Making a living from lap steel

Jean-Sebastien Gauthier · From: Quebec, Canada

I'm just curious, I play lap steel for fun in a country band and like it very much. I don't make a living from music but would like to in the future. Sometimes I wounder if I get really good at steel if I will get some good gigs. Where I live steel player are very rare, I never see or heard about one who play western swing or Hawaiian music.

Do you think its easier because nobody play steel or harder because the demand is low? Do you think its easier than regular guitar?

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

In general, the answer is a resounding NO. But, I think there is a tiny window for exception, and it'd have to be done in ways that are up to each individual 'cause it won't be easy unless some god get's behind it.
Example, my best friend is one of the 1st call steelers in the land of it's inception where there are few great players, yet maintains his day job for security. He say's "I'm more famous for working at Tamashiro Mkt. than for playing steel".

Steel can be a huge head turner, and sometimes has an edge over standard guitar. It's oddity factor can be a pro/con, but some have made history with much less.

Here's wishing you the best towards your dream.

Mat Rhodes · From: Lexington, KY, USA

Ron, you're not talking about that "Robert" character, are you? Winking

I think if you're willing to diversify (i.e. play guitar, steel, bass, sing, and learn another rare-but-useful instrument) you might be able to survive. Maybe even have a savings/investment account if you learn the art of networking and marketing. The question is, would you be happy doing it? Everyone's attitude is different, but I enjoy it more since I don't have to depend on it for survival. From personal experience, I've found there isn't a whole lot of demand for Hawaiian music in my neck of the woods.

Les Anderson · From: The Great White North

I am not sure what signifies as a lap steel anymore. I play a D8 non-pedal steel that sits on four legs. If that says that this axe is a lap steel then I can answer the question. If it is not a lap steel then skip this post.

To make a living playing non-pedal steel lap steel is not possible unless you can live on a few cans of beans per week. To get a paid gig with a non-pedal, you had better be able to play a cross section of genres. You will be asked to play old time dance, Hawaiian, old country classic to easy listening. To fail at any of them, you and your lap will not be getting any full time gigs.

This problem was why I bought a Remington D10. It sounds like a pedal steel as is and most country bands recognize a D10 as a country steel (pedals or no pedals) Learning to bend strings will help to give your non-pedal a pedal sound.

Jean-Sebastien Gauthier · From: Quebec, Canada

Thanks guys, all very interesting opinions and facts.

Sure it help if you can play guitar and base and play different styles to be able to get different gigs and give lessons.

But for the demand for steel guitar you think that pedal steel have lot more gig than non-pedal?

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Some might 'need' a pedal steel, if only because they aren't used to steel players being better Whoa!

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

I made a pretty good living for a couple years as primarily a non pedal player. Its not different from playing any other instrument when it comes to making a living. I fell out of the rockabilly/swing circuit I was in and am mostly playing pedal steel these days. There is a big retro scene happening with plenty of room for steel players. Then there is the singer song writer scene. Plenty of gigs in that world. Being able to tour can really help too.
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Bob

Mike Neer · From: NJ

It can work, but you have to be willing to hustle and live in a location where there is work.

It helps if you don't have a family to support and you can spend time on the road. It also helps if you are willing to play whatever is necessary, including music you may not even enjoy. Since steel is seen as a utility instrument, you will probably be playing other instruments in live situations. Having a good understanding of traditional styles, as well as contemporary styles (such as what Greg Leisz and others do in the singer/songwriter genre) is essential.

I've given up on the idea of being a sideman and making a living, mostly because I have a large family to support, but also because I want to broaden my own musical education and develop my own style. I've shifted all my attention to composing and teaching at this point and only take the rare gig just for a night out.
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Jerome Hawkes · From: Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA

sure, you can "make a living" playing non-pedal...if you live with your parents/girlfriend, dont drink or smoke, and bum rides everywhere and can subsist off Ramen noodles, etc. the fact is, that is EXACTLY how many of the great sidemen of ANY genre subsisted during their life. Most people are not willing to do this (me included - i like to eat sushi..often)

I know many old-timers from the "golden age" of live music and they all say they starved to death, lived in rented travel trailers, everything they owned could fit in a suitcase...and that was playing 6 nights a week! but you could exist back then on $40 a week.

making a living is VERY different from making a career - yeah, you could maybe do a 3-5 year stint, but i'd hate to know i was turning 50 still out there living like a 19 year old.
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'65 Sho-Bud D-10 Permanent • '54 Fender Dual-8 • Clinesmith T-8 • '38 Ric Bakelite • '92 Emmons D-10 Legrande II

Jean-Sebastien Gauthier · From: Quebec, Canada

Well it don't look really good!! I'm young but want a family, I think I will keep my day job! Maybe in the future I will study jazz guitar at the university and then get well paid pop gig on guitar, give lessons on day and play Hawaiian music just for fun! and maybe with big luck I will play more lap steel!

Les Anderson · From: The Great White North

Jean, if you have the get up and go to learn a second & third instrument, or can already play multiple instruments, you can still make a meager living with your lap steel. In all brutal honesty however, single instrument musicians rarely make even a half decent living playing music now days.

I play five instruments, Steel, bass, some keyboard, lead guitar, panflute and chromatic harmonicas. My D8 non-pedal was used for the old time music of Hank Williams, Eddy Arnold take offs. My Remington was used for more traditional country where pedals were the sought after backup sound. For the most however, I was playing bass, lead or the other instruments that I played.

Jean-Sebastien Gauthier · From: Quebec, Canada

Ok so if I understand you don't choose Lap Steel if you want to make money!

In fact I hope that in a couple of years I will be able to play guitar and bass good enough to get good job (I know I will never make big money with music), good enough to have a decent live. I think that university will help a lot.

And in the free time I will play the harder of all instrument but the so fun Lap Steel!

Cheers

Edward Meisse · From: Santa Rosa, California, USA

Everybody I know who is even a semi pro at music is a multi instrumentalist. That especially goes for steel players. And double especially for non pedal players.
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Amor vincit omnia

Jack Aldrich · From: Washington, USA

Then there's the musician's first commandment: Don't give up your day job. In my career in music, I've always had a day job to hold me over between gigs. Of course, there were wives and kids that I had to support. My longest time without a day job was the 4 years I played pedal steel and keyboards in a country band with my 2nd wife, her sister, and 2 friends - lead guitar and drums. We worked 5 nights a week for 4 years. Our combined cuts and the fact my wife booked the band gave us 2 1/2 cuts, so we made it on music. We also had a little spread with 3/4 acre garden, fruit trees, chickens, duck and rabbits to minimize the grocery bill.

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

In a different discussion, someone said, "You can make a small fortune playing steel guitar. Just start with a large fortune..."
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George Piburn · From: The Land of Enchantment New Mexico

Gerard Ventura · From: Texas, USA

Mike Neer interviewed Jeremy Wakefield last year-

http://www.mikeneer.com/lapsteelin/2011/09/16/conversation-with-jeremy-wakefield-part-1/

Mike Anderson · From: British Columbia, Canada

That interview inspired me to grab Jeremy's "Steel Guitar Caviar" just as fast as I could head over to Amazon.com - fantastic record!

Bill Leff · From: Santa Cruz, CA, USA

Reminds me of the old joke -

"What do you call a musician without a girlfriend?"

"Homeless"

Bill Creller · From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)

All true !!
In the early 50s I played at a hotel/night club, six nights a week in the summer season, for eight weeks.
And had a day job. Back then 10 bucks a night was the going rate for each of us, which wasn't all that bad for those days.
When being young and loving to just play in a group,
it was a blast !!
Seems like all the best steel players in Hawaii had day jobs. And having a gig at a hotel may not last all that long.
Don't know exactly how hard it is the find steel guitar there these days, but slack key players are a dime a dozen.
The saying that Brad brought up is true, about making a small fortune, and fits the aviation business also!
Very Happy

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