There are many people who are passionate about instruments as well as the environment, and Drew Montgomery and George Woods have found a way to combine the two. They have built a Web site that will connect musicians, environmentalists and anyone who wants to buy, sell, trade or learn about instruments. That Web site is called GreenGearMusic.com.”I’m fearful of instruments being thrown away and then sitting in a landfill wreaking havoc on the environment,” Montgomery said.

This user-friendly Web site ensures an extended life to any music-related gear in danger of being tossed out.

Green Gear has specific goals in mind and they need more people to sign up. “The overall goal of the site is to have people listing their gear and either trading it with other people, or just people who don’t have anything to list just come to the site, sign up and look to see if there is anything they want to buy.”

Austin Chute, an ETSU senior and member of the local band Via La Vulture, has used the site since its launch in September. “I made two sales with in the first week,” Chute said.

The site is currently in Beta form and still in its early stages.

“The site is very organized and it’s easy to search for specific items,” Chute said. “It definitely beats Craigslist.”

Signing up for Green Gear is free and there is no charge for listing items or any service charges. This allows the site to become a self-sustaining method of commerce.

Green Gear is hands-off when it comes to the final stages in trading or selling items. The steps include users listing items, users making offers on listed merchandise and then sellers will choose the best offer.

Once an offer has been accepted it’s up to the two users to arrange the rest.

Montgomery and Woods are hoping to bring more features to Green Gear through emphasis on profiles and a prospective sister site that will feature user videos. “Another goal is to turn it into more of a social networking site,” said Montgomery. “We are trying to bring people together who have a common interest.”

GreenGearMusic.com has a mission to keep instruments in use and encourages everyone to connect through music.

“It’s a natural thing for musicians to buy, sell and trade,” Montgomery said.

This site will aid many in upgrading a collection, starting a band together and can even help someone find his or her first instrument. For more information, check out GreenGearMusic.com.

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