I played my fourth gig with BJ Cole watching from a few feet away. I wouldn't have been there if I hadn't heard Tiny Dancer so you can imagine I was pretty nervous. However I was extra determined not to blow it and I played more or less as well as I could have - which isn't anything special - and he was nice and polite afterwards so I got a huge buzz out of that.
The other time I played in front of a pro my band got it in their heads I was really nervous about it and kept telling me not to worry. So of course I got the jitters and screwed a few simple things up, thus proving to my bandmates what they thought they knew.
Over the years, I have played on shows with many of the top players. I used to worry that Emmons, Charleton and the rest would steal all my licks, but that fear was unfounded. I must say that they were completely ethical and I have never heard them play even one of my licks.
hey hook i had this same guy come in about a month or so ago this was my first time out with the steel too he played with the band some he sure is a great player and sure made my mullen sound good
well it is EXTREMELY rare when there is another steel player in the audience.. and if there is I know him and he is a friend anyways! But whenever there is another player around I feel like it gives me energy to play better....
I havent played any bills where there is another steel player since playing out on this thing (2 years into playing... gigging about 1.5 years now)
no hook just reassured me that my mullen and nv112 could really make some pretty music although i cant get his sound out of it but now i know for sure its in there
1) I always like it when I can see someone that I know in the audience to direct a few notes at now and then and it gives me renewed focus and energy.
When it is another steeler I have the sense that what I am doing is received with comprehension and comaraderie.
2) Except when it is time to play "Bud's Bounce" and the drummer counts it off way too fast....
In my experience playing a number of different instruments for many years the pedal steel guitar has them all beat hands-down when it comes to the propensity for generating psycotic disfunction and stage-fright in its players. It's just the nature of the instrument and managing this mental trap is one of the valuable lessons that can be learned along the way. I have had my moments of total intimidation and insecurity but I would always rather see friendly faces than empty chairs when I look out from the stage!
Some time ago I went out to see a local luminary play and was surprised to hear him sounding somewhat tentative and choppy, not at all his usual smooth, masterful self. Thinking that maybe I was making him nervous I began to step outside, only to realize as I reached the door that the reason he was not sounding like his usual self was that he was trying to show me some of the licks he was working on that he had picked up from me not long before.
No more sincere form of flattery exists, I may still clam up on occasion but at least I'm laughing now....
When Pee Wee Dutton and I opened the alabama show this year we had , Russ Hicks, Mike Johnson, herby wallace, Barney Miller, Carco Clave, Jack Conyers, Don Lynch and a few others in the crowd, we just did the best we could, Bill cook came over and said ernie you played the best ever, was it the williams that did that? Russ in saluda told me the first time I played my Blue Pro 1 it was a keeper for sound.
hey Hook, I saw that same guy on friday at his "Class of 60" reunion in Beckley. He and some other guys played in a band called the "Teen Tones" back then. Did you catch Russ and Charley,Robert, and Buddy and the rest play on the levee. Wished I could have been there. I heard some cuts from there "West Virginia Super Pickers" album last fall. It is smokin. Don D
Everyone starts at ground zero when they take up pedal steel. There was a time when the greats could not even play--they hadn't learned yet. From there, it is tons of practice, the right circumstances, and alot of the "right opportunity" to advance--and everyone's opportunity/or lack of opportunity is different from everyone elses.
Yes I consider myself a beginner. No, I am not intimidated, just because someone in the audience has a little jump on me--say 30-40 years playing. There was a time when they were where I am at now. Of course, that's so long ago, nobody can remember back that far!
"Worry about what you CAN play, not what you CAN'T play." Ricky Davis told me that once. I still believe it. Play your song to your best.
There was a time when it would rattle me big time! As I grew confident and knew a steeler was out there I would start to overplay and throw every trick lick I knew. As I age; and boy am I feeling old nowadays, I try to focus on technique and tone. As Bryan said, here in Portland we've got a great gang so when we see another fellow picker, it's no big deal, it's more a matter of fun. Now if Buddy and Lloyd were out there I would probably back off and really focus on playing it tasty; who knows!
Yes I did Don. I set them up a rehersal place and then just being a couple miles from the levy, I did catch the show.. They did a really good show..
Hook
last night we played as a support act for Aaron Tippin so Larry Nalley and Dietmar Waechtler (german psg master) were backstage or rather in the audience.
I was only very nervous, my right hand was paralyzed ... long story short I enjoyed the evening.
It never bother's me when I am playing with my regular band at a gig. But, I have a difficult time playing at steel jams. I am just not used to playing instrumentals and playing with tracks. I do better when there is a live band, but never have played near as good as I normally play in a normal situation. I try too hard and have trouble concentrating instead of just relaxing and playing.
Here is a related story that Jeff Newman told me: He and his band moved up from Florida to Nashville to hit the big time. It didn't work out for the band so they went back home, but Jeff stayed in Nashville. Word got around that there was a hot new steel player in town from Florida. Jeff got what he thought would be a good break when he was called to sit in at a club in Printers Alley, called the Black Poodle, or something like that. When he gets there for the gig, the bass player is Buddy Emmons and Curly Chalker is playing the Sax! WOW. Jeff said he was so nervous that his foot was jumping up and down on the volume pedal. So, it can happen to even the best.
They're not there to evaluate your playing. They're probably not even paying any attention to the music, they've heard it all before. They're there to do their gig, get their money, and go home.... same as you. So I wouldn't worry about it. A pro would never do anything except compliment your playing. The pros know that music is not a contest. If you make it one in your mind, then you'll probably lose.
Based on my experience, I completely agree, Rick. You and I are of one mind on this.
Like many here, I've been in situations where some of the great legendary players have been in the audience, or in the side wings of the stage waiting their turn to come on with the headliner for the night, etc. The presence of another steel player (or players) never bothered me or made me nervous at any regular gig. I've never looked at music or steel playing as a competition, so I never felt it was anything to be nervous about and always remained pretty calm and at home on stage.
But there was one time when I did get very nervous at a show (during the first song) ... years ago I had to take Junior Knight's spot at 5 PM on the main stage at the Dallas show (it was either 1990 or 1991). Something had prevented Junior from being able to be there. I was assisting Gary Hogue with running sound that year and I think it was on Saturday that Charlie Norris walked up to me and said, "Jim, have you got your steel with you?" I said, "Yep" and he said, "Good, you're taking Junior's spot on the main stage today at five. He's tied up with something else and can't make it." Charlie didn't even wait for an answer, but just walked off and I asked Gary, "Man, what am I going to do? I don't have anything worked up." Gary just laughed and said, "I guess you'll be playing at 5 o'clock today!" I laughed along with him and warmed up to the idea that I was going to get to do a set on the main show and remained calm about it.
It was my first time ever to do a steel show and I was calm all the way up to the point where I actually sat down on my pack seat and got ready to play. I looked out over the crowd and the room was filled, all of the big name players were in there at their various tables right then and suddenly I felt a wave of nervous nausea come over me. All those faces out there and at least 98% of them were all steel players! I was so nervous at the moment that I even forgot to talk on the mic to the crowd.
Once over the hurdle of the first song, though, I was able to settle into it and it was a blast. I had a great time and a lot of fun. But, I'll always remember the first real big jolt of nervousness just before playing that first song.
1986 Mullen D-10 with 8 & 7 (Dual Bill Lawrence 705 pickups each neck)
Two Peavey Nashville 400 Amps (with a Session 500 in reserve) - Yamaha SPX-90 II
Peavey ProFex II - Yamaha R-1000 Digital Reverb - Ross Time Machine Digital Delay - BBE Sonic Maximizer 422A
ProCo RAT R2DU Dual Distortion - Korg DT-1 Pro Tuner (Rack Mounted) - Furman PL-8 Power Bay
Goodrich Match-Bro by Buddy Emmons - BJS Steel Bar (Dunlop Finger Picks / Golden Gate Thumb Picks)
Did you catch Russ and Charley,Robert, and Buddy and the rest play on the levee. Wished I could have been there. I heard some cuts from there "West Virginia Super Pickers" album last fall. It is smokin. Don D
There was a time when they were where I am at now. Of course, that's so long ago, nobody can remember back that far! 
