The Steel Guitar Forum

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.

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"?

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Andy Greatrix on 31 July 2002 at 01:20 AM.]</p></FONT><FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Andy Greatrix on 31 July 2002 at 01:22 AM.]</p></FONT>

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.

I pimp out Puerto Rican hookers

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

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 31 July 2002 at 02:13 PM.]</p></FONT>

Butt Rouge'r in a Babboon Mortuary.

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.

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.

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

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

Paramedic

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

Craig Collins & High Lonesome
www.craigcollins.org

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.

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

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

<SMALL>Butt Rouge'r in a Babboon Mortuary</SMALL>

I GOT to get me one of those!

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