The Steel Guitar Forum

In a previous thread about who is awesome from Bill Hankey, Jim Cohen mentioned the cards Big E used to hand out to players saying " I really liked the tune you were trying to play" .
I think that is a wry sense of humour there and if he heard me play Id probably get one , but I would frame it and hang it on the wall.

Who out there in forum land has been given one of these cards.

This could go one of two ways ---- Not one reply or loads of them.

Alan,
If he heard me play he'd have to make new cards real quick. "What was that song you were trying to play"?

Larry

Alan,

I got one from Buddy years ago and it says, "turn up the F--ing steel guitar. Just a little blunt but you should see the reaction it gets when my wife (little old lady)LOL, walks up and shows the card. The steel gets turned up.

Bobby Black had cards in his Pac a seat too but they have chord charts on them. Very handy.

"Turn up the F****ng Steel Guitar" would work even better on a T-shirt !!

Tush!, Tush!, I for one am not in favor of offensive language. Wild horses could not force me to express a reply in such a manner. I'm in favor of dispensing with language that shows little regard for those who may not wish to be within hearing distances of such word choices. One of the worst scenarios occurs when a band of teens turn on their their showoff tendencies, if they are so inclined. They'll parade through neighborhoods where people may be sitting outside, or on porches, and at the same time casting foul language with raised voices. The sad part is that some in the group may find the language repulsive. It spells out quickly the type of upbringing an individual was subjected to in and around his\her home.

Ah, yes, I remember those... "T.T.F.S.G.U." is what it said beneath his name, and in really tiny print on the bottom it had the translation. At least, that was the card I saw.

Michael D.,

Have you considered 2nd and 3rd parties who may have produced the card? Moreover, they may not give a hoot for the future of the steel guitar. I've seen cards that really didn't conform to definitive instructions given by the consumers. "Printers" are at times, full of ideas.

I had one of the "Turn Up The..." cards back in the 80s. It was printed and folded to appear like a folded up $10 bill. Then when it was opened, there was the message. Perfect for handing to sound guys.

It didn't have Big E's name on it, since it wasn't a business card, and the words were spelled out in BIG bold letters. One of the T's had a derby hanging on top of it.

Of course, it's inherent rudeness spelled the beginning of the end to steel guitar as we know it.

It spells out quickly the type of upbringing an individual was subjected to in and around his\her home.

Yes - probably one with love, open communication - and a well-rounded sense of humor.

Personally, I think that card is f****** wonderful.

I had one of the "Turn Up The..." cards back in the 80s. It was printed and folded to appear like a folded up $10 bill. Then when it was opened, there was the message. Perfect for handing to sound guys.

Here's a little story: Back in the early 80's, I took two weeks of back to back steel lessons from Buddy and from Paul at Jeff Newman's place (is that heaven or what?) Buddy had given me one of those little '10 Dollar Bills' and one evening I went with some friends to Deeman's Den (I think it was) to hear Paul play. I sat at a chair close to the steel so I could watch him closely and at one point, I reached over and tried to hand him the 10-Dollar Bill. He refused it, politely, as a gentleman who did not wish to accept such tips from the audience. I kept insisting he take it and he kept refusing. Finally I told him, "Open it up! Open it up!" He did and we both cracked up laughing, especially when he spotted the derby logo; then he knew where it REALLY came from. LOL!

Epilogue: I carried that little bill (or perhaps a second one I had) in my wallet for years and about 10 years later, I returned it to Buddy when I saw him at Atlantic City with the Everlys. We both had another good laugh.

Back in the '80's I was playing on one of the PSGA's shows in New York and Buddy was headlining. Before my turn I set my steel up, unplugged, in a hallway not far from the bar, trying to tune up/ warm up/ not to throw up, and along comes Buddy carrying an adult beverage. He takes two steps past me, whips around and throws one of the "$10" bills on my steel and walks away. Now my mind is completely blown. I open it up, and sure enough I was encouraged to "Turn the F****** Steel Up"! I may not have been good that day, but I was loud!

"Turning up steel" serves to please some, but not others. A bandleader hired a drummer who blatantly said to me one day; "My goal is to make everyone in the band go deaf." I backed away from his cymbals after that remark, and played high notes on my steel that curled his hair. "Hugheyland" notes, played without regard to the drummer's excesses, and a willful lack of restraint.

Bill, I'd have told that drummer, "Well hurry up so I won't have to listen to you for the rest of the night!"

I like the one where you walk up to a steel player and ask "ARE YOU BUDDY... WHATS HIS NAME". It will bring a laff.. Lee

I went to see a visiting U.S. band some time ago and after the show I was talking to the steel player(I do not wish to name him)The steelie was not very friendly and was barely paying any attention to what I was saying,I told him that I had been talking to Buddy Emmons via the 'Net and that Buddy said that He (the unnamed steeler)was a really good player.
Boy!! did I get his attention.I certainly could have used one of those cards then.
best regards
Billy

The steelie was not very friendly and was barely paying any attention to what I was saying

Under those circumstances I probably would have told him that Buddy had said something different about him... but then again, Billy, you're a much more tolerant gentleman than I am. (Buddy even told me so)

Steel players are somewhat like automobiles. That is, you never can be sure when they might overheat or blow their cool. Judging a players sociality would require more than a chance meeting when he or she is taking care of business. Most steel players are absolutely congenial under ordinary circumstances. I seem to recall a guitarist who was equipped with a volume pedal, and other specialties for imitating a steel on a 6 string Spanish guitar. He was backing Charlie Walker at a small club in Copake, N.Y. back in the 80's. I think that there was a pig roast on that particular day. The guitarist played with his back to the audience the entire show. That behavior would have marred the event, had I not been able to visit with Charlie for a nice uninterrupted chat. It's really difficult to pin down personality issues. A large part of enjoying an artist performing is the visual aspect, particularly a player's hands.

Somebody scan one & post it on this thread...I would to see one...TV.

Full frontle(and back) view please,,, no towels!!!!! I aint been offended in quite some time!!!!