The Steel Guitar Forum

just wondering if there would be any interest in having a steel guitar show in the greater inland impire let me have some feedback thanx

There is never been muck for shows on the west coast, I think it is a Great idea....Any help you might need I'm there for ya...

David Wright wrote:There is never been muck for shows on the west coast

Why do you think that is, David? The Left Coast has certainly produced some of the best steelers we've ever had (even if some of them moved away ) There are still lots of steelers out there, so why do you think there hasn't been support for a show?

I would be up for a west coast show.
JE:-)>

Jim Eaton wrote:I would be up for a west coast show.
JE:-)>

Me too. If our neighbors in Arizona can do it, why can't we?

Ron and Jimmy, why don't the 3 of us meet and put our heads together and see what we come up with? (I realize you guys live 100 miles from each other, but we could meet somewhere in the San Gabriel valley at the half way point.)

There is definitely interest, but the means to put on a show like Dallas or Phoenix is probably not going to happen here. The biggest obstacle would be getting the "heros" out here to play. We have 2 of these "heros" that I am aware of, Bobby Black and Jay Dee, and it would be hard to finance the ones from Texas, Nashville or elsewhere to come.I love both of them, but I would think twice before travelling to Los Angeles just to see them and a bunch of local players (not to diss the local players. We have many great ones's here in Calif).

Even jams here in Calif have been hard to keep going. I started one in the Bay Area in the 90's at a warehouse where I worked. It was poorly attended at first, but picked up. I left that job and the place to hold them. Bill Llewelin took over at his church and it faired better there. Then he had to stop having them and someone else had one at a restaurant in Alameda a couple of years ago (which I wasn't able to attend) and there has not been any since, or any talk of one that I know of.

I have actually talked to a friend of mine about the possibility of me forming another steel guitar club here in Northern Calif (anyone remember Steel Guitar West from the 70's), but lacking a place to hold meetings, places to hold jams and concerts pretty much kills that idea. I don't have the funds to rent places for this.

Anyone with ideas and possibly the will to assist, please contact me. Maybe we might be able to get something off the ground at some point.

thanx david i will sure need your help if we can get this going i knoe its alot of work but i think it would work will work on getting vendors interest i know mike perlowin and my good friend jimmy eaton will help maybe even get john mc Clung to help

John McClung was trying to put something together in Atascadero about a year ago and I think Dave Zirbel has recently been trying to kick-start something in the North Bay.

As feared when I bought my steel, the lack of events has really tempered my enthusiasm. If there were more opportunities to learn and play, then I might be more motivated to dedicate time to the instrument. I am not pleased about being negative about this, but I am also at an age when swimming against the tide isn't real productive. It seems like there isn't a critical mass or something here in Northern California. Part of it may be "quasi-political." When we lose our local "heros" it may be a last hurrah for the "late great Northern (part of the) State."

If you set something up, I promise to bring my enthusiasm. The times I've spent in Texas and the south this last year have been great. I'd love to have something like that here too.

I'd be happy with just a regular jam to BIAB tracks, which has been difficult enough to put together. But a full-on show would be great. I'll volunteer myself to play bass in the band.

ok guys thanx we r going for it

Ron, I recently moved to Norco, and I will help you.

Darrell Owens 209-777-6444

sounds good ru playing out here anywhere i live in riverside 909 238 6303 call me

I'm looking forward to a CA steel guitar show.

Guys, I am not much of a steel player, having owned one for 2 years with limited playing time. My work requires me to travel around the US. However I am on a long term assignment in the Hayward, CA area and would donate my time to help. I should be here for 1 to 1 ½ years. Also if there is someone in the area that gives lessons I would be interested.

There are quite a few steel players on OR and WA. They might be tempted to attend if the show was in the Bay area.

I do not want to speak for the whole board of directors but we have thought to have something over there but did not want to step on anyone else's toes.

The Southwestern Steel Guitar Association can discuss it after our January show this year. I would be glad to bring it up at our first meeting which is usually a week or 2 after the show.

If it is OK just email me and it might be good to have another one toward the middle of the year.

Just to let you know some of the players from out east already say that Phoenix is a long ways to come to a show. Many want travel money, hotels an it gets much more expensive than anyone really realizes.

Sponsers plus vendors are the way to get some money. But like I said it takes someone to put up some money in the hopes you can get it back with the show.

Without going in to details there were a fund raiser or 2 before the first show plus some people put up money and put money on credit cards to get this one started. I was NOT in that group but was at the first and remember seeing some happy faces when they broke even on the last day just before noon. I just know it was iffy.

I am sure that the Southwestern Steel Guitar Association board will first say we do not have funds for another show and will have to do something completely different and raise some funds from some other source specifically for a West Coast Show.

Anyone can email me at joe.naylor@att.net with ideas and they will be considered.

Remember I am not speaking for the board but will take the idea to the next meeting if that is what people want.

My thought that some where cool about July / August might be good for a lot of people.

Joe Naylor
www.steelseat.com

Tony Glassman wrote:There are quite a few steel players on OR and WA. They might be tempted to attend if the show was in the Bay area.

The problem is that California is so big that there is no single place that is satisfactory for everybody.

The answer IMHO is to hold 2 smaller, one day shows, featuring local players and one imported star (like David.) One of these could be held in the Bay area or further north, and one in the L.A. basin. If both shows do well, they might eventually merge after a few years.

Tom Bradshaw held one in 1968 in the Napa-Sonoma area that was a good show. Among them was Noel Boggs, Reece, Zane Beck and some others, including Chuch Wright.
Tom then put on a smaller one in 1970 in So-Cal with Reece, Morrell and Brumley et al. The other one I can remember was in '95 with Jimmy Day and others, which I was out of state and missed.
There are Shows and then there are jams, big difference. I like Johm McLung's idea; Atascadero. That's in my backdoor, but I think that was a jam. Big Jim Baron can tell you what it takes to put either of them on in Big "C".

Let's not forget our late friend " Jack Lox " who did this a lot in Southern California. Jack Lox loved the Steel Guitar. Many time over he would say to me,man I wish I could play a Steel Guitar. Uncle Leo PS; Ron you still have hope if it's what you really want to do and friend get behind you and help not talk.It's like putting together an Award Show. I'm there for you and with you brother. Leo J.Eiffert,Jr.

Reading that Tom Bradshaw put on a show here in the wine country way back when, I like the idea of one here in Sonoma County - then it would be in my backyard.

I have no experience putting together an event of this nature, but I'd certainly be willing to help.

Hey Ron. How about a show in Las Vegas.

sounds good lets work on it by the way r u going to be in calif march 16th i want u to play a gig with me maybe u and kenny could come kenny could play guitar and fiddle let me know

I like the idea of a show in Atascadero,Ca. or what about the Pozo Saloon? It's an outdoor stage with facilities
near Santa Margarita Lake, which has camping facilities. Dierks Bently and Eli Young band will be there on April 14,2012...That's a Saturday...Just thinking out loud. I don't know anything about availability before or after those dates. There are tons of musicians in this area also.It's also close to Morro Bay and Montana de Oro State Park.

My wife and I travel to Ca occasionally to see our sons. If the timing is right as well as location I might be interested to come from Nashville. If you are interested email me. digindoug46@yahoo.com

Doug Jernigan...

If there is the remotest possibility or a “guesstamation” for how many might attend tell me.
I’ll ask some of the local hotels what they would charge for a venue such as this.
I’ll discuss preferred room rates banquet room capacities and fees.
The Ventura California area here is supposedly trying to encourage more tourism.
We are 60 miles North of Los Angeles and 40 South of Santa Barbara.
We have a wonderful year round climate, usually around 70 degrees.
What I am offering is leg work for the $$$$$ it might take.
I don’t have any money and my legs are almost gone but hey, I am retired and have some time on my hands.
If nothing else I can find out just how cost prohibitive it might be for this area.
So if I can help, Email me or whatever and I’ll do what I can.
Michael
Ventura, CA.