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Topic: More guitarists than steel guitarists. |
Joe Yednasty
From:
CA
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Posted 26 Oct 2004 5:00 pm |
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Since almost everybody and their dog plays the guitar and steel guitars cost over 1000$, why isn't there more bands needing steel guitar players?
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"Eskimo" Joe Yednasty
Emmons P/P S-10
Peavey Session 500
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 26 Oct 2004 5:41 pm
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I think in contrast there are also more GUITAR players looking to play in bands than STEEL players looking to play in bands.
Every Guitar player and there Dog wants to play in a band too..but I somehow think there are more guitar players than bands..
Every band pretty much needs a Guitar player or 2..and once again in contrast only Country Bands, and not even all of them, are wanting a Steel Guitar.
Reduce the odds..play both..and play Rock, Country and Blues..and really go crazy and play straight ahead Jazz too! And if you sing you can really move half the crowd out of the way..
I should have been a Lawyer...
t[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 26 October 2004 at 06:43 PM.] |
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Steve Howard
From:
High Ridge, Missouri, USA
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Posted 26 Oct 2004 6:19 pm
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I am in that debacle right now. I am purchasing my first steel because I really like the sound, but just as much for the fact that guitar players are everywhere. I pick up a steel, get "okay" at it, and all of a sudden, in the STL area, I can look at playing with any country band I want. It is weird, we have Scotty's here and you think there would be more steel players but there aren't. From what I understand, most won't play in a band that plays newer country. Well, I'm up for that. And I'm still kind of young and hip too 
And to answer your question, my last two country bands pretty much didn't even try to find a steel because we knew that there was no one out there. Fiddle players are pretty tough to find here too. Most of the country bands in this area at least go with a rock setup with an acoustic guitar added. |
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Carlos Polidura
From:
Puerto Rico
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Posted 26 Oct 2004 6:24 pm
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in my opinion...and perhaps i should quote, a lot of people may think that the steel guitar was meant only to play "that old hawaiian and country music" (as i've heard some people say). not in this forum ofcourse.
some people just don't realize the whole potential of this "wonderful" "heavenly" musical instrument called... "the steel guitar"!!! or pedal steel guitar.
they just don't know what "they are missing"
carlos |
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Jim Peters
From:
St. Louis, Missouri, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 26 Oct 2004 8:00 pm
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| I know three really great steel players in the St.Louis area(I am not one of them). One works pretty regular, one took a trucking job, one plays when he wants. Ten years ago I had many friends tell me to play country, there was plenty of work. I play 6 string, pretty much book when and where my band will play, most of my country friends can't get a decent gig. Maybe I'm just out of touch with the country scene, but that is ahat my buddies tell me. JimP |
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Steve Howard
From:
High Ridge, Missouri, USA
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Posted 27 Oct 2004 2:50 am
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Jim,
I agree with you that St. Louis in not the country scene to be in. Much bigger blues town. But if you aren't looking for your band to make $1200 a night, there are many options in the outskirts. I live in Northern Jefferson County, and if I wanted to, I could book a gig every weekend in my area for $300-$400 a month. It just all depends on what you are looking for I guess. I think there is a lot of opportunity in the summer with all the county fairs going on, and then Wild Country is really the only place to make any money, and that varies depending on the band. So, I'm not dillusional that playing steel will give me instant monetary gratitude, but it opens up a lot of options for me on this rather "smallish" country scene.
Anyway, don't mean to hijack the thread, it is just so cool to finally be on a forum with a member from STL. I feel all alone on TDPRI. |
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Jonathan Cullifer
From:
Gallatin, TN
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Posted 27 Oct 2004 5:53 am
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From what I've been able to tell, it's an issue of perception than anything else; I've had some non-country people from my church approach me about doing session work for them because they heard me play. None of them had really heard a steel guitar before me, so it was a unique opportunity to branch out. There will always be more guitars than steel guitars, just by the nature of guitar playing, but I think there's many opportunities to do unique things with the steel guitar, provided you're willing to go outside the realm of normal.
Jonathan |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 4 Nov 2004 12:58 pm
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Most people don't even know what a steel guitar is, so the demand for it is minimal. The only good solution is to take over - be the leader of the band. If you're not a good singer, establish a solid relationship with one and provide the PA. Hire and fire the musicians, or create the backup trax yourself. Do the promo, book the gigs, handle the business yourself. Then if it's time to downsize, it won't be the steel man who has to leave the island.
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Rick Alexander
57 Fender Stringmaster T8, 57 Fender Champ, 59 Valco D8, 47 National New Yorker . .
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 4 Nov 2004 5:33 pm
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Steel just ain't cool...unless you use a fuzz-tone. Even then, it's a kinda borderline/niche instrument.
('Cept in High-Woyan and Heal-Billy music.) |
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