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Topic: Playing on my lunch breaks |
Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Posted 23 May 2007 6:37 pm |
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One day I was sitting in a particularly boring meeting at work , and the thought occurred to me, to take my steel out to a local park to play. The weather was getting really nice and this would be the time to try if I was going to do it! I did a computer search for all the local parks close to work, and jumped in my van to scope them out. That first day I parked and just stayed in my seat with the windows down, I needed to get my courage up...
The following day was very bright and hot, (80 degrees) way too hot for me to sit in the sun! So I drove around the park looking for shade. ...hmmm nowhere to sit in the shade, plenty of benches in the direct sunlight. I was almost about to give up, when I spotted a Starbucks on the corner, with tables and umbrellas... hmmm ... nope I'm still to chicken. (I worried that I would bother the customers and they would ask me to leave?)
But just then I turned the corner and there is was! The perfect spot! A really cool rock wall shaped in a circle with shade trees and four way foot traffic going to and fro between the shops and restaurants. I parked and quickly grabbed my trusty Lap Steel and VOX battery powered amp before I could talk myself out of it.
In just a minute I was plugged in and jamming! (The Vox has an aux. input for my CD player and even has a MIC input if I want to sing) It has wonderful tone... echoing down the sidewalk where dozens of people are eating lunch and shopping. Lot's of people wave and say thanks some put dollars in my guitar case. Moms with baby strollers stop a while, kids dance and big people too...
I have met quite a few musicians, two other steel players and one guy was really impressed with how loud the amp was. He couldn't believe it wasn't plugged in, and had to look behind the rock wall for an outlet!
My lunchtime concerts only last about 45 minutes, because I have to get to and from work in an hour. But It really makes my day, and I go back to the meetings with a big smile on my face. I even have a few extra bucks for coffee every day. The steel guitar just seems to make everyone smile, even teenage punks stop and listen and say "cool"
You may like to try this sometime also. It's a blast!
Sincerely;
Dom Franco |
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Rockne Riddlebarger
From:
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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Posted 23 May 2007 7:07 pm
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| Good story Dom! I'm glad you went out to play like that. I know how fun it is, I have played outside at many locations over the years, and like you, had the steel guitar be so unusual that all kinds of people respond to it. I have gravitated to using my dobro instead of the lapsteel so that I don't even have to carry an amp of any kind. I have also found that places like farmer's markets on Saturday mornings can be very profitable, and the food is good! I even scored a series of good paying gigs for my band at one just because the folks running the market heard me playing for tips. Keep it up, it's good grass-roots entertainment and an introduction of a rarely seen intruments to a lot of people. |
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Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Posted 23 May 2007 7:23 pm Metal body resonator...
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Rockne;
I have a metal body resonator, and it is plenty loud enough to play outside. I may try it sometime.
But do you pay to any kind of rythym track? What tuning do you use? Do you sing along?
I feel that it sounds kind of empty with no drums or guitar keeping a groove. When my buddy Dave plays acoustic guitar, that seems to be enough to make it a full sound. What is your technique, tuning etc.
Thanks in Advance;
Dom |
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Tom Pettingill
From:
California, USA (deceased)
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Posted 23 May 2007 8:10 pm
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Thats really cool Dom  |
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Don Kona Woods
From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
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Posted 23 May 2007 11:15 pm
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Dom says,
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| But It really makes my day, and I go back to the meetings with a big smile on my face. |
Dom, it also makes other people's day and puts a smile on their faces.
That was a neat idea or inspiration.
Aloha, 
Don |
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Fred Kinbom
From:
Berlin, Germany, via Stockholm, Sweden.
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George Piburn
From:
The Land of Enchantment New Mexico
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Posted 24 May 2007 6:33 am edit
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edit
Last edited by George Piburn on 17 Jun 2012 1:18 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Gary Lynch
From:
Creston, California, USA
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Posted 24 May 2007 6:38 am
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| Also a good way to lose weight. Play guitar instead of eating. |
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Rockne Riddlebarger
From:
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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Posted 24 May 2007 12:01 pm
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Hey Dom! In answer to your questions, no I don't play to a rhythm track of any kind, when doing these street gigs I just play the guitar and sing. I play in bands and do solo performance indoors and out and for the last ten years have used nothing but acoustic and electric steel guitars. I do instumental and vocal songs. for the street gigs I use my Jerry Douglas model Dobro in good ol' bluegrass G tuning. Some of my tunes incorporate bluegrass music I don't call my self a bluegrasser. I can play bluegrass, blues, rockabilly and western swing in that tuning. I have several acoustic and electric steel guitars and some are set up for specific tunings, others I change around as needed or by my current interests. Tunings include: E, D, C,
three G's, Em and A6. For a sample of what I play on dobro go to www.myspace.com/rockneriddlebarger and for some electric lap steel stuff go to www.myspace.com/markallenutley . Thanks for responding, hope to talk to you agian...Rockne |
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