The Steel Guitar Forum

Jamie, I live in the Chattanooga area. I am approximately 100 miles south east of Nashville. I have been to Nashville many times and visited the studios. I have even recorded with a gospel group. Over here we love to have foreign students. A BA degree usually takes four years to complete. Getting a four year student visa might be an option to explore.

Jamie, if legalities runs you into a stone wall, there is an option available. Just visit upper Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC.. You can purchase all the necessary documents needed to satisfy form I-9. An employer is only obligated to examine these documents, not to authenticate them. All this and more, just a tad over one mile from 1600 Penn., Ave.....

My take on Nashville.....you'd better be REALLY, REALLY good and be quick to make connections with the right people. The singers and band leaders on lower Broad keep directories of the musicians that they recommend to others.....you want to be on those lists! Not just for getting hired for future gigs, but also for those "last-minute" callups when the guy who was supposed to play doesn't show up.

I was floored when I made my first trek to lower Broad. I saw the likes of John Hughey, Mike Sweeney, Terry Wendt, Tommy Hannum and Eddie Lang. Their gigs were for tips....and not much in tips depending on the day/time. To see John Hughey sharing $40 in tips with the band after playing a 4-hour set in which he played some of the most unbelievable steel imaginable.....you had to wonder what in the world was WRONG with this picture. In John's case, he just wanted to play out to keep his licks fresh (at least, that's the one-sentence version of his explanation). For others, they play it because if they don't, they know there's another guy just waiting to take their spot.

Not naming names, but I have been told that in some cases, the need to play out is sometimes just for the chance that a famous country artist needs some players for his/her tour, and this is one way they (the players) can be found. In others, this is really their only way of living......and when you're sharing a $40 tip jar, you'd better hope you have a day job.

I remember telling Terry Wendt "geez....you could move to just about any city in the Midwest and OWN the town with your playing.....you'd be able to play with any band you want and some of those bands are getting gigs paying upwards of over $100 per band member per night".

There is just some lure of being in Nashville that keeps the cream of the crop there, no matter what the pay is for those bar gigs.....of course, get hooked up with the next Dierks or Alan or Gretchen, and the sky's the limit.

In any event....GOOD LUCK!

.....of course, get hooked up with the next Dierks or Alan or Gretchen, and the sky's the limit<<

Hey Joe, Even if a sideman does get hooked up with a big name, it is still no guarantee of big money...as some big name steeler once said.."if your name is not on the front of the bus it is small money", for the most part. The big money is in the recording studios and about 10 steelguys have that work all sewed up, for the most part. Comes down to, too many people for too few jobs.

Excellent points, Brad!

Some great and all so true advice from Joe and Brad,et al. Also, take into consideration that MOST of the primo sideman gigs in the business involved working for "non-Nashville" artists...such as George Strait, Clint Black, Merle Haggard and even at that, a relatively short list. I had the pleasure of working for Freddie Hart...a west-coast gig with good salary, benefits, and many "perks" due to the simple fact that Freddie was(and still is) a good guy.In Nashville the shear competition keeps the wages down and most pay only as much as they have to. In the words of the the venerable "Stonewall Jackson"..."keep your boys HUNGRY and they'll stay with you". On a positive note(a nice thing to end on!)the Nashville "experience" will sharpen your playing ability and can be a great time in one's musical endeavors...I have never discouraged anyone from giving it a "go". Respectfully submitted, RK

Guys don't get me wrong.....I was not trying to discourage Jamie by no means.

Heck....I did 2 years ago what he wants to do now and I have to say that it is a big step to make.But there is only one thing that you really need to do something like this.

WILLPOWER

You can take over the world with the right attitude.I was just trying to help him a little bit so he won't get blown back by all the paperwork.

Ron

Ron, you and the other guys are just providing information and "that is a very good thing"...one should have all the information one can get before making decisions...an informed person is better equipped to make intelligent decisions.

Hey Jamie, there seems to be lots of good advice here about why NOT to go to Nashville ...... but if you don't go and give it your best shot then you will always wonder "What if?...." If you spend a fair bit of that first 3 months finding a good gal then you might solve your visa problems too !!

If your young and unattached then my advise would be to give it a decent crack mate !

Washing Dishes ain't half bad and after you've done this job for a couple of years, you'll get the hang of it.

Jamie Always follow your heart... We get those yearnings that I believe come from God's grace and allows us to either take it or leave it alone. There will be nay-sayers that will tell you otherwise...just remember when you hit a brick wall, re-group, and either go over it, under it, around it or through it. I'm glad to see your devotion to steel guitar and attempt to make good on your dreams.....There will be those that will truly want to see you succeed and those that won't. Hang with the winners.

Jamie,

I just went through a lot of visa study and found a great site to get your questions answered quick.

www.visajourney.com

The one thing I found was that there is an exception and waiver for just about anything. There are many routes you can take and some will be easier than others.

Best of Luck to you!
M.

a quick video of me and my bro letting rip !!!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=QJyNzuzX-Uw

Jamie,
You sound awesome!
You shouldn't have any problems finding a job in Nashville or anywhere else for that matter!

Jamie Lennon wrote:a quick video of me and my bro letting rip !!!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=QJyNzuzX-Uw

DoN't brAng Dat sAnger wif U till he larns De rAt whirds!

Hi Jamie,

I worked with Glen Mitchell while I was in Lonestar. I also played on a couple showcases for one of his duo projects. I'm sure he has some advice of how to get into the states and stay here legally. I think he bounced back and forth a few times, but seems to have made the permanent move.
Let me know when you get to town and I'll help you find work.
Dave

Thanks everyone, i know that video he started off with the wrong words !!!! lol

Thank you Theresa for your kind comment

Jaime, just do it like everyone else and come thru Mexico. No paperwork, just get a good pair of shoes and swimtrunks :)

My comment about the "Broadway Wages" and the fact that people like John Hughey, Buddy Emmons, Paul Franklin, etc have done it and will do it for the tip jar is one reason the "pay" is how it is.

A lot of guys, if they are off the road, will play just to keep in practice. There's no one that I know of that doesn't like money, but the need to keep your "chops" up is the prime consideration for many.

I did a Friday/Saturday night gig one time out on Old Hickory Lake (there used to be a river boat that was permanently docked there) and it paid a whopping $20 per night and the lead guitar picker was Reggie Young.

What kind of money can a steel player make on tour with the guy whose name is on the front of the bus?

There must be a reason why GREAT pickers like Mike Cass, Johnny Cox, and others also take on the job as bus driver too.

We know that the Broadway dates really don't pay at all... once you figure in gas and parking, unless you have merchandise to sell.

I do way better up here playing bars, private dates, and municipal gigs and still get to sell the merch.

Hey Jamie, years ago I was working on a country music TV show that featured many of the Opry stars, and there was this young kid who used to hang around asking how I did this or that. One time during a rehearsal break I asked him to sit down behind my guitar and play. In about 30 seconds I realized THIS kid was going to be great! He left his home in Saskatchewan Canada at the ripe old age of 18 and went to Nashville. He kicked around for awhile then started getting some gigs. The story is kind of long, but he now plays for some guy named Brad Paisley! The "kid" I'm referring to is of course Randle Currie!

Go for it!


Carter D-10 Nashville 1000/400

Tele.......twin.........boss pedals

Jamie Lennon wrote: Maybe but I am going with $10,000 as a safety net...

Now this is refreshing, usually musicians come to town broke, pay their dues, wait their turn in line, and eventually earn up to $10,000 a year.

Seriously though Jamie, just be careful. There are a lot of great pickers who will help you any way they can, but there are unfortunately a greater number of guys who will do whatever they can to help themselves. The industry (Music Row AND Broadway club owners), as well as the situation itself, plays on that survival instinct.
Kinda like dogs in a ring instead of behind a sled.
Trust your gut. The really good musicians don´t have to step on those around them to climb.

there is ONE good thing about Nashville that I know for sure, it is the best place to find a kick a$$ deals on instruments at the pawn shops...

Db

Damir Besic wrote:there is ONE good thing about Nashville that I know for sure, it is the best place to find a kick a$$ deals on instruments at the pawn shops...

Db

AMEN TO THAT. I just bought a PP Emmons for $300