I'm burnt out...

[Mark Wein]

I think I might stop doing the weekly videos for a little while...

I'll probably do a lesson or two on JazzBlues' "Born under a bad sign" solo and then take a break for a little while. frown0

[Help!I'maRock!]

Petition for Book 2. :weebz:

[Mark Wein]

That's really what I should be doing. Talking about it last night along with my complete lack of inspiration for this weeks lesson I think has made me realize that I only have so many hours in the day and that I should get back to work on things I can sell...

[Help!I'maRock!]

the video stuff is a great addition to the site. and i think you should keep doing it. free content is great because it keeps people coming back and interested in your paid services.

but you've got to have some more paid services. hence my petition for book two.

[Mark Wein]

Yeah...I think I need to take a break and work on the two books I have started and do the free lessons again in the new year...there are over 100 lessons and articles on my site, so that should hold most people....

[Help!I'maRock!]

Yeah...I think I need to take a break and work on the two books I have started and do the free lessons again in the new year...there are over 100 lessons and articles on my site, so that should hold most people....


you could also package the lessons and articles on the site as their own book and DVD.

[hobo]

I think I might stop doing the weekly videos for a little while...

I'll probably do a lesson or two on JazzBlues' "Born under a bad sign" solo and then take a break for a little while. frown0



Mark, sorry to hear that you maybe burned out. Hey take it easy, enjoy the family. You have provided us with many hours of instructions and we all appreciate it. Have a rest... smi

[Mark Wein]

Yeah...I think I need to take a break and work on the two books I have started and do the free lessons again in the new year...there are over 100 lessons and articles on my site, so that should hold most people....


you could also package the lessons and articles on the site as their own book and DVD.


I've considered that as well. I'm still trying to decide if people feel the convenience of having it like that is worth the money since the material is still free on the site.

I don't really want to pull any of the free stuff and make it "pay" . I might think of repackaging something popular like my Pentatonic or Blues lessons with additional material only on the DVD, though....that might be worthwhile.

[Help!I'maRock!]

that could be cool, though you might want to look into what's out there first. i've got some DVD's done by Andy Alendort for Guitar World, and they're not bad.

[Mark Wein]

that could be cool, though you might want to look into what's out there first. i've got some DVD's done by Andy Alendort for Guitar World, and they're not bad.


If I do that I will see that everything under the sun has been done already...I think that I just have to package what I feel is actually a useful sampling from the lessons I have available.

[Help!I'maRock!]

that could be cool, though you might want to look into what's out there first. i've got some DVD's done by Andy Alendort for Guitar World, and they're not bad.


If I do that I will see that everything under the sun has been done already...I think that I just have to package what I feel is actually a useful sampling from the lessons I have available.


then that's what you gotta do. honestly, i think it would be very useful to have a complete range of products. that's what all these publishers have, except the books are always done by somebody different. so they get some continuity, but not enough. anything you can do to provide a singular voice through a wide range of products would be great. especially for bass.

[Mark Wein]

That was the original intent, cranking out a product every 6 months or so but the learning curve on the first book was pretty harsh. Now I have most people who bought the book when it came out getting close to finishing it and needing the next step...

The Bass book would be interesting. One of our bass teachers has a book that he's written but hasn't gone the route that I have with the self publishing...I think he would get pretty bent out of shape with me replacing his book as house method in our studio with my own...on the other hand, it is my house biggrin

So what you are saying is I should get off my ass and get back to writing, huh?

[Help!I'maRock!]

That was the original intent, cranking out a product every 6 months or so but the learning curve on the first book was pretty harsh. Now I have most people who bought the book when it came out getting close to finishing it and needing the next step...

The Bass book would be interesting. One of our bass teachers has a book that he's written but hasn't gone the route that I have with the self publishing...I think he would get pretty bent out of shape with me replacing his book as house method in our studio with my own...on the other hand, it is my house biggrin

So what you are saying is I should get off my ass and get back to writing, huh?


what do mean by a harsh learning curve? you mean with putting together the book, or in the book itself?

[Mark Wein]

The biggest thing was just getting the graphics and layout right.

When I first did the book I did the music in Finale (which was a bear to learn), the layout in Microsoft Publisher (mistake) and graphics in Photoshop or Illustrator. THEN make it a PDF in Acrobat. The long way around...

Redoing the book to prepare for publication I had a newer version of Finale and more experience using it so I was able to do most of what I needed in Finale and then make PDFs in Acrobat.

From when I started the book in December of 2004 until final publication on Lulu I used it with students and refined it over time, rewriting much of it and adding more playing examples as I realized that students need more playing and less dry information.

I designed and laid out my own cover and then uploaded it 11 times before it was finally right and with no mistakes. Every upload needed a proof copy that took 7 days to get and then a few days to correct and re-upload to go through the process again. I had almost no help with any element of the book except for a couple of my teachers who used it and caught the occasional typo or layout issue....

It would be nice to write something and have someone else do all the technical work faster and better but I don't have the thousands of dollars to hire an editor and graphic design person so I did it myself. In the end it worked out pretty good for a completely independent book but I wasn't in a hurry to start the process all over again. Especially with the weekly blog I was producing and writing curriculum for our classes.

I guess I should just sack up and get rolling.

[Help!I'maRock!]

you know what they say, if you want it done right, do it yourself.

i promise i'll buy at least one.

[Mark Wein]

smi

I did it wrong many times. The process should go quicker this time, though...

[warren0728]

The biggest thing was just getting the graphics and layout right.

It would be nice to write something and have someone else do all the technical work faster and better but I don't have the thousands of dollars to hire an editor and graphic design person


we might be able to work something out....

[Mark Wein]

SRSLY?

[warren0728]

SRSLY?


yep....it's what i do....

[Mark Wein]

Do you have a copy of the first book?

[warren0728]

Do you have a copy of the first book?


i sure do....i just need to make time to start working thru it.... :facepalm:

[Mark Wein]

biggrin

Actually I was asking because I was wondering what your rate would be for something like that...I just had to do the cover as two PDF's (front and back) . You can see where I screwed up the bleed on the front cover :weebz:

I could probably just repeat what I did for the first book but with a different color for the title but I just couldn't get the bleed right :mad:

[warren0728]

i would have to talk to you about the production and how you would provide the content....i'll give you a call to discuss....we could probably work out a trade for some of the work....remote lessons or something....like ummm i don't know....a ric 620! poke

[Mark Wein]

That's cool! Maybe we can talk sometime this week....we're running out the door right now...let me know what works best for you... smi

[warren0728]

That's cool! Maybe we can talk sometime this week....we're running out the door right now...let me know what works best for you... smi


you got it....and hey....you need to pm me your address for the endorphin rush!

[Mark Wein]

That's cool! Maybe we can talk sometime this week....we're running out the door right now...let me know what works best for you... smi


you got it....and hey....you need to pm me your address for the endorphin rush!


Done!