What line of work....made it possible for you to play steel

Randy Pettit · Post by **Randy Pettit** » 30 Jul 2002 7:00 pm

I started playing steel in high school and continued playing in bands through college. Although my commercial real estate job allows a great deal of flexibility, the key for me is having an understanding family. Without their enthusiasm and support, playing for fun wouldn’t be much fun. I hope this doesn’t come across as piety, but my wife and daughters (aged 10 and 12) come first – there is only so much time in a day to get it all done. Right now, the only playing out I have time for is Sunday mornings at my church, but it happens to be the best gig in world for me. As passionate as I am about steel guitar, I still have to be reminded from time to time (by my wife and girls, of course!) that it’s something I “get to do”, and not my highest priority.

Reggie Duncan · Post by **Reggie Duncan** » 30 Jul 2002 7:37 pm

Worked for Holiday Inn as a night manager, out of Junior College. Worked for Kroger Food Stores for 17 years. I have a vested retirement from them. I worked 2 years for an electrical contractor. Then, my wife and I managed the food service for a Christian Supper Club, where I was the staff steel guitarist. Now, we are out of the food service business. I am still the talent manager for the supper club and steel guitarist. My wife is a sub-backup singer and works full time as a communications officer. I now have a small project recording business at home.

Maybe the question should be, "What does your wife do that allows us to play our music"?

Bob Hayes · Post by **Bob Hayes** » 30 Jul 2002 7:52 pm

USAF MSGT (RETIRED) 22years. US Govt(IRS MNGT Analyst)2 years,Security &Consruction untill 1995 then full retirement. Have played music or in some kind of band (little or no pay) since I was a teen..except for 366 days visiting a tropical SE Asian country in the 60's!
Grouchyvet

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 30 Jul 2002 8:01 pm

Bob Kononiuk---a pharmacist AND steel player?? And it really isn't that far from Abbeville to Simpsonville---wanna start a band??? Seriously, welcome, you'll like it here, and come to Saluda next weekend, see Hal Rugg, meet Tony Prior.
I became a steel owner(not a player yet)'cause my probation officer said it was either that, or the Marines, and I'm too old.

Mike Weirauch · Post by **Mike Weirauch** » 30 Jul 2002 9:01 pm

......Selling drugs and sidelining as a male prostitute. What else is there to make money at?

Martin Abend · Post by **Martin Abend** » 30 Jul 2002 9:06 pm

University Drop-out for a job as a productmanager for small independent record-label. (www.ulftone.com) They give me enough space for making music.

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martin abend Pedal-Steel in Germany
s-10 sierra crown gearless 3 x4 | Regal RD45 | fender hotrod deluxe

Mike Kowalik · Post by **Mike Kowalik** » 30 Jul 2002 10:42 pm

Have been an aircraft structural mechanic for the last 20 and a half years...17 and a half at Kelly AFB(now closed)and the last 3 with Boeing.

Martin Weenick · Post by **Martin Weenick** » 30 Jul 2002 10:45 pm

Had 10 years in the Marines, was going to make it a career but came back from Viet Nam with a 100 % disability check. Have plenty of spare time but need to get into a more disiplened(can anybody spell that word) practice habit,I take spells.

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Martin W. Emmons LG III 3/5 Peavy 1000

Vernon Hester · Post by **Vernon Hester** » 30 Jul 2002 11:04 pm

Operations Mgr TV Network and many other jobs in my early years.
Vern

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 30 Jul 2002 11:27 pm

When I was about five or six years old I decided that I wanted to play music.Exept for riding horses on a ranch(pays worse than music) and fishing the only gig I've had for the 35 years has been playing music.

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 31 Jul 2002 12:20 am

I became a musician at sixteen in Canada, because there was no call for a witch doctor, or shepard. That lasted until I became fifty-five and ran into an age discrimination. I couldn't play A rooms anymore and didn't want to play spew-holes, so now I teach English in China. Next year, I plan to bring my steel here, but in the mean time I play and practice on a six string with a raised nut. I will pick until I die.
[This message was edited by Andy Greatrix on 31 July 2002 at 01:20 AM.][This message was edited by Andy Greatrix on 31 July 2002 at 01:22 AM.]

Uwe Haegg · Post by **Uwe Haegg** » 31 Jul 2002 1:06 am

When I started playing steel the first time around, 20 yrs ago, I was working as a Radar Tech Sergent in the Danish Airforce (RDAF).
Today I work as a consultant for Computer Sciences Corporation.

Chris Forbes · Post by **Chris Forbes** » 31 Jul 2002 2:12 am

I pimp out Puerto Rican hookers

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 31 Jul 2002 2:38 am

Manufacturing Production Supervisor in Ct. , then on to Field Service ( electronics) in NC and SC and now sales in NC and SC, still waiting for a paycheck that pays more than the mortgage and the family internet fee's.

I sell High Tech Analytical Instrumentation, Gas Chromatographs,Mass Spectrometers and Liquid Chromtogaraphy Instrumentation and all the software and Network stuff the world could ever imagine.
tp

Hey Stephen, I may not be able to attend Saluda, we have family ( big and boring)coming to town, maybe..well see..

TPrior/SteelGuitarHomesite

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 31 July 2002 at 02:13 PM.]

George Kimery · Post by **George Kimery** » 31 Jul 2002 2:42 am

Butt Rouge'r in a Babboon Mortuary.

P Perry · Post by **P Perry** » 31 Jul 2002 3:09 am

I work as an Industrial Maintenance Engineer/Supervisor. I specialize in industrial control and fluid power but also do mechanical as well as machining and fabrication. I also steel whenever I can.

Allen Peterson · Post by **Allen Peterson** » 31 Jul 2002 3:33 am

I have been a professional geologist for nearly 28 years. I develop drilling prospects, which is a fancy way of saying I look for oil & gas, primarily in the subsurface of South Louisiana. I have worked for CONOCO, Mark Producing Inc, Burlington Resources and now Apache Corporation where I a have worked for over 13 years. Its a boom or bust business. Once during a down period I saw a marquee at Burger King that said, "All of our geologists have Master's Degrees." I have been very fortunate and have not been laid off during my career.

George McLellan · Post by **George McLellan** » 31 Jul 2002 4:22 am

I'm a retired taconite miner. Upon retirement I took a keep busy job driving a school bus (ah the wee darlins') morning route - and that gives me plenty of time to get together with my pickin pals.

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SUAS U' PHIOB
Geo

JERRY THURMOND · Post by **JERRY THURMOND** » 31 Jul 2002 4:47 am

I had a very good job with General Motors, the kind that had lots of spare time, got offered early retirement when I was 48, took it an bought a music store in 1993, it has been nothing but fun, I also have a small farm with a few head of cows. I was always lucky to have time to play music,been married for 38 years an my wife always supported me to keep playing, so Iam still playing all I want to. Jerry

Gaylon Mathews · Post by **Gaylon Mathews** » 31 Jul 2002 5:04 am

Paramedic

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Gaylon's Homepage
www.geocities.com/nashville/1064

Craig Collins & High Lonesome
www.craigcollins.org

David Weaver · Post by **David Weaver** » 31 Jul 2002 5:17 am

Pharmacist, but now have my own business of making medical gels. Been doing that for 20+ years.

Worked at Boeing in Wichita in my youth but met several punch press operators with missing fingers. Could have been a bad career path for steel players.

Bryan Knox · Post by **Bryan Knox** » 31 Jul 2002 5:17 am

I'm an auctioneer specializing in real estate. I also do 2 automobile auctions a week. In 2001 I won the title of Alabama State Grand Champion Auctioneer.

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Help prevent juvenile delinquency...teach children to STEEL

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 31 Jul 2002 5:25 am

I take care of dogs and cats (27 years)and glad to help anyone who needs it~

Mike Weirauch · Post by **Mike Weirauch** » 31 Jul 2002 5:45 am

Butt Rouge'r in a Babboon Mortuary

I GOT to get me one of those!

Steve Stallings · Post by **Steve Stallings** » 31 Jul 2002 6:32 am

I practice family medicine part time in a small rural clinic. I am semi-retired which means I don't take call and no longer admit patients to the hospital. This allows me the freedom to pretty much play as much as I want. I also am retired from the US Army after serving 23 years.

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Steve Stallings
Bremond, Texas