The Steel Guitar Forum

Okay... I'm showing my age here, but I remember a time when every town and every small city in my area had several clubs that featured live music from 2 to 7 nights a week. Some places had "house bands" that played 5 nights a week... year-round. And there were lots of other live music gigs to be had. A musician could play 6 nights a week if he wanted to. I figure that I've done over 3000 gigs on the steel guitar to date, but most of them were between 1977 and 1987.

That circuit of live music clubs is pretty much gone now. So how do today's young budding players gain experience? Playing in front of a live audience is the best experience one can have, but with so little live music around, how are the young players going to hone their skills?

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www.dougbsteel.com

I live in northeastern Maryland, where there are still a few bars with live country music left. Our plan is to circulate through a couple of them so that we don't see the same crowd and I get more experience on steel.

I could see a problem with someone who wants to turn this into a living, but my situation is fine for a weekend warrior.

P.S. There aren't too many steelers up my way, so if I get good at it I'll probably never be out of a gig.

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Ron Plichta, former headbanger and PSG player in training.

MSA Classic S-10
Fender '62 Reissue Stratocaster
Fender Telecaster
Paul Reed Smith CE24 Maple Top
Rivera R100

Doug,IMHO the reason we no longer have places to play is the lack of "danceable" country music.All you hear on the radio is set for concerts,you know smoke,water,swinging vines and pyromaniacs.I too remember when we could work most nights we wanted.Music has changed,the crowds have changed and the newer crowds don't want to spend the money in clubs or bars.They go and support the new music.I still believe they would support traditional music if they ever get a chance to hear it.Next they would actually have to learn to dance.Ray

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Steeling is still legal in Arizona

Most clubs don't want to pay the big bucks to a band. It's cheaper and easier to hire a DJ.

I'm sure that I would never have become as good a player as I am today if I hadn't spent 4 hours every Friday and Saturday night for two decades "practicing" in bars. But then, my liver would be in much better shape, too, so maybe it's a wash.

Doug, I share your concern. I think that young musicians today need to find a band that rehearses seriously once or twice a week, and actually performs live at least once a month. Also, they need to practice alone with rhythm tracks almost daily.

Let's not forget that you learn better when you're sober. If I had spent those Friday and Saturday nights practicing in earnest, I'm sure I'd be a much better player than I am today. The booze and drugs didn't help at all.

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<small><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session S-12 (E9), Speedy West D-10 (E9, D6),
Sierra 8 Laptop (D13), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (D13, A6)

They sure were fun at the time,weren't they b0b. Ray

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Steeling is still legal in Arizona

Doug you and I shared the same era and somenights the same bandstand.Itwas nice to only be out of work when I wanted to. From 73 -88 I always had 5-6 nights a week. Then came the line dancing fat hogs of the dance,regular people couldn't dance anymore unless they got into that mode.Country material was always getting fresh stuff from the Hag Conway ect. And request sometimes overode planned sets. Each week someone had a jamboree and the clubs were jumping.And nights I had off I could always find myself sitting in or being special guest booked with Al and you.And the Sundays after the MT Park gigs when whoever we were backing would follow us to the C+W lounge. I hope you still get some students,but places to play may never be like it was . While I think of it Teddy Cody told me Al had a stroke.

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CJC

Joe,you are right the dancers.Saturday I was watching a local station here in the Phoenix area,I swear nothing is sacred anymore.A bunch of teen agers,dressed in country type frilly dresses with a western top.The boys had the sane type and color shirts with white pants and shoes.They were clogging----I swear again,to a rock song.I couldn't believe what I was seeing much less hearing.Ray

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Steeling is still legal in Arizona

Young players develop by practicing at home!
Yes, having moose halls and vfw halls to set in at! These clubs have been happening for along time now.
Steel shows help showcase a player, but it's not as open because they tend to want name players perform!

There are tons of bands for steel players to play with. Quite literally tons of country bands (all styles of music for that matter)gigging without steel players that would love to have a steel player. The reality is, for the vast majority of steel pickers, that there is no money or general job security, medical benifits, ect, in steel playing. After my ten years on the road I chose to go back to school and and get a day job and play for FUN, and whatever money I make is gravy. There are tons of bands on college campus' that jam endlessly. There are weekend warrior groups playing all over the place every weekend. All a guys gotta do is ask to sit in and not mind not getting paid. I would never reccomend "Steel Player in a band" as a legitimate occupation for young person to persue. In todays world I would reccomend they get a degree in something, a good job, and then the "steel player in a band" part. But everyones got to go to their own school of hard nocks. I had some of the greatest times of my life being a flat broke steel player in a band!
How can the young players develop? One way... Go out and play for free with whoever will let you on stage.

It takes allot of live gigging to work out the kinks and get the feel thing happening. Jazz is different now also because the players coming up learned how to play in school. (instead of the school of hard knockers )

I am convinced that the reason the musicians coming out of Texas have the flavor is because of playing dances. The bass players from Texas have that steady, relaxed with an edge groove. Those two steppers will sit down on you if you lose the groove.

Live music is just not as big a thing as it used to be. There are other things that take its place for young musicians. I'm not so sure that it is a change for the better. I am glad that at least I got to play all the time when I was a kid.

Bob

Pete, I play in two different bands, both on
a part time basis. One I sit in with is a
straight traditional country band called the
Blue country Band and the other one is a Folk/country band called Fat Hands. I Like
the last minute type of calls I get to play,I'll pretty much play where ever I can
because I love to play. We recently played a
Bookstore in New Hamphire, it paid 50 bucks,
but what the heck, That's a tank of gas these
days. My Hats off to the folks that can make
a living playing steel.

Jim--same here.
As you say. Two beers and the strings run together, so I said, ok, no beers!....al

Hi Pete, I had to add this. Your Post makes a lot of sense and plenty true too!...al<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Al Marcus on 25 October 2000 at 09:40 PM.]</p></FONT>

I always thought I played better if I was drinking.

So it seems like "sitting-in" for little or no money, or practicing at home to tracks are about the only options for new players today.
b0b... I agree that lots of practice to tracks, rehersal, and occasional live gigs are necessary.

Joe, sorry to hear that Al had a stroke. Geez... he's only My age! Or, I'm His age!


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www.dougbsteel.com

I'll probably get stomped for this one, but what the heck!

Doug, I'm actually hoping that the passing of the bars will help the "originality" of the future crop of steelplayers. What we really need are a few isolated players who will develop their own style and techniques. I'm not saying that lessons, and tab, are bad. On the contrary, they're the shortest route to learning the instrument. I just feel that we need a serious dose of "originality" in the steel world. Style usually sells more than ability, so we might possibly benefit from someone who knows nothing about the steel (as it is today) learning it "his own way".

No one likes Classic Country, and the "old stuff" more than I do. But, with all due respect to today's top session players, what we really need are a few more players like Reece, Julian, Curley, and Sneaky (the one's who are different!)

Donny,

I agree with you 1000% about originality. I have always thought that there is too much "sameness" in the pedal steel world... but that's a whole different topic

Part of the blame lies with the record producers, who demand a certain sound from the pedal steel. It's hard for the studio players to "break through" with anything different. And a certain amount of the blame lies with the players themselves. What our instument needs is a big pop hit featuring the steel in a unique way... much like Santo & Johnny's #1 pop hit of 1959, Sleepwalk. People want something new, fresh, and different. I don't know what form that would take in 2000, but it has to be a New Voice for the pedal steel, and one that appeals to the masses.

Getting back to the original post, IMHO it takes years of practice, thousands of hours of dedication, and a ton of live performance to make one an expert player.. not just adequate, but pro level. Yes, the bars were a bad scene and a lot of the same stuff was rehashed in bar bands, but a guy could sure get his chops together playing 5 or 6 nights a week for years. That's about the only positive thing to come out of that situation.



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www.dougbsteel.com

Well Doug, we got plenty expeience in the bars...and got paid for it! But mostly, we played "bar music". Oh, we did get the occasional "stump the band" people who would ask for the weird stuff, but 99% of the stuff we were asked to do...we could play in our sleep! Country, country-rock, and an occasional pop, grass, or jazz tune...that's about all we did.

To really get the steel accepted in other forms of music, we're going to have to "think outside the box". And, in this case, the "box" is Nashville, Texas, and Branson.

It certainly is a little harder for a novice to develope without places to play.Woodsheding practiceing is the way to learn.However most of the greats had the venues to apply their craft,exposure of their talents was the route to their successes.You never find Session players getting jobs in the help wanted adds,I don't believe the labels take applications.Basically It all amounts to exposure of talents. It's hard for the Steel to be a factor in other music because even now it's used basically as a fill instrument in the newer country not a lead instrument.You hear fills and background but not any rides or intros. Most of the newer stuff is more open too Keyboard and Guitar.I am glad they are still using Steel,But thats all it amounts too "using steel".NTIOMHO

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CJC

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Joe Casey on 18 October 2000 at 04:45 AM.]</p></FONT>

Good thoughts, Joe! Your point is well taken. The "classic" steel work is found a lot more on the "filler cuts" than on the main songs. When they want the songs to "cross over", the steel's very "understated".

You can thank MADD for the demise of a lot of bars; and the 'law' really breaking heads now for drunk driving.
A 1st offense DUI rap will cost you a minimum $5,000 - $6,000 before they are thru with you, which is 6 years down the line on auto surcharges, and driver license point reinstallation back up to it's lowest number, 15 I think [1 point back/year for 5 points=
5 years]
Being in the bar business today isn't much fun or 'glamorous' anymore. Most folks around my age just don't care to get out that much and stay out late on a Friday or Saturday night, nevermind during the week.
And that younger crowd surely is not going to support real country music.
I think it's all seen it's day.
See you in Waltham on Sunday, Doug. Coming along with Sammy Gibson again.
FWIW...Chips Ahoy

Hi folks,

I'm a newer player and I'm learning A LOT on the bar circuit, but it takes a lot of DRIVING, DRIVING, DRIVING --at least in this town! (L.A.). The money is O.K. but nothing one could live on. Still, it pays more than playing originals in a pop/rock band (which pays, more or less, zero).

As a guy with a day job, I have more gigs than I know what to do with. Wish I could take them all, but they're very spread out, and I've gotta sleep sometime! So it's basically drive, drive, drive, play, drive, drive, drive, get home, scramble into bed, wake up, go to work.

I recommend a good truck and no family !

GV

I'm sure glad to hear new players in todays country or whatever one calls it?
Practice makes perfect always! That's the way it is! Theresa