It took almost a year to work out, but I'm finally shooting my first course for Truefire.com next week.
It's a huge honor to be associated with a company like Truefire, I'm still not quite sure how this all happened, but here we are.
Backstory
Somehow, someway, the people at Truefire found out about StevieSnacks, contacted me last year, and we discussed a couple possible projects.
After a brief scheduling error, I pitched them the idea of a course called "50 Slow Blues Licks You Must Know", part of their 50 Licks course collection.
This course was my first project of 2012, and I'll be flying to Nashville to shoot the course next week.
Why do a course for someone else?
It's a natural question to ask. Why does a guy with an already thriving lesson site decide to do a course for someone else?
Simple. Because I can.
Are you kidding me? Who turns down a chance to do a course for a company that works with people like Tommy Emmanuel, Larry Carlton, Andy Aledort, and Keith Wyatt?
The most dangerous thing you can do as a business owner is get comfortable, and StevieSnacks is EXTREMELY comfortable right now. The lessons I've built over the past 5 years sell very well, I have the greatest customers in the world, and at least 5 years of lessons in my head I've not even started on yet. It's very comfortable.
So no, I don't need to do a course for someone else. But when a company like Truefire comes along and gives you the chance, you don't turn it down because you're comfortable, unless you're an idiot.
What does this mean for StevieSnacks?
In short: nothing.
StevieSnacks is my business, it's my passion, it's what I'll still be doing 5 years from now.
The course I'm doing is for Truefire, they shoot it, edit it, publish it. I'm simply the person who plans it and teaches it.
When I'm done shooting it, I'll be right back here on StevieSnacks, continuing to add to the SRV Style Solo Matrix. In fact, the next set of lessons are already under way.
That's not to downplay how excited I am to do this course. This is an incredible opportunity to work with people that I genuinely respect. AND, a chance to do something outside the scope of what I do here. AND a challenge to do somethign according to someone else's specifications, not just my own. I enjoy a challenge, it keeps you on your toes, and forces you to stay sharp.
If the course does well and I'm given the opportunity to do another, I'll probably do it.
But, for those who read too much into stuff like this, you can relax, StevieSnacks is still what I do, and will continue to do for as long as I can.
The Course
The course is called "50 Slow Blues Licks You Must Know" and I'll be teaching licks from B.B. King, Albert King, Freddie King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and a few from Johnny Winter.
I'll post more details about it at a later date, the course won't be published until later this year.
So there you have it, a big opportunity to do something a bit intimidating. I've worked very hard on this course, and I hope to exceed their expectations. Wish me luck.