When they walk into the club do you turn up?

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 30 Jul 2014 7:44 am

When another steeler you do not know (or band) walks into the club can you spot them?

They have a quite look about them, but they are looking and listening.

It seems like their presence pushes you just a little. What say you?

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 30 Jul 2014 8:00 am

I try to control myself...

Jim Newberry · Post by **Jim Newberry** » 30 Jul 2014 11:52 am

That's when my basket of clams shows up.

Matt Bush · Post by **Matt Bush** » 30 Jul 2014 11:55 am

I usually don't even notice, then after the show our drummer or bassist will say, "Did you see 'whoever' sitting in the back?" I don't really register faces while I'm playing. I've even looked right at my brother and not realized it was him until set break.

Bob Hickish · Post by **Bob Hickish** » 30 Jul 2014 1:04 pm

Jim Newberry wrote:That's when my basket of clams shows up.

Jim
That is too Funny !-- Here in the NW , is that what we would call the
â€œIvarsâ€ syndrome ?

http://www.ivars.com/locations/acres-of-clams

Rick Schacter · Post by **Rick Schacter** » 30 Jul 2014 1:13 pm

Bob Hickish wrote:
Jim Newberry wrote:That's when my basket of clams shows up.

Jim
That is too Funny !-- Here in the NW , is that what we would call the
â€œIvarsâ€ syndrome ?

http://www.ivars.com/locations/acres-of-clams

Except that Ivar's is yummy!
I don't know about anybody else, but when my basket of clams show up, there's nothing tasty about it. $:\$

So to answer Larry's question...no, it use to make me self conscious.
Especially if I knew that player was waaaaay better than me.

Rick

Bob Hickish · Post by **Bob Hickish** » 30 Jul 2014 1:31 pm

Rick
Quote
it use to make me self conscious.
Especially if I knew that player was waaaaay better than me.

Rick

I never had that problem - I found that there were only few steel players that were worse then me , so any complex went away about my playing . if there is a supper picker in the crowd , & I through a clam or two -- I just look at’em and say -- “ see if you can do that on your steel “

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 30 Jul 2014 4:22 pm

So how do you get on playing at a steel show - when the whole audience is full of steel players hehe

John De Maille · Post by **John De Maille** » 30 Jul 2014 5:18 pm

Basically, at a club or a dance it doesn't bother me at all. We've all done these gigs and their problems and the fun, so, were all brothers of the format. But, at a steel show, I'm always on edge. I don't know why after 37 yrs of playing this instrument. It still makes me nervous to perform in front of my piers. I don't choke, but, I'm always hesitant to play my utmost, for fear of making a mistake. I guess having a lot of the super pros there has something to do with it. I always feel that, everybody's eyes are on me, which, they are, so, there's the pressure. I try to play it as safe and clean as possible. And, I don't think I'm alone with this thought.

Mitch Ellis · Post by **Mitch Ellis** » 30 Jul 2014 6:07 pm

John De Maille wrote: I try to play it as safe and clean as possible. And, I don't think I'm alone with this thought.

No, you are not.

Mitch

John Cadeau · Post by **John Cadeau** » 30 Jul 2014 8:10 pm

One night I was playing in a club and Emmy Lou Harris's band walked into the club. I knew who they were right away. I didn't turn up but my vibrato went crazy.
John.

Floyd Lowery · Post by **Floyd Lowery** » 31 Jul 2014 4:52 am

I remember the first time Julian Thorpe walked into the place I was playing. I was so nervous I could not play anything right. Then on break he tried to put me at ease. He said " You sound good Floyd." Then he grinned and said " For that lousy tuning you are using." He was the only one I ever felt that self conscious in front of. Gosh, he could pick.
Every one else, I just picked what I would normally.

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 31 Jul 2014 7:30 am

More often than not I turn up a little because the steeler said they would like to hear me play. I guess I tend to lay back in the mix more often than I should.

So to not piss of the lead player I tell them to drift up closer to the stage or hang out beside the stage. I just hate to be told to turn down or think I have to turn up to compete. Just me.

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 31 Jul 2014 7:44 am

No, when other steel players show up at the gig, I discreetly excuse myself and go into the men's room to regurgitate the contents of my stomach 2-3 times. Then I head for the bar and down two double shots of Ketel-1 w/ a beer-back.

By then, I am of sufficient composure to continue playing at my prior volume level

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 31 Jul 2014 8:28 am

But Mr. Behm clearly states you don't know them in that part about, ummm, not knowing them, I think.

When another steeler you do not know walks into the club can you spot them?

So this is almost like mystical or something, huh. I have heard of "star power", and natural "charisma that fills a room", and even gay-dar, but this is a new one... could it be like, body language, or maybe "steeler's pheromones"? And though I've never actually seen an aura personally, supposedly they've got some big ones up in Alaska.

They have a quite look about them,

Forehead? Earlobes... or... maybe could it be that, after they do sit down a while their left foot starts corkscrewing around on a "footsie solitaire" kind of trip; and then they start spreading and closing, spreading and closing their legs? And you just thought you noticed right when they walked in, because like... well you know what steel guitars do to your mind eventually, right? Boom lacka mow mow indeed. Or maybe, was it that sort of nerdily-timeless, "classic steeler's" fashion sense, like a red-checkered shirt accessorized w/glasses case?

Well, shoot. Ummm, no - actually - this has never happened to me.

Rick Schacter · Post by **Rick Schacter** » 31 Jul 2014 9:40 am

David Mason wrote:But Mr. Behm clearly states you don't know them in that part about, ummm, not knowing them, I think.
When another steeler you do not know walks into the club can you spot them?
So this is almost like mystical or something, huh. I have heard of "star power", and natural "charisma that fills a room", and even gay-dar, but this is a new one... could it be like, body language, or maybe "steeler's pheromones"? And though I've never actually seen an aura personally, supposedly they've got some big ones up in Alaska.
They have a quite look about them,
Forehead? Earlobes... or... maybe could it be that, after they do sit down a while their left foot starts corkscrewing around on a "footsie solitaire" kind of trip; and then they start spreading and closing, spreading and closing their legs? And you just thought you noticed right when they walked in, because like... well you know what steel guitars do to your mind eventually, right? Boom lacka mow mow indeed. Or maybe, was it that sort of nerdily-timeless, "classic steeler's" fashion sense, like a red-checkered shirt accessorized w/glasses case?

Well, shoot. Ummm, no - actually - this has never happened to me.

I know exactly what Larry is talking about.
Musicians DO have a "look about them" when they show up to your gig.

No...you can't be 100% sure all of the time, but most of the time they sit in the back and stare up at the stage as if they are in a class room focusing on the teacher in front of the class.

Most of the other people in the room will just start a conversation with their friends, not paying too much attention to the band,or they'll get up and dance. Musicians almost never get up and dance.
We're too cool I guess.

If they haven't been on the dance floor by around two or three songs, you can almost guarantee they're musicians.

**One more thing**

You'll know if you assessed them correctly at break time.
Anytime I was playing my pedal steel at a gig, musicians would almost always wander up to the stage and the first thing they would ask is: "How's that thing tuned"?

Patrick Strain · Post by **Patrick Strain** » 31 Jul 2014 10:14 am

I hate having to play in front of other steel players because I'm not very good. Fortunately, there aren't a lot of steel players in my area. Oddly, when I was in Nashville last year (for vacation, not to play), I walked into a bar on Broadway with my wife, and after the first song, the band stops, points at me and says, "That guy's a musician. What do you play?" They must just assume everyone is a musician.

Eric Philippsen · Post by **Eric Philippsen** » 31 Jul 2014 11:38 am

I, too, hate to play in front of other steel players because I'm not very good either. Oh, I get by, but I wouldn't call myself accomplished by any stretch.

I have noticed that my attitude has changed as the years have gone by. I don't tense up that much anymore and pretty much have the mindset of "This is what I play and how I play it. It's the best I can do."

Dave Harmonson · Post by **Dave Harmonson** » 31 Jul 2014 5:32 pm

I just try not to embarrass myself

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 1 Aug 2014 4:06 am

When they walk into the club do you turn up?

No, I just do what I do. Some like it, and some don't. I'm a hacker...no great player by any means, and my mood governs my playing, not my audience. When I'm with a good band with good players, guys that know dynamics, it feels really great to play. But when I'm with a bunch of "bangers and wailers" I get that "Why do I even do this?" feeling.

Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 1 Aug 2014 5:49 am

Back in the early '90's I had Doug Jernigan, Larry Self and Harold Fogel walk in on me in Florida. I was not smart enough to get nervous but I've learned some things since then.
I do get more nervous now even if no musicians come in, I guess my age is starting to interfere with my playing
and I lost some confidence.

Dick Wood · Post by **Dick Wood** » 1 Aug 2014 8:13 am

They've asked me to turn down before anybody walked in.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 1 Aug 2014 8:56 am

If playing in front of the odd steel player is traumatic, then playing at a Steel Guitar convention must be hell on Earth. I haven't done so yet. I think I would just freeze. $:\$

Paul Wade · Post by **Paul Wade** » 1 Aug 2014 9:02 am

Dick Wood wrote:They've asked me to turn down before anybody walked in.

dick

p.w

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 1 Aug 2014 9:58 am

not saying i'm a big threat, but in any town most of the players are aware of each other.
i've noticed on many occasions that as i was approaching a club i could hear the steel player sounding just great. then after i went in and they were aware i was listening, their playing would get a little louder and more jagged. some people tense up. i used to but finally realized they're just going to get what i have, not what i wish i had.

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When they walk into the club do you turn up?

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