Piano-based online resource?

[CGR]

Hi fellow musicians,

I’d like to run an idea by you: I’m considering creating an online resource based solely on Acoustic, Digital & Sampled/Virtual pianos. Based on my 40 years as a Pianist, Performer, Steinway Sales Consultant, Composer and Producer, I’ve accumulated an extensive knowledge in these areas and feel there would be an audience interested in this. My aim would be to make it an independent resource, and not beholden to any particular brand or product.

Some questions for your consideration & feedback:

1. Is something which you’d find valuable? If so, what content would you be looking for?

2. Would you prefer a text/image based website, or a podcast or videocast with audio examples?

3. Would you expect it to be a free resource, or a subscription-based service?

4. If subscription-based, what would be a fair price for this service, say on a monthly basis?

I’m looking forward to hearing your feedback and opinions.

Thanks,
Craig G Richards
www.pianoproducer.com

[RichieWitch]

Have you taken a look at SampleTekk's website? From your description, it feels like most of what you're offering is available there. And they use an insane number of samples when they build their piano libraries, so competing with them would be pretty daunting in my opinion.

https://www.sampletekk.com/index.php?route=common/home

[CGR]

I'm not taking about creating sampled pianos. This would be an online product review/discussion/podcast resource for all areas mentioned in my first post.

[lfm]

I'm afraid it's rather unclear exactly what you are offering?
It's nothing better than examples - just do something and see what feedback is.

PurgatoryCreek.com used to have digital piano shootout, I had a bookmark some years ago.
They reverted to now providing samples for more unusuall stuff like clavinet, reed etc.

Reviews - a YT channels come to mind if looking to buy a digital piano(or acoustic).
This could also incorporate comments and dialog with viewers.

Some kind of lessons over YT is another option.
Again getting subscribers you can get Google-money for ads.
Some starting to get successful on YT often move to Patreon as well to make a living from it.

But nothing above is what anybody would pay for these days, I think, possibly lessons.
YT is probably best chance if you have something special to offer in knowledge.
Just do something and if getting subscribers - if limit is 1000 - Google start paying you for ads.

Many on YT also provide info how to make a living from running a channel.

[Digivolt]

I'm not taking about creating sampled pianos. This would be an online product review/discussion/podcast resource for all areas mentioned in my first post.

You didn't really say what it was you wanted to offer in your first post

If it's going to be reviews, discussion and podcasts then

1. Yes if you can offer something that all the other reviewers/podcasters don't, maybe you have connections to some professionals you can call upon to give their opinion on products or discussing their production techniques/ideas behind their works.

2. Video is vastly superior in this age to text/image based, there are instances where text/image can work but it's likely a small % of time you'd need that

3. Depends entirely on the quality of the content and hinges on 1. in being to offer something valuable that others do not

4. Depends on 3 & 1 but if it was real top quality educational info where one could grow skills then possibly $9.99 a month ? Or even a price per video if you look at someone like Mike Verta and his Masterclass series of videos ? Outside of educational material you'd be hard pressed to find people willing to pay for just reviews/opinion pieces

[CGR]

I'm afraid it's rather unclear exactly what you are offering?
It's nothing better than examples - just do something and see what feedback is.

PurgatoryCreek.com used to have digital piano shootout, I had a bookmark some years ago.
They reverted to now providing samples for more unusuall stuff like clavinet, reed etc.

Reviews - a YT channels come to mind if looking to buy a digital piano(or acoustic).
This could also incorporate comments and dialog with viewers.

Some kind of lessons over YT is another option.
Again getting subscribers you can get Google-money for ads.
Some starting to get successful on YT often move to Patreon as well to make a living from it.

But nothing above is what anybody would pay for these days, I think, possibly lessons.
YT is probably best chance if you have something special to offer in knowledge.
Just do something and if getting subscribers - if limit is 1000 - Google start paying you for ads.

Many on YT also provide info how to make a living from running a channel.

Thanks for your detailed response - much appreciated. I'm still formulating the idea which is why it may have sounded a bit vague as to what exactly I was hoping to create. I can see something like this being very time consuming, so it would have to be financially viable for me.

I have offered my thoughts & comments on numerous forums based on my experience with pianos, virtual instruments, studio recording & production, and had the idea to centralise the material and new content instead of it being scattered across multiple forums & threads.

[CGR]

I'm not taking about creating sampled pianos. This would be an online product review/discussion/podcast resource for all areas mentioned in my first post.

You didn't really say what it was you wanted to offer in your first post

If it's going to be reviews, discussion and podcasts then

1. Yes if you can offer something that all the other reviewers/podcasters don't, maybe you have connections to some professionals you can call upon to give their opinion on products or discussing their production techniques/ideas behind their works.

2. Video is vastly superior in this age to text/image based, there are instances where text/image can work but it's likely a small % of time you'd need that

3. Depends entirely on the quality of the content and hinges on 1. in being to offer something valuable that others do not

4. Depends on 3 & 1 but if it was real top quality educational info where one could grow skills then possibly $9.99 a month ? Or even a price per video if you look at someone like Mike Verta and his Masterclass series of videos ? Outside of educational material you'd be hard pressed to find people willing to pay for just reviews/opinion pieces

Yeah, apologies for the lack of clarity! Thanks for your feedback and ideas - very valuable for me to mull over. I'll keep this thread updated with any future developments.

[acYm]

maybe you could do something like Rick Beato, he makes loads of free videos on Youtube, and uses that to promote his educational subscription services and book.
he has it well covered with advanced guitar knowledge, and does a bit of piano when it comes to cinematic/modern theory, but there's still room for a career pianist, I'd be interested...

[jancivil]

I think the model for such a thing is rapidly becoming get a youtube following together which people value enough to support you regularly via Patreon.
I don't think marketing through itself is going to spur people to subscribe to or materially support something unproven.

[CGR]

maybe you could do something like Rick Beato, he makes loads of free videos on Youtube, and uses that to promote his educational subscription services and book.
he has it well covered with advanced guitar knowledge, and does a bit of piano when it comes to cinematic/modern theory, but there's still room for a career pianist, I'd be interested...

Thanks for your thoughts. I'll check out Rick's content and see if that would be a model to base it on.
Cheers.

[CGR]

I think the model for such a thing is rapidly becoming get a youtube following together which people value enough to support you regularly via Patreon.
I don't think marketing through itself is going to spur people to subscribe to or materially support something unproven.

Thanks Jancivil - sounds like the way forward. Appreciate your input - Cheers, Craig