How LONG did it take YOU................to be come a success

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 6 May 2009 9:33 pm

Some of these new singing stars have been described as OVER-NIGHT successes.

How many nights did it take YOU, before you hit the big stage, the bright lights, the grammys and the BIG BUCKS?

How many years was it before the LIMO started picking YOU up for the next gig?

Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 7 May 2009 1:58 am

I think that train has already left the station.
I'll just a little fish in a big pond.

Larry Jamieson · Post by **Larry Jamieson** » 7 May 2009 4:05 am

After only about a year of practice I joined my first country band and started making tens of dollars. Now, after some 36 years of practice I make $80 a gig! I'm still waiting for that Limo...

c c johnson · Post by **c c johnson** » 7 May 2009 6:11 am

I played my first gig 1930 in Cal City IL short distance as I lived in Mishawaka IN, In 1945 in Granite City IL Skeets Yaney was appearing At a record store to push his record of When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again. Alot of the folks present wanted Skeets to sing live but he had no band. Someone saw me and my guitar player in the crowd add isisted that Skeet sing with us.Skeets did not like the idea of singing with a couple of strangers. We had our instruments in the back of guitar players car so we got them and backed up Skeets on three numbers After the gig Skeets told me I did a fine job. I wasn't all that good but Skeets kind words spurred me on. As far as I believe I had reached the summit of my career. cc

Mike Cass · Post by **Mike Cass** » 7 May 2009 6:19 am

when I see the limo approaching, I'll let you know

I like what Steve Hinson one said when asked about the "bright lights and big stage"; "Son, that costs you extra"...

now thats true!

Dick Wood · Post by **Dick Wood** » 7 May 2009 6:41 am

I'm afraid the only limo that will be coming to get me wont be taking me to a gig.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 7 May 2009 7:37 am

I was told the Limo was on it's way, I stood outside waiting for 30 years, it never arrived, so I went back in the house and had lunch.

t

Olaf van Roggen · Post by **Olaf van Roggen** » 7 May 2009 7:44 am

...actually I think the only Limo I will be in...shall be my last ride to the cemetry

Sam Lewis · Post by **Sam Lewis** » 7 May 2009 8:26 am

Started playing steel guitar when I was 23 years old. I'm almost 79 now and have not made it yet. Do you think I should give up any thoughts of being a "overnight success" ?

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 7 May 2009 8:51 am

I experienced the Limo thing with Twitty in the 1960's at the state fair in Columbia, Missouri, when we had a police escort from our motel to the Arena.

In that venue I sure felt insecure, with only me and Conway doing all of the intros, leads, and endings, but, the audience was accepting. I guess that's the advantage of working with the headliner.

Edward Meisse · Post by **Edward Meisse** » 7 May 2009 9:05 am

Dick Wood wrote:I'm afraid the only limo that will be coming to get me wont be taking me to a gig.

My idea of success is knowing that I'm a good, skillful player. And I'm not there yet, either. But I do have alot of very enjoyable friends who either like what I do or are really good at the pretense. And I guess that is a success of sorts, too. I'm happy with how things are going. I don't need no stinkin' limo. Especially not the one alluded to above.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 7 May 2009 9:17 am

Hey, I don't care about the limo, or the fame and fortune or the groupies, I WANT ROADIES!!!!!!

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 7 May 2009 9:30 am

I was lucky enough to be picked up by a limo only once in more than 50 years of playing music. It was in Florida about 1963 or 64. The out of town members of the band were picked up in two limos. We had common taxis to take us back to our hotel.

Eerrrrrr,

I wasn't playing a steel guitar in those days. Jazz bass and chromatic harmonicas.

Marke Burgstahler · Post by **Marke Burgstahler** » 7 May 2009 10:37 am

Well, I got a taste of the limos and such on some of the tours I did with Gregg Allman..I started playing guitar when I was 8, and did my first tour with Gregg in '90...so that was 37 years.

But for me, "making it" occured when I stopped chasing the elusive "record deal" and became comfortable with what I was playing and fully enjoyed the people I was playing with, and saw that people were touched by my music in the way that I had hoped they would be - whether it was 200 folks in a nightclub or 2000 people at a performing arts center.

Would I like to have any of that back? Like Mike P. Said, I'll take the ROADIES!

And as far as I'm concerned, I'm starting all over again with the PSG...

Mac McGhee · Post by **Mac McGhee** » 7 May 2009 10:52 am

About a year ago. After 25 years, I played a little song and my wife came into the room and said " Sweetheart, that sounded great". I knew then I had arrived.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 7 May 2009 11:21 am

According to what you call success,When I was 10 years old,heard Hank Snow doing [I'm Moving On] I KNEW then I had to be a picker,Never thought about being a STAR,just wanted to make a living picking,around 16 was playing in clubs,[they were not bad about the age thing back then]The next 50 plus years played with to many bands to remember,I raised a family picking,never rode in a limo,but the band I play in now has a nice Silver Eagle we go to gigs on.Looking back I DID make a living doing what I dreamed of as a 10 year old kid,So I guess I'm a success. Not RICH or FAMOUS,But it was a damn good ride,Would do it all over again, If we were all STARS,then there would be nothing SPECIAL about the ones that are,If we could all play as well as the Big E,then he would be JUST another picker. DYKBC.

John McGlothlin · Post by **John McGlothlin** » 7 May 2009 11:47 am

Well, I want to anounce that I am working on my second record album...I gave up on my first one.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 7 May 2009 11:59 am

I still have very high hopes for our last record.

Well, the guys at the record company SAID it was our last record, anyway.....

Jaclyn Jones · Post by **Jaclyn Jones** » 7 May 2009 12:10 pm

When I played at the Alvin Opry in Texas and the Bass player was Tony Booth and Norm Cass was on lead I knew I had arrived! I was signing and playing a Tele not steel. After 40 years of picking in bands, it worked for me! Down here limos look like a pick-up truck.

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 7 May 2009 1:49 pm

I expect the hearse will haul me out before the limo does.

Alan Tanner · Post by **Alan Tanner** » 7 May 2009 2:05 pm

Well...I have some pretty darn good friends that pick music, I enjoy playing a lot, in 50 years or so of picking I got to play the Opry twice and back up a few "names" here and there along the way also, I am in pretty good health, I went to war in the 60's and returned in one piece, I been sober and clean for 25 years, quit smokin' 24 years ago, still have my same wife of 40 years, and STILL get raised hairs on my neck (ain't got much left on top) when I hear someone REALLY get one out now and then, either singin' OR playin'. What MORE could a feller ask for???
I don't NEED no limo either, of either kind....ha

Jay Yuskaitis · Post by **Jay Yuskaitis** » 7 May 2009 2:36 pm

I had three good years after playing only two years. 1957, 1961 & 1962. I know this is a good start for an up & comer. I know better times are on the way, they gotta be! This was before I took it serious. Back then, I was called and known as "The Hillbilly Kid" in this now God forsaken State? I know I'm not alone. Been fun.
Jay Y.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 7 May 2009 5:05 pm

I'm still waiting to be recognised.

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 7 May 2009 5:20 pm

Limos are overrated. You can't even stand up in them.
Give me a big ol' tour bus or even a high-top conversion van with all the facilities - now that's luxury!

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 7 May 2009 8:41 pm

Rick,You got that right,Those old Eagles are hard to beat. DYKBC.

The Steel Guitar Forum

How LONG did it take YOU................to be come a success

How LONG did it take YOU................to be come a success

How long?