How many steeler in here have never been on a live gig?

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 4 Jun 2007 6:38 pm

I just spent the past hour and a half listening to 95% of the steelers on Charles Tilley’s, steelers web page and began to wonder just how many of these steel players have never set foot on a stage or have never or have yet to play with a real band.

Some of the of the music I listened to on Charles'site was no doubt recorded by professional steel guitarists. Many others however, who are almost as equally proficient, if not as proficient, on the steel guitar probably have never played on a real gig or in front of a crowd.

Let’s be honest now; how many of you guys and gals who love to play the steel guitar have never set foot on a stage or played with a legitimate band?

I know two steelers who have been playing for more than ten years who have never set foot on a stage or played with a legit band.

William Matthews · Post by **William Matthews** » 4 Jun 2007 6:56 pm

I play so poorly, I think there are laws against me playing out live..

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 4 Jun 2007 7:08 pm

I was very fortunate to have a group of friends who got me up on stage six weeks after I bought my steel. We practised a dozen or so times on their program and worked out where I could throw in some easy chords and slides. It was a breeze.

I don't think anyone in the audience ever found out that I couldn't play anything other than a portion of Cindy Cashdollar's " Cold Cold Heart".

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 5 Jun 2007 5:44 am

There are several active posters here who admit to never having played a gig - they probably just either have not seen the thread or are a bit hesistant to post for fear of being discredited, which would be a shame. Those of us who do gig should encourage those who don't to get out there and give it a shot - it's not as scary as you think, and the whole audience is NOT, contrary to what you start to think, full of steel players watching your every move...

Brandon Ordoyne · Post by **Brandon Ordoyne** » 5 Jun 2007 9:28 am

I have been playing since January this year an I have played twice for our Southeast Texas Steel Guitar Club meetings with about 25 or so people in the crowd each time. Also I have played with a small band at a crawfish boil with about 60 people in the crowd. Looking forward to doing it again soon if someone would let me pick with them.

Brandon

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 5 Jun 2007 9:54 am

Whether or not you have played live has no bearing on your enjoyment of the steel guitar. I play all sorts of instruments for a living. Sometimes I would much more prefer to just stay at home and play around the house, but I can't find anyone to pay me for it!

I am sure there are lots of forumites here who in the past have gigged live and no longer do so for whatever reason. There are folks here who are retired. All sorts of folks here and all are valued.

Brian LeBlanc · Post by **Brian LeBlanc** » 5 Jun 2007 10:51 am

lot like sex...

Matt Dawson · Post by **Matt Dawson** » 6 Jun 2007 2:04 am

Alot like sex?

You mean after marriage the frequency of live gigs declines dramatically?

Tony Farr · Post by **Tony Farr** » 6 Jun 2007 4:43 am

Yes, I play in my basement every day, but on stage too. Last Saturday night, Jackson, Tn. Hopefully, this Saturday , in Huntsville, Ala. July 14th in VineGrove, Ky. 69 and still love to be performing before a live crowd, the bigger crowd the better I play.

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 6 Jun 2007 8:47 am

I used to play dobro with some friends at various functions. We played bluegrass,ole timey country and gospel. Then one time at a Christmas party I took my Fender Deluxe and my little Microcube and had a great time but I had to relearn everything I played before in open G and play it in A6. It was a good learning experience though.

Stuart Legg · Post by **Stuart Legg** » 6 Jun 2007 9:17 am

If the meaning of legit band is one that plays for money, this usually means playing in bars or clubs that are full of smoke and full of people who drink too much and looking for a fight and are a danger to others when they get in their car.
I can see where a lot of Steel players good or bad would not want to be a part of that.

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 6 Jun 2007 11:24 am

Stuart; when using the term legit band, I meant a band that has been together for a while, spends time practicing their routine and plays in front of live audiences.

What I was initially inquisitive about was how many steelers play only for their own enjoyment and family entertainment.

There are many steel guitar players who have been playing their instrument for three or four years and still do not have the confidence in themselves to take that big step. Maybe some just have not had the opportunity to hook up with a band.

Stan Paxton · Post by **Stan Paxton** » 6 Jun 2007 12:11 pm

For some in some areas, if you got a day job and can't travel, there just isn't a band to hook up with, not even a "garage band". I got too old & beat up with aches and pains to travel, but still keep my hands & feet in, as it were, at church; and at home for my own amazement. ...

Dustin Rigsby · Post by **Dustin Rigsby** » 6 Jun 2007 1:36 pm

Les,
Recently I have been throwing myself into a live situation at least once a week,playing with the church praise band. I feel that you really build up your chops better this way because you can adjust to timing issues and such. Before this I was a basement player.There is a BIG difference between playing with pefectly timed tracks and playing with a live band. Also helps me figure out how to recover gracefully from a sour note !

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 6 Jun 2007 6:41 pm

For me anyway, I can practice at home forever but until I play live does the truth come out.So I take every opportunity to play in any venue I can. such as jams ect...

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 6 Jun 2007 8:03 pm

this usually means playing in bars or clubs that are full of smoke and full of people who drink too much and looking for a fight and are a danger to others when they get in their car.

Respectfully, I disagree with that viewpoint completely. You can choose to play bar gigs, or you can do primarily fairs, festivals, or college concerts, or all sorts of things. And I haven't had an "incident" at a bar gig in decades (and played hundreds of them). Most bar gigs, if you (or your manager) has any sense as to the *type* of bar, are pretty good gigs. "full of people who drink too much and looking for a fight"(sic)? Please....that's ludicrous. I had one great bar giog every Sunday afternoon for a couple years that paid well, had decent crowd response, no hassles, and a bunch of regulars who would generally help with equipment loading. The Ice House and the Palomino are/were bars, and were great places to play. I could name about 30 more around the L.A. area if I went back into my gig records...and the only change between bar gigs 20 years ago and now is, now there's NO smoke.

To those who don't gig yet - do NOT be discouraged by that negative post. Maybe there are SOME bars like that - but I've never played in one. The closest thing was a place in California City that had chicken wire in front of the stage...but it seemed more as a gag than anything else, because it was a polite crowd.

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 7 Jun 2007 8:36 am

I played a couple of times way back in the 70's... got away from it for about 20 years, and have only played once at an Eagles Club.

My favorite bar is in my basement, but not because of the live steel guitar. For good beer come to my place. For good steel you'll have to go elsewhere.

Shorty Smith · Post by **Shorty Smith** » 7 Jun 2007 10:05 am

I been playing the same Bar gig for 5 years, great people, never had a fight, and they love traditional country music with a little of the new STUFF. So downplaying the bar gigs as a bad place to play the steel guitar is not always correct, maybe in some cases but I would say just a few, Shorty

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 7 Jun 2007 10:21 am

not with steel, in fact not only have i never gigged, never even played with other musicians and now that my back is injured again that goal seems distant. toured for a few years as a guitar player nand probably played a couple hundred gigs with that.
one live gig with lap steel ...everyone thought it was a keyboard because it was on a keyboard stand.

Garry Simpson · Post by **Garry Simpson** » 7 Jun 2007 10:22 am

I don't have a steel yet, my Carter should ship next week, so I can say I've never played a job with a steel.

I played lead in bands for twenty years, mostly bar bands on Friday and Saturday night. The reason I quit playing was because I finally got tired of having every weekend tied up.

My goal is to learn enough in a year on steel to fake my way through a job. But primarily, I just want it for my own personal enjoyment and education.

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 7 Jun 2007 1:28 pm

Garry Simpson wrote: The reason I quit playing was because I finally got tired of having every weekend tied up.

Garry, I know at least two dozen musicians who gave up regular gig work because of the reason you mentioned. I know of only one musician who gave it up because of drinking, fighting & smoking . I am at the age now where I pick and choose my gigs.

Bobby Snell · Post by **Bobby Snell** » 7 Jun 2007 1:48 pm

I encourage everyone who is able to play with other musicians in front of people. Share your gift and talent: it makes people feel good. Remember any time in your life when you felt down, and hearing some steel guitar made you feel better? We need to pay that back.

And there is certainly a great deal of joy for a player in a good band, with good material and an appreciative audience.

There's also nothing wrong with playing at home, especially with family or friends. There's a long history of people making music for their own fun, although even the oldest of us was around for radio.

Brian LeBlanc · Post by **Brian LeBlanc** » 7 Jun 2007 3:18 pm

I don't know if I'm at the point where my playing makes people feel good!

& it never fails no matter how I perfected my 3 licks at home, I can only play 10% of them on stage

But...when you do pull 1 off, it feels a whole lot better on stage than in the basement!

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 7 Jun 2007 6:23 pm

I agree with Jim and Shorty Smith[which is a close friend of mine]I started playing bars at about 15 years old,will soon be 68 years and still play them.I have played them all,from the chicken wire ,sawdust on the floor,redneck dives to plush uptown,upscale,clubs.I love a smoke filled,dim lite,honky tonk with a hundred or so down to earth rednecks having a good time,they show their appreciation more than any other audience.Any place there is a group consuming alcohol there is a potential for trouble.Looking back over the years a couple of the most volatile incidents I had witness to,were in the upscale establishments not the bars.Also if you are a living room picker or a beginner find you a bar band to play with,if this is going to be a moral issue ,get in a church band,or someone that plays for a nursing home,etc.You will learn more and become a better picker playing with a band in a month,than a year of playing alone in your living room.

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 10 Jun 2007 4:42 pm

you will learn more and become a better picker playing with a band in a month,than a year of playing alone in your living room.

That's one of the most important lessons newbies can learn. It should be a poster on the wall of every player still unsure about being "ready" for gigging.

It's like starting a family - you're never "ready", and if you wait until you are, it'll be too late.

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