Thread: Melbourne W.W.W. Show 15-17 October 2010

Originally Posted by Groggy

at the Lie-Nielsen stand and walked away with a very good deal!

You know Greg, no pics, it didn't happen!!!!!

Well the show is over and most vendors are probably just heading home after packup.

Forum Stand
We had a very good turnout from the volunteer side. Being booked up two weeks before the event was just great from my perspective. Having the forum meeting area through the stand was good. We got to say hello to lots of forum members. I hope the members using the stands thank EEE for providing the facility for us.

My personal thanks to all the volunteeers who helped out and those who kept coming back to the stand when they didn't have a shift and helping out again.

Attendance Numbers
They were down on last year, no doubt about it - but what does that mean? Last year was a huge year for the event with very large crowds. This year was still a good year, so saying "it was not as big as last year's" is a bit misleading, although true.

I noticed the timber guys said they weren't as busy this year, but I also noted there was a larger than normal amount of vendors. Look at the pics I posted yesterday - timber sellers everywhere!

Parking
I can tell you that the EEE staff actually got into a car and drove into the center to see what the parking was like for themselves. I hope the next shows do see the public given numbers to ring to complain; it is unfair that EEE wear complaints for services beyond their control.

Suggestions, criticisms etc.
Please use this thread to make constructive criticism on things you would like to see improved. It would help if you also highlight the things you DO like so they are not "lost" in an attempt to improve things. Unless EEE know what we like they cannot guarantee retaining them.

My List

Good

• Nice wide aisles
• A good variety of vendors and an equal variety of wares.
• Forum stand support (thanks!)
• Easy to find the organisers and get help if needed.
• Lots of timber!
• Some of the small stands were real gems (I must have driven Jim Davey nuts )
• Lots of Craft related stands
• Nearly everything wanted by a woodie was there.

Needs Improvement (Being deliberately picky, only the top two are serious issues.)

• Handicapped parking - SHOCKING! Fancy not letting a person with a handicap disembark near an entrance. Not on.
• Parking - not very good and it was not very good during previous shows either (including the 4WD show).
• Exit strategy. During the exit on Saturday the gate was partially closed making it a single lane exit. Cars wanting to go left had to wait for right exiting vehicles to get a break in the traffic, causing quite a backlog. Open the gate and allow two lanes to flow - one left and the other right. It ain't rocket surgery folks.
• I'd like to see some demos on plane usage and fettling - even one during the day would be good.
• Large machinery is getting scarcer. Felder, Gabbut and Carba-Tec were there but a few others have dropped out. Timbercon unfortunately had staff problems and did not turn up (they usually do).
• Food is costly, especially when you can walk out the door and cross the road to get a $3 lunch.
• One of the spruikers near the entrance was unnecessarily loud. You could hear him two aisles away and he was clearly annoying to the surrounding stands. Attract customers by all means but not at the expense of everyone else.

Originally Posted by Groggy

[*]One of the spruikers near the entrance was unnecessarily loud. You could hear him two aisles away and he was clearly annoying to the surrounding stands. Attract customers by all means but not at the expense of everyone else.[/LIST]

Yep, I was ready to shove his air horn where even his mother would not kiss him !

Overall I felt that this year was comparable to last year, it was disappointing to see only one vendor specializing in pen parts. I had many chats with Froggy and he was full of good information.

It was be nice to see the three ( I think it was three ) new demonstrators this year and hope they are invited back next year.

Food is always a "problem" at these events, Today I took the 3 minute walk up the street and got a feed that didnt contain ROCKET.

I was pleased to meet all of the forum members who assisted in manning the stand, and to all of those "lurkers" out there we met, dont be shy, we really dont bite, come say hello here and at the next show.

Keep up the good work Groggy, Liz and Co. I will be back again next year.

Kev

Actually, I wasn't referring to the Sawstop demos. But names here are really not necessary, I reckon just be fair to all and have the noise at a reasonable level.

Originally Posted by Groggy

Recognise anyone?

Yeah, the bloke in pic 5 looks familiar.

Well I had fun. We (F.I.L. & B.I.L.) got to the showgrounda at 9:30, so my only gripe with the parking was lining up behind a dozen or more cars waiting to get in the gate, only to get within three car lengths and find the only sign that said "exhibitors parking". Maybe the sign that said to enter via Langs Rd, could've also said Gate 4 Exhibitors, Gate 7 Public Entrance.

Got to meet some more forum people, got to drool over some expensive toys, got to ask some questions, and learned a couple of things. All-in-all, a good day out.

A HUGE thank-you to all involved that made it happen, and I'll definately be back next year, hopefully with a pocket full of cash!!

Another great day out. Did a couple of shifts at the Forum desk
which used up three hours and still left plenty of time to look around.

Met quite a few Forumites, fellow woodies from various clubs and
hopefully introduced some new people into the Forum site.

I did not allow myself to purchase any wood this time ... I must use
up some of my current stocks first (promise to myself). Nevertheless
Jim Carroll got a few bob out of me ... great service by the way.

I have included a couple of photos taken at the Forum stand
one shows (from left) "Allan at Wallan", "Mulgabill", "Issatree"
and "Kev Y". The other is "Groggy" (sitting), "Allan at Wallan"
in the centre and "John Saxton" on the right.

Allan

I turned up very early on Saturday, I was directed to the closest disabled parking spot to the venue. I wound the window down (raining) and told the fella it was a disabled parking spot.

His reply was. "we don't worry about them, they can catch one of the buses!".

He was quite annoyed when I parked the ute in a position that still kept the disabled parking spot free, but ended up taking two normal car spots as a result of the way things were.

Once I had parked and hopped out, he came back and told me to park in the disabled spot, as directed.

I then asked him, if he had an exemption that would allow me to break state law and park in a public car park in a disabled parking spot.

He walked away.

Meanwhile back to the show, I thought it was terrific.

Warm inside, spacious, some very good demonstrations, best of which was one on hand cut dovetails. He did it so effortlessly, I thought that this is how Woodwould, (or is it Wouldwood?) must work.

Blew my dosh on a Tormek T-7, spent all of Sunday sharpening every knife in the kitchen (priorities), then hit the garage and did quite a few of my chisels. Bleeding sharp, if not handled correctly.

Mick.

Mick, I am pleased to see you also picked up on one of Groggy's favorite gripes of the show( no disrespect meant groggy ), We heard about the disabled parking debacle on Saturday from another forumite.

Groggy is trying to get a few contact numbers of the showgrounds management so that people can make their complaints directly to the people who really need to know.

Originally Posted by Kev Y.

Yep, I was ready to shove his air horn where even his mother would not kiss him !

it was disappointing to see only one vendor specializing in pen parts.

Keep up the good work Groggy, Liz and Co. I will be back again next year.

Kev

Have to agree on the horn blower, scared the begeesus out of everyone in the area.

We had 50 varieties of pens and 60 colors of acrylics and 30 varieties of pen blanks, not enough for you Kev.

Yes a great thanks to Greg for the effort he put in over the weekend for the forum, all comments were that it all run very smoothly.

I think Rick & Liz have a long list of gripes to put to the Showground organisers. I would assume that most of those things will be resolved before next year.

Originally Posted by Jim Carroll

We had 50 varieties of pens and 60 colors of acrylics and 30 varieties of pen blanks, not enough for you Kev.

I didn't mean that Jim, Your stand was busy as usual, and when I did ask a question about some of your pen stuff, I received great service as well.

Talking to Addictive was an eye opener on some pen turning aspects, I thought it would have been an idea to sound out a few other pen people as well.

I have to say that having my first go at turning with Tim as a teacher was a great experience. I wonder how big a lathe I can fit in the garage?

Talking about the parking brings up thoughts of them trying to organise something at a Brewery.

I think the show organisers did a great job, and my Dad enjoyed his first show. There was always a Demo or something going on, and they were well posted so you could plan your shopping around them.

Originally Posted by Groggy

Well the show is over and most vendors are probably just heading home after packup.

Forum Stand
We had a very good turnout from the volunteer side. Being booked up two weeks before the event was just great from my perspective. Having the forum meeting area through the stand was good. We got to say hello to lots of forum members. I hope the members using the stands thank EEE for providing the facility for us.

My personal thanks to all the volunteeers who helped out and those who kept coming back to the stand when they didn't have a shift and helping out again.

Attendance Numbers
They were down on last year, no doubt about it - but what does that mean? Last year was a huge year for the event with very large crowds. This year was still a good year, so saying "it was not as big as last year's" is a bit misleading, although true.

I noticed the timber guys said they weren't as busy this year, but I also noted there was a larger than normal amount of vendors. Look at the pics I posted yesterday - timber sellers everywhere!

Parking
I can tell you that the EEE staff actually got into a car and drove into the center to see what the parking was like for themselves. I hope the next shows do see the public given numbers to ring to complain; it is unfair that EEE wear complaints for services beyond their control.

Suggestions, criticisms etc.
Please use this thread to make constructive criticism on things you would like to see improved. It would help if you also highlight the things you DO like so they are not "lost" in an attempt to improve things. Unless EEE know what we like they cannot guarantee retaining them.

My List

Good

• Nice wide aisles
• A good variety of vendors and an equal variety of wares.
• Forum stand support (thanks!)
• Easy to find the organisers and get help if needed.
• Lots of timber!
• Some of the small stands were real gems (I must have driven Jim Davey nuts )
• Lots of Craft related stands
• Nearly everything wanted by a woodie was there.

Needs Improvement (Being deliberately picky, only the top two are serious issues.)

• Handicapped parking - SHOCKING! Fancy not letting a person with a handicap disembark near an entrance. Not on.
• Parking - not very good and it was not very good during previous shows either (including the 4WD show).
• Exit strategy. During the exit on Saturday the gate was partially closed making it a single lane exit. Cars wanting to go left had to wait for right exiting vehicles to get a break in the traffic, causing quite a backlog. Open the gate and allow two lanes to flow - one left and the other right. It ain't rocket surgery folks.
• I'd like to see some demos on plane usage and fettling - even one during the day would be good.
• Large machinery is getting scarcer. Felder, Gabbut and Carba-Tec were there but a few others have dropped out. Timbercon unfortunately had staff problems and did not turn up (they usually do).
• Food is costly, especially when you can walk out the door and cross the road to get a $3 lunch.
• One of the spruikers near the entrance was unnecessarily loud. You could hear him two aisles away and he was clearly annoying to the surrounding stands. Attract customers by all means but not at the expense of everyone else.

I will most likely get flamed for these comments, for me the Wood Working Show is quickly loosing relevance.

• It is becoming more like a market not a show, and I can't see the point of going when I can go down the street to get what I want or get it on line, the internet is a real threat to shows like these. Unless the organisers can find a way to make them more relevant. This is no criticism on people like Liz who I am sure work hard to make the event a success.
• I have been going to these shows for longer than I can remember, I remember going to a show when it was at the Exhibition Building and my father who was a paint chemist having a talk with a young bloke from Bendigo, he had started a business making waxes my father purchased a friction polish from him it was made in a cup cake mould it worked well and I still have some, I also remember talking to a fellow making a new wood lathe this lathe was fabricated out of tube stock and had some interesting features, I now sell Rob motors for his Omega lathe.
  In those days there was innovation at the show I have not seen it at the show for quite a while.
• I also remember about 25 years ago taking my then young daughters along and they participated in a kids workshop, they still talk about it and to this day they both have an interest in tools and woodwork, one has taken up carving. That interest was started all those years at the show because some old fellow (most likely dead now) sat down with them and had the patience to spend some time to show them the joy of using tools.
• I also remember the showcased furniture built by craftsmen I was spellbound by the skill of these woodworkers and it encouraged me to try and have a go.

Over the past few years when I go to the show, I leave feeling that there was nothing really in it for me I have a shed full of tools more than I will ever use (what do you do with 45 different wood planes?) these days if I need something I just go to one of the specialist suppliers and get what I need.

The past Woodwork Shows have been responsible in the growth of these suppliers, through the showcase of their goods and services.

But lately the show has become a market place where the same old stuff has been on show over and over again there really has not been any thing new there for years. I doubt that a young bloke from Bendigo would be able to start up a business and sell his waxes in a cup cake mould any more, or a lathe maker would be able to exhibit his hand fabricated lathe both of which would lead to viable businesses.

The show needs to find relevance if it is to have a future, years ago it did, what it did then was for a different time, but it was instrumental in getting the craft to where it is today what worked then most likely will not work today. But I do know we need to involve the kids some way and have a showcase were excellence in woodwork (all forms) can be shown to give us something to aspire to, by doing this more people will become interested, the craft would not die and perhaps those in the market we now call the Woodwork Show will sell more products.

Having got that off my chest go ahead and flame me.

Phil

Phil, I'd be disappointed if you were flamed for having an opinion. In fact, I reckon you've highlighted some very good points there.