The Steel Guitar Forum

Looking back over the years I can say I’ve been playing paid gigs now for close to 30 years. I’m by no means playing anywhere near the level of the pro players or a lot of the top amateur players here on the forum. I’ve always been a part time player working weekends after my day job.
Since we all realize we’ll never get rich playing steel I’d like to assume that we all made it this far down the road because we simply love playing.
But how can you measure a successful part time career?
In my opinion anyone who is fortunate enough to earn enough over the years to pay off all their gear is a “financially” successful steel player.
I’m just curious how many are out there who have achieved this lofty goal?

I tried adding a poll to this post but for some reason it didn’t post. I must be doing something wrong.

I hate to be glib but, everyone has their own measure of "success".

If you're happy with what you're doing, to me that equals "success".

My personal metric is most certainly different than the next player.

h

I agree with you 100%. That’s why my question includes “ financial”.

Indeed but, that might not be my measure for "financial success".

To my mind, to be playing regularly is an achievement in itself regardless of how much money you make from it. It means that you are held in regard, which is impossible to put a figure on but is clearly worth something!

I never expected to pay for my gear, so I can't be disappointed

Guess I need my eyes checked.... thought this said GIGGILING

For some time I could use gig bux for gear- was playing a lot and had a pretty decent day job.After awhile the job went bye-bye-- choice between a hot band and a berserko government agency employer-- so gig bux went to pay the bills until a decent retirement and a well-situated Mrs. entered the picture.

I have many of the toys I jonesed for back in the day, and nowadays the rare times I do have a GAS relapse I can save up.

All that said, it does seem that gear I paid for out of gig bux has a special cachet, because it paid for itself, like good work tools should.

My playing paid for my gear (ALL of it) dozens of times over...for two simple reasons. The first is that I worked remarkably often, and steady, for well over four decades. The second is that I didn't buy every gizmo or guitar that came down the pike, or that I was interested in (even though I could have). I realized very early on that great gear doesn't make a great player, or even a good one. I played my first guitar for eight years, my second guitar for twenty-nine years, and my third and fourth guitars for twenty-two, with the third guitar being played over 90% of that time.

But when I'm asked about success, I believe that none of that is really important. To me, the only thing that makes you "successful" is if you really enjoy what you're doing, and if you were appreciated and given the opportunity to do what you do best. In all the bands I was in, I was lucky enough to play with some fantastic musicians, and I was given remarkable leeway and exposure. What more could you ask for? And so I say:

Success is a feeling, not an amount of money.

I think I've paid for it once or twice now (almost 5 years). But when the bill for my Mullen comes I'll have to start over-waaay over.

I'm very lucky to be a career musician on a completely different horn. Success for me on the PSG is just that I want to be good, really good someday.

When I'm fully retired and kids grown, if I was aver asked to go on the road with somebody, even an opening act, or very short tour. Well that would be a bucket list thing.

That's a tough measure. Maybe the number of goals you've reached? Each of us has different goals. Or, changing strings two to four times per month? Or, being able to recognize the imprint you left on your pack-a-seat cushion?

Bob, you've always been one of the "go to" guys in our area. You're a good a player and you have graced many stages with the best bands around. You are and have been a very successful steel player!

Yes Ben, and all the while playing Left Handed

Bob may also have the distinction of playing at the end of the Englishtown drag strip while Funny Cars and Top Fuelers are going by at 300 plus MPH.

Success for me means being able to continue to pursue my muse and moving forward musically.

Years ago, gigs paid the bills but I wasn’t very happy. So I decided to make changes. I’ve always had a keen ear for production, arranging, etc, but not the opportunities to do it with others, so I’ve used my time as a steel player to sharpen those skills.

Even today, gigs end up costing me money. I mean, it’s great, I play with some of the best musicians in th the world, but money is not the goal in gigging anymore, unless it’s sideman work, which doesn’t come often for me. And truthfully, my gigging days are coming to an end. There are a lot of other ways to earn.

I’d like to leave some kind of musical legacy, something that people will want to listen to for years. That would be success for me.

I have paid for my gear many times over both when I was playing full time and part time. However, as mentioned above, Success is not measured in monetary receipts. It is how you, yourself view your progress on this beast of an instrument. Some guys come by the talent naturally and others like me, have to work at it.
I think success is what you believe it is. Some reach levels that mere mortals can't get to. You are probably more of a success that you realize, sometimes we reach a plateau and think we have nothing more. The next thing you know, there's a new lick to be had. You never stop learning. When you look at the crowd and they are smiling and clapping for what I just played, that is success to me.

I'm not sure if you can say that Ive been successful, but I have played full time starting out in 1968 and then getting my first full giging lineup in 1973. I have constantly been playing pedal steel 3 and 4 nights a week throughout the Spokane, Washington area. Lately I have to keep my schedule up by playing in 3 bands. I have to constantly watch to make sure I do not double book myself, and the bands understand that I am a 'hired gun' so to speak. Its first come-first served policy. That used to get musicians upset, telling me that I should be loyal to only one band, when they are only gigging once or twice a month. Today things have changed and the bands are more understanding-its my living, if I don't play I don't pay bills. Also, things are louder today-volume wise. I have to wear ear plugs on a constant basis. I measure the success of a part time player as if there are gigs, and the player is playing the gigs, really doesn't matter how often. I haven't gotten rich, but I have made a living, so maybe I could call my own case as a financially successful steel player.

Bob Grado wrote:Looking back over the years I can say I’ve been playing paid gigs now for close to 30 years. I’m by no means playing anywhere near the level of the pro players or a lot of the top amateur players here on the forum. I’ve always been a part time player working weekends after my day job.
Since we all realize we’ll never get rich playing steel I’d like to assume that we all made it this far down the road because we simply love playing.
But how can you measure a successful part time career?
In my opinion anyone who is fortunate enough to earn enough over the years to pay off all their gear is a “financially” successful steel player.
I’m just curious how many are out there who have achieved this lofty goal?

I got into steel later in my musical life, but it's all the same. I split gig money - 50% into home expenses, 50% in my gear/repairs etc account. I also started doing tech and finishing work on the side in the 1970's and still do work for old bandmates, friends and referrals.

I had a decent...but not monstrously high-paying - series of management jobs over the years and my (now ex, but a goods friend) wife has been a nurse manager for decades.

I own my house (which we used as a rental) a mile from the beach, 2 rental properties, a sports car that keeps increasing in value and a sizable vintage / boutique instrument and amp collection; she owns our old house 4 blocks from the water and a place in the mountains, and our kids have done really well. And I have an IRA the kids will end up with

Some of the guys I do work for are former touring/studio players (several very recognizable names) who either have huge mortgages or are still living in apartments.

I turned down touring gigs because I had a job with a retirement pension or IRA, and knew after a month tour I'd be looking for a job.

I play several instruments - none incredibly well, but I guess I rarely make mistakes, stay out of the way/lay out a lot, have good tone and somehow always sound like me - not an imitator. So even though I consider myself a very mediocre player with almost zero theory knowledge and no reading ability, I was in demand more than I could work (and had to quit gigging about 6 years ago because of chronic pain issues and sporadic G.I. issues).

I could probably live to 100 financially just by selling off my collection, which came from HALF my gig/studio money.

i guess I did OK, - still do at 70 and officially "retired". And still use my old catchphrase: "No Chops, but Great Tone".

Allen Toussaint has a tune called "What Is Success," https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB7FtZ8D2jk which kind of sums it up.

For me, it's a challenge every gig. If I have decent tone and feel I played pretty well (for me), it all feels worth it. When that isn't the case (often), it feels like WTF, I practice daily, learn the tunes, schlep the equipment, deal with 100 other "complain-able" things, for what?

It helps when I'm gigging more often, like 5-8 times per month, rather than 2-4, so that my chops are up a little bit more and at least I'll hit the notes I'm going for. And I am lucky to usually play with good players.

As far as the bigger picture goes, I am blessed to have played with some of my heroes and to have done some of my own recordings. So that's been a success and has exceeded my expectations.

Joe

My equipment has been paid for over an over via gig money. As long as I can continue to be called to do sessions and keep playing… I feel that is successful.

I like Mike Neer's response to this thread.

Me? I've played pro since 1959 (just guitar at first: steel came later) and I've kept a roof over my head from just playing music. That is another 'measure of success', in my view.

Now, thrice-weekly dialysis pretty much rules out taking show contracts away from home but, as I'll be 80 next birthday, I'm okay with that. Now I sit here at home, switch knee-levers at a whim (then realize it was better as it was!), seek out some challenging chord-changes on either neck, etc., etc...

In other words, I please myself.

I also have a new steel coming: a Williams 12-string with a version of D13th (a tuning I believe could become a standard one day) and I've no doubt I'll get inspiration from that challenge.

It's success of a sort.

I think success depends on what your goals are. If you've reached your goals then you're a success. To me success is being appreciated for what you do, and being able to do what you want to do. I've paid for my gear several times over. We are booked every weekend. there were some weekends we would have to play two gigs a day, playing four gigs in two days. Lot of musicians don't want to play that much, but I love doing it.

For me I never actually thought about or considered if MUSIC made me financially successful. Of course I earned EXTRA cash regularly for over 50 years and I'm sure if I added it all up I would be WAY over the PLUS line. I've also not been without a full time job- ever- until I retired in 2015.

Have I been successful ? Well in my eyes , sure. I started playing music in front of people at age 15 and I'm still doing it at age 74. I cut my gig schedule back but I could also have gone the other direction, adding gigs.

Yes I still have a lot of gear , mostly its specific to gigs that I play. I parted with a good amount of gear that I collected over the last decade or so, amps, guitars, pedals etc.

My own definition of "music success" TODAY is enjoying the music I play , playing it to the best of my ability and enjoying the people I play with. At one time I accepted every gig that was offered, but I'm well beyond that now. Maybe that's part of the definition, not having to accept every gig . I've never been in a situation where I had to play gigs for a living, needing the income, thats a totally different world that I was never part of. Others of course DO need the gigs for income. When I needed extra income, I started a part time business , which for me was Outdoor Services. That was regular hard work with added FINANCIAL success. Yep, full time job, 7 am to 3:30 PM, cut grass or whatever almost every day from 4 to 6 and Saturdays - and played gigs at night ! Holy cow !
!
So gig money for me was and is obviously important, but not the primary factor. I never played for "free" and still have a "min price " when accepting a gig. I know my OWN value. Today my time and enjoyment is primary.

I borrowed money for my first Pedal Steel in 1982. It was a brand new Sho Bud Maverick. $495.00. I started playing regular in 1983. From that point my future Pedal Steels and my gear over the years was paid in full from my Gig money. Never had to use money from my day job.

I tried a day job thing a while back where I could have become a millionaire after a bit. Then I thought what would I do once I had money. I immediately knew I would quit and play music. Ad the reality that once time passes it is gone. I promptly quit my job and began to live like my own version of a millionaire. (Although often in very long periods of brutal poverty. )

I was working with the ultra wealthy and they didn’t have anything I really wanted. I felt like I was rotting inside when I wasn’t playing. It was a very disturbing feeling.

40 years later I realize that I was freakin nuts and that I have been extremely lucky to land on my feet !

BTW: I have never been what any normal person would consider financially successful

I’ve never spent the money on gear until it was in my hands. Since I have always done my own taxes, I can say there was only one year (out of 40 or so) that I outspent my music income, and that was mostly because of all the mileage I put on the truck just getting to theaters or festivals or airports (the 5000/500/50 principle at work there)

I saved gig money for a couple pre-pandemonium years to buy my new Williams in 2021. Counting only the dates I’ve played it on, not quite half-paid for yet. Still a few more to go this year though

I do know personally a couple guys who have probably earned their steel-gear purchase money hundreds of times over. Does that count?