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THANK YOU to those that helped me and to say shame on those that are just out for a buck.

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Many other people with specialized talents get good hourly rates.
We are not talking flipping burgers for minimum wage here.

IS this why it is so hard for our children to get decent school teachers.
The money is so short, that the best teachers find other work...
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T EAT OFF IT!!!

If there is someone who makes his LIVING for himself and his family playing steel,
after working and woodshedding for 40-50 years to get to this point.

I don't think it is too much to ask, that THEY be treated as profesionals.

I also see the same people giving extra time, materials and such too.

What value do we put on ther advice and help of true profesionals.
I say it is worth a lot.

Players reach many different plateaus in their technique as they go through their playing life cycle.

Sometimes you can get to the next level with a slight push from an informal teaching session.

Sometimes a more focused and profesional analysis of your playing issues is needed,
and then materials provided to address these weaker points.

If youpay a profesional to teach you, you will be treated in a profesional manner with a total focus on what YOU need to improve.

Not to say some non-charging teachers do not give high value too.

I charge. If a student can not afford it and is motivated enough, there's always some yard work or whatever that can be bartered.

I also take occasional lessons, from some top players. I travel far, pay my expenses, and for their time. Overall I spend a lot more than I make at this. I'm happy to do it.

I'm not rich, but when there's a will there's a way. If I had to relocate a lot I'd find a teacher in every new area.

I believe a student needs to understand there is value to your time. Otherwise when the going gets tough they'll just quit.

Do you charge for your work?

This was already pointed out, but Calvin, I feel the person who said this to you, although it was probably just an "off the cuff" comment, did you a great disservice and gave you unrealistic expectations.

As a guitar teacher myself, who charges a very fair $20 a half hour, I keep coming back to this thread because something just really bothers me about things you said. After innvesting 10's of thousands of dollars for education and equipment, and 40 years of practice, to think that someone would expect a "free ride" all the time, shows a real misunderstanding of a teacher/student relationship. I've done my share of free offerings teaching and performing through the years. If I had a good student who couldn't afford lessons, I'd offer to teach them for free. You've hung on one thing that somebody said, who probably didn't even mean it the way you took it. As has been pointed out, it was your ultimate decision to give up PSG, but it was unfortunate that you would base that decision in part on a comment somebody made.