Since I started selling lessons, choosing prices has been a somewhat random thing for me. Stuff that was easier to make got priced lower, stuff that nearly caused me to burn out got priced higher, but the result is prices that seem a bit random.
Did you ever hear something you knew was just absolute crap, but people seem to repeat it as if it's fact?
"Stop trying to sound like _____. You should try to develop your own style on guitar"
Heard that one? It's like somewhere, there's a guitar Bible, with the 10 commandments for guitar, and one of them is "Thou shalt develop a unique style".
What a bunch of crap. You want the truth? Here is is.
Originality is awesome. It is of great importance if and only if you care about it, or if your career depends on it. But the value of originality is not self-evident. Honesty is so much more important. And trying to be original just to placate the 'originality police' is a waste of time. You'll never have enough joy from being original to mask the disgust you'll have for yourself when you realize that all your efforts were poured into meeting other people's 'rules'.
Starting today, I will be handling all customer support for StevieSnacks through a super-cool support desk website. How does this affect you?
Not very much. If you prefer to interact via email, it doesn't really mean any changes for you, other than that my support address will now be help@steviesnacks.com instead of support@steviesnacks.com.
CreateSpace, the company that I use to create and sell my lesson DVDs has recently stopped sending me customer information in my weekly sales reports. Without this information, I am unable to send out supplementary materials every weekend. This only affects people who bought DVDs after Jan. 28th, 2010. So for those customers, what I need you to do is this: Forward your CreateSpace receipt to support@steviesnacks.com so I can send you the materials.
What have you been told the blues is about? Suffering? Pain? Hard Living?
Ever felt like a poser because your life is pretty good? You have a job? Never missed a meal?
There are those who will tell you you can't possibly understand or play the blues because your life hasn't been hard enough. Or you're not old enough. Or you're too white. Or you simply don't have the right image.
There are a lot of reasons to play an instrument. But many of those reasons fade to the background when you face hard times. I once heard a famous guitarist remark in an interview that the only reason any man picks up a guitar is to gain some company for the evening...if you catch my drift. He's an idiot.
Several weeks ago, I mentioned on the blog that I wanted to tone down the look of StevieSnacks. I'm a fan of sublety, and I felt that when I launched this new look in August, that some of that was lost.
I've gotten numerous emails and comments from people indicating that they're going to be shopping for some DVDs or downloadable lessons for Christmas. So I wanted to let you know what you can expect on StevieSnacks before Christmas and prepare accordingly.
The comments on my last post regarding plans for a new, toned-down look have been pretty insightful, and offered a perspective on the site from some of you that I've not heard before.
I don't even know if de-chroming is a word but I'm making it one. I wrote a post about a two weeks ago regarding my committment to a low-pressure atmosphere on StevieSnacks.
Most people agreed that they very much appreciate the my low-key sales approach, confirming to me that any steps in the "BECOME A BLUES GOD IN 3 STEPS!!!" direction would offend the very people who are responsible for this site ever becoming a reality.
Many of you probably already know of Robert Renman of Dolphinstreet.com. He's a gifted guitarist who's been making free guitar lessons and gear videos since about April of 2006. He's amassed quite a following, both on YouTube and on his site, and for good reason. He's a great guitar player, and teacher, and seems to be a very nice guy as well.
This is going to be significantly 'lighter' than my recent posts, but also something that I think will be useful for people who are shopping for a guitar.
This is all about buying your first guitar, but the concept is one that can be extended to any guitar purchase. In the end it could save you money if you 'lean' towards expensive purchases :-)
Jonny Lang is coming to State College in a few days. Not sure at this point if I'll make it to the show, but having seen him live once already, I'm sure it's going to be awesome.
What's distinctly not awesome was the description of the concert in the local theatre flyer. It described him as a "former child prodigy". Probably not meant as an insult, but that one phrase is a textbook example of what happens to people who's age is used as their credentials.
There are a ton of video guitar lesson sites on the internet, some good, some awful, but each one has a 'feel'. Most sites fall somewhere between "here's a huge collection of awesome lessons you can learn from" and "you will be the greatest guitar player ever if you buy this one DVD."
Two years ago today, I put my first lesson video on YouTube. A lot has changed since then. My wife and I now have a baby, and I now spend my days on these lessons instead of evenings and late-nights. Not exactly where I thought my life was going on Oct. 21, 2007.
A LOT of people are looking to save money. But at the same time, there's an allure of higher priced gear, which causes people to wonder if they are missing out on the holy grail of tone because they're not using an expensive amp, guitar, pickups or pedals.
Recently StevieSnacks got a very nice mention on an Italian music site, and although the write-up was very positive, Google translate reveals that the comments devolved into a discussion of the merits of copying Stevie Ray Vaughan's style. Sigh...
The Essential Techniques series is going to take a toll on your muscles and push the limits of your dexterity. The spider drills I'm publishing today will help you get ready.
The Essential Techniques Series, which begins with a lesson called "The Grip" on 10/21/2009, will test the limits of your hand strength, forearm endurance, and finger independence.
On Wednesday night, I participated in the district finals for Guitar Center King Of The Blues (video at the end of this post). I appreciate all the support, but I was not selected to advance to regional finals. I know some of you were hoping I'd advance, but such is the nature of competitions. I got everything out of this competition that I hoped for, so I'm more than happy to be back working on some lessons that you'll hear about very soon.
Some people have expressed a bit of confusion as to why I'd enter a competition like this. Let me clear that up once and for all.
Anthony