Why is the Steel man always hidden?

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 20 Oct 2004 6:37 am

Only once did I experience an exception, when because of a technical malfunction during a live television show, I remained on camera for an entire song.

The scary thing was that I didn't know it and wondered later how much scratching, nosepicking, frowning, etc, that I may have been doing while the boss was singing his song!

Fortunately I didn't get fired, but forever after when in a television studio I always conducted myself as if I was on camera at all times.

www.genejones.com

Dan Sawyer · Post by **Dan Sawyer** » 20 Oct 2004 10:20 am

These are two seperate things we're talking about: music videos and live broadcasts. In the live broadcasts there is a director calling shots in real time. It's easy to get confused and call the wrong shot unless they are familiar with the song and who solos where. It may also happen that the camera may not be in position to "see" the steel player on short notice. Music videos as seen on CMT and MTV are a completely different animal. These are assembled by editors AFTER all the performances have been shot. Music videos tend to feature the quick cut, pretty people and lots of goofy action. These are paid for by the record company who care about boosting sales and not about being accurate at showing the musicians. Shows like Austin City Limits should be supported because they are some of the last places you can still see how real music is made. (end of lecture)

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 20 Oct 2004 11:29 am

Dan's right - music videos are shot in pieces and not necessarily in order - just like a movie. I've been in a few and directed a few more. Each angle and shot is carefully storyboarded,blocked out,lit and rehearsed before precious 35mm film is rolled. If something is in or not in a video,it's damn well deliberate - trust me. That still doesn't mean the director knows/cares anything about steel guitar tho. -MJ-

Ben Slaughter · Post by **Ben Slaughter** » 20 Oct 2004 12:50 pm

True story. I was in a music video a few months back, local guy recorded a very good album in N'ville.

I get to the little bar and setup, 6 piece band on a little stage. The fiddle player didn't show so some yahoo has a fiddle in his hands and looked like robot (high comedy). I've never heard the final cut of the tune, but it's an up tempo number with Brent Mason and Paul Franklin jamming all over.

So they start filming the "band scene." I've done a little acting and tend to be pretty animated on stage (more so when playing bass or guitbox). So they start the playback and I start singing the harmony parts on the chorus and just playing chords, cause most of the fills are tele/fiddle. In between shots the director comes and sticks a mic in my face and says "keep it up." So we finally get to the end of the song (after multiple camara angles and lighting changes) and there's this monster steel solo, that I've never heard, and the director says, "let's get a zoom in on the slide guitar." So I'm thinking, "#$!%, I've gotta fake this monster PF solo that I've never heard, that would take me hours to figure out by myself at home, if I ever could." Foutunately, the director calls for a lighting change, so I immediately ask the guy running the playback to run that solo a few times so I can at least figure out what fret to be close to. He runs it, and I think I'm close to making it look believable, the last lick is a big octave slide and vibrato, so at least I've got that part down. So, they roll tape, and I'm faking it, making guitar player faces and smiling and, BAM, I nail the slide at the end!

I finally see the final cut of the video like, 2 months later, and I have no idea if I'm even in the video. But, sure enough, come the end of the song here comes the zoom on the Zum, and I'm thinking hey, I did it, faked 'em out. But right at the end, the big octave slide is like one beat off, and looks all funky (to me). I ask what happened and nobody else notices. Turns out the SMTP, or whatever it's called, got screwed up during that last take so my solo was off one beat.

Oh well. Kind of proves the point that directors are looking for things that are visually pleasing, and stone faced steelers don't normally fit that bill.

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Ben
Zum D10, NV400, TubeFex, POD, G&L Guitars, etc, etc.

Rick Garrett · Post by **Rick Garrett** » 20 Oct 2004 1:50 pm

Aw man great story Ben!

Rick

Don Joslin · Post by **Don Joslin** » 20 Oct 2004 8:15 pm

I guess we all can't be handsome like Don!

Notice I said "we're", not "they're" old and ugly. At least I didn't call attention to the, uh, couple of extra pounds I've put on.

Don

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My favorite baseball team is the Minnesota Twins...
-------- ...my second favorite is whoever is playing the Yankees!

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 21 Oct 2004 3:19 am

Great story Ben!

Could you name the artist & video?
Thanks,
Theresa

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 21 Oct 2004 6:49 am

If it were me on the steel, they'd have lots of reason not to show the player.

And even more reason not to let you hear the player. But the odds of me being on steel in front of a TV camera are sub-zero anyway.

Seriously, whenever I've watched musical performances on television, I've always found close up shots of the instruments and the musicians' hands very interesting, perhaps being the most interesting of shots. When you're in that close, it almost doesn't matter which instrument it is, there's quite a bit of action to draw in the eye. (Well, maybe I should qualify that--instruments of a given family have similar playing activity when viewed close-up, such as stringed instruments. Percussion, for example, would obviously be busier.) So the psg, seen close-up, would be as interesting as a fiddle, 6-string, mandolin, or even b@njo. I've videotaped numerous steelers at the jams I've hosted, including JD and Bobby Black and numerous other talented players, and a tight zoom on their hands is always fascinating. So I think the TV show/video producers would do very well with steelers if they'd just zoom in close.

But then I'm a steel aficionado, so I'm biased.

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Bill, steelin' since '99 | Steel page | My music | Steelers' birthdays | Over 50?

Joe Yednasty · Post by **Joe Yednasty** » 21 Oct 2004 7:16 am

Steel Guitar players are the unsung heros in a band. People take the steel guitar sound for granted. I'll tell you that I wouldn't like Waylon Jennings half as much if it wasn't for Ralph Mooney. Plus, us steelers get so much enjoyment just out of playing, you could put us backstage and we would still have fun.

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"Eskimo" Joe Yednasty
Emmons P/P S-10
Peavey Session 500

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 21 Oct 2004 8:18 am

Well.....the difference is that in former days the country artists knew that they needed a steel-guitar to legitimize their country sound...whereas today, they only need a curvaceous butt with ear, nose, or eyebrow rings! How can anyone wonder why the old, staid, curmudgeon, sitting behind a steel guitar, is not acceptable on the video!

www.genejones.com

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 21 Oct 2004 9:58 am

"Seriously, whenever I've watched musical performances on television, I've always found close up shots of the instruments and the musicians' hands very interesting, perhaps being the most interesting of shots. When you're in that close, it almost doesn't matter which instrument it is, there's quite a bit of action to draw in the eye."

The reason that you don't see a lot of closeups of hands in music videos is that the player is never really playing - he's sidelining. And 99% of the time he's sidelining a part that Paul Franklin played on the record. I've had to sideline steel parts recorded by Franklin,Greg Liesz,Al Perkins and one time in a Sandra Bernhardt movie called "Without You I'm Nothing" I had to sideline dobro and pedal steel parts that were both faked on a standard guitar on the recording. Talk about humiliation! And there were several closeups of my hands in the movie that I wish could have been excised. Luckly for me and my self-esteem the movie came and went quickly - and plus since the world at large knows nothin' about movies,videos,music,steel guitars or much else really - I got over it. -MJ-

Toby Rider · Post by **Toby Rider** » 21 Oct 2004 10:25 am

The only reason Junior Brown gets all the camera time for his playing, is because he's the frontman & the lead player as well

Ben Slaughter · Post by **Ben Slaughter** » 21 Oct 2004 12:40 pm

The artist is Floyd Vanlaningham. The video/song is called "Six Good Reasons." Very funny song and video. The hook of the song is: "she gave me six good reasons not to come back," and the six reasons are .44 rounds in the "side of my old Ford." The video is what I would call a "story video," as in it follows the story of the song. I was extremly impressed with the quality of the video. I think it was a local outfit that did the shoot, but they used a bunch of gear out of LA.

The album is really good too, all writen by Floyd, produced by Eddie Bayers, lots of Mason/Franklin licks. Real country stuff. Floyd's website is: www.floydcountry.com

Looks like he may be getting some play on GAC. I know he got some video play up in the great white north.

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Ben
Zum D10, NV400, TubeFex, POD, G&L Guitars, etc, etc.

Jerry Warner · Post by **Jerry Warner** » 21 Oct 2004 6:59 pm

I THINK ALL PRODUCERS ARE A BUNCH OF ASSH&^ES THEY WOULD NOT KNOW MUSIC IF IT HIT THEM SQUARE IN THE FACE, I SAW THAT GUY ON AUSTIN CITY LIMITS IS THAT WHAT THOSE ASSH*&ES WANT, THESE FRIGGING NUTS DON'T UNDERSTAND THE EMMONS, DAYS, GREENS, SEYMOUR'S, BYRD'S AND ALL THE REST OF ALL YOU PRO STEEL PLAYERS HERE ON THE FORUM, I GUESS IF YOU GOT A EARRING IN YOUR NOSE AND PLAY ONE OF THOSE TELE'S YOUR HIP, THats all folks.

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 21 Oct 2004 7:17 pm

Michael,

Good observation. I do see a lot of that, and it borders on being distressing. I was referring more to shows like Austin City Limits, Soundstage, or the true live performances at the CMA Awards. It is so cool when they zoom in on a player who is truly doing their thing.

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Bill, steelin' since '99 | Steel page | My music | Steelers' birthdays | Over 50?[This message was edited by Bill Llewellyn on 21 October 2004 at 08:20 PM.]

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 22 Oct 2004 5:07 am

Thanks Ben!
I sent in my request. Hope to see ya on GAC & CMT!

Jerry Hayes R.I.P. · Post by **Jerry Hayes R.I.P.** » 22 Oct 2004 5:59 am

I guess it's old age or something but in the last few years I've gone to a gig where the leader would say "We want you you set up back here beside the drummer" or something like that. I used to do that in the old days when I was makin' my living with music but not anymore. I either set up in the front or pack it up and go home. Earnest Bovine stated "The steel player is not shaped like the guitar player" which is pretty true. Did you ever notice the percentage of FAT steel players? It's probably 5 or 6 to 1 to guitar players, maybe even higher. I noticed at Scotty's this year the amount of bellies and wide spaced knee lever 'cause they couldn't get their legs in a normal spaced guitar. I've got some excess pounds on me too so I can talk about it. Maybe if we looked a little better they'd like to put a camera on us. A short note about cameramen (or women).. I don't know who he or she was but this camera person should get an award. I have a video of an old American Music Shop show on TNN which featured Mark O'Connor and the New Nashville Cats. They were featuring his album at the time. I was amazed at the camera work on this show. In the guitar section when they took their solos Brent Mason was up first and the camera seemed to be below him. You could look right up and see which fingers were picking which string and all. When Paul Franklin took his rides the camera was in front of him and looking up under his strings from the front. You could see every little detail of his technique. If you've never seen this show, you should try to score a copy. It's a keeper....have a good 'un..JH

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Livin' in the Past and Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 22 Oct 2004 7:25 am

Robert Randolph does'nt suffer from bein' hidden
He's Up Front !

Ben Slaughter · Post by **Ben Slaughter** » 22 Oct 2004 9:23 am

I happened to be flipping back and fourth from CMT to GAC last night and there were shots of Steelers in two videos, Alan Jackson (of course, and continued kudos) and an odd song with Loretta Linn called "Portland, Oregon," Steeler was right up front playing a pretty red Sho~Bud with an overdriven tone.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 22 Oct 2004 4:17 pm

Yes, Austin City Limits is the benchmark for music shows. They do a great job with their camera work and editing, and it's obvious that someone on that production team is actually a musician...imagine that! Those who watch it regularly definitely aren't "spaced out" by the action.

Videos, on the other hand, are all designed FOR the spaced-out...to look like a video game/soap opera. Their audience is people who have a preference for sex, and anything fast; fast cars, fast games, fast food, fast money, and fast life in general. Their attention span is about 1.5 seconds for anything that that doesn't contain xxx nudity or gore. I imagine the average music video is composed of about 200-400 quick camera shots made at goofy angles with weird lighting, always featuring the essential 3 B's (busts, buns, and biceps). Oh yeah, there's usually a lot of water, too. Those reflections on the asphalt are soooo cool and avant garde. (Didn't Roman Polanski use them?) Even the producers of car commercials today can't make one anymore on a dry road!

Oh wow. Music videos. Far out. Totally rad. Like, they're awesome. Killer. Like, they're soooo coooool!

Indeed, they're "cocaine for the eyes".

[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 22 October 2004 at 05:31 PM.]

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 23 Oct 2004 3:24 pm

Even the producers of car commercials today can't make one anymore on a dry road!

Gotta be slick and shiny, remember Miami Vice? I worked on the commercial when the Chevy Lumina was being introduced. We did the "beauty shots" here in Hollywood and when they were doing the action shots in Berkely, the water truck backed into the Lumina and that was a wrap....