Dressing Up

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 2 Feb 2006 1:43 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>it seem as if some here on the forum have the opionion that ; as long a i can get by playing its ok if i look like a bum...WRONG.

some of you sound like you don't have the sense our creator gave a billy goat<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Really? That's going just too far.[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 02 February 2006 at 02:19 PM.]

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 2 Feb 2006 1:53 pm

And who appointed you the judge of what everyone should wear, how we should all think, and whether or not someone has any sense, Calvin?

You have a lot of balls saying some don't have the sense of a billy goat, just because they don't agree with you. Disagreement during a discussion is fine, personal insults are NOT.

I wonder, how much experience do you have in professional music? Have you ever been a producer or promoter of a top-level show, or one of the backup musicians?

Doesn't really matter, you still have only your opinion and have NO right stating those who don't dress up are WRONG and "you don't have the sense our creator gave a billy goat" as if you're the voice of GOD.

We sidemen wear whatever's appropriate for the gig/occasion, or whatever the boss says to wear. Sometimes it's a suit. Sometimes it's jeans and T-shirt. It depends. The "big guys" who can wear whatever they want, wear what they think suits their image and the people they're targeting their music to. Get over it.

Worry about your own self, let everyone else do and wear what they want.

If you don't like the way a band dresses, don't buy a ticket to their show or their CDs. I don't think it'll bother them.

Maybe you guys who don't like bands "dressing like bums" should organize a big street protest, carry signs like, "Down with bands who don't dress up" ... ? Be sure to dress up for the occasion.

[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 02 February 2006 at 02:41 PM.]

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 2 Feb 2006 1:54 pm

"Just be sincere about it, on and off stage"

Sincerity has always been one of my strong points.

<img width=400 src=http://genejones.bizland.com/January%20 ... %20(2).jpg>

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<img width=100 src=http://genejones.bizland.com/Scan10345.jpg>
WEBSITE

Mike Phillips · Post by **Mike Phillips** » 2 Feb 2006 2:50 pm

c'mon now...

the billy goat evolved, and is responsible for his own common sense.

Terry Edwards · Post by **Terry Edwards** » 2 Feb 2006 4:10 pm

My creator gave me plenty of sense !!

billy the goat

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 2 Feb 2006 4:21 pm

Hey Gene, and ya know what they say about the importance of sincerity in this business - once you can fake that you've got it made!

Calvin Walley · Post by **Calvin Walley** » 2 Feb 2006 5:15 pm

at least in the picture the goat looked like he had had a bath

gotta admit the goat is kinda cute
calvin

Tim Jones of Kansas · Post by **Tim Jones of Kansas** » 2 Feb 2006 6:14 pm

I don't wanna add 'fuel to the fire', but I agree with Calvin.

You know, if I had one of those wild and crazy suits, I'd wear it on stage no matter how gaudy, flashy and uncomfortable it is.

(please don't kill me with your words and lets let this topic rest.)

Tim Jones )~Fender 1000 and NOTHING else~(

Marvin Snedegar · Post by **Marvin Snedegar** » 2 Feb 2006 6:28 pm

After reading all of this about Buddy's tank top I just had to reply. I have played in a suit and I have played in front of thousands not so dressed up. I also have a beard, mustache and long hair and it has saved me a lot of money in hair cuts, razors, shaving lotion and after shave from what I have lost from the ones that did not want to see me because I was not so dressed up. I also have a lot of respect for my elders and my God. It is not what you wear or how you dress. It is in your heart. Some of the older generation can not see beyond the end of their nose. I am part of this generation but I am one of the few with an open mind to accept others the way they are and not the way society rules them to be. I have had people to say Why do you wear your hair that way and why don't you shave? You know I got tired of listening to this when a couple of people and a minister had asked me this question. I said preacher Why does most of the world Accept the pictures and images of Jesus Christ without a shirt, without shoes, with a beard, mustache and long hair, but can not accept someone like me for who I am? The preachers reply was "Son you might have something there" and has said nothing about my hair or my mustache and beard since.
PS: By the way,Buddy Emmons, I will come to see and hear you play and will also pay your price even if you decide to wear a diaper. Buddy you have all of my respect.
PSS: I do not have any more time for this because I am going to go practice on some more EMMONS licks.
"Sleepy"

Jon Jaffe · Post by **Jon Jaffe** » 2 Feb 2006 10:17 pm

This thread's legs are too long, I just posted a cool picture of Buddy, that I felt captured his spirit. It was a hot sticky rainy day, most folks were in like attire.

We are all here because of the captivating sound the guitar makes and the satisfaction from creating that sound.

As far as looks go, most steel guitarist seem to be a nanosecond away from a visit to the taxidermist, check out the soulful Jimmy Day with Ray Price, borrowed from a nearby thread http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H85m8gvBIAI. The sound effortlessly comes from Jimmy's hands and axe and amp, but he has the look.

Many professional musicians are auditioned behind a screen, so the judges do not take looks into account, so they can focus on the sound.

Lets agree to love the sound from Hawaiian to Hip-Hop if its a steel guitar. The dressing may be different, but a fat glissando with lots internal note movement and spectacular resolution, should make us all say Ahh, and then grin.

[This message was edited by Jon Jaffe on 02 February 2006 at 10:18 PM.]

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 2 Feb 2006 10:22 pm

"dressing like a derelict,no matter who condones it,trys to rationalize it,or makes excuses for it,it is still disgusting and shows no self respect at all."

It's only disgusting to you and a few other close-minded folks who care more about appearances than music.

What is "dressing like a derelict" in your opinion? And what does stage dress have to do with self respect?

Answer - NOTHING. At least to anyone with common sense.

Why don't you define exactly how all musicians should dress on stage, so we can all be good little clones, follow "the rules" (whatever those are) and be sure not to offend your sensibilities (and, of course, demonstrate our wonderful self-respect by conforming to YOUR ideals instead of our own)?

In a word - sheesh!

Thank God we all PLAY alike. Can you imagine what would happen should someone get creative and try a different style of music? Oh, the horror! No self-respect at all. Nope, so it's a good thing we all just mash two pedals and play country standards. We're nice, self respecting folks. Wouldn't dare play any of that derelict rock 'n roll garbage.....

John Ummel · Post by **John Ummel** » 3 Feb 2006 6:57 am

"A bitter heart devours its owner"

Sonny Priddy · Post by **Sonny Priddy** » 3 Feb 2006 7:18 am

I'm With You Calvin. And Rick Davis You Guys Look Great Like Country Music Bands Should.That's The Way It Should Be. I Always Said Dress Is Half Of The Show. SONNY.

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Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 3 Feb 2006 7:38 am

Jim Sliff, whats the largest audience you played for last year, what was the venue, and for how much money? Who do you play with?[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 03 February 2006 at 03:01 PM.]

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 3 Feb 2006 7:41 am

Re: the picture of Gene and band in '68:
who could take their eyes off the band in red metalflake? I like it.

I was only in one band with uniform jackets (lapel-less Beatle jackets), with Joe Ely and Tiny McFarland. I conclude, if you have the talent to go with it, it works.
If you're in high school, oh well.

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 3 Feb 2006 1:51 pm

"Jim Siff, whats the largest audience you played for last year, what was the venue, and for how much money? Who do you play with?"

Please have the courtesy to spell my name right, even if you are asking a completely irrelevant question.

May I ask, does an opinion only have credibility if it's posted by someone who plays arena shows? What about a studio musician who plays for 2 people, never tours but is on thousands of recordings? Or a 5-night a week club player in a joint that holds 100? What about an instrument manufacturer who plays nowhere but builds and services instruments? Or guys who have played locally for years and have retired from stage playing, just playing at home for the love of music? Are they any less intelligent, thoughtful or credible?

In other words - your question implies that you will only listen to what I have to say if I have some certain set of credentials, correct? So -what ARE your specific requirements for a poster's credibility? Let me know, then I might be inclined to answer your question. Or maybe not.

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 3 Feb 2006 2:45 pm

if a talent like Nudie were still alive
I'd sell my other guitar for a Nudie suit.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 3 Feb 2006 3:01 pm

Hey Jim, I always listen to you whether I agree with you or not. Your opinion will always have merit with me. Randy, I own about five grand of Manuel jackets. People come to see me just to see me wear them. Every little bit helps.

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 3 Feb 2006 3:10 pm

I found something worthwhile in this thread.
Thanks Jon, for the link to that great video!

Marlin Smoot · Post by **Marlin Smoot** » 3 Feb 2006 4:12 pm

Kevin,
Every time I get to Nashville I have to make a stop into Manuel's. Of course I know the history behind Manuel and he's keeping the tradition alive.

I've never been able to afford one of his one of a kind creations, but if I could, I would.
Manuel is very country cool. I wish you could post some pictures of the jackets you have; they really are a work of art.

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 3 Feb 2006 4:50 pm

Kevin, then I apologize and maybe I totally misunderstood your question.

FWIW - Last year was a bad year due to a left hand condition...the one that caused me to take up steel guitar. Didn't play live after May, and haven't since. Probably the largest thing was a private St. Patrick's Day party with +/- 1,200 folks, with the Singin' Jane band (with me on bass and Bob Warford on stringbender guitar plus others). I cleared around $300 for 5 hours of playing everything I knew and many things I didn't (hehehe). Largest gig ever was opening for Riders in the Sky at the Long Beach Bluegrass Festival one year and Jimmy Buffett the next in the 70's with around 15,000 in attendance. I think we got $150 apiece for 1 set. Hey, that was great money for a bluegrass band (Beaver Creek - I was the flatpicker) in those days, although we had one gig at an American Motors dealer convention that paid $2,500 for one set!

And I'd give my eye teeth for a Nudie/Manuel suit. Never have found a used 52/Tall though. The one I REALLY want is Sneaky's Pterodactyl one, but in my size...

Calvin Walley · Post by **Calvin Walley** » 3 Feb 2006 5:44 pm

"Some of the older generation can not see beyond the end of their nose. I am part of this generation" is what some one here wrote

where the " older generation gets its views is from the 60s. back then when you saw a guy in dirty T shirt and torn jeans
you could smell him before you could see him, back then we called them hippys our view today come from the personel hygene of the hippys they looked like bums , smelled like bums and acted like bums.
well right or wrong thats the image that some of us still carry. and i do think that personel hygene has gotten better than it was back then. but to many of us the smell is still there. think of it this way when we see someone one stage (or off ) that looks like that we think ( would i want to sit next to him on a plane ) the hippys of yesterday stank plain and simple and anyone that looks like that today still carrys that image. it has nothing to do with todays generation

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 3 Feb 2006 5:48 pm

An oldtimer once told me that he didn't worry much about what other people thought or said about his 'style' because anyone who spent any time thinking about his choices clearly didn't have fk-all to do with their own time.
For people who care about their own attire and hair, etc., fine, that's pure personal choice. For those who obsess about how someone else dresses, grooms, there most likely is a Queer Eye For The Straight Guy forum that would be right down your alley. And all sorts of old lady gossip sites.
Fortunately there is a forum right here for folks who care about steel guitar and music.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 3 Feb 2006 6:18 pm

Jeez, Jim, you guys got paid $2,500 for one set back in the 70's at an American Motors convention, as opposed to $150 per man opening for Buffett?

No wonder they went out of business!

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Mark

Pete Finney · Post by **Pete Finney** » 3 Feb 2006 6:38 pm

Calvin,

MANY of us here were "hippys" in the late sixties, and I for one bathed as regularly as anyone... And I have worn a T-shirt on stage without losing a shred of self-respect thank you very much... I have also worn suits in front of thousands of people night after night.

Your stereotypes are ignorant and offensive, even more so than your typical posts, and that's saying something, you've demonstrated an amazing combination of ignorance and arrogance again and again...

Since you started out in this thread by insulting Buddy Emmons without even knowing, who he was, I can't believe you keep contributing this pure crap...

In my opinion people like you are coming close to ruining this forum...

[This message was edited by Pete Finney on 03 February 2006 at 06:42 PM.]