As a member of a pretty sweet local rock ‘n’ roll band, I’m on a mission to bring the joy of music to as many ears as possible.
But because you don’t see my name on those fancy Bonnaroo and Coachella lineups, you can assume my musical mission isn’t enough to pay all the bills quite yet.
Sure, part-time jobs are great (shoutout Publix) and selling plasma is, at the very least, an interesting experience, but when it comes down to it, I’d rather make some money musically (and keep that precious plasma of mine). Thus, the bright idea of teaching people how to play guitar came to mind as a reasonable and productive way to ensure I’ve got a few extra bucks around to justify an off-night trip to Midtown.
I’m not the type to impose lessons on my friends, and hanging flyers doesn’t match my eco-friendly lifestyle, so how would I find a network of interested guitar pupils?
Enter brtr.
Brtr — “barter,” for those in need of vowels — is a new local startup designed to help locals discover awesome local services from, well, awesome local people. From hobbyists, fixers and trainers to professionals and performers, brtr aims to connect Gainesvillians with the local underground marketplace; aka, my ability turn you into a proper “Wonderwall” playing guitar guy at the party, or whichever 1990s alt-rock tune you fancy.
Craigslist brings in creepy results 85 percent of the time, and Elance does more security checks than the NSA. There’s no one local source to earn money on your talents and/or find people to provide simple services for you.
The more I’ve thought about the idea, the more it seems like a perfect fit for a town like Gainesville. From the ladies that spin poi at the farmer’s market to Dennis’s sweet dance moves on the corner of University Avenue, Gainesvegas is filled with people with interesting talents and unique passions.
If you do something better than everyone else, why not market it? That is the basis capitalism, right?
Or wait, is that Walmart?
Interested in brtr but not interested in providing any services? No problem, when a brtr user creates a profile, he or she receives $40 worth of brtr dollars in their account to help empower somebody else’s dreams. Still stuck using regular, old U.S. currency? That’s totally cool, as brtr deals in both U.S. dollars and brtr dollars.
Got some friends who might be interested in brtr? If you “refer” someone to create a completed brtr profile, simply message the brtr Facebook page to be sent $10 directly into your bank account. In the words of the late, great Teddy Roosevelt, “That’s pretty neat.”
So if you’re awesome (which you are), create a profile and start bartering those skills. If you’re looking to make a career out of your passion, trying to make a little extra cash, or are in desperate need of finding somebody local to provide you with a service, brtr will work for you.
And if you want to learn how to strum the guitar, I’m here for you too.
Feautured photo courtesy of: cfhsieh.com
