anyone have an answer for this guy??

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

This came in an email ... I don't know the fellow, but I guess he's either not a member or doesn't like to post.. this is copied right from my mail.. I think his name is Bob..

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Bob,
I thought about posting this but I cant come up with a "subject title".
Scenario: You are playing steel but it is one of those nights when fingers or nothing else works right, so you stick to the very basic and cannot do that properly. In the middle of the second set, in walks a couple of steel pickers and one of them is a really hot picker. Boy, now do you really stick to the very very basic stuff and seem to do a lousy job. On the next day, the guys in your band brag on how well you did and say they need to have _________ show up more often. ???????????????????????????????????????????

Maybe you can come up with a way to start a thread!

Bob CCP
"

Bill McCloskey · From: Nanuet, NY

Sounds like this guy may "over play" during his regular set and all the fancy stuff he does doesn't seem to come off well to the rest of the band. On a night when he feels he is not doing his best and the hot pickers are in town, he sticks to the basics which probably worked better in the context of the band. Maybe he needs to get back to basics more often.

Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

My friend,& co-picker,Dennis Payne has a key word to remember when it comes to playing. That word is "KISS"

Keep
It
Simple
Stupid

Works every time.

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  ~ ~


  ©¿©  It don't mean a thang,   


  mm   if it ain't got that twang.


       www.ntsga.com

Michael Breid · From: Eureka Springs, Arkansas, USA

I'm with you Smiley. The KISS principle always works for me. I know guys who panic when another musician walks into the place they are playing. I always look at it as, "Say what you will about my playing, but you're helping pay my salary, I'm not paying to see you". With the way the business is getting so cutthroat anymore it doesn't surprise me that club/show owners hire a replacement if they think they are cheaper. Talent doesn't seem to matter anymore. It's the lowest bidder who ofttimes gets the gig. If someone knocks me out of my pickin' job so be it. I can always work on the garbage truck with uncle John until another pickin' job comes along. At least mom always told me he was my uncle.

Jordan Shapiro · From: Echo Park, California, USA

I would have to concur with the KISS method. I have been playing the steel for about 4 years now, and know enough to get myself in TROUBLE, yet not enough to get myself out of trouble!

A few months ago I was playing a show, and was about to "take off" on what i thought might be a hot solo, when smoething in head said "slow it down and play something that counts". Ever since that night, I have been playing far less notes, and concentrating on the melody of whatever song I'm playing. Wouldn't you know it, I feel better about my steel playing than I ever have. And somehow, the fast stuff slips in here and there anyway.(It just sounds better as part of a melodic, well played ride).

To your mystery emailer: If you can't post something on this forum because you don't know how to title it, I'm gonna say you think too much, and that is something that has held me back in my steelin' also. You sound like someone that has a grasp on the basics of playing, it's time to forget about thinkin' and start playin'!

And don't be afraid to tell those guys in your band what you think about their "supportive' comments.
There's my 2 cents,
Cheers,
Jordan

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

Tell the guy to pay less attention to his band mates. They will only confuse him....more than they already have.

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

Who needs lead singers anyway. Just play over 'em and drown 'em out...

You mean the purpose of the band ISN'T to showcase the steel player????

[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 28 November 2005 at 11:44 AM.]

John Daugherty · From: Rolla, Missouri, USA

When I first met Wynn Stewart he told me "If you're gonna play country, keep your boots on".

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www.phelpscountychoppers.com/steelguitar

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Do what you can do, and then just smile and forget it. We're not changing the world, we're just earning a living, having a good time, or maybe doing both (if we're lucky). At my last steel show, I flubbed a couple of songs big time! So what? It's not a big deal, really. Hopefully, I did something someone liked. If not, I'll just try to do better the next time.

Rule #1...Don't sweat the small stuff.

Rule #2...Everything is small stuff!

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

Let's not forget the other aspect of this equation, i.e. when the whole band thinks they're smokin' but at break time everybody wants to know "what's wrong with you guys tonight" - then the next night the band thinks they really suck but everybody's talking about how they're playing better than they ever did!

Phil Lesh once told a story about a terrible night when nothing seemed to come together on stage and he was so frustrated that he pushed Garcia down some stairs during a break - months later they listened to the tapes and the music was actually so energized that they used a bunch of it to put out a new album.

I remember playing shows that I thought were the greatest until I heard the (shoot me now, please) recordings, I've also spent whole nights wondering if I would ever get it together (when will the ideas come? Can't I EVER hit the strings I want to hit?) and afterwards even the best steelers in the crowd were complimenting me on my great picking. Go figure....

BTW I can only add one item to Donny's excellent list: Rule #3: Smile! We can all handle hearing a mistake now and then, far better than we can handle watching somebody on stage who looks lost or pissed! Besides, not everybody even knows we goofed unless we make it obvious.

[This message was edited by Dave Grafe on 28 November 2005 at 02:51 PM.]

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

If I could ever get the signature thing here to work, it would say what it says on most other sites and my business card:

"No Chops, but great Tone".

Over the years I've gotten to where I play *less* stuff in a solo, as it all gets lost anyway. By the time I really know what I'm doing I'll just play ONE note.

But it'll be REALLY good!

Howard Tate · From: Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.

I've noticed that when a good player would book in a place where I was in the house band, people would compliment me more then usual. I always thought they were just trying to make me feel ggod, that it wasn't really true. I always took it with a grain of salt.

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Howard, 'Les Paul Recording, Zum SD12U, Carter D10 8/8, Vegas 400, Boss ME-5, Boss DM-3, DD-3, Fender Steel King, Understanding wife. http://www.Charmedmusic.com

Larry Strawn · From: Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.

K.I.S.S.
Now that's where it's at!!

Some times when a good player comes in,,,, I've been known to invite him to sit in a while!!

Larry

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Emmons S/D-10, 3/5, Sessions 400 Ltd. Home Grown E/F Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"

Jim Phelps · From: Mexico City, Mexico

Donny H and Dave G pretty much said it for me too.

Jennings Ward · From: Edgewater, Florida, R.I.P.

RAY SAID IT FOR ME.... THANKS RAY.......
JENNINGS U PK;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

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EMMONS D10 10-10 profex 2 deltafex ne1000 pv1000, pv 31 bd eq, +

Ray Uhl · From: Riverside, Missouri, USA

A friend of mine once said, "No one goes out to play their worst; they always do their best." This has been my motto ever since.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

of course..
Keep it STUPID-SIMPLE, is always the best recourse..

but I also cannot help but comment ..

All musicians, regardless of Instruments , should be rehearsed and have a bag of tricks they are comfortable with that can be executed in AUTOPILOT..this does not mean they have to be wizing everyone with awesome phrases and melodies..it means they should have a set of "things" ready to roll, that they can do without thinking about it.

I am fairly certain that most of us need a few minutes to warm up, iron out the kinks, align the picks whatever...but after that it should be business as usuall..

We all have off moments..but I am thinking that they should not last the entire night..we should be able to get past those situations...and on to business as usual..

Jim Palenscar · From: Oceanside, Calif, USA

That exact thing happened to me 3 weeks ago at a local gig. I could not hit my a#@ with a 2x4 and felt like the entire band was just "off"- including about a 4 hour solo of in "LaGrange" as the rest of the band stopped playing looking for a place to come in (seemed like 4 hours- probably was only about 30-40 secs)- while I was attempting to locate a key center with full-on in-your-face distortion. When the gig ended, I packed as quickly as possible and vanished without saying goodby to anyone- totally embarassed at my performance. The following day several folks came up/called to say what a great job the band did and how clean we were. Go figure!

Nic du Toit · From: Milnerton, Cape, South Africa

Donny,
So, now you have three rules to content with. #3 = Smile

That will confuse them!
After all is said and done, I'll remember your rules!
Regards,
Nic

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Nic du Toit
1970 Rosewood P/P Emmons D10 Fatback 8x4
Peavey Session 500 unmodfied
CD "Nightmare on Emmons Steel"
CD "Steel Smokin'"
Veruschka's CD "Don't Dream it's Over"
Click here to E-mail us.

Chris Forbes · From: Beltsville, MD, USA

Fortunately, I have no shame, so it doesn't bother me. Curry Coster showed up to my gig last week with Paul Vendemmia. Both of these guys play circles around me in their sleep. I just don't care, I even played guitar for a set and had Curry play an entire set with us. Then I happily inflicted my steel playing on them for the rest of the night!! I even have the nerve to try to fill Gary Lee Gimble's shoes in the band he left (and if you've ever heard him play, OY VEY!!!). I've heard from more than one player that they never would have taken the job after Gary left, SISSIES!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!

pdl20 · From: Benton, Ar . USA,

it kept me in cash by playing (kiss)

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

Bob,

With all due respect, I don'get it???

What's this guy asking? It's not too clear.

Yup, I'm dense.

Andy Greatrix · From: Edmonton Alberta

The late Art Snider told me back in the seventies, "If you're going to make a mistake, make a @#$% good one, but what ever you do, don't hold back!"

Alex Piazza · From: Arkansas, USA

I find myself playing different for different crowds of folks. Every tuesday I play a 4 hour gig for younger kids that are all trying to get laid rather than dig on the music. That gig is great because I can overplay and try new stuff and it doesnt matter. I actually get a great response when I start to show off. Its the only thing that grabs their attention. Its good practice for gigs that I tend to take more seriously. I tend to play with more taste in front of other musicians. Wich Im starting to think is stupid. There is something to be said about keeping stuff simple and modest, but it seems like everybodys doing that, and its starting to get boring to watch. theres also something to be said about playing with some balls. I dont know

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