Actually, I wasn't selling anything here. I was offering the correct changes for the end of the bridge of "Lost Sailor" for free. I don't currently have a video lesson for that song. I signed off with my website URL as a means of identifying and qualifying myself. And hey, to me, I think it's a pretty fair swap that I posted the changes, and all I did in return was identify myself and my website. I wasn't spamming or anything like that. If I violated a rule, I apologize. Registering and posting was an impulse reaction. I didn''t really think it out.
I teach guitar for a living. Before that, I spent seven years in corporate life as an instructional designer, specializing in e-learning. I am licensed to do these videos. I see this project as a chance to combine everything I've learned in my working life towards a goal that is a passion for me--learning from the GD to be a better musician. So far the feedback has been outstanding, and I am pleased and humbled and committed to doing my very best.
Personally, I think it's pretty stinking cool that every time I sell a video, a royalty is earned by the songwriters themselves. To me it's a win-win-win. I get to teach my favorite music and earn a little something for it. The purchaser, assuming he likes the video, gets a quality lesson and hopefully improves as a musician, and the actual creators of the song get a financial reward for the continued use of what they created. Where's the downside??
Where I teach, I get a lot of kids, and subsequently teach a lot of Green Day, AC-DC, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana etc. Which is fine. Kids love it, and hopefully they continue on their musical journey as they grow. Should I not charge for that? Should I teach for free? Where would I find the time if I had to earn money some other way? As the song says, "we all gotta eat." Video lessons are just a different version of what I do at the studio, and it allows me to connect with people all over the country, and the world. I've had people buy videos as far away as Korea! I think it's a good thing. And it gives me the opportunity to teach music I love, and get a little break from teaching greasy kids stuff (Green day, etc.)
I treat it as an awesome responsibility. I'm trying my very best to make the lessons accurate and useful. I just want to do a good job, contribute something of value, and help guitarists who can benefit from what I have to offer. It's my livelihood, and really it's a dream come true to earn my living with a guitar in my hands. So that's where I'm coming from. Y'all have a great day.
Seth