How To Look Exciting While You Play Steel

Mat Rhodes · Post by **Mat Rhodes** » 30 Sep 2006 8:06 am

I'm guilty of what I think Tom Bradshaw labeled as being "stone-faced" when I play live. Now I've tried to imagine how a steeler could look interesting on stage competing in an "air steel" competition much like its "air guitar" counterpart. Logistically, you really can't run around the stage.

But I think I have a solution that will help all of us get better gigs and take us out of that "boring" stereotype. How about a converted motorized wheelchair with a platform mounted in front of it for the steel? That way we could move around stage, spin around in circles, do wheelies, etc. You'd just have to be careful not to roll yourself off the stage to a crashing halt.

Has anyone considered alternatives to our dilemma?

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 30 Sep 2006 8:15 am

Many of us are of the age that it was cool to be expressionless or to display pain when we played. We learned that from watching the icons of the big band/jazz era. To look "Exciting" was a later component of a musicians personna.

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Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 30 Sep 2006 8:15 am

I saw a one-man-band piano player on tv do just exactly that--his piano & seat were mounted on a 3-wheel rig, like an old ice cream vendor cart, with pedals. He was playing some ragtimey stuff and when he got to the climax he played a big fanfare and then did that showbiz thing of slowing down and starting the tune back up in halftempo and then accelerating (think of Liberace or Liza Minelli doing the step/kick, step/kick thing to the applause of the brain-dead audience) back up to tempo, meanwhile starting to pedal so that out of nowhere he is tooling around the stage in little circles. It was so absurd that I busted out laughing. Nothing says great music like bicycling around on the stage while you are playing. Not to put down his act. It was all about shtick and it was great shtick.

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 30 Sep 2006 8:24 am

Just have fun. I think just being able to look up at the audience and smile now and then is a good thing.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 30 Sep 2006 8:57 am

Yet another time when it makes a lot of sense to take a tip from Buddy Emmons...

Frank Parish · Post by **Frank Parish** » 30 Sep 2006 9:21 am

Next thing you know one of these guys will break out with a chain saw and cut the guitar in half and set it on fire. Now that's real entertainment![This message was edited by Frank Parish on 30 September 2006 at 10:29 AM.]

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 30 Sep 2006 9:34 am

You COULD.........try kicking your pack seat over while still playing your steel and back into the shins of the bassman or perhaps thro' the big round bass drum. It went over big on a recent television show.
Another potential crowd stopper would be to run and jump up onto your pack seat; down onto your twin amplifiers and thence on top of your table guitar........like another artist does on occasion.
Actually, there is no limit to bazar acts that could be pulled off, all in the name of showmanship and/or musical talent.
Personally, I think a straight face with the ability to make the impossible look easy, is the way to go. It's worked for others.....like Chet Atkins, B.Emmons and countless others.

Mike Shefrin · Post by **Mike Shefrin** » 30 Sep 2006 9:36 am

Anybody remember when Rusty Young used the tubular steel leg of his stool seat as a bar on his steel with Poco? Pretty wild.

Glenn Austin · Post by **Glenn Austin** » 30 Sep 2006 10:01 am

I like to go wireless with my steel.

Ted Solesky · Post by **Ted Solesky** » 30 Sep 2006 10:04 am

I remember watching Jimmy Day where he would close his eyes and roll his head - real soul. I sure do miss seeing at the convention. He and Buddy were my big heroes.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 30 Sep 2006 10:08 am

watching buddy emmons play always impressed me, the way he smiles and laughs and seems to be having such a good time.....'course, if i could play like that, i'd be smiling, laughing and having a good time too!

John Swain · Post by **John Swain** » 30 Sep 2006 10:11 am

As Mark pointed out,Buddy has always been about the most animated player( except possibly Speedy West)..You can feel his joy and sorrow when he plays!!And his "anguish" when he blows it(not often!)JS

Greg Simmons · Post by **Greg Simmons** » 30 Sep 2006 10:14 am

Wayne Franco · Post by **Wayne Franco** » 30 Sep 2006 10:44 am

One time I saw a banjo player who right in the middle of a set sat down on the edge of the stage and played the star spangled banner on a rubber chicken. Had a bicycle pump with the hose going up its rear end for air. He held the chickens legs under his leg while he pulled on the neck to get different sounds. You can imagine what it looked like pulling on the neck while pumping the air pump with the other hand. If anyone knows how that was done please chime in. It was hilerious. It would be fun to do while sitting on your steel seat.[This message was edited by W Franco on 30 September 2006 at 12:15 PM.][This message was edited by W Franco on 30 September 2006 at 12:24 PM.]

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 30 Sep 2006 11:15 am

If you want to see stony faced, look no further
<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xslQCqlTdYA"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xslQCqlTdYA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600" height="350"></embed></object>

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 30 Sep 2006 11:57 am

rubber chicken...banjo...what's the difference?

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 30 Sep 2006 12:20 pm

Hey Richard,

That was some pretty nice playing there; stone-faced or not. Excellent tone, too.

Ya have to be stoned-face. There's just too much going on with the hands, knees, feet, brain and heart not to be. There's not a whole lotta room to do much else. At least for me, anyway.

Jimmy Gibson · Post by **Jimmy Gibson** » 30 Sep 2006 12:33 pm

Play in the nude,then you could use three knee levers at once,aint i naughty?but it`s all in good fun.{i hope}...lol.

Jimmy.

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 30 Sep 2006 12:48 pm

Jimmy,
I have 5 knee pedals on my steel...two for my left knee,two for my right knee,& one for my "wee-knee". I'm gonna get one more put on that goes behind me,for my "hei-knee".

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©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.</pre>

[This message was edited by Smiley Roberts on 30 September 2006 at 01:49 PM.]

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 30 Sep 2006 3:43 pm

Hey Smiley,

That "Wee-Knee" lever. Is that strictly a raise lever? Or does it also have a flaciding option?
'Scuse me. Flattening option.

Wayne Franco · Post by **Wayne Franco** » 30 Sep 2006 5:17 pm

I have ???????..what kind of envy is that?

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 1 Oct 2006 3:21 am

I think it was either Elton John or Keith Emerson (?) who did the flying piano trick - the piano lifted clear up off the stage and began spinning in loops, while the (presumably strapped-in) player kept playing. You'd have to be careful not to drop your bar, it could kill the b@njo player, which might or might not be a bad thing, depending.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 1 Oct 2006 3:57 am

Keith Emerson.
Unfortunately, a piano won't play while upsidedown.
A steel will. I think. Anyone care to try it?

I like the motorized idea. Do the whole thing, cruise the stage, sidle over to the bass player....

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 1 Oct 2006 4:24 am

Try playing your steel naked.. You'll get a reaction, I PROMISE...At OUR age it might be one of everyone screaming in horror and clawing to be first to the exit, but there will be a strong reaction....

Actually, many years ago at a big NJ rock club, my band came out for our second set dressed only in diapers in front of probably 800-1000 rowdy club goers.. Mayhem ensued!!!.. The babes loved it!!!.. Of course I was 24 at the time and fairly trim.. If I tried it now, the girls would be puking on their sneakers... bob

Paul King · Post by **Paul King** » 1 Oct 2006 5:16 am

I have one man who tells me you never smile and will make faces at me if he is present when I am playing. I just always tell him it takes a lot of concentration and pass it off. I do get tickled at Buddy Emmons and how he smiles when playing and even when he makes a mistake. He just smiles and laughs it off. I wish I could be like that. I wish I could be like him playing too but that will never happen so I will settle for watching him as well as all the other great players out there.