Door to Door?

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 25 Oct 2002 10:42 am

Do you guys think a guy could make a living pedalling an affordable lap steel "door to door" (like vacuum salesmen?).
I heard that it was once done this way?
True?

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 25 Oct 2002 10:49 am

"Door to Door" LAP STEEL salesman? Couldn't this apply to "Door to Door" PEDAL STEEL salesman too?...or have I missed something? They used to sell "MUSIC LESSONS" in this manner for several different popular schools.
But, what about those pesky GREEN RIVER LAWS?
Even Avon and Watkins can't do that stuff anymore?

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 25 Oct 2002 11:01 am

I was just thinking that, if every forum member went door to door in their town, handing out steels like Johnny LapsteelSeed, maybe we could find some good new players.

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 25 Oct 2002 11:37 am

Yeah you heard right,,Fender salesman sold door to door for years,,,and thats no lie.

That too will be in my Fender book.
This is nothing new to me,,I did it was well.

Hi Ray,,

Hi Sir,,would you be interested in buying a nice guitar for yourself or another in the family??? some did,,most didnt. The rest is HISTORY.

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 25 Oct 2002 5:24 pm

Okay Mr. Jody:
If I do buy it........do I also get a book shelf? Coupons for/from the local fast food restaurant? A free cruise in the Carribean? Just a plain old guitar? Does it come in a box, like Sears?
Hummmmmmm I don't think so. By the way, are you registered with the Better Business
Bureau? Hey, get your foot out of the door!!
And you Pete....I would never have tho't this kind of activity would have ever crossed your mind. Couldn't you just sell it over the internet?

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 25 Oct 2002 5:35 pm

An afterthought Pete: There are four guys that teach/play accoustic guitar in our area. They put on small two hour concerts in places like Brown & Noble Book Store, etc., etc. It's a fun program to watch and listen to. Can't recall their names, but I guess you could refer to them as #1, #2, #3 and #4, that is, starting from the left side of the stage as seen from the audience. Otherwise you'd have to refer to them as #4, #3, #2, #1.
Steelers could do something like that....
No big world class production, just some soft, well rehearsed music, in environments that would allow for youngsters and wives to attend. No Drugs, booze, heavy smoke laden air, or lot lizards to contend with.
Pete, I believe you have a GREAT IDEA!
Can't wait to see what you do with it. If you follow through with it or just...toss it aside and walk away. I want facts, date and places from you Pete. Your audience awaits your word.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 25 Oct 2002 5:46 pm

How about a Flatbed with a PA like Heck Harper used to do the Rodeo Parades on, a giant fan forced smudge pot of Burley, Turkish, and Bright, with hookers going door to door. It could be kind of like the weekly trash pickup, except in reverse. Here in PDX, if you greased the right ( or should I say <I> left <I/> palms....

Bob Kagy · Post by **Bob Kagy** » 25 Oct 2002 5:52 pm

The Oahu salesman were once in the door to door category. This was back in the days in which the pterodactyls still darkened the skies and dinosaurs still roamed the earth.

But no kidding, I happened into an organized class of Oahu students where I saw and fell instantly in love with my first lap steel, still in its case. I was still a young teenager, and couldn't understand the primordial fascination I felt then, and have felt ever since. There is an inborn magnetism with some of us that can't be logically explained.

You could actually go into different music stores and see, touch and play different brands of steel guitars - Fender, National, Gibson - what a deal. The way they looked, smelled, felt, and sounded.

Soon after, live, I saw Don Helms with his Gibson Console Grande (with Hank Sr), Billy Robinson with his Bigsby 8 string lap steel (with Red Foley), Buddy Emmons and several others (I never saw JB live, but did I ever hear him on the radio; same with Speedy West, Curly Chalker, PeeWee Whitewing, etc.). All I knew was that I had to a)have one of those things, and b)learn how to play it.

And yeah, the Sears catalog had some pretty decent Silvertone lap steel & amp "outfits" they used to call them.

It would be good if there was such a situation these days. Who knows how many people out there would be compelled to buy into the same addiction?

I don't think many could make a living at this today, but what the hey? Maybe somebody should give it a try? Pete - I think you're on the right track.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 25 Oct 2002 7:21 pm

Sure you could make a good living selling lap steels door-to-door. Just make sure it's Howard R's door in NYC.

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 26 Oct 2002 8:16 am

How about a Pro Model Pedal Steel in every High School across the U.S., for starters?

jlsmith48 · Post by **jlsmith48** » 26 Oct 2002 12:44 pm

Regarding the Green River Ordinance. That law was ruled unconstitutional last year by the U.S. Supreme Court. So sell all you want from door to door!!!!

Chris Bauer · Post by **Chris Bauer** » 26 Oct 2002 1:20 pm

Maybe it could be run like some software companies and an annual charge could be levied for the renewed use of certain tunings!

Bob Carlson · Post by **Bob Carlson** » 29 Oct 2002 11:34 am

Back when I was a young boy on the farm, my job was to sicc my dog Rex on all the peddlers that would stop. Them fellers was high pressure and my mother would say don't let one get out of his car.

Now I don't know if ol Rex was as mean a dog as he looked when the hair on his neck and back would stand up, but none of them boys ever wanted to find out either, cause they stayed in the car and left.

Bob.

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 29 Oct 2002 3:51 pm

In the late 40's I was working out of WAVE in Louisville. Across the street was the "Kentucky School of Music" where various instruments were taught via class lessons. For about 6 months I enrolled students for them. My job was to go from door to door and give a pitch. The parents would pay a $10.00 deposit on the little "learner" steel and $2.50 per lesson. I got the $10.00 and the lesson money from the 1st, 3rd and 5th lesson.

Roy

Terry Wendt · Post by **Terry Wendt** » 29 Oct 2002 4:37 pm

Pete,

Actually, I have been working on something exactly like what you said... a Pro Pedal Steel in every major high school in the US. I decided to put a goal of 7 years on this - but it might be quicker if things go the way I hope they might. I think it is a great idea!

------------------
TheEarlyDays.com

and appearing regularly...
Jimmy Crawford/Russ Hicks... and Buddy Emmons on Bass! aLotOfSpace.com