The Scam of Martial Arts

saw this on a groups board:

"That's all well and good. If you have a seminar, let everyone know that you have a 
listing for it AT YOUR YAHOO GROUP.

Here is an example:

xxx Baguazhang is hosting a seminar. Details available at
xxx Baguazhang Yahoo Group.  Thank you. 

There, isn't that simple? Very short, and to the point. Verbose self serving seminar 
postings can begin to look like
spams if they are announced every month. Too many postings make the poster appear to 
be a beggar looking for a street
handout (which in this case could be a savvy teacher looking to rake in some big bucks 
on an expensive seminar, complete
with books, tapes, shirts, and all other sorts of paraphrenalia).

I have been to a few seminars. They were as close as you can get to a circus without 
the clowns and elephants. The
presenter gets up there; does a little song (talks and talks) and the does a little 
dance (a few examples and principles
for us to work on). We do this for a few hours, then a break for lunch, which before 
they let us go, casually let us
know about all the fine books and tapes they have to offer (not like it was the most 
obvious thing, with two or three
folding tables all laid out with books and tapes and shirts).  Then we go to lunch, 
come back, and do the same thing for
another few hours, and it's over.

We KNOW that you do seminars to make money (thats FIRST). Then you have them to build 
up a clientel off of whom you can
expect to make money upon a return engagement. (Thats SECOND). Lastly is to gain more 
dedicated students from whch to
build up a power base in the area, so when you come back, you are at least guaranteed 
a minimal attendance
that will net you at least a few hundred bucks (Providing of course that your host 
pays your airfare, and room and board
for the duration of your stay). AND THAT dear readers, is how most any martial artist
(real or pretend) can make a living at this stuff.

Cya!