So even as I was taking pot-shots at the dream merchants in my last post, the little voice in my head was reminding me of the danger of throwing stones while living in a glass house. I am, after all, a dream merchant too. Learning to play guitar is usually more than just playing songs.
The ad in the back of the magazine says that it will make you popular. Many people want to play in a band. Some have visions of stardom and others just want to have fun. There have been many adults who simply want to play a few chords and join their friends playing music around a campfire. Regardless of the reason it is a dream. As one five year old once told me, "I've wanted to do this my WHOLE life." And so they come to me to show them how to do it.
A young woman planning her wedding has some ideas that she has been nurturing since she was in middle school. She's been dreaming of this since long before she met her fiancé. The weather will be perfect, the location will be ultra romantic, and there will be a horse drawn carriage to whisk the happy couple away. Oh yeah - and the music will be well chosen and beautiful. If I'm lucky she will ask me to provide the music and I will be responsible for that part of the dream.
To have the opportunity to help someone achieve their dream is an honor and a beautiful burden. We all have dreams. Or at least we should. And typically we need experts to help us realize them. Most of the experts are good people who honestly try to help. Sometimes there are those whose only talent is taking advantage of others. I have a lot of respect for the first group and work hard to be one of them. So I can be proud to say "I am a Dream Merchant."