No Respect For Tommy

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 23 Nov 2003 5:51 pm

Mike, are you implying that my Emmons SD-10 doesn't have "Sex Appeal"?

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 23 Nov 2003 8:11 pm

Theresa... Dave gets the camera time 'cuz he's a babe magnet. How ya doing Dave?

Dave Robbins · Post by **Dave Robbins** » 23 Nov 2003 9:21 pm

I'll just add one more thing...anytime we have played the Opry I have been pleased with the amount of camera time I got. If Tommy has a solo to be seen, you can bet He will be seen! Thanks to Tommy's wife, Teresa White, being on the camera! She always does a wonderful job of getting "us steel pickers" on camera when it's "our turn."
Now, if that ain't good enough for ya, then you might out'a take it up with Tommy...believe me, I don't think you want to go there!

If you don't get enough steel on the TV show to fulfil your desire, then get yer butt down here to Nashville and go to the Opry "in person," instead of depending on a one hour TV Show to be your personal steel guitar showcase. Believe it or not, the Opry TV Show is not about the steel guitar, but if you go in person and see the "whole" show, the way it is intended to be seen, you'll see an awful lot of steel and plenty of "Smokin' Tommy White"

Dave

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 23 Nov 2003 9:24 pm

Gene-I got a laugh out of that.You have been there and back too, eh?....al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

ESnow · Post by **ESnow** » 23 Nov 2003 11:18 pm

Very Well Said Dave, I totally agree.

Charles Curtis · Post by **Charles Curtis** » 24 Nov 2003 7:37 am

If I aspired to be a success in country music, to draw crowds like Vince and Alan and sell as many CDs etc. as they do; then I think it might be prudent to use the same tools.

Manny Shuffles · Post by **Manny Shuffles** » 25 Nov 2003 8:08 am

It is fairly evident that a bunch of people on this forum have never played anything but a computer keyboard. Look folks the star is the star. I dont need tv time to validate how good of player I am. (by the way, hell Ive never been on tv)

Does Tommy White really need tv time to validate who he is in country music? Why hell no, we all know hes one of the best ever. But it's because of the countless hours he has put into his craft. Did Paul Franklin just pop out of his mother and blaze a trail for others to follow? I could walk down the streets of nashville's tourist trap and not half of the people I'd talk to would even know Buddy Emmons.

It is their PLAY that sets them apart. That style, those licks you cant possibly recreate. I've heard the into to Look at us a thousand times. But never like Hughey.

I've had the gods honest good luck to play on a few cd's with some of what I would consider the finest people in nashville. Also, Ive traveled all over this great land playing country music and I loved it all.

Some of you view it from a different prospective. STARS need validation, PLAYERS validate themselves.

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Three Chords, a Shuffle and a Cloud of Dust!

James Pennebaker · Post by **James Pennebaker** » 25 Nov 2003 8:21 am

As someone who's played there many times, I can tell you that it's not the Opry, it's the artists, who dictate what instruments are used on their particular performances. If there was no steel it was the artist's call. Also, what you see on TV is just a small portion of the evening's performances. Just because you might not see Tommy White on the tube doesn't mean he isn't putting in a good night's work. Check out the Opry on radio if it's available in your area to get the big picture. Sure, it's easy to knock the Opry along with the rest of the current state of affairs in country music, but if it wasn't there, it would be a sad, sad day.
JP

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 25 Nov 2003 10:01 am

I would like to answer a couple of comments made here. One from my good friend, Dave Robbins. It would be nice if everyone could afford to go to the opry occasionally. Heck, if you were there every night, I would be too. The truth is, most can't attend.

Mike Cass (and maybe others) suggested listening to the radio portion. That would be fine if we could get the show where we live.

For many of us, the televised portion is all we got.

Most of the times I have seen the Opry, I have been happy with the airtime the steel players get (especially Dave - he's been one of my favorites since I met him). And even though I love seeing them play, if I don't see them, at least I can hear them. And if an artist chooses not to have a steel player for their part of the show, that's fine too.

But, for some of the newer players, this may be the only chance to see the greats play. I know, go to a convention. In 33 years of playing, I have never been able to afford to go to a convention and I'm sure there are many others in the same situation. I keep telling myself that I will make it some day, but reality tells me I never will. There's definately a learning experience to be had by watching even a couple of minutes of a pro playing. I remember being able to see the greats on the Wilburn Brothers show and others. I would only hope that the newer players can have that same oppotunity.

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 25 Nov 2003 10:24 am

Isn't the whole Opry available live at the WSM-AM website?Archives of past weeks and all?I know I've gone over there and listened to some old Opry spots...

Mike Kowalik · Post by **Mike Kowalik** » 25 Nov 2003 10:37 am

I've been listening to The Opry thru my computer for some time now....it's always been more enjoyable than watching on CMT....online you hear all the songs the particular artist does....on the tv show...Katie whatshername would be doing an interview with a flash-in-the-pan artist while Charlie Walker is singing "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down".....you get it all online.....believe the link is wsmonline.com......

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 25 Nov 2003 10:45 am

Well here's my take. When I was young I worked for an Insurance Company and travelled all over Arkansas adjusting claims on wrecked cars. I never heard any complimentary words from my boss. Once when I was at he home office I mentioned to him that I didn't know if he was pleased with my work because I never heard from him. He said, "son, if we were not happy with you,
we would not send you a paycheck each month".
Tommy receives a paycheck from the most prestigious country music show in the world as their staff steel guitarist. I guess that is respect enough!
Jerry

Buck Grantham · Post by **Buck Grantham** » 25 Nov 2003 11:26 am

I would like to hear COUNTRY music. Not only steel . If I wanted to listen to Progressive country which is a mixture of rock,jass, pop and country, I'd go out and buy it. And if the ladies have to go out on stage half naked to get a standing O ,then they're in the wrong business.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 25 Nov 2003 11:53 am

Dunno, and almost don't care. I Love watching him when I do see him. GREAT guitars, especially lately!

Maybe (and I know he's "on staff) they didn't want to pay him as much as he deserved, and he wouldn't work for less.

That's a quite uncommon thing in that part of the country, but I'd like to think that there are a couple others that do it too.

Just a wild guess.

Maybe he was out riding around with Glen throwing bottles at freeway signs...

( JUST KIDDING!)

Anybody ask him?

EJL

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 25 Nov 2003 11:59 am

The fault of the camera not being on the instrument that's being played lies squarely with the director. He's (or she's) the one who's supposed to have all that stuff down pat. He's the one that's supposed to tell the cameramen where to be, and when to be there. If they're not "there", just have someone do a "zoom" from a cross the stage. (You can "zoom" those $100,000 cameras, can't you?) When I could watch the Opry, I often saw the cameraman posed properly at the steel guitar's side when he was playing, only to have the director "asleep at the switch", and another (long shot) camera activated. It's just a case of someone not doing a very good job at their job. When I watch tapes of older country shows (like ET, Wilburn's, Jim and Jesse), those directors were on the ball! If a mandolin kicked off the song, the camera was on the mandolin! Even worse is the director who stays asleep at the switch. There's two cameras...one on the steel, and one on the lead, and they stay on the lead guitar...even when the steel takes the second half of a ride. That's as inexcusable as "dead air" on a radio show. The cameramen <b<know their job, but the director (if he's tone deaf, or doesn't know music) doesn't have a clue as to what's going on. Why they don't have a musician as director is beyond me. Too often, they simply use the excuse that "everything's spontaneous", and "the show's not scripted" and they can't react to changes when they occur. Bullhockey! Then get someone in there that can!

They do a fine job at all the sporting events (like baseball games) "following the action", don't they???

Excellence is in the details. Get on the ball, GOO. Us geezers count the same as a yuppy in the Neilsen's.

Mike Cass · Post by **Mike Cass** » 25 Nov 2003 3:36 pm

Steve Hinson is correct about the WSM-AM website. If you can type on this thread, you can hear the Opry.

Dave Robbins · Post by **Dave Robbins** » 25 Nov 2003 4:13 pm

Donny,
in some ways you are correct, except that what you don't know is the show is "mapped out" before hand in a rehersal! There is a rehersal for each and every Opry TV Show we play at the Opry. Occasionally there can be a screw up, but "rarely!" The "director" and "camera crew" as well as all the sound and stage crew, are there during the rehersal and converse with each artist and even with the musicians, about who is going to be playing and when. During this time, there is much communication going on with all the facets of the show. Notes are taken. Between each song they are conversing with us about who will be playing and when, as well as the fact that we run through each song at this time! Times are determined as well. Everything is very well planned out, to the minute, because it will be done "Live" when the show is "aired." Too many times there isn't enough info given to the stage crew, or the artist decides to change there mind about what they are going to play or the order that they are going to play in. When this happens It is not the stage crew or the director's fault! The have a run-down that they go by determined at rehersal time. In the case of the "Live" cameras there is a production truck "outside" the building. When things aren't right, they sometimes just don't have anyway of correcting let alone "knowing" what to do in a moment's notice. Many of these peoople are not "musicians. They are "experienced professionals" at what they do, just like us musicians, etc. Having a musician in charge of the directing would not change anything! It's doubtful they would know what to do either.

Like I said, everything is supposed to be planned out in the rehersal. There must be communication at both ends to make everything work. What you see on the show is a result of the rehersal from earlier that day. For us, that day began at 3:30 when it was our turn at rehersal. The rehersal is not there for our benefit (we already know "usually" what we are going to do), it is there to determine what, how, where, and when. That's why we run through the entire program during the day.

So, give the production crew a little bit of credit! Things are not always their fault. Besides, even if everything was planned "perfectly" on both the artist and the production crew's part, there are still those unexpected times when things just get goofed-up! Afterall, it is "Live" music and not a football game. While the show goes on week after week, there is always something new that can happen at the least expected moment.

Teresa White is a very good example of how hard these people work. For many of them, the Opry is not the only show they work on. They are "professionals." Teresa takes her camera work "very seriously" just as any professional would. She critiques her work and is always trying her hardest to make sure she does the very best job she can possibly do. I am sure that her fellow stage people take their jobs just as seriously.

In spite of what "some" poeple may think, those who are responsible for putting the Opry shows together work very hard to do the very best they can.

I think there is enough "Opry TV Show" bashing that goes on here on this forum, and generally by those who "don't have a clue!"

Dave

Don Cain · Post by **Don Cain** » 25 Nov 2003 4:49 pm

Face it guy's, the Opry as we knew it is "DEAD".

James Pennebaker · Post by **James Pennebaker** » 25 Nov 2003 5:34 pm

The Opry as we knew it is dead? What Opry did you know? This Friday's lineup includes Porter Wagoner, Mel McDaniel, Riders In The Sky, Jimmy Dickens, Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys, Dan Seals, John Conlee, Jimmy C. Newman, Jean Shepard, Jeannie Seely, Jack Greene and Bill Anderson among others. Pretty good country music bunch of folks if you ask me. Yes, there are a few other more contemporary artists too. They have to bring in the younger audience too or the Opry will indeed die eventually. A lot of our country music legends are passing away one by one. This year has been particularly bad.

It's been interesting while reading this thread how those of us who live here in the Nashville area and make our livings as pro musicians defend the Opry while many others from elsewhere are quick to bash it. We have worked there and see what goes on behind the scenes. We're proud of our Opry and proud to be in the music business in Nashville. Those of you who bash it, with all due respect, you might not really know what you're talking about.
JP

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 25 Nov 2003 6:18 pm

As my boss of many years was wont to say..."Don't give me excuses, give me results!"

Dave, I know Theresa does a good job. I've got no complaints with her, or the other cameramen, as I stated. As you've said, the fact that there is a rehearsal would indicate that things should go smoother, shouldn't it? I'm not the only one who's noticed the problem, it's been brought up here dozens of times. I just think this should be a world-class show, a world class production, and that things ought to improve with time. I read repeatedly about the same mistakes happening constantly on show after show, and I think that that hurts the show for everybody involved and for the audience as well. Is that "bashing"? Maybe so.

Look, I'm not griping about a certain musician who doesn't get enough exposure, or playing time. I'm not griping (this time, anyway) about the type of music being featured. What I'm talking about is the coordination of the TV production. It just oughta be better, IMHO.

Those who shun criticism are unlikely to improve.

Tommy White · Post by **Tommy White** » 25 Nov 2003 8:27 pm

Thank you Dave and James for saying
exactly what needed to be said and for saying what I was thinking.
T.W.

Rick Ulrich · Post by **Rick Ulrich** » 26 Nov 2003 1:17 am

With all due respect to the folks working on the Opry, I know it hurts to hear criticism. I make my comparison of the Opry TV show today with the one's I watched back in the 1950's. Remember that was the infancy period of TV. Saturday nights in the Los Angeles area provided live, local televised shows like Spade Cooley, Cliffie Stone and Town Hall Party. The camera people and the director almost never missed a solo instrument whether the fiddle or the steel guitar. I watched Noel Boggs on Spade Cooleys show, Speedy West on Cliffie's show and Marian Hall on Town Hall Party. I don't ever recall complaining because the camera or the director were on the wrong performer during a solo. I guess TV production was just better back then before it became so sophisticated. Merle Haggard had it right "The good times are really over for good"

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 26 Nov 2003 9:48 am

I was not aware that the opry was broadcast live on the internet. What time does it come on? Is the Friday show broadcast too?

Dave, well said my friend.

Dave Robbins · Post by **Dave Robbins** » 26 Nov 2003 9:20 pm

Richard,

just check either the Grand Ol' Opry website or WSM radio. They should give the times. Neat thing is, if you miss the "live" cast you can always hear it from the archives "anytime." Don't forget the time change between here in Nashville, Tn, and where you are.

A lot of times I listen back to what we have done at the Opry at a later time from the archives when I'm on the computer. Afterall, I can only hear myself the same everyone else does. LOL! (Scary thought!)

Happy Thanksgiving,
Dave

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 27 Nov 2003 10:56 am

Thanks Dave. Happy Thanksgiving. Give Wanda hug for me.