New Year's Skype lesson offer

Hey, it just occurred to me: I should have more Skype students than I do. I have plenty of followers, plenty of daily visitors, plenty of book-purchasers, and a fair number of  donors at fund drive time— but for some reason not many contact me for lessons.

Perhaps there's an intimidation factor at work? I know my online persona is a little cranky, and we do post a lot of hard core stuff on the blog. But in person I'm actually a very affable, easy-going cat, and as a teacher I'm truly interested in working with players of all levels of ability and commitment. I like people other teachers consider to be problem students. I like figuring out what you need to advance your playing, and how to communicate it to you, especially when you're having big problems with it.

So, hey: If you're following the blog, you like what we do, but you're horrified at the thought of revealing yourself to be a totally hopeless case— I want to teach you because you're a hopeless case. GET IN TOUCH.

My normal rate is $50/hour for Skype lessons, so what I'll offer is:

1. First 1-hour lesson for $25

2. 25% discount on first month of lessons paid in full. Basically, one free lesson in the first month.

And I know half the country is broke. If you're hurting for lessons but don't have the money, get in touch anyway, plead your case, and we'll see if we can work something out that's within your budget.

Now offering: Skype lessons!

OK, it's formal announcement time:

I, your blogger, Todd Bishop, am now offering live online lessons, via Skype.

I'll be happy to work with you on single lessons— say, if you'd like help with something you saw on the blog; in a focused burst of several lessons, to work on one problem; or on an ongoing basis, as a regular student.

At home, I teach all levels of players, from little kids, to adult beginners, hobbyists, on up to teachers and other professionals. My personal style is very easy-going, and I like working with beginners and novices, and solving problems, and helping people with things that are jamming them up. So, even though we deal with some hard stuff on the blog, there's no need to feel intimidated.

Cost is $50 US per hour, or $30 per half hour, +10% for non-US students, to cover transaction fees. If you're in the UK or the eurozone, the weak US dollar gives you a substantial discount— $50 US is only £30, or €36. See below for exact costs for all countries.

More details and policies after the break:

Skype lessons coming soon

OK, then: starting in March, I'll be offering private lessons via Skype. And as I get my act together teaching this way, I think I'll give away a few free lessons. Let's do it like this: I'll select someone at random from new followers, and from people who complete the my new user survey. I'll keep doing that until I feel I'm ready to go live with it for real, so as long as this post is up, you have a chance of winning.

So! If you would like a free lesson, you can:

1. Become a member. Go to the sidebar, scroll down to where it says followers, click “join this site”, and go through whatever rigamarole Google makes you do to become a follower of the site. It will help me identify and contact you if you also send me an email letting me know you're interested, and that you became a member; my email is at the top of the sidebar under “my major links > email Todd.”
   
2. Follow this link to fill out our user survey. The last question requests that you make up a unique code word or phrase— like “Rappahannok”, or “peligro de muerte”— which you need to then email to me, so I can confirm that you completed the survey.  

Actually, please do those things even if you don't want the free lesson. And don't be shy; despite the generally hard level of stuff we have on the blog, I am quite happy to teach all levels of students.