Solo Gig

Joseph V. Sapp · Post by **Joseph V. Sapp** » 4 Jan 2003 7:28 pm

OK,,,here go's !!!!
I've been doing the solo thing for quite some time. Mainly nursing homes, and rehab centers, but local festivals, Fall folage,Apple fest, ect. I as well use the Boss DR-5 for my background, but unable to find the Yamaha data filer. so ended up getting a Fender passport 150 and a 6 disc CD player. I have a fairly good selection of fantastic background. its a little more equipment to tote, but once set up,,,,its not bad..LOL... I play a Derby SD-10 4X5 into a profex ll and use a Lexicon MPX-100 for the Fender passport 150. out of the profex ll, I split it to a nashville 400 and a fender twin each placed about 4 ft. of either side of my steel rig. Each of the Fenders speakers on each amp. once set, the only ballance problem is with my DR-5, which isn't that big of a deal, it has a seperate slide volume on the side , so a short test of it and its a done deal. it took awhile to get use to everything put together, but for me,,,it works. when its break time,,,I preload some steel into the CD player and take 20 min. I know the people appreciate what I do, and do it free of charge. Sort of my way of saying thank you for some of the blessings I and my Family share. Good Steel, whatever style, regardless of pedals or not, done tastefully, has always put some smiles on many faces. only one draw-back,,,if ya miss a note,,,the only one you can blame is yourself !!!!! bob,,,sounds like you might have crossed over..... God Bless

Joe
Derby SD-1 4X5 Nashville 400 Fender twin
Lexicon MPX-100 profex ll (other secret toys)

Robert Thomas · Post by **Robert Thomas** » 4 Jan 2003 8:16 pm

Joseph, you have found the way to go. We, as most steel players, will never become famous (what's that) playing music, but you have found that the secret to real satisfaction in music. It is more blessed to give then to receive. Doesn't it feel good? I have found that no one ever notices your mistakes, except maybe your wife, but she doesn't complain, just flinches with you when you make a blooper. I committed myself to entertaining at nursing homes and rehabilitation centers, free of charge, about seven years ago now and I can say that there is not a greater feeling than seeing the smiles and the tears of remembrance that comes upon the faces of some of the people. Keep doing what you are doing and our creator will bless you beyond your wildest dreams. Life is all about giving, not getting. You can't take anything with you go, so keep up the great work.
Sincerly Bob Thomas

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 4 Jan 2003 9:26 pm

Yes, this is a very old thread! I haven't done another solo gig since. The following year they asked for a country duo, so I hired a singing guitar player and we split the hundred bucks. It was a lot less work!

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic), Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6), Roland Handsonic

Joseph V. Sapp · Post by **Joseph V. Sapp** » 5 Jan 2003 3:07 pm

Hi Robert Thomas:
yep,,,I sure do enjoy what I'm doing, although, When I do a Jam or such,,,I still shake my head and sit in wonderment, with my mouth hanging wide open at some of the gifted people that is an honor to watch. I know in my heart,,,I will never reach that level,,,,but I'm quite happy where I'm at. stuck in a time warp, and darn glad of it.!!! Thank you for the kind words, and support. make a joyfull noise on an enstrument of 10 strings...I sort of like that. God Bless.

Joe

Wayne Franco · Post by **Wayne Franco** » 29 Feb 2004 12:53 am

I have been playing a wine tasteing for about 3 months and having a great time. I use biab with a Edirol Studio Sound Canvas SD 20 sound module connected to my laptop thru the USB port. It comes out audio from the sound module into my Peavey Escort. The sound is really great. My SD 20 has a volume knob I can easily adjust if it need to change it. I'm doing some easy jazz stuff like Blues by five, blue seven along with some big band stuff fly me to the moon (bossa beat) then throw in a couple of country tune just for fun. They love it and they haven't fired me yet. Every week there are 35-50 people. I play for about 2.5 hours. It was really scary at first but I'm having fun now. I find you can actually get into the band in a box back up. I like to put the looping effect and just jam for a while. I don't have to play as many songs that way. My goal is at least 4 hours of music I can do by my self.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 29 Feb 2004 6:34 pm

I hear that one of those "hula dancers" has been asking around for your phone #....

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 29 Feb 2004 8:31 pm

There are times to and not to take halucinogens as a performance enhancing/reflection aid.

I might suggest that "skit nights" at fraternal orgs are not the best place and time.

Not that you ever would, but I'm sure you can see why...

Not that I ever have...

EJL

Pat Burns · Post by **Pat Burns** » 1 Mar 2004 11:36 am

Now as I play a slow tune, then a fast one, then a half-fast one, I realize that the volume levels of my styles are all over the map.

...just don't play any half-fast tunes...

Al Vescovo · Post by **Al Vescovo** » 5 Mar 2004 3:38 pm

Hi boB, I've played a lot of solo gigs, but, without any effects or machines, just a plain old pedal steel guitar and amplifier. It works great. You can play any tempo from largo to allegro and not have any problems. Most of the time it's background music, but, if you're featured don't forget, they hired a solo Steel Guitar, so that's what you do. Best of everything to you, Al

fraser · Post by **fraser** » 5 Mar 2004 3:40 pm

I've been doing solo C6th gigs but I don't use any kind of rhythmic accompanyment. All original tunes. I spent a lot of time writting tunes that would make the solo concept work. For solo breaks , I mainly work with chordal improvisation, sometimes 2 string solos. It's taken a lot of work to put something together that "flys by itself"
Very rewarding though.

Fraser

Richard Gonzales · Post by **Richard Gonzales** » 6 Mar 2004 6:52 pm

Has anyone soloed at a wedding. I had the opportunity to solo for a outdoor wedding as the couple was going to Hawaii for their honeymoon and wanted a taste of hawaiian music. I played an MSA thru a Peavy 2000 which gave me the Leslie organ effect for the Wedding March . Then changed the amp to a nice soft tube sound for the Hawaiian songs. Hawaiian Wedding Song, Beyond The Reef, Song Of The Island and etc. Yes, It would have been nice to have a Uke and guitar backing up, but was told that everyone really enjoyed a steel guitar rather than the usual organ.[This message was edited by Richard Gonzales on 07 March 2004 at 09:56 AM.]