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Topic: The HSGA can promote and enlist, by........ |
Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 29 Sep 2007 1:40 pm |
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...utilzing the vast amount of 'good' steel performance video in the HSGA archives. Bust out the good stuff, instead of keeping at the bottom of some closet.
The steel was invented in Hawaii, and is the State instrument. This alone should prove to be an easy selling point. Add to that, the fact of great/rare music to enjoy..., how can anyone say no? Lot's of tourists and locals will be stoked to encounter this fine entertainment, which may be the only chance they'll see/hear anything like it during their entire vacation/lifetime.
Work with every hotel in the State of Hawaii/anywhere to include at least one TV, or an A/V center in the lobby area/s where they always have comfortable seating, and have a well edited DVD of the steel greats/excellant not-so-knowns running contiuously for the public to enjoy. Super-impose each performer's name and place/date of the show at the bottom of the screen, and include the HSGA's promo line and contact info throughout.
Do the same with the airlines. They have video selections on every flight that could be used for this end.
Shouldn't be too time/$ consuming, I'd think. |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 29 Sep 2007 2:31 pm
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| Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions, Ron. |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 29 Sep 2007 5:26 pm No, THANK YOU!
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| If that disingenuous response is the limit of HSGA concern towards a viable suggestion, then, there you go! |
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Gary Lynch
From:
Creston, California, USA
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Posted 29 Sep 2007 5:53 pm
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"The steel was invented in Hawaii, and is the State instrument"
I was not aware that the steel guitar was the State of Hawaii's official musical instrument. I always thought it was the Ukulele? But what do I know.....
THE UKULELE
Easy to learn but difficult to master, the ukulele is perhaps Hawaii’s most popular musical instrument. From King Kalakaua and Waikiki beach boys to one of Hawaii’s hottest young recording artists, millions of music lovers over the past 125 years have learned to appreciate this four-stringed instrument. |
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Don Kona Woods
From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
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Posted 29 Sep 2007 8:36 pm
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Ron says,
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| Shouldn't be too time/$ consuming, I'd think |
But it is Ron. But I like the idea. Now to get it to work.
How about you organizing the efforts at contacting the hotels and airlines and I'll initiate a process with HSGA to see if we can produce the video?
Aloha, 
Don |
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Paul Warnik
From:
Illinois,USA
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Posted 29 Sep 2007 11:38 pm
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| I thought that there was some type of an endowment that the HSGA was being as benefactor for the promotion of steel guitar lessons for Native Hawaiian Island school children-This sounds like a noble cause to me-If even one school child takes up the steel guitar as part of their heritage and it means as much to them in their life as the steel guitar has done for me in mine-then I would gladly contribute more for annual dues or convention attendance fee in order to help see it done-That might be a sore spot for some (paying more)-the annual dues must barely cover the cost of mailing the newsletter from Hawaii to the Mainland and other parts of the world-So if every club member even gave up an extra $10 in annual membership dues some beginning lap steel and amp sets and accessories could be purchased and donated to the schools-I do not know about the status of musical education in Hawaii-of course teachers and instructional material would be needed-as well as help from the players who have already established themselves there |
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Derrick Mau
From:
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 30 Sep 2007 2:55 am
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Hotels are a hard sell. I've been working for one for the last 13 years. They never listen to what the workers sugggest; and they'll never listen what you have to say or propose either.
In today's world, it's all about money. The hotel's don't care if you play steel guitar or if you're the best Hawaiian group in the islands. It's about making that cash register ring that counts.
Question: Why have a DVD of steel greats made and shown in hotel lobbys if the hotels themselves do not promote steel guitar by making sure that their live groups have one??
The Halekulani is the only one that does anymore, and this is slipping fast. I've just heard that two steel players have just packed up and left. Can you blame them? Halekulani has had a history of losing great Hawaiian musicians; nothing new. |
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Denny Turner
From:
Oahu, Hawaii USA
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Denny Turner
From:
Oahu, Hawaii USA
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Gary Lynch
From:
Creston, California, USA
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Posted 30 Sep 2007 7:26 am
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Wonder if someday when you visit the Bishop Museum on Oahu, there will be a glass case with a steel guitar in it. You will push a button and an example of it's sound will come out some speakers with and explanation of how it was once used in Hawaii.....  |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 30 Sep 2007 3:12 pm
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The subject of teaching steel guitar is a well-worn one in HSGA. The Scholarship fund is built up, but getting teachers and students together hasn't had any progress. I usually donated to that fund, until I realised that my donation served a better purpose in the general fund.
I like Denny's dead horse picture, which sez it all  |
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Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
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Posted 30 Sep 2007 3:22 pm
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Well, you know, you don't need the motels. I would buy DVDs of the best performances over the years. That would increase the money in the general fund. It could also go to the sholarship fund. Tell me, are there DVDs of any anual convention shows? I might be willing to buy them unedited. I know it takes time and money. Volunteers are always few.
_________________
Amor vincit omnia |
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Don Kona Woods
From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
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Posted 30 Sep 2007 4:09 pm
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Edward asks,
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| Tell me, are there DVDs of any anual convention shows? |
There is DVDs indeed of every HSGA convention in Joliet and in Waikiki as well as the HSGA sponsored Ho'olaulea. The conventions have been video recorded for many years and contain many well known steel guitarists. And you can order them through HSGA. 
Aloha,
Don |
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Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
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Posted 30 Sep 2007 8:19 pm
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Well, from my vantage point the steel guitar is alive and well as far as Hawaiian music is concerned. That is, Hawaiian music as played by Hawaiians for Hawaiians.
Who exactly are we so concerned about forcing feeding the instrument to? The tourists? I think there maybe some kind of misguided panic about the instrument "dying out" because it's no longer as visible in the tourist spots, the hotels. But those are the tourist spots, the hotels.
Why get so evangelical about music anyway?
I'm imagining two young men approaching your doorstep wearing white shirts, coat and tie... with steel guitars under their arms. "Good morning sir, do you have steel guitar in your life?" |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 30 Sep 2007 10:02 pm
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I believe all the talk here is mostly referring to the steel guitar clubs.
I'm sure steel guitar is around in the other places in Hawaii besides the Waikiki scene, which is tourist oriented.
I doubt if steel is "dying out" just because the tourist trade doesn't seem to see a lot of it.
Hawaiian steel music is small only a segament of this forum, with many other types of steel guitar music being actually more talked about here.
I'm waiting for those "two young men with steel guitars" to come to my door so that I can play a tune for them! |
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Derrick Mau
From:
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 30 Sep 2007 11:01 pm
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Don Kona Woods
From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
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Posted 1 Oct 2007 12:12 am
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Jeff says,
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| Well, from my vantage point the steel guitar is alive and well as far as Hawaiian music is concerned. That is, Hawaiian music as played by Hawaiians for Hawaiians. |
We have finally heard some good news. Mahalo, Jeff for passing this news along to all of us.
Aloha,
Don |
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Denny Turner
From:
Oahu, Hawaii USA
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 1 Oct 2007 5:07 am
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| Quote: |
| Shouldn't be too time/$ consuming, I'd think. |
Then you do it.
Show everybody how it should be done. |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 1 Oct 2007 5:39 am
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| Ron Whitfield wrote: |
| utilzing the vast amount of 'good' steel performance video in the HSGA archives. Bust out the good stuff, instead of keeping at the bottom of some closet. |
| Ron Whitfield wrote: |
| If that disingenuous response is the limit of HSGA concern towards a viable suggestion, then, there you go! |
OK ... I'll elaborate ...
I suspect that this thread is more about the mythical "HSGA stash" of performance videos ... than any sort of promotional scenario for the Hawaiian Steel Guitar.
For the record:
HSGA does not own video equipment.
HSGA does not own these videos.
The gear that is used at the events in question ... is owned and operated by Paul Weaver ... who donates his time and energy to HSGA ... yes, for free.
His predecessor ... Clay Savage ... ditto
These "historic videos" are the property of Mr. Weaver and the Savage estate (sadly, Clay passed a few years ago).
The performances were taped ... with the permission of the players. If an individual did not want his performance taped or wants it taped but not sold to others ... all they had to do was tell Paul or Clay.
Folks like me ... who own a great deal of these ... are not at liberty to sell, post, etc ...
Just like someone buying the new Bobby Ingano CD ... isn't at liberty to post its contents on the internet ... free for download by EVERYONE.
As stated in the other HSGA Bashing thread ... peoples work ... is their work ... simple as that.
And if they feel like sharing it with the world for free ... thats nice.
If they feel like sharing it with members of their organization ... thats nice.
If they prefer to sell there work ... well, that's their right.
If they choose to archive it ... well, thats their prerogative.
Simple as that ... |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 1 Oct 2007 7:27 pm
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| Ditto to what Rick sez. |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2007 1:59 pm
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Paul, I'd sure like to hear a qualified answer to your pertainent question.
Thanx for asking!
Derrick, that's just another problem to overcome by getting them to realize there are benefits to promoting the steel, some that equate to what they care about, $.
Indeed, a very hard sell.
Rick Alexander & Don, I don't own the needed equipment or any of the many videos that could be used, and simply because I'm not an HSGA member, Mr. (nice guy...) Weaver doesn't wish to communicate with me, let alone cut loose with any material, or I'd have some starting point.
Nor am I an organization that could/should have some clout to get the required attention of the typical 'who cares' hotel mgt.
But, don't worry, I'm up for the up-hill battle, if the opportunity ever arrises.
Rick Aiello, do you call this thread a bashing of the HSGA?
Or does any mention of it by me denote bashing?
The Savage videos are (as I understand it) in the controlling hands of DeWitt Scott, who tells me, he has no plans for them, ie, no soup for you!
That's just great.
Jeff, alive and well? I guess you see a lot of it, but as I experienced yesterday with a good ol' country gentleman from Alabam (and now living here), who is VERY interested in seeing/hearing Hawaiian steel guitar, he's found it only once, at the Halekulani, and even so, it wasn't getting played much.
But then, he's not Hawaiian, so maybe he's outta luck, eh?
"Why get so evangelical about music?" Sorry for caring, but I dig it, and finding anything good is rather difficult these day's, so it's worth a little HOSANA's now and again.
I try and keep up on the steel doin's around the island, and by the look of my ( thinly veiled scam of a ) web site, there ain't a whole lot goin' on.
But then, Jeff, I'm not a Hawaiian either.
And neither is the one who taught you all about steel.
Last edited by Ron Whitfield on 2 Oct 2007 7:26 pm; edited 3 times in total |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2007 2:19 pm
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| Ron Whitfield wrote: |
Rick Aiello, do you call this thread a bashing of the HSGA? |
Yes ... Your opening sentence ...
utilzing the vast amount of 'good' steel performance video in the HSGA archives. Bust out the good stuff, instead of keeping at the bottom of some closet.
Clearly states that the HSGA has archived these videos ... and we are keeping them to ourselves ... in some kind of storage.
Accusing the HSGA organization of something like conspiring to withold valuable items ... something HSGA itself has no control over ...
In my world ... thats "bashing".
| Ron Whitfield wrote: |
If that disingenuous response is the limit of HSGA concern towards a viable suggestion, then, there you go! |
That gave me a clue also ...  |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2007 3:44 pm
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No problem, we all make mistakes.
We learn from them and try not to repeat.
I'll try and be nicer when I have some bashing to do. |
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2007 4:03 pm
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The cats out of the bag!
Ron, You solved the mystery of the HSGA holy grail. The mystery of the HSGA hidden video tapes.
OK... I might as well tell everyone.
The secret HSGA video archive is actually stored in two separate locations.
To gain entrance to the archive. Two people, each entrusted with, and holding one half of a golden locket must meet at the secret HSGA fortress of solitude. They join the halves of the locket while standing beneath a blue Hawaiian moon. They genuflect towards Lima, Ohio and chant the following "all we care about is money, all we care about is money"
Who does the HSGA trust with the segments of the golden locket? (scroll down and it will be revealed)
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Joanne & Janice! Who else?
_________________
Gerald Ross
'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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