Gung-Ho Steelies Who Brave The Frigid Bookings

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 4 Jan 2014 9:03 am

I remember positioning myself in east Otis, MA in 20 below zero weather. There wouldn't be a chance that I would risk honoring a booking there at this stage of the game. While carrying my equipment to my car after playing, the frozen snow beneath my boots emitted high-pitched squealing reminders of the bitter cold. There will be no more sparsely settled bookings for me in this lifetime.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 4 Jan 2014 10:15 am

so be it!

close it up.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 4 Jan 2014 11:27 am

Chris,

The "steelies" living in Minnesota will have the chance to test their perspicacity this weekend. Weather personnel are predicting a wind chill factor of 50 degrees below zero. This winter will test the metal of both young and old living in the Midwestern section of The U.S.A.

Jeff Garden · Post by **Jeff Garden** » 4 Jan 2014 11:38 am

test their mettle and the metal

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 4 Jan 2014 12:22 pm

please move this thread to 'Stories, Musings, Talking and Mindless Ramblings'.

John De Maille · Post by **John De Maille** » 4 Jan 2014 12:22 pm

Had a gig for NYE. The temps were single digits and snowing like crazy. I was waiting for the phone to ring for the cancellation, but, never happened. As it turned out, the weather several miles away, down in the valley where the job was, was clear. We played the gig to a packed house and got home to a beautiful starlit night. It's not the first time I'd left the house in inclement weather and probably won't be the last. There's a little crazy in all of us, for sure.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 4 Jan 2014 12:24 pm

more in some than others.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 4 Jan 2014 12:38 pm

I'm reminded of a bitter cold winter night about 35 years ago... carrying my D-10 to the car after a gig. I slipped on the ice. The case slammed down on the ice and I slammed down onto the case! When I got home I opened the case and saw three broken tuners! Snapped right off.

Sometimes I hate winter.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 4 Jan 2014 12:43 pm

The governor called off school for monday.
Supposed to have a high of -17 degrees!
You don't have to be crazy to live in Minnesnowta, but it helps!

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 4 Jan 2014 12:49 pm

Chris,

Oh how I've wished to have been forewarned about the aspects of negativism throughout my lifetime. You are 80 years + too late as a prompter.

Kevin Mincke · Post by **Kevin Mincke** » 4 Jan 2014 1:33 pm

I say we go over to Erv's for a visit to see all the neat stuff in the corral....most always warm in there besides. Brrr....honey it's cowld outside

Craig Schwartz · Post by **Craig Schwartz** » 4 Jan 2014 1:46 pm

Minnesota 1993, Who ever got that girl ? Jack Lemon or Walter Mathaw
One of my favorite quotes was : Put your lip over your forhead and swallow

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 4 Jan 2014 3:24 pm

Here in the Berkshires winters can be foreboding, after experiencing exposure to extreme temperature drops. I remember trying to start automobiles that featured valves in the block engines in 20 below zero weather. Today's vehicles feature valves in the heads, and 12 volt batteries. Oil viscosity can be a big deal if the wrong selections are made. Back in the 60's, used auto prices were not a problem. Trying to scrape up car payments is not an easy task at the dealerships at this time. If prices continue to soar year after year, there will be no telling what might happen to "weekend warriors" and their trusty Emmons guitars.

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 4 Jan 2014 3:30 pm

Eee lad, thy thinks thy's hard done by?

I remember getting up before I'd gone to bed, dragging all my equipment 20 miles through 12 foot snowdrifts, and playing to an audience of two (actually it was a schizophrenic dog) with my bar frozen to the strings in between the 3rd and 4th frets

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 4 Jan 2014 4:05 pm

Richard,

I recall playing outdoors on a horse-drawn hay wagon at the Otis MA Fire Department, the last day in August, back in the 80's. The wind was blowing sharply, and the temperature held at 29 degrees. At that time, my steel featured a desk lamp, mounted over the strings. I had to hold the bulb to warm my fingers between each song. That gig stands out in my memories.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 4 Jan 2014 5:18 pm

I used to play an outdoor Halloween gig at the end of October every year. The hours were 7pm to 10pm. The last time we played there it was 26 degrees. I took my Carter Starter that night and left the Emmons at home!

George McLellan · Post by **George McLellan** » 5 Jan 2014 5:26 am

I've gotten more particular in where and when I play these days, like Erv said, our governor has closed all our school tomorrow because of the cold.

Geo

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 5 Jan 2014 5:32 am

Doug,I use to hate the Mountain Park gigs in late September. The last show at 7pm usually was brutal. Many times there were no people left to play to but the park insisted on at least 20 minutes as per contract. I can guaranty you at 19 minutes we were into the out throw and packed,paid and gone in 15 minutes more.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 5 Jan 2014 5:39 am

Doug,

The other extremes encountered while playing the "steel" guitar include adverse conditions that can develop during the course of honoring promised bookings. Electrical storms, midsummer sunshine, temperature drops, and dozens of other unforeseen disadvantages have been a part of entertaining while playing the "steel" guitar. Other than trying to play the instrument after setting it up in a block of ice, I'm reminded of bar owners who have no concepts in regulating comfort ranges on the staging area. The sudden changes of room temperature instantly alters string pitches through a process better known as expansion and contraction.

Willie Sims · Post by **Willie Sims** » 5 Jan 2014 10:32 am

This subject reminds me a bout a show date. I experience back in the early 50s, at the time our band was the road band with a black face comedy show plaYING out of the grand old Opry. On this particular show. We were booked for a show at a drive-in theater in wheeling west Virginia, we were traveling in a packard funeral car with a trailer at the back. On this trip we had String BEAN and ROY ACUFF;S FIDDEL player big Howdy Forrester with us.

It turned so-COLD you can see your breath, a bout the time we got set up on top of the concession stand, a black Ford car drove up and it was Bill Monroe and his band. It happened we were openINGfor Bill Monroe. Needless to say we all had a miserable cold night. I never played a show in cold weather again . Willie sims

Dean Rimmer · Post by **Dean Rimmer** » 5 Jan 2014 12:26 pm

all winter long. the outside deck at squaw valley with the outpsyders. 4 years in a row. sat. and sun. ......a little chilly but what a view

Willie Sims · Post by **Willie Sims** » 5 Jan 2014 1:04 pm

: On my previous post, I failed to mention the name of the blackface comedy act We were traveling with. They were called the,JAM UP , and honey blackface comedy show. Not that it matters, but I thought maybe some of you older pickers might remember them .

Willie sims

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 5 Jan 2014 3:00 pm

We get some snow up here too!

Eddie Cunningham · Post by **Eddie Cunningham** » 5 Jan 2014 7:04 pm

Yes Willie , I remember those boys from the G.O.O.!! I have an old cassette tape of an Ernest Tubb radio show from the 40s and Jam Up & Honey were the featured comedy act ! Was funny then and still is !! You must have had a great time with that group !! olde geezer AKA Eddie "C"

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 5 Jan 2014 7:27 pm

My cold fingers don't move very fast, but the drummer speeds up to keep warm. It's not fun playing outdoors in the winter, even in North California.

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Gung-Ho Steelies Who Brave The Frigid Bookings

Gung-Ho Steelies Who Brave The Frigid Bookings

Jam Up & Honey !!