A word to Steel Guitar Associations and Jams

[Bo Legg]

Maybe some of your Associations and Jams are failing because us considered no pickin’ SOB’s are smart enough not to sign up for a butt kickin’.

[Jim Cohen]

Maybe some of your Associations and Jams are failing because us considered no pickin’ SOB’s are smart enough not to sign up for a butt kickin’.

... and refuse to attend to support the organization if you're not on the program. Yeah, you're right, maybe that is why...

[Craig A Davidson]

Maybe some of your Associations and Jams are failing because us considered no pickin’ SOB’s are smart enough not to sign up for a butt kickin’.

You are not making sense. Our jams have never been a competition. There was never a trophy at the end of the weekend. We shut ours down because the hotel we were doing it at wanted more than we could afford to put it on.

[Larry Dering]

Well said Jim. I hope Bo didn't mean it like that. But in a nutshell, many do not attend unless they are invited to play. I go to as many as financially possible and absorb as much style and technique as I can. Where else can you get the steel front and center with real music and killer backing bands? I go home energized and excited to play at my level hopefully gaining some new found knowledge to try.

[Jack Stoner]

Our Florida Steel jams are open to any steel (lap or Pedal) or Dobro picker. We have been having monthly jams since 2002.

We also have a "live" backup band. We don't use tracks.

[Jim Cooley]

I was invited to play at a large show in another state last year. I don't think the person who invited me had ever heard me play. If so, I probably would not have been invited . Fortunately for all concerned, I wasn't able to go.

[richard burton]

To paraphrase Groucho Marx:

'Steel Player refuses to go to any jam that would consider inviting him to play'

[Ken Pippus]

I think the difference between a "show" and a "jam" is kind of critical here. My threshold for embarrassment is way too low to ever play a show, but I'm perfectly willing to poop the bed in front of the whole world at a jam.

Maybe that threshold needs to be lower, too!

[Bo Legg]

I‘ve played for years in a lot of really good bands and one artist who had a record on the country charts. That counts for absolutely nothing regarding your ability as a steel player if you were not the steel player in the recording.
Had a stroke and had to basically start over.
I have never played at a steel guitar convention. That fact alone will certify me as a no pickin’ SOB.
I don’t deserve to be on a show and I see how bad a person looks when they are on a show and don’t deserve it.
I joined and went to almost all the shows and shelled out my money and it was well worth it.
But the Jams sponsored by the Steel Guitar Associations are a whole different animal.
Here is is just one of the many bad things I observed:
A newbee showed up with his old beat up Steel and he set up between these 2 new shinny Emmons and there was enough room between the Steels. After he set up everything he went to the restroom and when he came back he had a whole lot of room.
There are just not many new learning old guys and learning young guys showing up at these jams. My point is maybe you should ask why?

[Jack Stoner]

Ii agree a "jam" and a "show" are not the same.

We don't differentiate and invite all to our jams.

At 82 I'm over the hill and wouldn't accept a show slot if it were offered. I don't want to embarrass myself or the people putting on the show.

[Stuart Legg]

Why don't you stop beating around the bush and say "when it's your turn at the Jam and you throw every hot lick and altered chord you know into your solo turn and then you point over at the old guy struggling or the newbee or and average player to take it, yuu just kicked his or her butt and worse than that you don't even notice.

[Ken Pippus]

So you want the real players to dumb it down?

Nah, give us pretenders something to which to aspire.

[Ken Pippus]

But please, Larry, can we try Highway 40 at something less than 240 bpm next time?

[Bill Ferguson]

Jim Cohen. Right on.

Our GaSGA is in fact a show, but we do encourage new players to accept our invitation to play. We reserve the early spots for the players that are afraid to play in front of a large audience.

Sadly about 99% of the players we invite, turn us down for any number of reasons, but mostly being afraid to play in front of other steelers. Even though there is no competition, playing for an audience of steelers is VERY intimidating.

But he worst part is just like you said. We have dozens and dozens of great local players, but only have 9 spots on a 1 day show, so obviously, we have to do a rotation of players. And even many that do get to play our show, never show up unless they have a spot. There is just no support for the players on the show.

I would gladly give up my spot anytime for a newbie, but they simply refuse.

And the other side of this is, we have to charge an admission to our show to cover expenses, therefore, we do have to have a certain number of quality players to make it where attendees get something for there dollars.

It's a catch 22.

But the main reason that I see, after some 40 years of producing and being involved with shows around the country, is the age of our players. Many simply cannot attend any longer, let along tote a 60# steel and amp in and set it up. And I am fast falling into that category (ugh).

Bo, any time you want to come to GA, I will be happy to put you on our show.

[Bo Legg]

Jez! after you've played in Honky Tonks for years with other steel players sitting out there trying to get your job, who would be afraid of playing a show.
Hell playing a show is easy! A person even with very little skill could practice a whole year on a couple of songs and couple of jokes and look good at a show!
At a jam I can't trade hot licks, I have no hot licks, I don't even have a clue what I going to play in a given song, Jez! I just play. I play some instrumentals but I'm just as in the dark as to where I'm going with it as the folks who are listening! We are all amazed at the same time.
Here is some of my simplistic approach
click here

[Stu Schulman]

I guess that I'm supposed to feel sorry for you?not really sure why,I am also a stroke survivor and have worked really hard at being able to make a small comeback in the steel guitar world,I try and visit as many steel guitar shows,and jam sessions as I can afford to show my support for both the organization's,and my fellow steel guitar player brothers,and sisters...Can I play as fast as Doug Jernigan?hell no,never could never will but I get out there to prove that I can still do it without anyone throwing things at me,I also still crave the knowledge which I learn being around these wonderful friends.

[Dick Wood]

A man's gotta know his limitations.

[J R Rose]

Well, At the risk of putting my foot in my mouth and saying something wrong which I never intend to do us old timers that have played many years in Beer Joints and Honky Tonks and no one ever knew if you made mistakes or cared it would be very imitating to set down on stage and have an attentive crowd watching and listening to your every lick. I have never done it and not going to start now. I am 79 and have played my share of bars and honky tonks for years and never was scared of being in front of the crowd. I think we all know when we have got to old to perform very well but with that said if the old timers of today did not who would you have to play at a jam or a show. I think everyone who has been a picker and can still play somewhat well needs to do it. A jam is just for fun and having a good time. I would do it but arthritis has ruin my hands along with corporal tunnel. I do go to shows and jams and support steel guitar as much as I can. Thanks, J.R. Rose

[Blake Hawkins]

From what I see in this thread, the two Jams that we have in the Tampa area are ideal. There is Jack Stoner's Jam at Catfish Johnny's restaurant at Lake Panasofkee and the Manasota Steel Guitar Club in Bradenton run by Clyde Wiggins and Skip Ellis.
I participated in both Jams for many years and although I'm in the lower tier of steel guitar skills and play non pedal, I never felt intimidated nor unwelcome. In these Jams everybody is friendly and respectful. Even though we have had many nationally known players visit, like Roy Ayers, Ollie Strong, Ivan Reddington, Brian Ostrum, and Lynn Owsley. Any of you folks that travel to this area are welcome to come and play or listen or talk about steel guitars.

[Stu Schulman]

Blake,When I travel to Florida to see my cousins I will find you.

[Bo Legg]

Hey I don't feel intimidated or feel sorry for myself. I join, go to the Shows and jams. The butt kickin' I'd get is if I'd drive 90 miles carry that steel and amp in and out. Hell I get all the pidkin' this old man should, so I just bring me and a friend kick back and enjoy.
I 'm just pointing out what I observe and mostly I notice that it's a bunch of friends getting together at a Jam, having so much fun they don't notice who's there or what's going on around them!
Really what difference does any of it make in that regard (old, young, mediocre) or if one or a hundred show up when you pay for the band and hall and don't charge for the Jam. The jam becomes more than a 100% expense!

[Bo Legg]

I guess it's relativity and I've seen things different since I just sit there and observe as part of the audience and not as a friend or participant!
Well anyway money would be a lot more helpful than my opinion!

[Mike Wilkerson]

All I’ve ever seen at the jam rooms at steel shows is the players having fun doing what they love. Never seen a trophy or prize at the end for who beat who and who played the fastest. I always learned from watching them. Kinda like what my grandfather said when adults were talking “shut up and listen you might learn something”

[Donny Hinson]

You are not making sense. Our jams have never been a competition. There was never a trophy at the end of the weekend.

Maybe...(in theory). But in the practical world, everything is a competition. Whenever two or more things are done, comparisons are inevitable. What would assure it was not seen as a competition? Only having one player.

[Billy Carr]

Everybody's entitled to there own opinion. We use the Gulfport steel show as a mini-vacation each November. We go down Friday morning and come back home on Sunday usually. My wife and I, never meet a stranger. I enjoy talking steel guitar and hearing stories from different players. Anyone wanna use any of my equipment, just do it. I could care less. Sometimes I play behind a singer, sometimes I don't. Doesn't matter. I play to entertain the folks that paid to come see the show. Everything from Little Roy Wiggins, John Hughey, Don Helms, Hal Rugg and others. Don't matter. We usually make a donation to Bill to help with the show also. We go down to the coast expecting to spend money and have a good weekend. Just fun. I'm retired and steel guitar is all I'm really interested in now. I started in 71' and here 2020, well I've got an addiction. Called PSG. Ha !!!