Thread: Melbourne Wood Work Show

Originally Posted by Phil Spencer

The new venue gets a big vote from me I never want to see the show go back to the shed.

I agree, although there were a few teething problems the new place is much better.

I usually go by public transport, as parking at the old place was impossible, and you had to walk a long distance from Southern Cross station to get there and here the tram stops outside the door. Parking now is also easy and reasonable.


Peter.

I went to the show on Saturday. The venue is not too bad and I liked the fact that there was more space to walk around in and the natural light made it more enjoyable. The fact that you could go outside without having to get some silly stamp or passout was excellent and there was even something there to watch while polluting all the fresh air with smoke.......

The reduction in the number of non wood working related stands I thought was a huge bonus but I was slightly disappointed with the number of exhibitors, it seemed like there were fewer than in previous years. I would have liked more hands on seminars along the lines of Richard Raffan, Roger Gifkin and Richard Vaughan.

The amenities were quite inadequate in my opinion though. I got frustrated by the long queues for a simple coffee that only came in one size cup and I didn't bother trying for anything to eat.

I attended my first WWW show today,so can't really make a comparison with the Jeff's Shed experience. I thoroughly enjoyed my day,from 1000hrs until stumps. Even had a crack at woodturning on the Vicmarc stand with Tim Skilton from Adelaide. I bought a turning book and some osage orange blanks.
I think I am hooked, now I need to scour the forums for woodturning tips and advice. This means asking for blanks for christmas Hang on it means asking for a lathe for christmas OMG. I hope santa has a big sleigh. Some of the beasties today were longer than my shed is wide. Perhaps the orange beastie will lay dormant for the summer while I entertain my new interest. Anyway today was great. I got to put a face to the names at the forum stand.Well Done

soooo much bigger!!! the forum stand is more visible (near the entrance!) overall great...but cannot be compared to first time experience (last yr ,,,although the venue was smaller) It is overall a more relaxing atmosphere...well...it took me 1 hour to find the toilet.
The downside is that it takes around 40 minutes from city to the show by public transport and for me it was a 2 hour trip from Box Hill. Oh yea a sandwhich cost $7...so i didn't get anything for lunch ...instead used the money and bought some sandpaper.

My wife Rhonda likes to look at the Lie Nielson stand in previous years she has been pushed aside by others trying to get a look. This year because of the extra space she was able to talk to the guys and ended up buying me Low Angle Smoother (Rhonda likes to buy me planes). All up it gets from me

"Oh yea a sandwhich cost $7...so i didn't get anything for lunch ...instead used the money and bought some sandpaper".[/quote]




so you didnt think to get a pass out(rubber stamp) walk down epsom road get a burger with the lot chips and coke for $6.50 special

Originally Posted by fubar

"Oh yea a sandwich cost $7...so I didn't get anything for lunch ...instead used the money and bought some sandpaper".
so you didn't think to get a pass out(rubber stamp) walk down Epsom road get a burger with the lot chips and coke for $6.50 special

They offered to stamp my hand didn't even have to ask. Thinking that food would be pricey I took a cut lunch and water in a back pack.

Big yes vote from me for the new venue. Extra room, lots of light, all in all much better that prior years. Loved it. Came away with new Carbatec 15" Thicknesser & 8" Jointer and the usual little trinkets that all seem to add up. Had a great day
Only bad vote was the food facilities, & lack of choice. I have been to every show in Sydney & Canberra over the past few years & choice for lunch is getting worse. Even if they managed to have a few good coffee retailers & a BBQ outside they would satisfy most I recon. Ever see the line up for a snag sandwich outside Bunnies every Saturday ? definate winner

Maybe the forum could sponsor a BBQ stand & we could put our name down to give an hour of time & all profits to a childrens hospital, I'd be in if it got up.

Damn good idea.

thumbs up to that idea!

Would be happy to help with the barby concept, but generally these venues have the catering locked in with pro's who in turn have to pay for the right to operate at the venue. The other bind is that anyone working a barby stand technically has to have a food handlers certificate, and we would need mobile fridges for storage etc.

Last years show was my first and I think this years was a better experience, although there wasn't a lot of larger gear actually operating inside. Was good to see the mills etc running outside.

I agree that there were probably fewer stands, but some of those who didn't come this year might be tempted back if they get good feedback about the show and venue from visitors and/or commercial aspects from other participating traders.

I don't know about these shows, but LOML is deeply into patchwork and on good first name terms with many PW suppliers. A 4m x 4m stand at a PW show can be up to $4,000 to rent the space for three or four days, plus the costs of staff, stock transport, accomodation if the trader is not locally based, and owning/renting stand materials. Many have been dropping out over recent years or limiting shows as they need to turn over $15K to get to break even on a show.

Yes, good points.

It would have to be negotiated.

The charity benefit would be the best lever, and anyway would count the most for me.

I can afford the stupid food prices asked, but the numbers of guys outside eating their own stuff suggests that many can't or won't.

As for Bunnings, my local one has a cafe inside as well as the fund-raising barbie outside on the w/e. So they're community minded, and it would surprise me if they insisted on food-handling quals for those working the barbie.

The issue of quals to handle food came up at a ski lodge that I visit; the local council got the flick pretty quick when the whole picture became evident.