Guitar Channel

[West R Lee]

You know, we've got sports channels, geographic channels, hunting channels, fishing channels, shopping channels, food channels, history channels, military channels, news channels, animal channels, prison channels, golf channel..........why not a Guitar Channel? You know, just a regular cable channel that features guitars?

Wikipedia estimates that there are approximately 100,000,000 guitars in the world......think about it. A channel dedicated to the manufacture, repair, design, modification, set up and sale of all types of guitars. One with all manufacturers advertising....all guitar shows.....musician interviews.....related products? Surely there would be enough viewership needed to support such a channel? There are websites that call themselves Guitar-channel.com and similar names, but there is no regular cable tv channel dedicated to guitar only that I'm aware of, certainly not one that any of my 200 channels get.

A business venture? All I need are about 100 serious investors? Get folks like Gibson, Guild, Taylor, Martin, Santa Cruz, Collings, Takamine onboard with advertisment. Can you tell I've been off of work for a couple of weeks with not much to do and have watched a little tv? Man, talk about dreaming of a job you'd love!

West

 

[taabru45]

Man...West...that's brilliant....that would be an instant, I mean instant hit....wow.... :!: Steffan

 

[West R Lee]

Man...West...that's brilliant....that would be an instant, I mean instant hit....wow.... :!: Steffan

It certainly would be a hit with "us"......the question is....are there enough "us" to make it fly? You know I say this half joking, but half serious. Man I'm telling you you could go nuts with this....interviews with famous authors (Hans), lessons, interviews with everyone under the sun....builders, artists, Gruhn types, collectors, amp designers and manufacturers, show promoters, gadget builders, song writers.....the sky is the limit.

If I knew how to do one of those polls here, I'd ask how many members here would watch it regularly?

West

 

[taabru45]

I'd be there for sure...I mean from the small cross section we have here, if you go back through the archives, you'd find all of that scattered throughout...lessons obscure artists, a lot of stuff from youtube, but still it was gleaned out...I have posted lots of it hoping to share it with others, it meant that much to me, and the folks here do too....It would be amazing to see all kinds of it in one place...the internet has lots of specialized radio stations, itunes, radio....whatever you want streaming out there...folk, blues, rock, rapp racket... big band... now add visuals and all those other things you mentioned Jim, man...you are sooo right on.....Steffan

 

[Geo]

I'm not a big television aficionado but still that would be fantastic!!

Whenever there’s a special about a builder or anything else relating to guitars, I’ll watch it every time it airs.

With 150 channels to choose from there are still nights when I find nothing of interest to me. With “The Guitar Channel” that wouldn’t happen.

Too bad you’re not a TV executive West.

Bored George

 

[southernGuild]

:idea: Now THAT is TV I would actually watch!!!
Really. I think its a great idea.....an untapped resource. the great guitarium at large! Huge possibilities. My Youtube watching will dry up to nil!
West........you've stuck the good oil!

Shouldn't this be moved to LTG members only? :lol:

 

[Geo]

Shouldn't this be moved to LTG members only? :lol:

Good idea. Best kept under the hat until West gets the proper documents filed. Otherwise the next thing you know some Taylor employee who passes by the LTG forum will be getting all the credit and raking in the big bucks. :lol:

Clandestine George

 

[fronobulax]

@West - when you start a new topic and are creating the first post, if you scroll down far enough you get the option to create a poll. Just remember that editing the poll throws out all of the votes so you want to get it right the first time.

I like the idea but to get me to watch two things would have to happen. First, it would have to be something my cable company gave me as part of my basic package. I have yet to pay for premium content on cable and this would not be an exception, even though it is a good idea. Second, I would like shows that were related to performers and performances to be aware that some of the audience is interested in the guitars being used and not the music. In other words there are some performers I have no interest in unless, for example, I know in advance that they will be using an instrument that I am interested in.

 

[dapmdave]

Great idea, West.

I think a complete "channel" might be hard to fill. But a reality show about all things guitar could be popular.

Have you seen "Talking Guitars"?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1UzYNNZsYA

Dave

 

[Scratch]

Great idea. I watch Troubadour Texas each chance I get: http://troubadourtx.com/ The focus is on various Texas singer/songwriter artists and their trek to get established in the Americana/Roots/Country scenes throughout Texas. We have opportunity to see many of them in the area as there are lots of venues available here. Every now and then a show related to guitars (acoustic for the most part), but nothing like the detail mentioned here.

 

[Mr. P ~]

A Musician's Reply:

Happy new year! I am a musician with a big house looking for a Television Producer to come to my house to promote his/her Television Programing by showing me and my friends programing totally dedicated to Guitars and Guitar Playing.

This does not begin as a daily job, but only for special events which will eventually turn into a nightly event if we get a positive response.

Particular attention should be given to programing to do with GUILD Guitars.

Are you interested to promote your Visual Programing? Please reply back ASAP.

Stollen from the CL Thread!!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[West R Lee]

A Musician's Reply:

Happy new year! I am a musician with a big house looking for a Television Producer to come to my house to promote his/her Television Programing by showing me and my friends programing totally dedicated to Guitars and Guitar Playing.

This does not begin as a daily job, but only for special events which will eventually turn into a nightly event if we get a positive response.

Particular attention should be given to programing to do with GUILD Guitars.

Are you interested to promote your Visual Programing? Please reply back ASAP.

Stollen from the CL Thread!!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

What's "CL" Curtis.....nevermind...Craigslist? Oh and when I mentioned interviews with artists, I didn't mean performances (maybe just a few), I meant interviews to learn what kind of equipment they use and why?

West

 

[griehund]

First 10 questions under the category of due diligence

1) Has it been done before?

2) Success or failure and why?

3) Define market? Demographics & expendable income.

4) Is there an existing need?

5) who will benefit/support?

6) sources of revenue (investors & advertisers)?

7) Define scope of programming?

8) What's in a name?

9) Start up cost?

10) Legal and/or liable?

Or you could just use the "jump in method", "ready, fire, aim"

 

[RussD]

Great idea, West!
griehund is right; needs a business case.
Or... you could hit your local cable channel - most have a contractual agreement to support a non-profit channel (e.g. Wayne's World skit premise) to create a show yourself. Talk about a great way to create a business opportunity!
So... do it - we'll watch!

 

[West R Lee]

Great idea, West!
griehund is right; needs a business case.
Or... you could hit your local cable channel - most have a contractual agreement to support a non-profit channel (e.g. Wayne's World skit premise) to create a show yourself. Talk about a great way to create a business opportunity!
So... do it - we'll watch!

This is the kind of input we need. I'd never thought of it as a solo gig, but a joint effort. I know what kind of format I think would be cool, but from there I'm pretty lost. I've never pantented or copyrighted anything.

I do happen to know a couple of people, one who owns an advertising agency and studio and another who is on the Texas Film Commission I had actaully considered contacting for their input.

If it were something I thought might actually pan out, I'd retire from my present job and go at it wide open. And the obvious name would be......"The Guitar Channel". :wink: And yes, it would take sponsors like the big boys (manufacturers), but the big boys would have much to gain in my view.

West

 

[Mr. P ~]

Well Jim, You know, once a smarta$$ Always a..........

 

[griehund]

Blessed are the naysayers, for they force you to explore the unexposed questions. Enterprise and surprise don't mix.

There is a point where knowing too much is a detriment and knowing too little is an advantage. IMHO it lies in existing need. If an existing need is big enough you can stumble through and succeed using the "ready, fire, aim" method. This usually works in non-profits fulfilling an obvious need.

For profit endeavors are the color of a different horse. The best advice I can offer is to listen to people who know and ignore people who don't. Never stop asking questions.

 

[West R Lee]

Blessed are the naysayers, for they force you to explore the unexposed questions. Enterprise and surprise don't mix.

There is a point where knowing too much is a detriment and knowing too little is an advantage. IMHO it lies in existing need. If an existing need is big enough you can stumble through and succeed using the "ready, fire, aim" method. This usually works in non-profits fulfilling an obvious need.

For profit endeavors are the color of a different horse. The best advice I can offer is to listen to people who know and ignore people who don't. Never stop asking questions.

My wife once had an idea, one for a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity. I watched as the idea came to her in our living room. Such a Habitat fundraiser had never been done in this town of 75,000 people. She researched her little fingers off until she devised a fundraising plan that had never been done here.

By the end of her "Raisin' the Roof" event, she had raised $47,000. It took about $27,000 back then to build a Habitat house......she financed alomst two of them that night. Since then, about 10 years ago, "Raise the Roof" has become an annual event....having built many homes.

Ideas really do come to fruition from time to time. I can remember thinking he method of fundraising was pretty crazy at the time.......crazy brilliant it was.

She hosted an event in which the town locals were the money guys....the doctors, oilmen and lawyers. She had them dress in various costumes of their chosing, with a matching theme at their table. A cowboy maybe or a rocker. Each of the celebrity waiters had their friends sitting at their table, and the "celebrities" waited on them. The whole concept was to pit one table against the other as far as donations, which came in the form of tips to the "celebrity" waiter. Before long, the egos began to battle for the table which donated the most......with Habitat being the benficiary.

West

 

[griehund]

Blessed are the naysayers, for they force you to explore the unexposed questions. Enterprise and surprise don't mix.

There is a point where knowing too much is a detriment and knowing too little is an advantage. IMHO it lies in existing need. If an existing need is big enough you can stumble through and succeed using the "ready, fire, aim" method. This usually works in non-profits fulfilling an obvious need.

For profit endeavors are the color of a different horse. The best advice I can offer is to listen to people who know and ignore people who don't. Never stop asking questions.

My wife once had an idea, one for a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity. I watched as the idea came to her in our living room. Such a Habitat fundraiser had never been done in this town of 75,000 people. She researched her little fingers off until she devised a fundraising plan that had never been done here.

By the end of her "Raisin' the Roof" event, she had raised $47,000. It took about $27,000 back then to build a Habitat house......she financed alomst two of them that night. Since then, about 10 years ago, "Raise the Roof" has become an annual event....having built many homes.

Ideas really do come to fruition from time to time. I can remember thinking he method of fundraising was pretty crazy at the time.......crazy brilliant it was.

She hosted an event in which the town locals were the money guys....the doctors, oilmen and lawyers. She had them dress in various costumes of their chosing, with a matching theme at their table. A cowboy maybe or a rocker. Each of the celebrity waiters had their friends sitting at their table, and the "celebrities" waited on them. The whole concept was to pit one table against the other as far as donations, which came in the form of tips to the "celebrity" waiter. Before long, the egos began to battle for the table which donated the most......with Habitat being the benficiary.

West

Yes indeed! "ready, fire, aim". That's how we grew Greyhound Options Inc back in 1995. You never know what you can't do till you do it, succeed or fail. Rock on. 8)

Did you know when you make a list and get to #8 with close parenthesis you get a smiley face?

 

[adorshki]

Did you know when you make a list and get to #8 with close parenthesis you get a smiley face?

We get 'em with that one every time!! :lol: