The Nashville Palace is cutting back

Mike Sweeney · Post by **Mike Sweeney** » 20 Nov 2002 2:19 pm

Starting this Sunday the 24th and Monday the 25th the Palace will be going dark[NO BAND],on Sundays and Mondays.
To be honest I'm surprised it hasn't happened before now. It may be a winter thing but nobody knows for sure. I'm glad the owner waited to do this until it got close to the holiday season. But to be fair I understand because the crowds have been way down on those nights.
One other thing I might ought to mention is for those of you that come to the Palace sometimes and have purchased my CDs and may request something from them I can no longer play "All that slow draggy S#*t" anymore. Even though I play one tune a set AFTER the 20 to 30 BLUEGRASS portion I can't pick what I want to play except on the 1st set. After that it has to be "Peppy". Don't get me wrong I like peppy but after a half hour of bluegrass at 100 mph I thought it would be nice to slow it down.
Nobody else is censored at what they choose to play or sing. It just proves my point that the steel player is the low man on the totem pole. It's funny that when I brought my Christmas CD back out for this year and I started selling as much as everybody else new rules come out. Funny how that works ain't it?
Just wanted to share that. Before anybody starts telling me to quit my whining let me ask you this, when did you have your last cost of living raise? Are your benefits slowly being taken away? I could go on but I'll let this be it. Just remember if you're in Nashville on a Sunday or Monday and want to go to the Palace it will not have a band.
Take care,
Mike Sweeney[This message was edited by Mike Sweeney on 20 November 2002 at 02:30 PM.][This message was edited by Mike Sweeney on 20 November 2002 at 11:51 PM.]

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 20 Nov 2002 2:40 pm

Thanks for sharing.

"The music business is a dark, plastic hallway; where pimps and thieves run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." - Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

Maybe ya gotta show more of your belly-button, Mike.

Mike Sweeney · Post by **Mike Sweeney** » 20 Nov 2002 2:45 pm

Joey,
Thanks for cheering me up. I don't know about the belly button thing though. The older I get the uglier it gets.LOL
Mike

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 20 Nov 2002 7:52 pm

Mike. I got a concept. Light your steel on fire with lighter fluid then play "Light My Fire" with a disortion unit. Kills um every time. You'll be the hit of the show!

Nick Reed · Post by **Nick Reed** » 20 Nov 2002 9:47 pm

Michael:
Now set me straight on this, I got a little confused from your first post. . . .will this be on Sundays & Mondays, or Mondays & Tuesdays. Those are usually some of the nights when Linda & me drop by.

Well, Thanks again UNCLE GAYLORD! Your Intellegent business decisions & changes for Opryland along with the tourism business for Music City seem to be flourishling. Again you've managed to deteriate another Nashville Country Music institution! What's next. . .WSM Radio, the Grand Ole Opry, or maybe the Resort-Hotel. Hey I know what, you could sell off that hotel to HCA/Columbia and let them turn it into a new Hospital. Theres already plenty of parking for Doctors, and a Shopping Mall next to it.

Nick

Mike Sweeney · Post by **Mike Sweeney** » 20 Nov 2002 11:50 pm

Nick,
It is Sundays and Mondays. The way I understand it it's partly because I play one song a set and it's generally a slow pretty tune from one of my c.d.s after the bluegrass portion of the set and the "slow draggy s%8t" is running them off. But I thought since I was selling quite a few Christmas c.d.s by playing "O Holy Night" or "What Child Is This" that people liked what I did. I guess I'm just stupid.
Mike
P.S. Would you want to be treated in the Opryland hospital?[This message was edited by Mike Sweeney on 20 November 2002 at 11:56 PM.]

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 21 Nov 2002 6:47 am

Would you want to be treated in the Opryland hospital?

Only if I were Garth Brooks.

------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro

Bob Snelgrove · Post by **Bob Snelgrove** » 21 Nov 2002 7:52 am

Mike

Are you the banjo player who talks about "Sweetie", your wife?

thx

bob

Mike Sweeney · Post by **Mike Sweeney** » 21 Nov 2002 2:55 pm

Bob,
No,You are thinking of Mike Snider my last name is Sweeney. Besides he does not work at the palace anyway.
Besides that I have a different pet name for my wife and you'll never know what it is.

Ray Walker · Post by **Ray Walker** » 22 Nov 2002 5:50 am

Mike, we love ya man... Bottom line is that the folks producing the "new" country music see only how much monies they can take in. In fairness I must say that they are doing what "they" think it takes to keep the big bucks flowing. On the other hand, it's really sad to see the way the steel guitarist is treated in general. Some still have a decent spot to sit in but the truth is it's just plain sad to see extinction of anything and especially if you know you are on the list. As you already know...I have that Christmas CD and I thoroughly enjoy it as does my family. I have also learned much from it as I play with the tracts a great deal. On the other hand I'm not playing much steel with the Shania music or Garth...I just went and listened to Ray Price here in Raleigh last month and I have a copy of his newly released CD. Sad as it might be...you probably won't see him on CMT or MTV and he will sell some CD's at his shows and a few other places...but.....looks like you are in good company my friend. There is still a wonderful market for "our" kind of music simply because it's in the roots of many...and don't think for a minute that those folks aren't feeling the same way about losing something they love so much. It don't have to be that way though and I am starting to rethink about some things very seriously. You are still a hero in Deb and my eyes and one of the finest steel guitarist I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Next time we get together perhaps you will hear a little bit of Green in some of my licks... a little bit of White...a tad of Hughey and a load of Sweeney. Thanks for all the help. Oh by the way...you are wanted very badly in Maryland cause we all love ya and wanna pick with you. You are a lot of Fun Mike. As far as getting a sub for the Palace just get a fiddle player....they'll love that

Take care my friend.
Ray
Oh by the way... I just got a push pull from Bryan who will be coming out. Stop by and pick him up and ride in together.

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 22 Nov 2002 6:39 am

Cough! Cough! Wheeeez!...Is Dolly a respiratory therapist at the Opryland Hospital? Probably has her own Dollywood Lung Clinic by now?
Thanks
Dennis

Mike Sweeney · Post by **Mike Sweeney** » 22 Nov 2002 6:48 am

Thanks Ray. It's just a case of "I'll show you how much power I have". But hell, that's o.k. I'm looking into some other things and although I've got to work somewhere it doesn't have to be there. I know you'll love your Emmons. When Bryan does one there is nothing finer.
I wish I could make it but there is no way I can this time. The next steel show I've got on my books is in Chattanooga,Tn. in March but I might can make it to a MASGA jam before then just not in Dec.
Mike

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 22 Nov 2002 2:03 pm

Mike, I'm sorry to hear that the Palace is cutting back, and I'm sorry I missed you there in September. (I did get to hobnob with Bobbe Seymour, though, who filled in for you!

) Count your blessings on what's left of your "sit-down gig". There aren't many of them left!

Mike Sweeney · Post by **Mike Sweeney** » 22 Nov 2002 4:21 pm

Donny,
Yes I'm glad I'm able to work but, when your incentives for working at a specific job are taken away from you putting up with the other unnecessary b/s becomes even that much more of a headache. I could write a book about some of the things I've incountered at the palace for the past 8 years but then I'd have to go into hiding.LOL. Mike

Kenny Foy · Post by **Kenny Foy** » 22 Nov 2002 8:09 pm

Mike, Sorry we have missed you at the Palace, but please be sure and post or email IF you do go somewhere else. Sorry our paths haven't crossed, but they will. When I was at the Palace there was some things that DID need cuttin back on BUT it sure wasnn't your steel playing.LOL Kenny Ray

Joe Goldmark · Post by **Joe Goldmark** » 22 Nov 2002 9:24 pm

Hi Mike,
Is Willie Cantu still on the gig? Say hi for me if so. Thanks, Joe

Mike Sweeney · Post by **Mike Sweeney** » 23 Nov 2002 12:34 am

Kenny, Thanks for the moral support. I am interested in what you think needs to be cut back though.
Joe, Yes Willie is still there and I'll tell him you said hi.
The club owner, management, and the bandleader are having a meeting Monday to see how they can improve the show. It's going to be interesting to see what happens next.
If you all have any ideas post them. I've got some but nobody asked me so for now I'm keeping my mouth shut.
I'll keep y'all posted.
Mike

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 23 Nov 2002 8:12 am

Just where in Nashville is the Nashville Palace located,__section or address?

Do they serve food there?

Thanks in advance, Rick

Mike Sweeney · Post by **Mike Sweeney** » 23 Nov 2002 10:03 am

Across from the opryland hotel. The corner of
Music Valley Drive and Mc.Gavock Pike.
Yes they serve food.[This message was edited by Mike Sweeney on 23 November 2002 at 10:03 AM.]

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 23 Nov 2002 12:51 pm

Sounds like the live music scenerio around the rest of the country

Maybe topless waitresses, peanut shells on the floor, big candles on the tables, Tomestone pizzas and change the name to the "Pleasure Palace"?

Maybe not?
Dennis

Mike Sweeney · Post by **Mike Sweeney** » 23 Nov 2002 1:12 pm

Dennis,
I like your first idea. I see nothing wrong with the uniform change at all. LOL.
I think we might have a compromise on my personal situation though. I'll let you know how it works out.
We'll just have to wait and see about the schedule it will be summer before it goes back 7 nights a week if then though.
Mike

Bob Watson · Post by **Bob Watson** » 23 Nov 2002 2:24 pm

Mike, I am sorry to hear that you lost Sundays and Mondays at the Palace. I am sure that a player of your caliber will be able to find a gig on at least one of those nights, hopefully both. Maybe even a gig that lets you stretch out and show off a bit. I hope there is a silver lining in this dark cloud. Please tell Terisa I said Hi! Take Care!

Joe Goldmark · Post by **Joe Goldmark** » 23 Nov 2002 3:39 pm

Suggestions? Bring back Randy Ray! (kidding)

Bob Hayes · Post by **Bob Hayes** » 24 Nov 2002 6:04 pm

Mike,
On the Postive Note..(I think and my thinking is not all that greatr) this frees you up tp "HIT" some of the steel Shows and Jams...withing driving distance..unless Seymore will fly you!!!!!
Your buddy from the east GV