Psggcsp?

David Farlow · Post by **David Farlow** » 9 Dec 2002 9:47 am

What is PSGGCSP? Glad you asked. PSGGCSP = "Pedal Steel Guitarist Guide to Commanding Stage Presence"

Since getting back into following the Pedal Steel guitar world a few months ago I have read on the Forum and seen with my own eyes that many times the PS guitarists does not get anywhere near the attention, camera time...etc. that is deserved, especially with some big names. Having observed this, I decided to make a few notable observations that I believe will change the way we as PS Guitarists are viewed. Hopefully all of you will come up with more ideas and observations to add to this and we can make it into a book to help not only today's PS Guitarist' but the future one's as well. Here are a few ideas from the observations I have made:

#1) Someone must design a "Strap On" PSG. We can't effectively compete with the guitars, fiddle...etc. unless we can gyrate and dance around on the stage. Maybe Bill Hankey can help us out on this one. Maybe we could call it the "Lucky 1."

#2) We must change what we wear on stage. Nothing short of tight fitting leather pants will do. We cannot back down from this. To get the deserved attention while gyrating and dancing around on stage, this is a must. Come on, you can do it, just think about the screaming crowd, trying to reach for you in those tight fitting leather pants.

#3) Most of us must change our hair style. A good spike job with grease seems to really drive the crowd wild these days. Add a litle color if you need or a wig if you need that. If you're lacking any hair and won't wear a wig then I guess just polish your head real shiny so you can blind the wild crowd as you gyrate and dance around.( This might save you from that wild crowd reaching for and grabbing at you).

#4) No more blank staring faces while performing. The crowd wants to see the excitement in your face. Remember, it's your time! Hey, you could let your tongue hang out like that guy from the KISS band use to do. WOW! Just use your imagination.

Sooooo..can you picture all of this? Your out on stage with your strap on "Lucky 1" PSG. It's time for you to take the lead. All of a sudden you gyrate onto the main stage in those tight fitting leather pants, your greased hair,maybe, standing straight as a spike from your head, your tongue hanging out, the crowds going wild, reaching and grabbing at you, you lean back to back with the lead vocalist while grabbing those big full chords and cranking on what use to be pedals......ain't life as a Pedal Steel Guitarists gooooooood?

Sorry, guys and gals, guess the shift work I am working for a few weeks is getting to me, or maybe this is just normal for me?
b0b, please feel free to move this.

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Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 9 Dec 2002 11:10 am

Most of us must change our hair style

Hair? Moi? Sorry, all you bemopped inferior specimins of humanity, but God only made a few perfect heads. He put hair on the rest up cover his mistakes.

John Steele (deceased) · Post by **John Steele (deceased)** » 9 Dec 2002 11:55 am

The visual thing is a bit of a conundrum. When you look at modern music, it seems the visual aspect is the most important thing to alot of audience members.
But go to a "rave" or anywhere where a crowd is assembled to take in Electronica, and what are they all staring at on the stage ? Some guy in a wool hat and dark glasses, hunched over a turntable all night. Boring ! I don't get it.
-John

Paul Warnik · Post by **Paul Warnik** » 9 Dec 2002 12:00 pm

Amen-to that Mike-I spent several years in a band with guys who had rock and roll hair-they went through a whole can of "Aqua Net" (the most potent aerosol hair spray-which is commonly used to fuel spud guns) between them before going on stage-meanwhile I was the guy wearing the baseball cap

[This message was edited by PAUL WARNIK on 10 December 2002 at 06:08 AM.]

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 9 Dec 2002 12:17 pm

FOR BOBBY BOGGS, AND MIKE BAGWELL------

WHERE'S BUDDY ROCKET WHEN WE NEED HIM???

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 9 Dec 2002 12:37 pm

Friends,
If Ozzy Osbourne / Robert Plant / Rod Stewart / Jimmy Buffett (etc) can do gigs looking like a mortician's worst nightmare and pack large venues, not to mention all the other minor minions in the Geritol Rock generation, there may be some hope for a steel player that looks rode hard & put away wet. The alt.country / no depression crowd don't seem to mind (or even NOTICE)

Not ALL performers or genres seem to honor the dress/appearance code. Unfortunately, top 40 country (NCS) is one of those that DOES. That's one of the reasons I like to stay as far as possible from commercial country and the pungent aura that surrounds it.

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

Michael T. Hermsmeyer · Post by **Michael T. Hermsmeyer** » 9 Dec 2002 2:29 pm

#1) Someone must design a "Strap On" PSG.

Maybe I could put some palm pedals on my Melobar, LOL

#2) Nothing short of tight fitting leather pants will do...the screaming crowd, trying to reach for you in those tight fitting leather pants.

If I had to get into tight leather pants, I would be screamin,

#3) Most of us must change our hair style.

Employers always seem to have a better idea for your hair than you do!

#4) No more blank staring faces while performing. The crowd wants to see the excitement in your face. Remember, it's your time! Hey, you could let your tongue hang out like that guy from the KISS band use to do. WOW! Just use your imagination.

Or Maybe just wear a Derby and a Smile

LOL

Michael T.

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UTILITY MAN PRODUCTIONS
'73 EMMONS D10 FATBACK, '92 EMMONS D10 LASHLEY LEGRANDE,
'85 DOBRO 60DS, '95 DOBRO F60S,
'95 MELOBAR CUSTOM, 1955 FENDER TRIPLE NECK STRINGMASTER. EVANS, FENDER, PEAVEY,
and MESA BOOGIE Amps.

[This message was edited by Michael T. Hermsmeyer on 09 December 2002 at 02:30 PM.]

Wayne Brown · Post by **Wayne Brown** » 9 Dec 2002 2:47 pm

as for the pedal steel ...wayne link of linkon steel guitars up here in canada designed a lap pedal steel that runs off cables and has a pedal board on the floor and it works great ...could put a strap on it and drag the pedals around the stage i guess...the pants...hmmm...not on your life under all those par 64's...as for the hair ...i was always told you had to have grey hair to play the steel ...hehehehe

wayne[This message was edited by Wayne Brown on 09 December 2002 at 02:51 PM.]

Frank Parish · Post by **Frank Parish** » 9 Dec 2002 2:53 pm

As far as hair goes a former bandmember said it best. "Just becasue there ain't no leaves on the tree doesn't mean the roots are dead."

Bill Myrick · Post by **Bill Myrick** » 9 Dec 2002 5:48 pm

Now add The Hilton Volume Pedal (preferably his red light edition) and watch the "magic" !!! Get back ladies !!!! Get back !!!!!! -

Ken Lang · Post by **Ken Lang** » 9 Dec 2002 7:18 pm

Get one of those caps that has fake hair hanging down to your *, put on leathers if you like.

Hang a strap off your lap steel, balanced so it lays flat while you are dancing around.

Hollow out the bottom of the guitar so you can rig a couple of changers and a "croch pedal".

Every time you make that pelvic thrust to go to the four chord, the ladies will go crazy.

David Farlow · Post by **David Farlow** » 11 Dec 2002 3:54 am

Hey guys, if we had been using this stuff I'll bet we could of had a steel guitar on "The Evening with the Dixie Chicks" on NBC last night. Would have stole the show!

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 11 Dec 2002 4:48 am

If I could just move this hair from below my shoulders to the top of my head, I would be stylish again!

www.genejones.com

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 11 Dec 2002 2:18 pm

Just grow your eyebrows long and comb them back!

Uff-Da!