Would there be interest in a Hoopii book/DVD?

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 30 Sep 2011 5:06 am

I've been a doing a bunch of transcriptions of some of Sol's great acoustic performances and I'm considering doing a collection of 6 tunes in a book and DVD package. My transcriptions are meticulous and I've really been pouring over every detail of the performances.

My question is: Is there enough of an interest in this to warrant the time/expense? I could always go the route of doing individual lessons like I normally do, but a collection in hard copy form would be cool. Personally, I absolutely love Sol and learned so much about playing from his recordings. I think it is a great place to start, but these are difficult to play. A book and DVD with 6 tunes would probably run in the $40-50 range.

Looking for some honest input. Thanks.

Robert Jenkins · Post by **Robert Jenkins** » 30 Sep 2011 5:15 am

I'm in. So's the tricone.

John Bushouse · Post by **John Bushouse** » 30 Sep 2011 5:35 am

I'd buy it.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 30 Sep 2011 5:40 am

I'm just not sure I can justify the time/expense. As it is, I really think it's a labor of love, but I'd have to lay out a good chunk of money to have the product made, which I'm not really in a position to do.
The easiest parts for me are the transcribing and creating the videos (which are still a lot of work). The desktop publishing and DVD authoring are big pains in the you-know-what for me. I'm not completely giving up on the idea, but it is a big undertaking and I wouldn't want to lose money on it.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 30 Sep 2011 6:06 am

Mike......how many would you have to sell to at least break even or for it to be worth your time, money, & effort?

You've given so much and so freely to the steel guitar community.......and while this is really a labor of love, I wouldn't want to see you become burnt out because of a value for value imbalance.....

Perhaps one way to go about this is to provide a brief outline/sample/demo.....(although you 12th Street Rag transcription was more than good enough for me) and take pre-orders.....if there are enough pre-orders, then it's feasable and worthwhile to proceed.....

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 30 Sep 2011 6:06 am

......oops......pulled the trigger twice....

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 30 Sep 2011 6:39 am

I'd probably have to sell 20-25 copies at $45 to break even. It seems like very few, but from my experience, there is a very limited market.

George Fischer · Post by **George Fischer** » 30 Sep 2011 7:34 am

I'd be up for a pre-order. The tablature alone would be good enough for me. A DVD is a nice little extra but probably not essential if not having it saves production costs and lets you test the market.

Twayn Williams · Post by **Twayn Williams** » 30 Sep 2011 8:54 am

Yes!!! I'd love to get transcriptions of some of those tunes, preferably ones that aren't in the Stacey Phillips book

Your transcriptions include standard notation along with tablature, yes?

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 30 Sep 2011 9:05 am

Yes, standard notation and tab.

I think the videos are essential for showing the intricacies of Sol's playing that you can't get from tab.

Which tunes are in the Stacey Phillips' books?

Steve Hamill · Post by **Steve Hamill** » 30 Sep 2011 9:34 am

I'd love it. I'm willing to pre-pay for an order.

Twayn Williams · Post by **Twayn Williams** » 30 Sep 2011 9:37 am

Mike Neer wrote:Yes, standard notation and tab.

I think the videos are essential for showing the intricacies of Sol's playing that you can't get from tab.

Which tunes are in the Stacey Phillips' books?

If DVD pressing is too expensive, a link to online mp4's would work. You'd want to put them behind a login of some sort of course.

As for the Stacy Phillips book, I don't have it in front of me, but I think Indiana March, Honolulu Stomp, maybe a few others, though they may not be exact transcriptions, so...

The Art of Hawaiian Steel Guitar Book/CD Set

Art of Hawaiian Steel Guitar, Volume 2 Book/CD Set

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 30 Sep 2011 9:52 am

I might be able to swing it. I'm going to give it some serious consideration this weekend, because it will tie up a ton of my time (not that it's not a good cause!). If I do decide to do it, once I get close to production time, I'll take pre-orders to help defray the upfront costs.

I want this to be great. Sol deserves it!

Dan Eason · Post by **Dan Eason** » 30 Sep 2011 10:07 am

I'm in! Make it worth your time and it will be worth the price IMHO.

George Fischer · Post by **George Fischer** » 30 Sep 2011 10:33 am

Mike Neer wrote:. . .

I want this to be great. Sol deserves it!

I can almost see Sol nodding his head in approval

Scott Thomas · Post by **Scott Thomas** » 30 Sep 2011 12:21 pm

I'm interested too. Would this be later Sol for electric steel in the C#m and E7 tunings?

AJ Azure · Post by **AJ Azure** » 30 Sep 2011 4:28 pm

My suggestion, 6 tunes and an analysis of his playing within those tunes and in general. You'll probably get more interest if there's an educational component rather than just tunes. It's the teach to to fish aspect. Educational music books always sell better.

You could start a series, Sol, Bennie Dick, Andy, etc.
6 tunes and a playing style analysis.

John Bushouse · Post by **John Bushouse** » 30 Sep 2011 4:38 pm

Put it together like a Kickstarter project - if you get enough committed preorders pledging to fund it, go for it. Otherwise no one is out any money.

http://www.kickstarter.com/

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 30 Sep 2011 6:21 pm

Wow, just came back from the emergency room after totalling my car in an accident and getting a head laceration requiring 42 stitches. What was the question?

I always do a little analysis in my vids, but other than some of the physical activity involved, there's not much to analyze; harmonically it's all very simple.

Michael Kienhofer · Post by **Michael Kienhofer** » 30 Sep 2011 6:55 pm

Count me in Mike!

Jeff Strouse · Post by **Jeff Strouse** » 30 Sep 2011 9:08 pm

Geez! I'm glad you're okay Mike...sounds like you took quite a hit. Sorry about the car, but at least it can be replaced. I hope you heal quickly!

And, you can count me in for a book...I hope you'll include Indiana March...

Paul Seager · Post by **Paul Seager** » 30 Sep 2011 10:59 pm

I've come late to this instrument. I was enthralled to discover Rick Alexander's YouTube channel only to realise that the good man had passed and now my new YouTube mentor is trashing his car!!!

On the subject of the book, there is a gap in the market but you're right in that it is of limited appeal. I have a feeling from what I've seen on the 'Tube and your blog that you're going to do the work anyway. Why not take Twayne's suggestion one step further and cut out the material cost and make the whole thing download or email-able: PDF and MPx.

Personally, it'll be a while before I'm of a standard to attempt Sol but long term I'd be interested. This brings me to another point: One thing that I've seen you repeat on your YouTube sessions is the importance of transcribing. I'd actually appreciate you adding a section in the book on how you do this!

\ Paul

David Matzenik · Post by **David Matzenik** » 1 Oct 2011 12:17 am

Mike, this would be a very worthwhile project, and should be supported.

Unfortunately, my repertoire-practice strategy is stacked too tight for now.

c c johnson · Post by **c c johnson** » 1 Oct 2011 12:32 am

I'm in

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 1 Oct 2011 12:54 pm

Scott Thomas wrote:I'm interested too. Would this be later Sol for electric steel in the C#m and E7 tunings?

Scott, I think I want to do both the early acoustic stuff in high bass A and some later stuff in C#min. Any of it can be played acoustically or electrically.