Steeler age survey misleading?

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 11 Jul 2003 9:31 am

Okay, I'm 57, similar in age to most steelers answering the age surveys (old and new). But this does not necessarily mean steeling is dying out. Back when I went to graduate school I was surprised to read an article saying the average age of a grad student was 31, my exact age, even though I had gone back 10 years after leaving college. In fact almost every time I look at any age survey I'm near the average age. Why - because I was born in 1946 the first year of the post WWII baby boom. So for the rest of my life I will be among those in a population bulge that distorts all surveys.

Furthermore, because people live so much longer today (even steelers, in spite of their best efforts otherwise), even with younger people continuously feeding into the ranks, the older players still around have a strong effect on the average. If the rate of entries stays constant, and people play from around age 20 until near their death in their 80s, the "average" age will be around age 50 - not so different from what we see in the surveys.

The age of people at steel shows is also not very indicative of a lack of young players. Young steelers who are working and possibly raising small children, etc. simply don't have the time and money to go to the shows like older people do - plus the kind of music played is not as appealing to younger players.

Hell, as an amateur and semi-pro, I could never even afford to buy a decent pedal steel until I was older and established in my day profession. Thank God for Mavericks and Carter Starters. The best thing about today is that you can get a great used but mechanically modern steel at an affordable price.

Let's not mourn the hypothetical death of the instrument too soon. Better to try to play and insert the steel into all kinds of today's music and look around for young guys to mentor and for new audiences.

Scott Henderson · Post by **Scott Henderson** » 11 Jul 2003 10:44 am

Dave you're right I am 39 went to my first steel show at 37 and have never been to ISPC.
i was invited to go to texas for a show and couldn't go cause i was playing a sit down gig i couldn't get out of oh the young ones are out there they're like you said but they playing and working. I do regret there is not enough of them retaining the old stuff i would hate to lose that. i think a safe statement on the "average age" would be correct if talking about people on the forum but not steelers in general. steel is alive just not dating much (haha)

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Steelin' away in the ozarks and life,
Scott
www.scottyhenderson.com

Ken Williams · Post by **Ken Williams** » 11 Jul 2003 11:18 am

David, I tend to agree. I don't about everyone else, but when I was growing up, steel players were scarce. Now, I know 2 steel players in my area that are in their early 20's. But they stay so busy playing, practicing, recording,etc. that I can't see them attending many steel shows.
I guess my point is, compared to guitar players and such, steel players were rare when was growing up, they're rare now. I don't see much, if any, difference in the average age then compared to now.

Ken
http://home.ipa.net/~kenwill

Jody Cameron · Post by **Jody Cameron** » 11 Jul 2003 11:42 am

Like Scott, I too am 39. Fortunately (or unfortunately) I've missed many steel shows because I'm working. Like they say, you have to "make hay while the sun shines"

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 13 Jul 2003 9:53 pm

I had a birthday yesterday that shot the average all to hell, and raised it emencely. As usual, I celebrated my birthday in an old smoked-filled honky tonk where people come to hear Jody play his pedal steel guitar. Jody.

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 14 Jul 2003 3:52 am

Would it also be accurate to say that some younger steel players are using their time to do gigs, rather than to attend steel shows? I've only attended one steel show, but I didn't get the impression that most of the folks there had much stage experience. I'm 47 (almost 48) and have been playing shows, dances since I was 13. Life is short, and you've gotta set some priorities... I've got maybe 2% of my week that I can give to steel guitar, and I'd rather be onstage with the band. On the other hand, I'm quick to say that the show I attended was educational and a lot of fun... and I'll attend some others when I can. But there's no doubt I was one of the youngest (if not THE youngest) players there.

Because of the expense of the intrument and the seemingly enormous amount of technical knowledge needed just to set the thing up and play it in tune, steel will never be "everyman's" instrument. It'll continue to be played by the "elite". But isn't that one of the things that makes it so COOL?

ALSO, I would agree with one of the above posts which stated that there are MANY more steel players now than back in the 60's. In those days, I had only heard of one local guy (in Lumberton, NC, where I grew up) who owned a steel. When people spoke of him, their eyes were wide in amazement, like he had the Ark of the Covenant at his house!

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Rick McDuffie
Tarheel Jazz Q-tet
Debbie Elam Band
www.tarheelmusic.com

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Rick McDuffie on 14 July 2003 at 04:55 AM.]</p></FONT>