Thread: Wot I got at www Melbourne

Originally Posted by safari

They charge $8 or $10 entry fee which probably reflects the much cheaper rental(although they may not be looking for as much profit as the woodshow organizers)

Or to recover the $ 60,000 that the organizers lost on running a show in Canberra. As usual the pollies talkfest joint gets something and the rest of the country pays for that extravaganza.

Peter.

Originally Posted by safari

........

Another impediment I think is the $16 entry fee for what you get inside which is a catch 22 situation.

.........

As a member of this forum you could have printed out the voucher and got in for $12.

Or, if you donated an hour or so of your time to the forum stand, you would have had free entry.

First time going to the show for me as I hadn't previously been interested in going to a show that I assumed would be full of wood turners. Would have liked to have tried every power tool I saw just for the sheer joy of playing with so many machines but also I am a realist and what would the suppliers do with all those used machines.
i bought a lock mitre router bit (sorry no show specials) also bought a couple of sets of triton wood racks ( no show specials there either) have also locked in on which scroll saw to add to my growing collection of toys um tools I mean tools. Saw some lovely pieces of timber and will probably set out a job list so I can purchase them at next years show or at least i have some contacts now to get them as required. Sat in on some good demos and learned at least one thing more.
would I go again - yes 7/10 (SWMBO will only come for an hour this time DFO is close enough to walk to and that will work out good for both of us next time)
was it value for money - yes 6/10, $24 entry $18 parking ($8 parking was available) $54 yum cha lunch for me and SWMBO total spend $96 + $210(goodies) given I got some good advice and received some helpful hints. $300+ bucks is on par with most outings it would get the two of us into a concert or a couple of sessions of gold class or a night in a motel in town.
Sure the organisers could do things differently, but we are a very broad and diverse group of people, so what suits me may not suit the next person. However I respect others wishes who want to see some of the things I like and all the things I don't.
i used to go to cars shows regularly and would look at all the fine cars vintage, hot rod, classic and custom. Some people would only go to the car show for a particular style and never leave their particular arena. I now like working with wood more than working with cars. So I guess what I am saying is although the show wasn't 100% for me I am tolerant enough to be happy with my 65%
As a side note, I pondered when typing this, the show only got 65% of my budgeted spend - but for the balance and more at a later date first priority spending will go to those who put their time and money into supporting this wood show
cheers

Originally Posted by Sturdee

Or to recover the $ 60,000 that the organizers lost on running a show in Canberra. As usual the pollies talkfest joint gets something and the rest of the country pays for that extravaganza.

Peter.

1) I am glad you think the Canberra show was an extravaganza.
2) Just because you all send your representatives here does not mean we are all Pollies.
3) $60,000 loss? Were did you see that?
Regards

Originally Posted by A Duke

1) I am glad you think the Canberra show was an extravaganza.
2) Just because you all send your representatives here does not mean we are all Pollies.
3) $60,000 loss? Were did you see that?
Regards

Sorry I misquoted the city that the $ 60,000 loss was made, it actually was Adelaide. Different city but the loss still had to be made up affecting all other shows.

As to the extravaganza see the quote relating to the Canberra show by Liz Falloon in the " My Bright Idea etc" thread.

Canberra Show: a disaster - in my time as an organiser I have never run such a poor show. Not only did exhibitors get a bad return we were 50% down yes I repeat 50% down on gate sales - that hurts us as well as exhibitors. Opening day of the show imagine how we felt when the headline news in the Canberra Times (not word for word) was Canberra Heads for Recession - the article went on to point out how many Public Servants were going to loose their jobs and the flow on to the community as a result. The show was positioned a week before the elections and Canberra was grey! I don't mean the clouds here but rather anyone in Canberra you spoke to. One visitor told me of his business of how he was waiting on sign off for major government projects and nothing had happened since Gillard announced the election.

We are still at the collating stage of all of the figures, but quiet simply if the public doesn't want a show and don't turn up well we can't put on that show and put both our exhibitors and ourselves at risk. Canberra has great similarities of Adelaide (we lost 60k there on our last show)...............watch this space!

In other words an unaffordable extravaganza for the polly talkfest city.

Peter.

My two bob's worth: a lotta older workers and retirees took at big hit on their super with the GFC. While earnings on the av. balanced fund have made up most of the ground the experience has not been forgotten. They don't splurge anymore.

I also think a generational change is working through the market with an increasing number of folk across the board who never got an intro to woodworking at school and who therefore have no residual interest.

As for me, I didn't go this year as the wood 'bank' is flush and I have all the tools I'll ever need. The demo's are worth the entry fee but this year's offerings were too similar to last year's. That said, the opportunity to have a play at the show is IMO a darn good idea and I hope the woody Clubs were well represented with pamphlets at each play stand.

Whatever its shortcomings (and I've heard a few) I still wish I'd been able to go.

Yeah Jim.

It's a good place to catch up with mates and have a yarn, and also have a good chat with suppliers and demonstrators. Those peeps usually know their stuff and their advice is invaluable.

Hi Sturdee,
She does not call it an extravaganza, and the only mob I intended to spend money with that showed up was Carrols, but all the rest are all at Melbourn so who's subsidising who the admission was the same for half a show.
I do not think many of the pollies are into woodwork, if they were they would do a better job running the country.
For what it's worth

Well Big shed I wasn't referring to myself. I actually got a free ticket from a supplier with whom I had spent a lot of money with during the year.So before you go off again I should point out to you that I was referring to the many who were not so lucky and who have paid full price and therefore deserve more than a token effort if they are going to return next year. Further more If you cast an eye over the crowd you would have noticed that they were mainly in the 60 plus age group.

In my opinion what should be happening is that the organization should be making every effort to attract a younger family oriented clientele to boost interest in woodworking rather than see a dying pastime that has happened in many other hobbies. It is possible that cheap or no cost parking and cheaper entry may increase interest from families who are already under monetary pressure. The exhibition is after all the main showcase for our pastime.

I would expect that the organisers are market-savvy.

The problem with demand lies earlier in a woodies' journey and beyond the organiser's reach.

I went for the first time and had a good time.

I got there at 10, parked at the police station for $7 flat rate across the walk bridge.
I thought i would be there for only an hour or so - when i looked at my watch as i was leaving it was 2:30.

Bought some stuff at Jim Daveys, had a talk to Col Clenton anmd then bought a heap of timber so SWMBO can see the difference between them.

Would i go again - shoot yes.
Would i spend money 0 yep.
Would i like to see show specials - well of course i would - Carbatec is 10 min away during the week at work so during the year i can pick up anything from there.

great time


Cheers

Originally Posted by Big Shed

As a member of this forum you could have printed out the voucher and got in for $12.

Or, if you donated an hour or so of your time to the forum stand, you would have had free entry.

Originally Posted by safari

Well Big shed I wasn't referring to myself. I actually got a free ticket from a supplier with whom I had spent a lot of money with during the year.So before you go off again

The above constitutes "going off"???????

Wow, I better not say anything else for fear I might damage your tender psyche for life!

Better people than you have tried Big Shed without success. I was trying to be constructive. Perhaps if you tried to exercise your mind along these lines posts like this would not be necessary. Enough said!