Where do you get your incentive to play ????

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 26 Jan 2012 11:33 am

???????

Rich Gardner · Post by **Rich Gardner** » 26 Jan 2012 2:24 pm

I've gotta have a gig. Not always a paying gig, but a gig none-the-less.
RG

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 26 Jan 2012 2:33 pm

over the years one or another of this list has come into play:

ego
peer pressure
alcohol
survival
artistic expression
drugs
boredom
chicks

as in the careers of many talents, living on the edge has contributed to many great songs and licks for some people.
i've become quite boring as of late.
some people just have alot of energy and pent up creativity.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 26 Jan 2012 2:37 pm

...and what rich said, definitely. a pending gig keeps some juices flowing.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 26 Jan 2012 2:49 pm

Not to mention $$$$$

Lynn Fargo · Post by **Lynn Fargo** » 26 Jan 2012 3:08 pm

Going to a Pure Prairie League concert. Ok, so I can't do that every day. So add listening to their CDs, as well as Cody, Burritos, Parsons, and New Riders.

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 26 Jan 2012 3:38 pm

Lynn Fargo wrote:Going to a Pure Prairie League concert. Ok, so I can't do that every day. So add listening to their CDs, as well as Cody, Burritos, Parsons, and New Riders.

I like the way you think!!

Lynn Fargo · Post by **Lynn Fargo** » 26 Jan 2012 6:03 pm

Haha, Thanks Larry. But I can't believe I forgot to add the Wheel to my list! Agree?

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 26 Jan 2012 7:56 pm

For me it started as a dream of maybe someday getting to play with some-one like Ray Price,Tony Booth,Darrell McCall,or Leona Williams ect. But they won't give you a chance (no matter how good you are) unless you have a name, but how do you get a name unless you play with some of these people. I thought getting good enough to do shows was the answer, and they were for a while but now they are going pro. I guess what I'm saying is I'm losing my incentive to play.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 27 Jan 2012 6:20 am

I also think that it's important to have a gig coming to make one sit down more often and longer behind the steel. And for me it also has to be good gig or band.
I'm so tired of set lists catered to line dancers.

Since I'm not a good enough steel player to front a band, I am relying to find like minded players (with similar tastes and abilities) to play along. That takes a lot of effort which I must admit that I'm to lazy, and even if I were not, I doubt that they could be found.
Maybe I sound a little desperate but that's my situation.

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 27 Jan 2012 8:05 am

When I'm feeling really burned out on playing, I've found the best course of action is to learn something new. Don't just keep playing the same old licks and rehashing the same old songs in the same old styles of music. Try to go totally outside your comfort zone.

Of course, making yourself take the first step can be a bit like trying to make yourself exercise. It's easier said than done.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 27 Jan 2012 8:50 am

Music is in my blood and I don't think I'd want to live without it, whether there were gigs or not. I love to play my instrument, but sometimes I just listen--I'm a very good listener of all music--and that always gives me inspiration.

Michael Robertson · Post by **Michael Robertson** » 27 Jan 2012 9:23 am

A gig of course and having to learn new material is motivating.
The true capability of the steel when played correctly is to soulfully embellish the arraignment of the material. IMO
For me to play a signature lick or to reach out to the audience and grab their heart strings, (make them happy or want to cry) then turn around a hand their heart strings back to them is the best musical feeling I can think of.
These are rare events but man what a great feeling.

Alan Cook · Post by **Alan Cook** » 27 Jan 2012 10:03 am

I find it's good at have a mix of things like:
Gigs , tours, working with new artists, different types of music, recording, you tube vids, listening to old and new stuff and practicing chords scales licks ,songs. I get bored if I do anything for too long so the more the better for me. Alan

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 27 Jan 2012 10:13 am

Not everyone is as lucky as you Alan.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 27 Jan 2012 10:58 am

bill, i understand your frustration. as much as ability is a necessary requirement, the perhaps more important ingredient is networking, shmoozing, hanging out and rubbing shoulders with the crowd you want to get into. this is the hard part because there are no rules. i know some great players who have worked this angle for decades with not much success....and on the other hand some lesser talents have fallen right into magical situations.

you need fate on your side..and dedication..

in my case i couldn't afford to chase all around the continent after it and just took what came my way. i've been close to some people who did work high profile jobs. you always hope they might help you, but it usually comes back to having to figure it out on your own.

good personality really helps.

Daniel Morris · Post by **Daniel Morris** » 27 Jan 2012 11:46 am

Joachim: I agree with Chris.
You needn't front a band, just go check out other musicians and shamelessly promote yourself! That's sort of what I've done over the years, and it's resulted in my being asked to play/record music other than straight/commercial country. At a local bookshop, with a bandmate doing some of the band's songs, some covers, I even performed a solo "ambient" improv.
Being challenged fires me up, and at this stage of the game (in my mid-50s), I can turn down offers that don't thrill me (cover bands, etc.).

Alan Cook · Post by **Alan Cook** » 27 Jan 2012 1:48 pm

Luck has little to do with it you just have to be open minded musically. Especially in europe there are so few players and so many artists who love to have steel on there music. I am touring Italy now with www.michaelwestonkink.com and I play on about 5 records a year. The more you do the more it builds, just don't demand to much and be as flexible as possible. Love and feel the music.

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 27 Jan 2012 3:57 pm

Lynn Fargo wrote:Haha, Thanks Larry. But I can't believe I forgot to add the Wheel to my list! Agree?

absolutely!!

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 27 Jan 2012 5:03 pm

Where do I get my incentive to play?

A lot of time I don't.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 28 Jan 2012 5:59 am

Daniel, I read your points. (It's just that I don't know what to say).

Larry Baker · Post by **Larry Baker** » 28 Jan 2012 12:13 pm

My incentive? Sitting behind a good looking Blonde singer and playing. Am I lucky or what??? Larry

John De Maille · Post by **John De Maille** » 28 Jan 2012 3:27 pm

Larry Baker wrote:My incentive? Sitting behind a good looking Blonde singer and playing. Am I lucky or what??? Larry

I'm on that boat too!

Been doing it for years and still love it and her!

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 28 Jan 2012 3:40 pm

I get my incentive to play by listening to different songs and seeing where some good steel would fit in. It's the same thing for playin' at my house or at a steel show-I like to play different songs and not the same songs. I would love to play steel while a singer is onstage. For shows, I like to come up with different songs to play because I'd love for the audience to hear some different material, or if it's a song I did before, I try to put more feeling into it. Although I'm a country steel player, I also like to experiment with songs that ain't really country, for example "Believe" by singer Josh Groban, which is on the soundtrack of the Polar Express movie. A lot of times, when not sittin' at the steel and listenin' to a song, I tell myself, "You know, I'm gonna learn that song on steel someday". I get ideas even when my steel ain't set up.

Brett

Brett

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 28 Jan 2012 3:48 pm

My incentive? When playing w/others, I love thinking of something to play that will make the song sound better/cooler/prettier/more emotionally effective than if I'd laid out.
When playing by myself, trying to find another way of presenting what I know to accomplish the above, or learning new licks and passages.

I also dig accolades, respect and appreciation from other musicians.

I love music, both listening to it and helping to create it.

As to the chicks? I generally find the steel guitar to be a chick magnet. Unfortunately, generally identical polarity as the chicks

The Steel Guitar Forum

Where do you get your incentive to play ????

Where do you get your incentive to play ????

Heart strings