So Steel Wise. How ARE things in Nash/Brans?

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

Yet another local kid used me to cut his, "Demo" to take to Nashville. A tall, very nice "kid" that will probably get "cut up into little pieces".

The last one I did for one of "these guys" was done in a chicken coup in Cougar WA for a very nice young guy named Gary Bennett in '91. I just thought he was "to nice" to "make it".

I'll probably be talking to him when BR-549 comes to town..

Anyhow. Here in Portland 17 years ago, there were 20 clubs that went five nights a week. Country. Larry Behm, Harley James, Neil Rogerson, Robin Susskind, Wes Bakken, Tony Glassman, Richard Edge, Danny Shields. Ray Montee, and a half a dozen players including myself had more work than we could ever do.. No 1099s, 100-120$/nite... I think we all know where it's gone.

One club that's 7 nites, paying 60-75$/nite, a half dozen weekend deals, and a few Critter Clubs. That's it. I can usually count on a 5 niter each month or more, and most weekends if one of the teo or three bands I work with get more money for the "extra piece". I make up my own wardrobe, take long breaks, play like S### a lot of the time, and in general, consider myself real lucky to be working at all. Thank God Larry Behm's got a day job. I'm on the edge of "practicing at home".

Maybe even playing more BANJO

I'm basically "Nobody" "Industry wise", with an "Old Used Sho~Bud".

Anybody offer a concise similar picture of Branson/Nashville?

The stories I'm getting make them out to be a Low Ball Country Rock Gulag with Karoke...

My inventions don't seem to be catching on, and business is down for "country music consultants". In case anybody else noticed, it seems to be the "decade of 'The Consultant'".

I make most of my money hauling paving equipment and asphalt mix as kind of a Gravity Evasion Consultant/Specialist. I've got some time off to reflect, regroup, and fix my old harley.

Thanks for any input.

EJL

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

Eric-This just didn't start today. It has been going on for years and years, since the late 80's, all downhill since....al

Frank Parish · From: Nashville,Tn. USA

There sure isn't much for steel in this town as far as live gigs go. On the strip downtown you can play at 5 different clubs if they happen to have something that resembles a country band and get a whopping $20 a night plus tips! I played the first time I've played down there in two years only because they nearly begged me to and offered some some extra money. What a deal I took the least amount of stuff I could to get by and made a big $52 and that's with the extra bucks! I didn't expect much because it was Thanksgiving night but I was finished with the activities of the day so why not? I got a brief listen to a young guy playing a Franklin at the Stage next door. They were playing some rock and he sounded like he knew what he was doing for what I heard. I could see he was playing a pick blocking style. Mike Sweeney lost his gig at The Palace the other day and he'd been there about 8 years I think so that's not encouraging. Darn Mike you could do what I do and get a day gig lifting boxes and busting your a!! for a living. Hope you found a gig somewhere. What a deal. I made more money 20 years ago playing music than I do now but of course this is Nashville. Me and the drummer were talking about this last night and according to what I made back then I should be making about $125 to $150 a night but it sure ain't the case here. I know there's a few of the really top players that are lucky enough to work studios and get real money but I'm sure there's a bunch of stuff they have to play they hate because of sorry songs and producers. I'm satisfied to work the live gigs, make decent money and sleep in my own bed every night. 2 out of 3 will have to do for now.

Bill Fulbright · From: Atlanta, GA

This shameful condition seems to be consistent since the '80s all over the place. I played Dallas market for about 15 yrs as a front man/bandleader, and stand up sitdown Single Act playing both guitar and keyboards while singing.

Now??? hah! No pay raises from the nightly C note for club work or 5-600 for private parties, plus more with a band.... anywhere.

Art/Performance seems to have taken a backseat to the almighty $$ and the 20-30 yr. old demographic. Now playing for free at friends parties..(and looking for a worthy band with players who understand how to play). The friends say "Hey, that's pretty good...You must be a professional, where are you playing?" I just say, "thanks, still looking."

I have so much more fun playing at home. I just pray I will find some players soon in S. Florida

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Bill Fulbright
Mullen D-10 8x7; Gibson ES-165; Peavey Vegas 400;
ICQ# 2251620 My Music Site

Bill Fulbright · From: Atlanta, GA

This shameful condition seems to be consistent since the '80s all over the place. I played Dallas market for about 15 yrs as a front man/bandleader, and stand up sitdown Single Act playing both guitar and keyboards while singing.

Now??? hah! No pay raises from the nightly C note for club work or 5-600 for private parties, plus more with a band.... anywhere.

Art/Performance seems to have taken a backseat to the almighty $$ and the 20-30 yr. old demographic. Now playing for free at friends parties..(and looking for a worthy band with players who understand how to play). The friends say "Hey, that's pretty good...You must be a professional, where are you playing?" I just say, "thanks, still looking."

I have so much more fun playing at home. I just pray I will find some players soon in S. Florida

------------------
Bill Fulbright
Mullen D-10 8x7; Gibson ES-165; Peavey Vegas 400;
ICQ# 2251620 My Music Site

Stephen Gambrell · From: Over there

I was talking to some kids in a music store the other day, and one of 'em actually asked me," Is it true you could really make a living playing music back in the 80's?"
In true Grandfatherly fashion I answered,"yep."

Janice Brooks · From: Pleasant Gap Pa

Eric, Gary left BR549 at the begining of 2002
and is currently under a songwriting contract in Nashville.

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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

Glad to hear about Gary. He was/is one of the nicest young people I ever met in "the biz". It's one of those things that I was very glad "happened" for him.

My favorite song he left here with was "Reese's Old Store."

He'll do well wherever he goes.

Me?

Between 25 years of "clubbing" and 29 years of driving every heavy construction truck and piece of equipment, I'd have been better off if I'd have gotten a job in a McDonalds 30 years ago. By now, I'd be retired with four franchises of my own. I might be a little fat, but what the hell.... I already am.

All my best to Gary Bennett. A Nice young man I'd be proud to have as a son of mine.

( On that, I have a T-Shirt that says "If you were born before this date in 1964 I'm NOT your father..)

Guest · Posted 10 Dec 2002 2:12 pm

"Low Ball Country Rock Gulag with Karoke"

Poetry

Dale Granstrom · From: Wilsonville, Or USA

Hi, Erick,
I'm playing the same Portland area that you are and am lucky enough to be playing two and sometimes three nights a week and for a decent wage. Mostly Elks lodges, but what the hell, most of the members are my age and I guess I fit right in. Buddy Carpenter who I work for is an old timer too. We do most of the older country music that seems to fit right in and Buddy knows just about everything back to the 40's. The reason I believe we are working is - we play what the people want to hear and not what we want to play. Will see you around one of these nights.

D-12 CARTER D-12 SIERRA

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

DALE! I didn't know you were a member. Glad to hear Buddy C is still at it. We play a Moose in Camas, and an Eagles in Gresham from time to time.

Gotta run. Work tomorrow after bike mechanics today/tonite.

EJL

Ben Lawson · From: Brooksville Florida

I don't understand this music business at all. I usually get a few nights a month in Atlantic City along with a few other jobs but I have to play in five different bands.
Sometimes I have to get a sub when there is a conflict but I am very fortunate to have John Swain, Jim Heffernan or Gordon Wells help me out.
Unfortunatly they all play better than me so I keep a day job with flexible hours just in case.
Jim Heffernan and I have a two month dinner theater gig starting in Jan. that should be fun. We even get paid for rehearsals.
Its really a feast or famine way of life.

Bob Carlson · From: Surprise AZ.

Dale Granstrom...You play what the people want to hear.
I don't get out much anymore, but when I did half the bands were having jam sessions and had no idea why the people wern't dancing or leaving..like I usually did.

Not everyone can front a band. I've seen some people that couldn't sing real good but could make the people feel like they had been friends for years and they would get these people back for more.

When I played in a band and someone reqested a song...one of us would sing it if we had to make up half the words. They was drunk and didn't know the differance anyway. And them folks put money in the kitty.

And it sounds like you have the pleasure of playing for someone like that.

Bob.

[This message was edited by Bob Carlson on 13 December 2002 at 12:12 AM.]

Jackie Anderson · From: Scarborough, ME

There are guys who can make a comfortable living (or living room)anywhere in the world playing cocktail lounge piano (and I wish I were one of them), not by necessarily being great musicians but by responding to people and "playing what they want to hear" -- even if, as Bob said, they are just faking it. Country music at its best is music that people can relate to, and responding to requests really puts some gasolene on their fire! Not meaning to get too far out, but in this sense, a great example of a good country band performance would have to be the Blues Brothers' "behind the chicken wire" roadhouse gig....

Jackie Anderson · From: Scarborough, ME

Meanwhile, Eric, you could always start up a chicken escort service.

Rick McDuffie · From: Benson, North Carolina, USA

Nobody has THE answer to this question, but let me tell you what's worked for me. I'm at the "grandpa" age and really figured that my gigging days were behind me. However, I got hooked up (through a friend) with a nice young woman who has a fire in her belly, LOVES to play and just wants to sing with a band. Her husband, who is a swell guy in his own right, could sell screen doors for submarines, and he books the band. We're working as much as I care to work and having a great time at it. So... I'd say find yourself some young whippersnapper who doesn't know all the reasons why the impossible can't be done, sign on with them, and see what happens. There aren't many 50-year-olds fronting bands these days (which is what I did in my youth), but there are a heck of a lot of 60+ steel players sitting on the stage behind 25-year olds and making some great music. Swallow your pride and re-dream the dream, friends! It ain't over till it's over. If you'd like to have a peek at the Debbie Elam website, it's www.debe.net Hey, it's a little over the top (Debbie husband David is the webmaster), but it's working... and so am I!

Peace,

Rick

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Rick McDuffie
Debbie Elam Band/Tarheel Jazz Q-tet
www.tarheelmusic.com

Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

Rick is correct.....I spent my 70th birthday on a dinner theater stage playing steel with a cast whose average age was probably less than 25.

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

Oh, On Dale..

At a steel jam we had here in the mid 80s, I was really surprised to hear a guitar playing in one of the spaces in the circle of steels. It was Dale. I don't know how, but he was playing the tastiest and "relevant" guitar licks I'd heard played on a steel.

I take it he still does. This besides a pile of the best commercial stuff you're likely to hear in PDX (

The band he plays with here in the NW is probably the longest running one that I know of. The Genre is probably less of "what people want to hear", and more a case of people wanting to hear the songs they love to play.

My last few years here in town "on and off" with Renegade is a good case in point.

Larry Jeffers, the bandleader is the "Shuffle King" here as far as I 'm concerned. We've played "Way to Survive", Johhny Bush Medleys, Life in Prison, and Cowtown where the "crowd" was mostly requesting "Sweet Home Alabama" and Old Time Rock and Roll.

Gradually, and it has been no easy task, Larry and his band, most recently revitalized with a fresh drummer, and the amazing Doug Jones, to yet continue "bucking the system". It's still working, and I'm glad somebody has the balls to play the stuff.

In Dale's case, he's been playing, like Ray, since I was dirtying diapers, and in his case, he's been regularly playing with a good band during the time period where I've destroyed literally dozens of them.

Play on Dale. Say hi to your wife, Betty. She's the Gem of your operation, no doubt.

Your friend. Eric West.

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

Rick, is sure right about that. I was 50 yrs old and wearing a wig, and playing with a 25 yr old lead player, singer. He got all the jobs. The bass player was his brother 26 and the drummer was 18! We worked 3 nights a week in one club for 2 years in Phoenix.We played good country and Rock songs of the day, and they even let me play a couple of old standards, that I love...So take Rick's advice, and get with an young front man with a lot of energy. ...al

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