could feel important among their group. This same jerk will usually keep at it all night then want the band to play over, just so he can impress someone.

It was always nice to fulfill a request that was sincere, but the other can make for a long night.