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Topic: No steady gig in over 2 years!! |
Austin Tripp
From:
Nashville TN
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Posted 9 Feb 2012 10:04 pm |
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Well I was cleaning my steel tonight and thinking of how many bands I've played for and I decided to pull out my log book. From January 2010 until January 2012,, I've played with a total of 10 different bands! But the downside is I've only played an average of 3 shows with each band. Most of the time, the singer will say "man we love the sound of a steel guitar and we very fortunate to have you". A week later, "man I hate to tell you this but were going to have to let you go for now, gigs don't pay what they use to" when really the band is hiring a keyboard player who can "simulate" different sounds including a steel guitar. What is happening to the steel guitar? Does todays country artist hate us or something? A friend of mine who runs his own studio, took an 80's Aerosmith song and a recent country song ( can't remember the title ), put it on pro tools and took all the vocals out and asked my grandmother to pick the country song. She absolutely could not tell the difference between the two. Keeping a steady job with the steel is getting harder and harder. Anybody else having problems or is it just this ole country boy with to many guitars? I just needed to vent for a little bit lol!!!!
Austin Tripp |
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Leslie Ehrlich
From:
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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Posted 10 Feb 2012 1:41 am Re: No steady gig in over 2 years!!
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| Austin Tripp wrote: |
| A friend of mine who runs his own studio, took an 80's Aerosmith song and a recent country song ( can't remember the title ), put it on pro tools and took all the vocals out and asked my grandmother to pick the country song. She absolutely could not tell the difference between the two. Keeping a steady job with the steel is getting harder and harder. |
I think this is the reason why some former members rant about the state of country music nowadays.
I play rock music and I find that the situation isn't any better than the country scene - I think it may be worse. Paid gigs are few and far between. It seems like every man and his dog has a band together and they're all fighting for the few paying gigs that are left.
_________________
Sho-Bud Pro III + Marshall JMP 2204 half stack = good grind! |
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Dave Hopping
From:
Aurora, Colorado
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Posted 10 Feb 2012 9:25 am
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Austin,the players who do have steady work are very,very lonesome.The rest of us can-and do- tell stories identical to yours.Threads like this one come up all the time on all the forums I visit,and I'm certain I could make more money than I do gigging just by betting this topic gets discussed just as often on all the forums I DON'T visit.
We could sure use some ideas about how to create a friendlier PAID-musician environment.As it is,you can gig to the extent that your day job allows you to pay to gig. |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 10 Feb 2012 9:46 am
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If you learn to simulate the sound of a keyboard player, they won't replace you with one. I generally think of the pedal steel as being more versatile than keyboard, not less. Beside the obvious organ and horn section parts, you can do all of the bottleneck rock lead guitar parts and dobro parts. They only thing that's really hard to simulate is piano.
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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Steven Finley
From:
California, USA
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Posted 10 Feb 2012 10:02 am
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Austin,you are correct,a few years ago I turned down
work,meaning I had so much,I could not be in two places or jobs,at the same time.
Now I work with one man who is a singer Who
keeps me working,but it is all on the road,he has
a bus,so it elminates motel rooms for a 5 piece band
and you can carrey your food on the bus and eliminate
those costs,and still come back with a little money.
As far as local work in california there is very
little and if a band is hired its for one nite only,
also the distance for most local california jobs if
your driveing your car you will spend more in gas
then what they will pay a player.
I think most of us are going through the same thing,
hang in there,your a great player. |
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Alan Tanner
From:
Near Dayton, Ohio
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Posted 10 Feb 2012 10:25 am
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| Our group stays somewhat busy, but not as much as we would like. I was making more money per gig 30 years ago than we can get now. And we have a 5 piece band with four singers. I also double with a synth to do piano sounds, a little fiddle, banjo, some horn work, and we have a good steel picker. I work with three different groups beside the main one, and still am not what I would call busy busy. Places we play just rave about us, but dont seem to have the $$$ to hire anybody regularly much. That, and the sharks around here will do anything to undercut you and steel your job while smiling in your face.... |
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Paul King
From:
Gainesville, Texas, USA
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Posted 10 Feb 2012 10:57 am
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| What a shame it is Austin not to get more gigs. It is not you, but money is the main factor in such decisions. Many people today want to sing with tracks due to it being cheaper and knowing the material. I simply refuse to pay my money to hear anyone sings with tracks. I too have a hard time getting to play compared to a few years ago. |
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Lynn Stafford
From:
Ridgefield, WA USA
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Posted 10 Feb 2012 11:50 am Steady Gigs
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Well, our band is pretty fortunate to have a lot of gigs already booked through the rest of this year. But, with the economy the way it is (and has been for a while) it's really hard to get a lot of money out of the clubs. In the Portland, Oregon area there seems to be a lot of 2-3 person groups singing to tracks and of course they can do a gig for much less (and still make more per person than our 6 person band). Like Alan said, I also made more per gig 30 years ago than I do now. And now, we have to compete with these 2-3 person groups that can afford to play for less. I even heard from the guy at a large Elks Lodge that books us, and we play at regularly, that a woman who leads a newer country band offered to play there for FREE, just to get her foot in the door!! When people do things like that, it makes it even harder to get a higher price than we currently get (which is way too low as it is). I'm the leader and I do most all of the booking for us. It's a tough job but having a great bunch of musicians and singers in our band makes it easier. We've developed a loyal following of fans that makes a pretty good impression to the club managers, compared to some of the other bands. I know the clubs make more profit when they have patrons that eat, drink, dance and stay longer because thay like what they hear.
_________________
Best regards,
Lynn Stafford
STEEL GUITAR WEST
http://www.steelguitarwest.com
Steel Guitar Technician (Restoration, Set-up, Service and Repair work)
Previous Emmons Authorized Dealer & Service Technician (original factory is now closed)
ZumSteel Authorized Service Technician
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W. C. Edgar
From:
Iowa City Iowa, Madison CT, Nashville, Austin, Phoenix
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Posted 10 Feb 2012 12:27 pm
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In the same respect, I can't find a steel player within 250 miles of me to work the road to save my life. The music is GREAT and a steel players dream but there is no one that can play within 250 miles of me that doesn't either have a day job or is a hired gun that works with everyone. Most club owners I've known get tired of seeing the same player or two in the bands in their clubs sometimes three out of the four weeks a month.
I decided about a year ago that I want to use the same players all the time on every show and not use hired guns. They don't want to stick it out with the rest of the guys that believe in the project and are just in it for the 'right now' cash. One thing I'm really sick of hearing is lines like 'well with the economy like it is we just can't hire bands all the time'. Thats BS, people need to turn off the news stations and wake up to the real world. Fact is the economy is better than it's been since 2008. Everywhere I play Casinos they're packed to the point you can't even find an open slot machine. Things where I live in the Midwest are fine and growing everyday. The enemy is Karaoke and the clubs that support it. What we need is for the Karaoke hosts to start having to pay royalties to all of the songwriters that wrote the songs they're using for free. That would put the brakes on it in a flash. I could care less because I write all of my own music that I record and also own 100% of my writers AND publishing rights.
I hope you find someone close to you so ya can keep busy again.
WC |
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Dick Wood
From:
Springtown Texas, USA
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Posted 10 Feb 2012 12:49 pm
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Ole b0b had me laughing with his imitate the keyboard player idea but seriously,have you ever thought about changing your name to something catchy like Dick Wood?
Arnold Dorsey didn't get many gigs until he changed his name to Engelbert Humperdinck.
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Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night. |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Fred Glave
From:
McHenry, Illinois, USA
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Posted 10 Feb 2012 1:20 pm
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Austin, it seems like we're in the "perfect storm" so to speak for the times we live in...technology that simulates the steel, the decline of country music, and cheap club owners. Not to mention the fact that the average listener has been dumbed down to the point where they cannot tell or notice the difference between living musicians playing authentic musical instruments and the sound of a DJ. Nor do they care. It's our job to get out of the box, and expand the range of the steel. Start your own band, or team up with someone and do it.
Hang in there. 
_________________
Zum Encore, Zum Stage One, Fender 2000, Harlan Bros., Multi-Kord, |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 10 Feb 2012 1:26 pm Do singers hate us?
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I don't think singers hate us. Singers like songs, and songs may or may not call for pedal steel. If all you play is "nice country steel", you're going to be limited to singers and crowds that like only that, and that also can afford an instrument that is (in the hands of many players) fairly limited in scope and capability.
When you want to know why you can't get a job playing steel, you can't be thinking like a steel player - you have to think like the folks who are listening and hiring. 
Be different 
Be animated 
Be innovative 
Be versatile 
Be friendly 
Or...be left out.  |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 10 Feb 2012 1:30 pm
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| Learn at LEAST a second instrument. Anyone who thinks that they are going to sit at just a steel guitar and get work is kidding themselves. I play six (maybe 7)instruments and could play basic and intermediate keyboards if I wanted to. Also, I'm a trained harmony singer specializing in high 5th interval harmonies. I sing thirds also. Lead also. It also helps if you are not over weight and don't look old. You have to make your self more useful than just pedal steel guitar. I stopped playing two years ago to become a builder. My former band won 6 consecutive country music awards here in Buffalo and we opened for over 60 Nashville acts in 10 years. If I wanted to do it again I could. I've had enough. The head of the band had a college degree in Marketing and Communications. The band was booked a year in advance. There was a dress code in the band and everyone dressed as a show band. Every arrangement was rehearsed. Some people bands refuse to rehearse or arrange their music, and they wonder why they can't get work. You have to sell yourself to an audience and to the band that you are playing with. We considered ourselves entertainers and not just musician/players. Our target market was 23 year old women. Some of the most valuable road players in Nashville are multi intrumentalists and harmony singers. It also helps if you can drive a bus. The days of playing for $80.00 a night are over for me. I wouldn't move my equipment and clothes out of the house for less than $100.00 a job. If the band can't pay it, it just means they either suck or it's mismanaged. Gas is $3.65 a gallon here. I'm sorry if I rambled, but I've seen the back of David Lee Murphy and Marty Stuart more than once (openers). |
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Adam Goodale
From:
Pflugerville, TX
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Posted 10 Feb 2012 1:45 pm
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Move to Texas... There is plenty of work here for young steel players.
_________________
Emmons P/P's into the loudest amp I can get ahold of. No effects other than reverb. EVER!. Come catch a show and be sure and say hi! |
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Ken Morgan
From:
Midland, Texas, USA
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Posted 10 Feb 2012 2:22 pm
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As a non-steel player, I can attest to the fact that good steel players are a blessing in Texas. Lots of players, very VERY few good players. Midland and points west is starved for good players.
_________________
67 Shobud Blue Darling III, scads of pedals and such, more 6 strings than I got room for
Ken Morgan
Midland, TX |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 10 Feb 2012 2:28 pm
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| If I'm lyin, I'm dyin. The phone just rang. Concert promoter I know. $250.00. Nashville opener this summer. Is there something in the air? This is too funny. |
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Bill Miller
From:
Gaspe, Quebec, Canada
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Posted 10 Feb 2012 2:49 pm
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W.C. Edgar said:
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| The enemy is Karaoke and the clubs that support it. |
Absolutely! I'm starting to get a real ugly disposition towards karaoke entertainers. Besides scrapping the market for real bands they spoil the opportunity for going out in all but the larger towns and seeing musicians play live. Worse yet, I've known singers who, after performing with backing tracks for awhile, get an uppity attitude about live backup. Obviously the backing tracks have no mistakes and they play everything with repeatable precision. After all, they were produced in a controlled environment and any mistakes were edited during production. But they're totally boring and without soul. Some of the best times we've ever had, singers and patrons included, were when we were improvising on the fly and changing things up as the spirit moved us. If I had my way, bloody karaoke would be outlawed altogether. |
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Wally Moyers
From:
Lubbock, Texas
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Posted 10 Feb 2012 3:46 pm
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I totally agree with bob! I am building a 6 string back neck for my SD10 with two P90s for slide and another pickup for a great dobro simulator sound that I will share with you guys soon... I love the sound of E9 pedal steel but with just a little work we can play todays country music even if it doesn't have the traditional E9 sound. With this setup and a standard G tuning you can cover most any of the slide guitar sounds you hear on the radio. Without missing a beat you can play Dobro or slide guitar style fills & solos and then go back to your standard 9th sound.. ... If anyone is interested I will text you a low-Fi video demo so you can get the idea... Just text me and I will send it out 806-787-9464
I also believe Al Petty had a great idea of driving a synth module from a steel. In the late 80s I helped him demo them at the Dallas show.... I hope to work on that again soon... |
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Chuck Hayes
From:
Missouri, USA
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Posted 10 Feb 2012 5:17 pm
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| Austin it sounds like the bands in your area are kinda like they are around me, they focus more on how many dollars go in their pocket instead of making quality music. I'm new to the steel and I'm pretty sure when I'm ready to go out and play it I'm gonna have to sit behind the steel with a telecaster strapped on doing double duty. |
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Steven Finley
From:
California, USA
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Posted 10 Feb 2012 5:28 pm
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I agree with W.C. Edgar, make the karaoke people
pay for the use of other peoples songs,W.C.
knows what he is talking about and he is Real Country
to boot!!!!!! |
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Brett Lanier
From:
Madison, TN
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Posted 10 Feb 2012 5:48 pm
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You're a great player Austin, it's a real bummer that you haven't been scooped up by the right band. I'm sure they're out there, and they need ya. In fact, it sounds like WC could use you.
I really believe that with all the changes that have occurred in the music industry, it just makes it that much more important for musicians to get more creative in finding, or creating gigs. In any field, things change, and if you're going to succeed in finding work, you need to be thinking about where things are going.
Lately I've been playing a lot of restaurant jazz and aprés ski gigs. Basically the same kind of stuff I did when I was a jazz guitarist. Lucky for me the guests haven't complained about the whiney thing I keep bringing.
To touch on what B0b and Wally said, I agree that having different sounds can make you more valuable, but I also think you can be plenty versatile on a pedal steel in all kinds of music with just a straight clean tone by just changing your touch and mindset. |
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Lynn Fargo
From:
Fort Edward, NY
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Posted 10 Feb 2012 6:33 pm
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| I believe "karaoke people" pay for the rights to use other people's music when they purchase karaoke discs. They are also covered by the BMI and ASCAP fees paid by the club owners, the same as live musicians doing cover tunes or other DJs. |
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Austin Tripp
From:
Nashville TN
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Posted 10 Feb 2012 9:56 pm
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Well as I am writing this reply (12:38am EST), the club I played at tonight will be closing its stage for live bands. A local DJ will be bringing his own sound equipt in and doing karaoke on Friday and Saturday nights,,,, go figure.
Great replys everyone! W.C. brother if I lived closer to ya id love to work with you!!
Wally! Great idea you have there!
Kevin, I play several other instruments like trumpet, guitar, fiddle, banjo and guitar but so far all the bands Ive played with just use me on steel. Id love to find a band were I could at least play 3 instruments during the show.
I have a dream that one day steel players will over rule guitar players 10:1 and then there will be so many jobs for us, we'll.never go hungry again. Course I also had a dream that Jessica Alba was my wife and George Clooney was doing my laundry and Buddy Emmons was teaching me how to REALLY play lol!! Thanks again everyone for your replys and so far it looks like I'm not the only one having gig trouble!
Austin Tripp |
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Bill Moore
From:
Manchester, Michigan
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Posted 11 Feb 2012 5:05 am
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Austin, you have a huge advantage over most of us; you are young! You will have many more opportunities to play in the future. Find some younger musicians, near your age, it probably won't be classic country music, but you can stay busy. Enjoy it while you can!
Bill |
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