Venues

[Zumbilly(Murdoch)]

Over the years I have played some Festivals ,clubs and pubs.
My main band only play clubs now and that is fine by me,however We do not get enough work to satisfy My love of playing in a "live" situation and I am always on the lookout for another band with which to exercise My (dubious) talents. I now have a position with a second band and whilst they do not get numerous gigs it is always something extra.
One of the members of the "new" band is even more desparate than Myself in His desire to play and has been looking for pub gigs(at a fairly low fee) in order to fill up the diary.
I have let the band know that I will NOT be playing any pub gigs and there are no hard feelings.
My main point is that most,if not all pubs do not have a stage and the pedal steel player is sitting at floor level totally exposed to the contortions of the dancers.You may have noticed that most pubs do not have a dance floor and those wishing to shake their shammy have to correograph the dance around tables and chairs.Rarely have I seen a couple dancing within the confines of the postage stamp dance floor,the norm is for the male to spin His partner round and round several times.this maneuver is usually quite difficult to perform when sober but add a couple of jars of electric soup and You can have easily have a serious situation. I am not the least bit comfortable playing and lose all concentration trying to keep an eye out for flying bodies. It is different for a guitar player since they can easily side step or even push a dancer away.The poor steelie cannot easily defend himself.
Just Me rambling on and wondering if anyone else feels the same way.

[Malcolm]

Have to agree with your thoughts on this Billy, I have pretty much retired now and IF I do go out it is only for bigger gigs that are WELL paid, don't even consider the pub gig, they want their entertainment for washers, and as you say Billy, leaves the Steelie vulnerable.Would rather sit in house or do other things than do this sort of gig.

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

The poor steelie cannot easily defend himself.

Gordon used to sing the praises of a steel guitar leg for a defensive tool, but I see where your coming from Billy....you would have no time to unscrew one

[mick hearn]

You are dead right on that one pal. Hate to count the number of times I have had to play on the floor with the band behind on the stage.

It did have an advantage one night though. I was playing away head down when I heard the band laughing behind me. I raised my head and there in front was a girl with the shortest skirt ever dancing around in front of the steel. Played a few bum (ooh sorry - no pun intended) notes then. Trouble is I missed most of it and the band were laughing at the fact I was oblivious to it.