Went Blind

Quesney Gibbs · From: Anniston, AL

Last night I did an outdoor gig in Villa Rica, GA and all was fine until the sun went down and along with it my ability to see the frets on my steel.

I was able to get the stage manager to rig up a light for me but for a few songs my playing went into the tank.

This ever happen to anyone else?

Steve Hinson · From: Hendersonville Tn USA

Quesney-I was having the same problem when our lighting guy blacked out the stage between songs...he got me two of those lights that have a clip(clips on the leg of my guitar)and a rheostat to brighten or dim the bulb...they are flexible and give off just enough light so I can see to play the intro if the stage is blacked out...I think they are called Littellites...I'll ask him this weekend.

Jim Phelps · From: Mexico City, Mexico

A band I was in played some shows, where they started the show in pitch darkness, the band was supposed to start playing and then the lights would fade up and the curtain open. Of course we didn't know that until it happened.

We were all ready to start playing and all of a sudden the lights go out and they say OK, GO! I had no idea they were going to do this and had no light and I'm sitting there in pitch black, can't see a darn thing and I'm supposed to kick off the first song! Drummer, not considering anything, of course, goes "One, Two, Three...!" and I said "WAIT! WAIT! WAIT! I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING! I CAN'T SEE MY STEEL!" Somebody found a way to turn up a little stage light, just enough for me to see. Through the years it's happened a couple other times, but I never got around to getting a little light...

I have played other gigs where they'd just turn the lights down on the band and put a spot of the singer, and then I could just barely see my fretboard. Really should've gotten a light!

How about when you do an outside gig and the sun reflects on the fretboard and blinds you? Had that happen quite a bit a couple years ago while playing around the midwest. We also did an outdoor gig, where when the sun went down and they turned on the stage lights (we carried our own lights, couldn't always put them in the best placement) the lights on my side were practically right in front of me and blinded me so bad I couldn't see, and when I looked away from them I saw spots, like when you look into the sun and look away, it was awful.

[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 12 September 2004 at 09:23 AM.]

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

Easy fix....a headband with a mini maglite.

They sell them rigged like this in military and camping catalogs.

Sidney Ralph Penton · From: Moberly, Missouri, USA

ok now i am new at this but it is easy taken care of. when the lights go out and you can't see noting that is when you get that good looking gal sitting on the front row to hold up your bic lighter for you so you can see. lol sid

Allen Peterson · From: Katy, Texas

Maybe someone should start making fretboards with flourecent paint. That would do the trick I think.

Allen Peterson

Mark Herrick · From: Bakersfield, CA

Cool...flourescent paint and black lights...then you could play "Incense and Peppermints"...or "Inna-Gada-Da-Vida"...or those early psychedelic Kenny Rogers songs like "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" that he did before he went Country (damn shame I say) ...

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Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

After doing so many different productions of 'Always - Patsy Cline' that I know it by heart, I still ask for an illuminated music-stand! There's just enough light from it to see the fretboard.

Of course, there's the occasional show where they have all stage lights rheostatically-controlled, and the lighting-plot demands total blackness, yet they expect the steel to bring the tune in!

I've learned to put my foot down when that happens and to h*** with their 'artistic vision'.....

RR
PS: I'm doing 'Patsy' right now in Ft Myers - but no steel-players have been to visit! It's a pretty good version of the show, and I bet it's within reach of some of you guys. Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre until 10/2.

randy · From: shelbyville, illinois, usa

I am so glad to hear that I'm not the only one who struggles with the lighting.

Our festival gigs were making me nuts. I play an Emmons SD10 with the yellow, Blue and Red designs on the fret board. Each one would disappear as that color staqelight came on.

I kind of figured a way to get "All my X's" without the C neck and the first time I went to kick it, the front man killed the lights all together. I couldn't find the fifth fret to save my life.

I told him that I wouldn't even try to play in the future without some decent lighting. I sound like a baby but ... I got my way and solved the problem with a white light that is set up specifically for this purpose.

Then I read about the blind kid at the convention and felt like crap about the whole deal.

Charlie Vaughn · From: West Union, South Carolina

Ques...sorry about the light situation. I have been there several times with the band I used to be with. They had a big light show and it was a problem when they blacked out the stage. I got one of those light that click on the leg of the guitar and it worked great. I haven't talked to George but I am sure he was happy with your picking. The gig I worked was short and the PA gave problem. The drummer was late but we made it through. see ya soon I hope. Charlie

Jim Phelps · From: Mexico City, Mexico

Bill Hankey, where are you? Here's one for you that it sounds like we could all really use. How about drop-on thin semi-transparent plexiglass fretboards with the frets and position markers etched in the underside, and tiny pea-lamps for illumination built in, a mounted mini-jack in the front edge, would plug into an external battery-pack or AC adapter. Lay them over the steels fretboards when this type of situation arises, take them off and put them away (in their own special sturdy case, of course) when not needed. Someone ought to do this. Of course, as the "idea man" I'll get a small percentage....

[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 13 September 2004 at 09:11 AM.]

Kenny Dail · From: Kinston, N.C. R.I.P.

Roger...if you ever get within 75 miles of where I live, I definately will be there to catch your act. I regret that at the time you were in Norfolk Va I was unable to accept your invitation to meet with you for lunch etc. Perhaps next time, I will be in better health. Break a leg....

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kd...and the beat goes on...

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Hi, Kenny!

That VA gig (six weeks at the Wells Theatre) was a big deal for me, and I had some health issues, too. It was my first work after a long hospitalization (Feb through late-May), and I doubt I was at my best - maybe it's just as well you didn't see me play! The local TV station did a piece on the show, and I re-ran the tape the other day - I looked like a skeleton!!! Still, I had a good time 'getting back into harness', and I always enjoy doing that show with Jessica.

I trust you're doing better now; next time I'm anywhere near you, we'll get together for sure.

Best,

Roger

Ernest Cawby · From: Lake City, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Ther is a little light that clampsonto the tuning keys with batteries in it or power supply, music stores for $9.95, Linda bought me one of those. In Quitman they work with black light. also I have a small maglight in my pack seat, comes in handy when you need to tune.

cheers ernie

Rick Garrett · From: Tyler, Texas

I saw a picture of a steel once that had lighted frets. I think it was here on the forum but don't remember. That thing lit up like a neon moon.

Rick

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

I found a plug-in 25watt clamp-on light at the hardware store that works really well. The brand name is "Holmes". It clamps onto a mikestand really tight, and cost me about $7.00, and you can get replacement bulbs at any Walmart. I put it on my right side--that way you don't get a shadow from your left hand which keeps you just as blind. If you don't like the white light, paint the bulb.

John Davis · From: Cambridge, U.K.

Randy "Emmons SD10 with the yellow, Blue and Red designs on the fret board. Each one would disappear as that color staqelight came on."

I have had this same problem with the atom sign fret markings that seem to dissappear on my Emmons but never connected it to the stage lighting before reading this post!!Wow
how obvious is it now!?
There is no problem before the 12th fret as I reckon I am looking straight down at the steel, but when I go above and am looking more to the right the glare and colours do make those things dissappear!
Our show also starts in the dark, My answer is let the pianna player kick off!!

Gerald Menke · From: Stormville NY, USA

I've been trying to practice not looking down or playing with my eyes closed out of terror of this very thing happening. I play in some pretty dark places from time to time, and have found it to come in handy to not have to rely 100% on sight to play in tune.

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Gerald

I do the same - and I sometimes play on shows without looking just for the practise - but only when the song is already started

!

If I have to bring in the singer on a stage show - just me - then I'm far happier being sure. It's just at those moments when a director might want a 'black' stage....

Mark van Allen · From: Watkinsville, Ga. USA

On the Theatre shows I've done where I have to be playing blacked out, I try to set up my hands in proper position before the lights go down and curtain. For one of the Patsy shows I remember sticking a tiny bit of the glow tape (that they use to keep actors from falling over stuff!) at the Eb fret so I'd know where to be... what fun!

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Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com

Pat Dawson · From: Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, USA

I bought a music stand clip-on light and then adapted it to a mike stand. It may look silly, but I don't rely on the sun or stage lighting. It's tough enough when I CAN see.

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1970 Emmons D10
Nashville 1000

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

I never thought of that, Mark!

I've been seeing that stuff all over stages for all these years, and have apparently been incapable of lateral-thought

I got my way on this show in Ft Myers, but I'll remember your suggestion next time - thanks!

Roger

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