I am very disappointed in steel guitar conventions and shows

Don Benoit · From: Okanagan Falls, BC

I thought that the title would get your attention!

I am disappointed because I only see 1% of attendees under the age of 20.

Unless we do something, the steel guitar will die a slow death. People selling steel guitars will tell you that sales are booming but I say "Who is doing the buying?" It's not the young kids fellas! Could it be that they are the baby boomers who are retiring and figure that they now have time to learn to play? Will these baby boomers be closet players or will they learn enough to play in a band?

How do we TRY to remedy the present situation? Here are my thoughts on this:

1. Allow and advertise free entrance to steel conventions and shows for all young people under the age of 16.
2. Demonstrate the steel guitar to high school music students and high school bands.
3. Demonstate the steel guitar to kindergarten kids and elementary school students. Play "Old MacDonald had a farm", the "National Anthem" and "Mary had a litle lamb" to get their attention.
4. Demonstrate the steel guitar in shopping centres. The mangement will be glad to have you set up in their malls.
5. Call your local radio station and get them to play steel guitar intrumentals and songs that have steel on them.

I welcome constructive criticism on this topic.

Mark Edwards · From: Weatherford,Texas, USA

Don - I'm glad to see someone else thinks as I do, there just aren't enough youngsters interested in the steel because they don't know about it. And I believe we have enough folks in this field that are retired that could make the time to go out and demonstrate this instrument we all love so well.

I also believe that the steel company's could really come out on top if they could help advertise their steels. Making a student model affordable to say a 16 year old kid that was interested in taking up the steel.

Great idea, I'd like to see more feedback on this one. Any other ideas?

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

pretty creative Don..Kindergarten all the way to the Shopping Center...not a bad idea....

Maybe if some of us actually did contact the Music Departments in High Schools , offer up a short in class concert to show a unique different Instrument for 30 minutes or so they may be inclined to look at the Instrument differently.

But you are right, you cannot go in and play Way to Survive...it would have to be a well presented program of some recognizable tunes and we must execute well...or they will running out the door sreaming for Screetch relief !

It's a great idea, very forward thinking...I am thinking that with a good demonstration of some popular songs, someone will get the bug, there are alwasy a few that connect with this Instrument and turn it into a life long adventure..

Theres a whole forum full of us right here Smile

Gerald Ross · From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Many steel guitarists and steel guitarist wannabees in the below 50 year old range work full time jobs.
It's hard, if not impossible for them to take time off to attend a convention during the week. And the idea of hopping a plane at 6PM on a Friday to arrive at midnight and only attend the show on Saturday is not too appealing logistically or economically.

One idea for getting more local people in this age range to attend would be to have more evening activities. These activities should include instructional and informative workshops, not just stage shows in the main convention hall.
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A UkeTone Recording Artist

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Gerald's Hawaiian Steel Guitar/Ukulele Website

Bob Cox · From: Buckeye State

The more they use it in other venues,like rock blues and jazz, will help promote it to the younger generation not exposed to country music as much.I am sure price is a problem with parents not familure with the difficult in producing it,but then again some of the high end 6 strings are higher than what you can get a Carter Starter for.If we could send a
person on a mission to surrounding schools to offer up some free show passes prior to the conventions and with those passes have a drawing for a Carter starter paid for by a youth promotional table at the show set up with a 50 50 drawing to offset the cost of the guitar.Just an Idea,but it would be a start.

Brandon Ordoyne · From: Needville,Texas USA

I am 26 and have been playing for a little over 3 months, I am a minority at steel guitar conventions, there seems to be hardly no one in my age group playing. But with most of the stuff on country radio now, most people my age are not hearing ANY steel! alot of the bands who claim they are country (names excluded), are merely rock bands who could not cut it in the rock scene. Nashville now is concerned with how you look, not how you sound! I have been fortunate enough to have a good up bringing to where I was introduced to good country music. It would be hard to promote steel to a younger age group, because the fact is they listen to radio, watch music videos, and think Rascal Flatts is country (oops I said a name!) and if its not there, they wont be interested.
Brandon
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Terry Wood · From: Lebanon, MO

Whether you agree or disagree with them, here are my thoughts.

1) The cost of steel guitars are very high. I realize it costs alot to make one, but could it be that some are just out pricing themselves? For instance, recently I have looked at the non-pedal steels, they cost as much as some pedal steels and for certain as much as a pedal steel cost a few years back. $1500 and $2500 for a non-pedal steel. Guys and gals, you can still purchase some really nice pedal steels in that range.

2) The steel guitar is a complex and difficult instrument to play. No matter how you add it all up and all the videos and teaching aids and teachers, the pedal steel is really difficult to learn.

3) The public still needs to be educated on what a steel guitar is. The majority still hasn't a clue that a steel guitar is a musical instrument. Sorry steel lovers (And I Are One!) but the steel is still very stereo typed/biased people and the uninformed still regard it as a Country or Hawaiian Instrument only. We haven't been accepted into the other fields of music/entertainment as readily as one would suppose. Oh yes, the greats, the steel players like Buddy Emmons, Curly Chalker, Julian THarpe, Zane Beck, Reece Anderson, Doug Jenigan and others have forged a crevice to get into those other realms. However, they are only in a sense like Christopher Columbus and Fernand Magellan,exploreres. You need to remember there are those who still view the world as flat, at least from their musical perspective. Wink

3) I say, we all keep on trudging on and beating our drums (Actually our STEELS!)and try to enlighten the uninformed. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day. Nor was Christianity spread in a decade or so. Yet, JESUS sent 12 out and they with the help of GOD turned the world upside down! So the steel guitar is catching on and yes their are a few youngsters interested, but we need to get them exposed more often to the public. I invited a young man named Tyler Hall to our 1st Annual Steel Guitar Show at Marshfield, MO last year he turned some heads and I predict he will be at the forefront soon. In my opinion he already sounds like he's been playing for about 25 years. I think we need to getr more youngsters like him up at htese shows and give them a chance to showcase their talents.

4) You might laugh at me but I have a 2 1/2 year old that I have ordered him a custom made pedal steel guitar to play. It will be built for his little hands and accomedate him. It is being built by Don Fritsche of BMI Steels Beck Musical Instruments and it has 10 strings, 3 floor and 4 knee pedals. My little one already figured out at age 1 1/2 that he needed a thumb and finger picks to play on my 14 string BMI. He loves music and I believe GOD has bestowed the gift of music on him. His second choice of instrument is a fiddle. My dad played the fiddle very well. Though I have played music for over 40 years, I still don't understand, but I marvel at my little boy's love and inclination toward music. I think he will play and I plan to teach him everything that I can. I hope GOD allows me to live long enough to see him play it all. I hope he plays Gospel Music and flys on the strings like a Doug Jernigan, or the late steel greats like Julian Tharpe or perhaps Jimmy Crawford. I hope he surpasses my efforts.

Finally, in closing I say keep on, keepin' on, we are getting there.

May GOD bless each of you!

Terry J. Wood
Psalms 100:1-5

Bill McRoberts · From: Janesville, Wisconsin USA

Some good points made.

The North East Iowa Steel Guitar Jam show in Waterloo Iowa has implemented the "Stubby-Steeler" program. It is set up just for young people to get them interested in the steel guitar. The program has been in place for a few years and has been a success.
The child is set up with a beginner pedal guitar and provided with lessons then invited to participate in the annual jam. One former student over time has progressed to the point of landing a job traveling with band out east.(of course becoming old enough to do so).

Someone involved with the program could give more exact details. I have just observed this program for the sidelines and It seem to work.

One other observation was just this last weekend at Dairy State Steel Guitar Show in Wisconsin.
Debra Block (14 years old give or take a year) from
Eagle, WI., played an entire set on pedal steel.

There is hope. I hope they tell their friends what fun it is to play steel. Infact every one of us could do a little promoting. Idea

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

My daughter is 19, and has been a student of the pedal steel since last October. Her young friends are curious, and want to know who plays rock and blues and jazz on steel guitar.

Another area that needs to be "cultivated" is a youth program at steel shows---any and ALL steel shows. Locally, the steel clubs need to be pushing for exposier and cultivating the young in local area. The steel clubs could also have a youth program, as well as an amateur program. I go to Scotty's and the Dallas show, and run into quite a few of younger players that have no hope of playing the big shows, until they reach the age of 50--on up, so it seems. These players are also into playing rock and blues as well as country. So how about a Rock and Blues night at the larger steel conventions, which would attract younger players?

It's good to go to a steel show and see all the old-timers play, but it seems we tend to quit there. We need to offer the entry level players an environment to learn AND play, especially the youth.

Joe Casey · From: Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)

One problem I see here on the Forum is if someone happens to like to play a style other than Country he is chastised. There are many who want to limit the Instrument to one gendre. This is the true death of the instrument.Country music and the Steel will always be associated and certainly it deserves to be. It may be my preference however I love to hear Jazz along with others who don't limit themselves and what they can do. It is truly the only Instrument so designated to one music with the Fiddle a close second. When a major Rock act shows up with a Steel in the band that will do wonders for the younger gen to be curious enough. remember when "Men at work" showed the way.

Don Benoit · From: Okanagan Falls, BC

Thanks for your comments.

I have a 5 1/2 year old grandson. I bought him a lap steel for $75 and tuned it to C6. He learned "Old MacDonald" across the open strings at age 4 and applied the bar correctly for one of the notes. He has also been taking piano lessons for the past year and a half and doing very well. Some kids will never be musicians and some will. I believe that a lap steel is an affordable way to go for a yougster as an introduction the pedal steel guitar. Fortunately, the legs and pedal rods can be cut down for a youngster. We need manufacturers to have sets of pedal rods and legs available and they need to advertise this on their web sites.

I tink that the biggest impact we could make on the kids is to demonstrate the steel guitar in schools and play what they like to hear. By the way, the kids in our High Scool band don't play rock. They play blues and jazz which is suited to the C6th neck.

Tony Palmer · From: St Augustine,FL

You can add to the fact that the "old timers" who play the shows seem to play the exact same sets everywhere they go...even right down to the same jokes. (some even on following nights of the same show)
This can't be helpful to attracting new blood....
Hell, I'm old and I'm tired of it!

David Ziegler · From: Lancaster, Ohio, USA

I teach at a technical college in Ohio and had mentioned to my class that I play steel guitar. They had no idea what one was so they asked me to bring it in and play. I took it to class and after class set it up and played for about 15 minutes, answered questions and got about 25 19 year olds at least exposed. I did the same at a church dinner for our youth. Be creatrive guys, the kids love it when they hear it.
Dave Ziegler

Scott Henderson · From: Camdenton, Missouri, USA

I agree that we are a little stereotypical. Even at my age (43) I have walked into Jams and got the "What's that Kid doing in here?" look. If you want to carry it on you have to pass it down. You can't pass it down if you don't allow them to make it their own. I love country and westen swing. They have put food on my table for many years. But I also like other types of music and steel guitar can go anywhere it wants. (As long as the mind will allow!)
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Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

Things are much better than it seems if your only point of reference is steel guitar shows or tv. When I am on the road I constantly run into young steel players playing in different sorts of bands. There seems to be a very big trend amoung young professional guitar players with the steel. They are buying them and learning how to get around a bit so that they can get more gigs and its working. For a good number of them the steel seems to take over and they are taking the instrument to new places. Steel shows are a very peculiar and small part of the music world. They are trade shows and showcases for retired pros and there fans. Like baseball conventions where you can get Dave Mattingly to sign a picture. If I was going to worry about anything because of who mostly goes to steel shows I would be wondering if all the Chinese people died or what happened to all those women I used to see all over the place.
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Jeremiah Hanley · From: Springfield, Missouri, USA

How about a piano convention, or maybe a saxaphone convention, or maybe a lead guitar convention??? I understand there are a few drum conventions. But Hey, what about a STEEL GUITAR convention!!! Boy, they are all over the country!!! You can find one almost any weekend in some state. So, I would say the steel guitar is alive and well, and it's true, a lot of steel players are up in years. But there's Austin Stewart, Tyler Hall, and even Dean Holman. These are youngsters in our Springfield-Branson area. There are probably some other young guys in other states. But, I'm in total agreement to the one that started this thread. We DO need more young guys!

James Cann · From: Phoenix, AZ

Bob Blair · From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

When I was in my twenties I simply didn't have the financial resources that would allow me to fly off to steel guitar conventions. And I am certain that I was a lot better off financially than a lot of aspiring musicians were. But to me in those days, folks who could buy airplane tickets and jet off somewhere for an extended weekend, anywhere, for any purpose, appeared to be possessed of unattainable wealth. A trip to St. Louis or Dallas, what with hotels and airfare and incidentals, will be enough to buy a pedal steel, or darn close. Weekend junkets like that are not something most young people can now or ever could afford.

Howard Parker · From: Maryland

FWIW...

As a comparison...There is a substantial community of "under 25 year olds" that have latched onto the resonator (dobro) guitar. It's not because they've found truth and the american way in bluegrass music, although many of them have and there is a trade group, the International Bluegrass Music Assoc. that supports outreach programs at festivals and public schools.

No..what really raised the notch was (for lack of a better term) the cult of personality. The three big guns of Auldridge, Douglas and Ickes, playing music that the Gen X/Y crowd thinks is cool.

Jerry Douglas is..well, Jerry Douglas. I've attended several high profile gigs and the crowd was very young, even at $50 bucks/ticket, plus food.

Jerry, announces "if there was no Mike Auldridge there would be no Jerry Douglas" so...People hunt Mike down and pay $75 to hear him play with Emmylou.

Rob Ickes puts out a great jazz album and tours with a very hip acoustic trio, playing non-traditional music.

So...identify a hip young player that plays cool music that youngsters find exciting. Hip guy succesfully records and tours to support the project. You then have a chance to put the instrument in front of the next generation..

I have a player in mind...

All of the above coincided with two of the best known reso luthiers designing competing lines of entry level (plus) guitars that are manufactured in Korea and sell starting at about $650..In Carter Starter territory.

Personalities, cool music and quality low end instruments.

It just took off from there.

hp
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John Steele · From: Renfrew, Ontario, Canada

In this day of Electronica, I'm just happy to see kids decide to learn <i>any </i>musical instrument.
A fair number of young musicians are content just to design rhythm loops on their computer, or learn to be a turntablist.
As far as the steel guitar goes amongst musical instruments, I think it's a bit like playing chess. More kids start playing checkers; chess becomes more interesting with maturity.
-John
p.s. If I could name one medium that has made kids aware of the instrument lately, it would be Eric Clapton's "Crossroads" video. I won't mention the steel player's name, but his first and last name start with the same letter. Smile

Howard Parker · From: Maryland

C. Christofferson · Posted 19 Mar 2007 11:54 am

Young people, as they always have been, are under, or at least feel they are under, for better or for worse, an incredible amount of peer pressure, to 'hurry up and do something impressive/worthwhile' or be left behind. So it's natural that they initially take interest in an easier, quicker instrument than steel. When patience, maturity and an appreciation for greater complexity develops, then the steel is there to fill that void. So, combined with the expense factor, this observer would be suprised to see an increase in percentage of young people taking it up even if exposed to it and liking it.

My site

Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

People want to learn to play instruments that are present in the music they like to listen to. If one never hears or sees a pedal steel, they will have on interest in learning to play it.

Dana Stewart · From: Kansas, USA

Hello everyone. I am the mother of a 12 year old steel player who plays traditional country and gospel and has no desire to play any other kind of music. We have met several younger steel players at the shows, but it's expensive to haul your child across the country and pay motel and food bills just to play a 30 minute set that most of the time for the younger ones is early in the morning when no one is up to listen to you. The guitars and other equipment cost tons of money, and when you have one young child, you usually have at least one more who gets dragged along for the ride and doesn't really appreciate that he/she has to come along and sit quietly for three days of music. It's very difficult to attend all these shows with school and all the costs and time involved.

I say all that to let you know why others might not attend these shows with young kids. Now I have to say how blessed my little 12 year old steeler has been to have grandparents who not only could suport his talent on the guitar, but were willing to. They made sure he had all he needed to do what he loved when we as parents could never have done this for him. Now that this has turned out to be Austin's (12 year old steeler's) sport of choice, the whole family tries to go along to cheer him on. I get embarrased at the grand entrance it makes when we all show up and enter. Most everyone else is attending with themselves and their significant other. We enter with parents, grandparents (sometimes both sides) and little brother. That invloves missed work when you need to stay home and make more money. Lost hours of sleep, grumpy kids who think they are too tired for school Monday morning after a show. A brother who expects and deserves just as much time and money be spent on what he wants to do as well. Folks, it's a huge lot of fun and worth it all to see your child play that steel guitar on stage, but it's hard to make it happen. Some say it takes a village to raise a child, well, it for sure takes a village to raise a young steel guitar player.

Gerald Ross · From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Face it folks - the pedal steel or any steel you sit behind is not the sexiest instrument in the world.

From an audience point of view it looks like you are playing some sort of keyboard instrument. For the most part steel guitarists are always looking down at their hands and not moving around too much. It's a boring visual instrument.

You can "pose" with virtually every other instrument. You can sling a guitar between your legs or behind your head. You can dance around with a horn etc. etc.

Kids want the image and the flash.

Even a Dobro is sexier than a steel (sorry Howard Wink

)
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'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

A UkeTone Recording Artist

CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Hawaiian Steel Guitar/Ukulele Website

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