The Steel Guitar Forum

I am enjoying reading each reply, evidently we may be arguing " who is more professional". ?

Now and then I play the Senior homes and the Legion Dance circuit, it never dawned on me that they might look at me and conclude I was not a Pro ! My biggest concern is still, will the staff of those homes allow me to leave or try to send me back to my own room !

Tony,
I know the feeling!
Our church has a small group that sings at a memory care unit one Sunday a month.
You have to be let in and let out and sometimes I wonder if the group will leave me there!
Erv

BTW, I use an Ipad..

Mark K: What are you using to hang that iPad?

Mark, I see you have a chart on your back for the musician behind you!

Lee- I didn’t realize that LOL.

Ken- I will PM you.

Johnnie Cash!! How very unprofessional!
Erv

Erv, I never meant to imply that using music was "unprofessional" I just don't think it looks great. The producers of his television show would not have wanted him to sit down behind mic stands either... music stand or not.

I don't remember seeing Johnny Cash use a music stand on His TV show. Not because it would be unprofessional, but because appearance is a part of performance. That's why we usually comb our hair, wear clothes etc. (Unless grungy,torn clothing etc. is part of the "act")

Let's just drop the "Professional" or not part of this discussion. I have already acknowledged that big bands, Orchestras, and the like need to use charts, and they are often the most accomplished musicians.

I know that I always comb my hair and put in my teeth to look professional.
Erv

I think it’s a major talent to be able to read while playing with expressiveness and I am amazed with people who can do it. I find it very difficult and unnatural. I only read because I don’t know the song (or maybe even the musical style) and thus am not fully engaged with it, other than wow, I made it through that verse, now what’s up with this modulation... It makes playing seem like work to me, or like I’m still practicing the song rather than performing it. I was a failure in the high school jazz band because of this handicap.

The poll says it all. I used to be in the 48%, but now I’m more in with the 32’s.

My fear is that I might have a brain fart and forget the music, that's why I like to have a cheat sheet.
Erv

I do most of my playing live using memorization. However, if it's a new tune or a difficult arrangement, I'll use a chord chart for it. My band mates use music stands with song books for the words and chord charts. I have no pretense whether with or without is more professional. Personally, I like the look of a band without music stands though.

Fred Treece wrote: The poll says it all. I used to be in the 48%, but now I’m more in with the 32’s.

Yep 72 people out of 4000 members .

35 people CLAIM they never use a chart/stand in front of them, ever. 24 who say they do now and then is perhaps more realistic.

The other question, not asked, how often do you require a stand with a chart ? I'll bet those 24 say rarely. Probably for songs that are NOT on regular rotation anywhere and pop up now and then, like 3 times a year or less.

Should have specified, the poll says it all for me. ‘Scuse me for livin’.