Outdoor venues, heat/sunshine, intonation

[Michael Sawyer]

I guess we are lucky- the 3 or 4 we played last year,had good shade,or were either a sundown start...
However ,we have one coming Memorial Day weekend,with another group,on a floating dock ,mid- day.
Supposedly there will be canopies....

[Dean Smith]

While it may be a distinction without a difference, dusty conditions also get my attention like cooking in the Texas sun.

In the late 1990's I played with a couple bands who were invited to do sets at the Terlingua Chili Cookoff in deep southwest Texas. Essentially, we are playing on a stage in the middle of an unpaved campground area. The wind and dust was incredible!

When I returned home, I took my guitar to Steve Lamb in Fort Worth for a setup redo and cleaning. I had this mind numbing feeling that each time I pushed a pedal or knee lever that dirt was being ground into the fingers.

[Roger Rettig]

I used to do the gig at the Medora Musical right in the Badlands. It's spectacular scenery but dust is everywhere.

My Emmons would remain set up on a moving bandstand in the centre of the main stage. Although the band's covered gazebo would be thoroughly shrouded and padlocked at night, the dust always found a way inside.

The heat could be almost intolerable but not as intolerable as the damp, cold nights at the start and finish of the season. My guitar was subjected to unbelievable extremes of temperature and I'm willing to bet that, despite the overhaul it would get as I passed through Nashville on my way home every September, there's still a fair amount of North Dakota in the changer now.

I did thirteen Summers on that gig and retired from the show after I'd done the 2017 season. We figured out that I'd played about 1250 performances. There were some enjoyable times but I'm glad that the repetition of a hundred shows in a row is behand me.

So is my Emmons.

[Bobby D. Jones]

When you play steel in a band, Every gig is like stepping in the unknown when you go to setup.

When I played steel for Dick Rutan, He got a birthday gig. The band set up in the lawn. My seat legs went in the ground, The front legs of my steel went into ground, Pedals would not work. Had to round up some jar lids for coasters to put under my seat and steel so they would not sink in the ground. I was like a cat in a room of rocking chairs for the whole gig. I keep a 3/4"X 4'X 4' piece of plywood for lawns or gravel parking areas now.
,
When playing outside Electric can be a problem also. Heavy Wire extension chords can be a must also. I carry a 25ft. 12/3 extension chord all the time. If going to an unknown gig. I throw 2 more heavy chords in my car. I see now they have a cover plate for a double box with a hole for a GFCI outlet and a regular outlet, That is my next project to add to my gigging equipment.

Check an outdoor stage close for Sun direction, Before setting your guitar up. Be sure to set up on East or North side of stage so evening sun will not be on you and your steel.

[Erv Niehaus]

I set up for an outdoor get together at a nursing home.
I must have set up right over the power cable coming into the place.
You talk about a hum! This set a new record.
Erv

[Samuel Phillippe]

After reading all these experiences with ourdoor gigs I had a thought come through my empty brain.

Wonder if the lack of atmosphere would affect psg playing.

Wondering if we could convince NASA to experiment with this and report back to us. This may not be relevent to us today BUT what about our great grandkids? Who knows maybe we learn something about out door gigging control.

NO I'M NOT SERIOUS
Sam

[Jim Pitman]

Sam, haha.
I have small springs down at the pedals that counter the pedal/rod weight. Certainly not needed in zero gravity. Other than having to strap yourself and your guitar down, I think it would be fine.
"Ground control to steeler Tom".

[Andrew Goulet]

After reading all these experiences with ourdoor gigs I had a thought come through my empty brain.

Wonder if the lack of atmosphere would affect psg playing.
Sam

It might be tough on your bar hand! You'd have to push it down since you wouldn't have the benefit of gravity. Also, you'd only be allowed to play cosmic country...

[Samuel Phillippe]

After reading all these experiences with ourdoor gigs I had a thought come through my empty brain.

Wonder if the lack of atmosphere would affect psg playing.
Sam

It might be tough on your bar hand! You'd have to push it down since you wouldn't have the benefit of gravity. Also, you'd only be allowed to play cosmic country...

Andrew, you may be correct regarding the bar BUT if the bar floats wouldn't the psg float to meet it?
Just asking.....have fun
Sam

[Ian Worley]

After reading all these experiences with ourdoor gigs I had a thought come through my empty brain.

Wonder if the lack of atmosphere would affect psg playing.
Sam

It might be tough on your bar hand! You'd have to push it down since you wouldn't have the benefit of gravity. Also, you'd only be allowed to play cosmic country...

Andrew, you may be correct regarding the bar BUT if the bar floats wouldn't the psg float to meet it?
Just asking.....have fun
Sam

You could play, but no atmosphere = no sound. Space is a vacuum. You would make sound in an artificial atmosphere, something pressurized like the ISS.

[Jack Hargraves]

Personally, I refuse to play outdoors anymore.Not only do I have trouble keeping my steel in tune while out doors, but it's also hard on the instrument.

[John De Maille]

I really dislike outdoor gigs. They're so unpredictable. Too hot, too cold, possible rain during the gig seems to be the norm.
Unfortunately, the bands I play with have half the gigs outside during our season, which, is spring to fall. One year, I played some Saturday night rodeos and was subject to dust and dewy night air.
The other thing is, that, you can't control your sound to your liking. Even if you're miked to a sound system, you're at the mercy of the sound man, who, may or may not know the correct mix of the band. However, it's what I've got to play with at this stage of my life, so, I'll make the most of it. I'm just glad to be playing.

[Andrew Goulet]

To me, there's just a different standard for how a band sounds outside, so there's not much use in comparing the two scenarios. The sound is not going to be as good as if that same band were inside, but it can be ok (or very terrible).