Missing The Big St. Louis Steel Guitar Show

[Terry Wood]

I'm not sure about the rest of Y'all, but I miss the Big St. Louis Steel Guitar Show that Scotty and his family hosted for so many years. There are some nice Steel Guitar Shows all over these days but none compare with Scottys Big St. Louis Show! There Y'all could hear, meet and see The Legends of the Steel Guitar. People like Buddy Emmons, Curly Chalker, Lloyd Green, Julian Tharpe, Jerry Byrd, Speedy West, Jimmy Day, Bobby Garrett, John Hughey, Ralph Mooney, Reece Anderson, Herb Remington, Leon McAuliffe, Bob White, Tom Brumley, Zane Beck, Bobby Black, Jeff Newman, Hal Rugg, Red Rhodes, Herby Wallace, Weldon Myrick, Jimmie Crawford, Doug Jernigan and the list goes on and on. It was a Steel Guitarist's Paradise! Most of these real Steel Guitar Legends are passed on now. I know there are those who will disagree but it's just not the same anymore. Just thinking of them this weekend.

[Pat Heller]

I'm right there with you Terry. It was like waiting for Christmas to arrive -- my shot in the arm for the next 12 months. I was fortunate to have worked at Scotty's and got to know all the Legends. What stories and memory's I have of that period, Il never forget those days. P.H..

[Jim R. Harrison]

This is what you are referring to Terry and Pat! I fully agree.

[frank rogers]

Absolutely....

[Jerry Overstreet]

Yeah, I miss 'em too, but I got to witness many legends at their best starting around 1978 at the old Chase Park Plaza Hotel. I had to drop out in the later years. I think 2009 or 2011 was my last trip.

The memories are bittersweet because so many of them have passed on, but I feel so fortunate to have met and heard many of them.

Next to Jeffran college attendance, this was my most valuable education. Getting to see and hear the steel guitar like it is supposed to be played. It was expensive but worth it. Not the convention so much, but the inspiration to collect new guitars, new gear, material etc....I couldn't have spent my money with more return and satisfaction on anything else.

These were our vacations and we'd stay jacked up for weeks afterward.

They were like nothing else I ever witnessed. So many of the events these days are just like saturday night jamborees with the steel guitar just another instrument in the mix.

[Joe Krumel]

I went to my first ISGC show as a real greenhorn! I was on a steel high for weeks after! I'm with ya Terry.

[John De Maille]

That's funny that you brought that up. Because Labor Day doesn't mean the end of summer, or back to school, or fall starts soon. It'll always remind me of flying back home after that wonderful show was over. I started going there in 1975 and enjoyed and marveled at every year. The talent was phenomenal and the kinship was electric.
I really miss going there and meeting old and making new friends.

[Larry Dering]

I totally agree. I lived for this show and it gave me inspiration and encouragement plus the buzz of seeing everyone at their peak. I was like a kid in a candy store. All the great vendors and latest gear. I love all the shows but Scottys was the greatest. Great memories for me.

[Paul King]

I attended the show 3 times. 1981 was my first time to see Buddy Emmons live and I was hooked.

[Paul Wade]

i was only there once in 2010.first time up close to all the great players. would like to know if anyone has talked about bring it back to St louis. i do miss it

p.w

[Don Walworth]

My wife and I attended a steel show in St. Louis once -- had a great time. Rode the elevator with Buddy one morning.

But reading these posts it seems that none of you have attended the great show that is put on each Spring in the Dallas, TX area.

http://www.texassteelguitar.org/jam.html

Might not have The Big "E" on stage, but they do have some rather good players --- Paul Franklin comes to mind. Check the web site for more players.

While I enjoy hearing the top pro's play, what I really like is to hear someone like Austin Stewart play. I heard the young teenager play in Saint Louis and also heard him play again in Dallas -- great to see such improvement in not only playing, but stage presence and professionalism too.

Young men like Austin are the future of steel guitar and I enjoy them as well as the "old pro's".

I'm looking forward to attending next year.

Don

[Jim R. Harrison]

Don, I attended nine of Scotty's shows. I have also attended the TSGA Jamboree in Irving nine times & will be at my tenth consecutive Jamboree next March. BOTH shows were/are great displays of steel guitar music.

[Tony Palmer]

I’m sure this gets talked about every Labor Day. I know I think about it myself. I never
did understand a real good reason why the family didn’t continue. I have to assume it had to be about the costs involved and not enough profit, if any, to make it worthwhile. If you think about it, charging only $60 for the full three days was simply too low a price.
A convention of that quality and magnitude should have double or even triple that price!!!
Maybe it would be around today if they had the sense to charge a more realistic admission. Oh well, I sure do enjoy the Dallas show.

[rick andrews]

I sure miss the Scotty's shows too. I was introduced to great players and new ways to play.

Hi Pat Heller! Hope all is well with you.

[Terry Wood]

I am in agreement with all of You that posted on this topic. It's sad that alot of the younger players will never get to experience the Big Scotty St. Louis Show. The Super Steel players, hearing them live, visting with them all of the many players who came from all over the USA and the world. Like others said the large fanily type atmosphere and it was like a vacation for us. You could buy all of the latest L.P. Albums or cassette tapes, or Steel Guitars and electronic gadgets in those days. There is just no other Steel Guitar Shows like it! It was like Magic and it was exciting, thrilling, beautiful and well just Awesome!

[Jim Cohen]

I never did understand a real good reason why the family didn’t continue. I have to assume it had to be about the costs involved and not enough profit, if any, to make it worthwhile. If you think about it, charging only $60 for the full three days was simply too low a price...Maybe it would be around today if they had the sense to charge a more realistic admission.

Hi Tony. Hope you're doing well, my friend.

It may not have been a case of not "having enough sense" to charge a higher price for the convention. As you probably know, every product or service has a price/demand curve. As price increases, the number of tickets sold decreases. It's not at all a foregone conclusion that you'd make more money with fewer people paying a higher price versus more people paying a lower price. You'd have to do the experiment (or at least market research), and do the math to find the optimal price point that maximizes total revenue.

But what we do know is that the steel guitar show audience tends to be elderly, and the (vast?) majority are retired and many (most?) are on fixed incomes and resistant to paying more than they've paid in the past for anything. In the meantime, the travel, hotel, meal, etc. costs go up every year and those costs are out of the control of the show organizers. So, it's risky to raise the show's admission price as you might end up driving away too many people and actually end up with less money, rather than more, to support the show.

In any case, kudos to the Scott family for hanging in for so long in supporting Scotty and his dream for so many years. It was a good ride and I know I feel fortunate to have lived at the right time to catch that wave while it lasted.

[Jim R. Harrison]

I completely agree with Jim Cohen's comments, above. I am just not as able to state these observations as clearly as he did!!

[bob drawbaugh]

YES, I miss the Big Show! My children grew up their, well at least me and my Son did. I have to agree with Jim also. I was at the Nashville show this week end. There were only two people ther that I thought were under 20 years old, Tobin Hess and my Grandson, Josh Drawbaugh. Most I guess were retired or older adults. I'm afraid we are seeing the same with all steel show across the country. I know there are a lot of young players out there. But, not as many as say the 60s or 70s. After hearing Tobin Hess play, the insturment is in good hands. At only 18 years he's very accomplished, as a matter of fact I think he's masterd the insturment.

[Jim Mathis]

I miss Scotty's, but we are heading to Dallas this spring.

[Jerry Overstreet]

...But reading these posts it seems that none of you have attended the great show that is put on each Spring in the Dallas, TX area.

http://www.texassteelguitar.org/jam.html .....

I'm looking forward to attending next year.

Don

I'm certainly aware of this show for many years, but just never have been able to swing the trip. I'm told it's the closest event there is to the big St. Louis convention.

I'd love to attend this one if it's ever possible.

[Mike Mantey]

I personally have been going to Scotty's and Dallas since 2002. I really miss Scotty's convention and the Family. Always a great show and never disappointed. With that being said Dallas is now the new big show. It is every bit as good as St. Louis was. Having them both in a year was a great treat for me, kept the passion hot all year long. Dallas is getting better and better each year. This year will be no exception. I believe they are having the Country Current Navy Band back again OMG they are awesome and also Sarah Jory... YAY. Can't wait for March.

[Douglas Cole]

This is a blatent plug for the Kansas Steel Guitar Show. I never had the privilege of attending the show in St. Louis. I understand that it was a thing of beauty and admiration. That said, it does not exist anymore. All the wishes and wants probably won’t bring it back. So, what do you do? Well, there are several shows around the country that could rise to the top of the heap as a “must go” event. Certainly, Dallas has risen to that occasion, but it is quite expensive. I recognize that it takes a lot of money for a show, but that doesn’t eliminate the fact that a lot of people just can’t make it to the show. So, is there an answer? Maybe. Check out some of the regional shows. They are hidden gems. I know there are several here in the central part of the country which satisfies a lot of people when it comes to steel guitars. Terry Wood puts on a couple of shows each year that are really good. Tulsa (Jenks, actually) has been making a comeback. The Siloam Springs show is quite good, but, truth is they are having venue issues. I truly hope they can resolve that. Branson puts on a very nice show twice a year and their “Super Show” showcases more powerful performances.

That brings me to the Kansas Steel Guitar Association’s “Route 66” Annual Steel Show. It occurs on the first weekend in October each year. It has grown nicely in the last few years and, now with the advent of some nice room accommodations in the area, it is becoming a lot more visible on the circuit. For the first time, that I can recall, we’ve had to say “No” to some people wanting to play. We didn’t want to, but it became a “first come, first serve” type of situation. We have had some cancellation and have backfilled those. We are still 3 weeks away and there will likely be a few more cancellations and backfills, so please give me a call if you want to go on the list.

Now, to the grit of it. We do not charge admission to our show. Vendors get free tables (we have a limited number available), anyone can sell their merchandise without a fee. We feed everyone that comes through the door (and with really good food, too). The city of Baxter Springs, KS has added more local rooms, the building of the hotels at the very nearby (6 mile) casino has made it very comfortable for our players, audience and vendors. Joplin, MO and Miami, OK are within a 20 minute drive and there are numerous, reasonably priced rooms available. We are sensitive to the costs associated with the show and we do everything in our power to help improve the offset of expenses. The City of Baxter Springs has moved their Fall Festival to the same weekend, so there are things to do for our guests if they tire of the show. We make it a point each year to add talent that hasn’t played the show before. We try to add younger talent to show to demonstrate that there is continued interest in the steel guitar. We’ve added a free dance to Thursday night so that early arrivals will have someplace to go to dance, visit, relax and just have something to do rather than sit in their rooms.

[Bob Maickel]

1975 was my first year at the show as well as every year since. I played on the show twice, first time in 1978 at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel and a 2nd time in 1989 at the Millenium. It was always the best steel event! Many thanks to all involved with the event and may Scotty rest in peace.

[Chris Caruso]

Big show coming up in Nashville Nov 14-16! 3 Days of steel Guitar. Check out Stars and Steel Guitars on Facebook!

[Beverly Harris]

I heard they were moving the St. Louis International show to Nashville and that it will be Nov 14. I talked to Rhonda Vincent last week end and she told me that she is the opening act.