Take a walk down Texas Blues Alley and look around. What do you see? Videos - lots and lots of videos.
Most of them are free.
Now consider this. Since 2009, this has been my job. I donít go into an office and take orders from anyone. I make stuff for Texas Blues Alley.
How is that possible? Who pays for the equipment? Who pays Kevin, the TXBA video editor and support ninja? Who pays the lease on my studio?
How in the world can a business like this exist? How can it possibly earn enough money to make all of this stuff possible?
A Story
Iíd like to tell you a story about a guy named Craig. Craig is the reason that most of what you see on Texas Blues Alley is free.
Every day I face uncertainty in every part of my business. Every video is a risk. There is no guarantee of views, happiness, or sales.
But since Craig showed up in 2010, thereís been one thing I can count on like clockwork.
Craig will buy whatever I make next.
It doesnít matter how much it costs, it doesnít matter what itís about. When I click ìPublishî, Craig will place his order as soon as he sees it, usually within the first hour.
I can count on it.
The Few, The Proud
Each day, over 7,000 people watch a TXBA video, either on TXBA or on YouTube, and all of them do it for free.
Out of those 7,000 people, there are 2, 3 or 10 people who spend money on a Full Course or a Mini-Course.
Each day, those 2, 3 or 10 people make it possible for over 7,000 people to watch stuff for free. There are no ads to sit through, no hard sells, and no manipulative sales techniques. Those 7,000 people can watch as much as they like and I never cut off their supply. All because 2, 3 or 10 people support this business by buying courses each day.
Before you start feeling bad for me, let me adjust your perspective.
I left a job as a computer programmer because this pays better. I make a really good living. A high-five would be a better response than sympathy.
But how?
Is that really it? That can't be it.
There's nothing else. Those 2, 3 or 10 people each day pay for all of this. They pay for the cameras, the gear, the studio, for Kevin, and ultimately what I can take home to my family.
Those people made it possible for StevieSnacks to become my job in 2009, and those people made it possible for StevieSnacks to grow into Texas Blues Alley. They made it possible for me to quadruple the amount of free videos I provide for the 7,000 people each day who donít buy anything. They made it possible for me to spend countless hours working on the infrastructure of the business without producing a single Full-Course this year so far.
Those people are who I work for, because those people are the only reason I can do what I do.
Thank You
I love TXBA. I love what it stands for, and I love what it means to people.
But to those of you in that group of 2, 3 or 10 people each day, let me make one thing clear.
I am most thankful for you. Your money is the fuel in the engine of TXBA. You make it possible for people all over the world to learn.
You are the only way that TXBA could exist. Thank you.