In my area we have a number of independent music stores (including one right across the street!) plus two different local "chains" as well. GC and Sam Ash don't do lessons, although Mars did when it was there. I've had several students come to me from the local chains because they weren't satisfied. Even though we're already in a somewhat (for lack of a better word) disposable business, I think a lot of people attach more value to our methods because we're NOT the one stop, big box store. We have more personalized attention to detail and clients and students are capable of building a deeper rapport. Guitar Center will have an impact, but I'm fairly certain they're going to snag a lot of the younger kids who just are interested in learning to play riffs from Bullet For My Valentine, Underoath, Guitar Hero, etc. and are not at a point where they're looking for deeper, more serious instruction. You know, the kind of clients that just stop showing up to lessons, forget cables, picks, their music every week, are late paying... not that you ever have any of those people.
