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

Nic du Toit · Post by **Nic du Toit** » 11 Jun 2007 9:57 am

Good advice from Jim S.
A while ago someone told me about a country group playing in a pub not too far from where I stay.....took myself over there, listened to them a bit; called the band leader over and asked if he would mind me sitting in with them. The next Saturday evening I pitched up, and stayed with them until the pub closed down a year or so later. Learnt a lot during that period....
Regards,
nic

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 11 Jun 2007 12:31 pm

I joined a band while in my second month of playing. I learned everything on the bandstand, and my love of pedal steel increased as I gigged more and got steadily better.

You can be a beginner and play all night with a band, if you keep it simple and stay within your parameters while pushing them here and there. Slowly, you improve and really learn to hit stuff dead on in real time. I always refer to live gigs as playing in "real time." At home, you are not in real time because you have the option of stopping and changing tempo to suit yourself. At the gig, you don't have that option, and you quickly adapt to getting right the first time.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 11 Jun 2007 2:13 pm

i play live gigs all the time and almost never practice at home....i realize now that i should practice at home more also...

Kay Das · Post by **Kay Das** » 12 Jun 2007 9:23 pm

There are pros and cons. I enjoy playing in public and have done so many times, enjoy feeling the audience react. All love that. It is, however, stagework. I also enjoy my "homework" where I can hear myself think out a new tunes, licks and be more creative. I tend to play within my limits while on stage, no "experiments". I know of players with greater musical ability who do have the nerve to experiment on stage.

Many of the greatest recordings were done in studios with no audience participation.

Kay Das · Post by **Kay Das** » 12 Jun 2007 9:24 pm

There are pros and cons. I enjoy playing in public and have done so many times, enjoy feeling the audience react. All love that. It is, however, stagework. I also enjoy my "homework" where I can hear myself think out a new tunes, licks and be more creative. I tend to play within my limits while on stage, no "experiments". I know of players with greater musical ability who do have the nerve to experiment on stage.

Many of the greatest recordings were done in studios with no audience participation.

Nic du Toit · Post by **Nic du Toit** » 13 Jun 2007 5:11 am

Chris L. .....you nailed it ! That's why I reckon one's playing and 'busking' ability will improve much quicker. Occasionally the singer will look your way and holler "Steel solo !", in a number that normally has a solo guitar break..that's when you reach into your bucket of knowledge and play a (hopefully) cracking solo.....afterwards you wonder where did that come from;....pity I can't remember what I played, but everyone thinks it was great.....Alas, those situations are few and far inbetween.
I agree with Kay on the recording studio bit, but that is another subject....
Regards,
Nic

James Cann · Post by **James Cann** » 13 Jun 2007 8:12 am

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.

Well, perhaps the place wanted to enhance its reputation, as it were!

Brian LeBlanc · Post by **Brian LeBlanc** » 13 Jun 2007 11:31 am

I can practice a lick till I'm blue in the face

But it gets "real" when you play it out with a band

...& extra motivation when you get home to practice!

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 13 Jun 2007 3:30 pm

Jim Sliff wrote: the whole audience is NOT, contrary to what you start to think, full of steel players watching your every move...

This is true in most cases, but Jim, when you announce your fist gig, every steel player in So California will be there to call out requests for songs we know you don't know and can't play.

Alan Rudd · Post by **Alan Rudd** » 13 Jun 2007 3:38 pm

I wish I could say I haven't. My first try was a huge disaster. I almost quit!

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 13 Jun 2007 3:40 pm

No problem Mike - I just ask all request be written on $20 bills, and then play a song with some of the same notes in it (but I PROMISE to learn Red River Valley...where's my wah and Fuzz Factory?)

Besides, most steelers would never get past the mosh pit to make a request...

On the practice subject, more seriously - when I was playing guitar and/or bass 2-3 times a week for years, I literally did not practice, except for an odd rehearsal 2-3 times a year. We'd email new songs around, and "practice" was listening in the car - then we'd just play 'em cold. With guys who'd been playing together a long time, it really was workable; we could do things on radar and anticipate each other well.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 13 Jun 2007 3:53 pm

Find a club to play that has at least a five dollar cover charge,then you won't have to worry about any steel players showing up to watch you.

Rockne Riddlebarger · Post by **Rockne Riddlebarger** » 13 Jun 2007 4:01 pm

I have been playing music for the 51 years, 40 years of that as a regular guitarist. For the last 10 years I have performed using nothing but lapsteels, dobros, other resonator steel guitars and various archtop and flattop acoustic guitars set up as steel guitars. I haven't kept a strict talley but my estimation is around 400 performances in that ten year span. I currently play with Mark Utley and Magnolia Mountain, see www.myspace.com/markallenutley and www.myspace.com/rockneriddlebarger

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 13 Jun 2007 5:00 pm

but Jim, when you announce your fist gig

Whoops - you missed it...but moot point. Several, months ago. Not "announced" - private gigs.

Bill Duve · Post by **Bill Duve** » 13 Jun 2007 5:40 pm

I havnt played live anything in many years but.

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.

Give me a good ol smoky honky tonk anytime,(and I dont even drink anymore) People are forgiving there and if they dont like you they wont remember it the next day anyways.. Stage fright is not an issue, Just after a few more minor adjustments to this steel I will be out there or if I cant find a band I'll take this screeching wailing critter out in the front yard and punish this 3 stoplight town for not having enough players..

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 15 Jun 2007 9:04 am

Does a bar full of half comatose customers qualify as a LIVE gig?

I'm 52 and have been playing live since I was in the 7th grade. Drums until 71 and steel after early 71.

Bill Duve · Post by **Bill Duve** » 15 Jun 2007 10:49 am

Does a bar full of half comatose customers qualify as a LIVE gig?

Thats a gig, anything more is a session..

Herbie Meeks · Post by **Herbie Meeks** » 19 Jun 2007 8:28 am

Steel Players,
You, can put together a Band/Group instead of waiting to be invited to play gigs, There is many more sit at home musicians, vocalists, in any area, than there is Steel players, some sit at home vocalists, beating on a flat top guitar, know hundreds of songs. and can front a band with a little coaxing. This is how it all started.

Any kind of a band willing to hop up there and do their thing , (Is Entertainment,) you do not have to try and compete with old experienced Bands.
all crowds will appreciate you more than you think.
Nursing Homes. VFW Halls, Local fund rasers. etc.etc. Seems , a lot of Steel players are isolating themselves, when they could be the organizing force to put this together, and put the Steel Guitar back on the Map.
You do not have to be a Hall Of Famer, for the audience to love a simple Steel Guitar
Less-Is-More. for thr Steel, let the band do the work.

HM

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

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