My Time At the Sydney Easter Show

[Christos]

I was at the Sydney Easter Show today.

I volunteered to be one of the demonstrators at the Sydney Woodturners Guild as one of the woodturners. It involved me turning objects and passing these items to the general public for free. I thought that I should try and turn some bud vases as these are pretty easy and will turn between centres for most of the time.

I was a little bit nervous as this is the first time that I would had been demonstrating even thou the item I had selected was very easy to make. :wink:

Once I started i found it quite enjoyable and started to relax and enjoy the interaction between myself and the public. Of course the interaction between my fellow turners was also just as much fun. So the hecklers were in front of the lathe and not behind the shield.
"Have you finished that toothpick you started?"
"Why are you using my parting tool? Because I did not bring mine!"
"Don't you have a real parting tool? Not this beading tool!" "You can still part with it just takes a bit of time"
"What is this? A miniature cricket bat? Then why it is round?"


I found it quite enjoyable and I think I will try and do the same next year if time permits.

310417

In the photo there is Liz, Julie, Michael and John. Missing from the photo is Mario, David and of course the person taking the photo, me.


Now for the more serious side of going to the Sydney Easter Show was to have a Cheese On A Stick. Delicious. As I do not have any photos it did not happen. It did not last that long for me to take a photo but I do have a photo of the stick(that part is a little hard to eat). :U

[dr4g0nfly]

Well done on your fist public demo. We all were as nervous the first time and all enjoyed ourselves in the aftermath. Next time you'll be an old hand and doing the heckling.

Wanna tip, put a toothpick in your pocket and when asked what you are making, produce it saying 'here's one I made earlier.' Always good to get the punters laughing and helps relax you.

[chuck1]

well done! the first. one is the worst! turning to a crowd like that is fun once your butterflies settle! abit different at work too! try turning when someone is pulling leg hairs out! give me a heckler any day!

[wheelinround]

:? First demo maybe but not harassing the public as you have done for 4 or 5 years at SWWS only difference is they don't also have to dodge flying tools and woodchips.

Therefore you did more talking than turning, no pic of the finished items, no proof you were at a lathe either.:q

I believe the judges had to place security guards round the cake display to keep you at a distance. :U

[Christos]

......I believe the judges had to place security guards round the cake display to keep you at a distance. :U


Not needed everything was behind display case. :q

[Tim the Timber Turner]

I think demonstrating for the public at a show is easier than doing a demo for your local club members.

If you make a stuff up in public, the watchers disappear and 30 seconds later you have a brand new audience that didn't see what happened previously.

If you stuff up at your club demo you are reminded of it for months.

If you chuck something off the lathe, you can always use this mishap to explain the importance of the correct use of safety equipment.

If you have a massive dig in you can explain why this happened and how to avoid it.

If you don't know how or what happened, you can make up a story about the Yin/Yan balance between the wood and steel in the the tool being out of kilter.

In these situations a bit of bullshot goes a long way.

Top tip, always have a good joke ready for these difficult moments.

Most important of all, enjoy yourself and have fun.

Cheers

Tim:)

[powderpost]

[QUOTE=Tim the Timber Turner;1766664In these situations a bit of bullshot goes a long way.:)[/QUOTE]

From the Master...:D

Jim

[Tim the Timber Turner]

From the Master...:D

Jim

You taught me well Jim.:roll:

Cheers

Tim

[Pat]

Christos, I find Carving Mallets for fellow members, egg cups (especially when you set out to turn a lidded box and the lid cracks upon rechucking) and spinning tops for the public. If you have more than 1 lathe going, spinning tops, with fastest, least tools, done only with a skew and most colourful keeps it interesting for the turners.

[DaveTTC]

Very cool. I keep missing events our club is invited to. I gotta get to some.


Dave the turning cowboy

turning wood into art