Dave Wirth
There is a wise saying: You have make some space if you want something new in your life. I think this is true with teaching guitar and getting more clients. If you want more clients, you gotta make some space for them.
Sometimes, in between lessons, I'll sit in my studio without any distractions. I'll lock the door. I'll try to say to myself "Man, I really could be teaching right now." Doing this can have some interesting effects. First, it definitely preps the mind for teaching, and helps to give a bad-ass lesson to someone I like teaching anyways. Second, it's never a bad thing to think that we could be more successful (maybe in my opinion). If it goes well and works, then hey who can argue with progress?
Sometimes the temptation of filling that time with Twitter, blogging, computers, or whatever is too intense, and yeah I'll just dive in. I still recognize that I need my mind to be ready and relaxed. Doing that means emptying the space to make room for something more important, like teaching, being with friends, playing music, and having money to eat food. Food is good for the stomach. I'd rather eat than not eat. Therefore Twitter, you will get second priority.
Making a space and refusing for it to be filled with anything other than what I want (clients for me. What do you want?) tends to re-enforce the idea that I am here to teach too. The less I think about teaching during the day can means the less I find a rhythm. With any luck, I stay far away from the computer, and I just teach. Empty the space of time-wasters, fill the space with students, mentally if not physically. Maybe it's just dumb common sense, but still worth a mention.
