Thread: Working With Wood Shows

I go because its a fairly decent day out and I get to see some new things. I take the opportunity to have a look at the Pollyanna (the wooden ship opp the Melb location), and get my food and drink down by Southbank.

Things I like:
- to see pretty much any of the tools I'm thinking of buying at the one place (if one place won't have it the next stall will),
- to check out a few different species of timber against each other for comparison and seeing if different grain combinations work,
- I think the demo's are worth the entry price, and usually plan my wandering aimlessly about to fit around the demo's I want to see,
- its a good opportunity to check out the products of suppliers that I might not have come across before.

Having the ww forum hat means that I can get to say g'day to a few other retrobates and the shows a good place to meet.

If there are any more junk 'spruikers' selling stuff at future shows I will probably consider the show to be on par with the Royal Show sideshow alley. I'm not interested in that and if the organisers can not sort out their business case to generate other revenue raisers.... I'll probably start planning different activities.

I believe that Forestry (private and state) should be setting up a stall at the shows and using the opportunity to communicate with the public about the forest management practices.

Had my first visit to the Melb WWS last year. Spent all day Friday there, and was in pig heaven. Was also there 1/2 Saturday/Sunday, but was demonstrating on the Marquetry Society's stand, but snuck off as much as I could.

Spent more than I intended, but got excellent value for the dough. Looked at everthing I could find, and learned heaps. Above all, loved meeting, and talking to lots of different people, the majority of whom were willing to share their time with me, even though they weren't going to get a sale out of it. Woodies are just the best!!!

I love the hands on (the feel of the Lie Neilsen Planes, the feel of Terry Gordons spokeshaves), the demonstrations (both woodworking and tool flogging). But I agree with all regarding the non woodwork related gizmos. They should sod off and keep it strictly a woodworking and tool-fest. This years Sydney WWW show saw me leave with some pretty green and grey boxes, and a Colen Clenton cutting gauge - all of which have been a delight to use (No pre-association to either supplier - for the record).

well...i only got into turning at the end of last yr so i missed out on the sydney show for last yr. this yr i didn't go because i couldn't get down there. i was actually thinking of asking the IA teachers to organise an excursion for next yr.

one thing i think is wrong ( even tho i've never been to one ) is advertisement. i live 2 hrs away from the closest one and if it wasn't for the forum, i would never had known it was on.

they sound good though and i will definately try to get there next yr. only reason i didn't go this yr is because of sporting commitments and no transport to get there.

cheers

ps. i went to the newcastle expo and will continue to every yr.
for many reasons including: ubeaut products, forumites, ct, mik, demo's, timber, displayed work, wood turning stores, and several other places.
things i didn't like were prices for food and drink. cant complain about other stores ( non ww related) because it was also a craft expo.

bye

I always wear sneakers or runners at most exhibitions or shows just to avoid the shoe cleaning crews.

Love to go but with work and family commitments and living in the bush I find it hard to get my huge agenda into my very tight schedule.

I try and get to as many as possible, this year I managed to sneak into the Sydney one for a few hours but wasn't able to buy anything as I had to catch a plane home. I was hopeing to get to the Melbourne show this year as well but that plan is looking shaky (hope springs eternal).

As for why I go, simple - all that information in one place.

why I wouldn't go, a decrease in quality exhibits.

I don't expect bargains (I'll take them if I can), but it is a chance to compare products from different ditributors. And coming from SA I don't often get to see many different types of timber in one location.

Go to check and compare products. Purchase items not available locally (if their price is favourable).

Travel by bus, but even the parking around Jeffs Shed is getting worse for the buses.

If the venue has shrunk any further (floor space & exhibitors) the food situation worse and the overcrowding worse; it will be my last attendance.

It has been a good chance to see interstate shop products in the flesh; but with the restricted space and overcrowding as well as poor venue location why bother.

It would seem that the promoters are only interested in the almighty dollar and see nothing wrong with bleeding both exhibitor and visitor for as much as possible.

For the outlandish costs for the exhibitors some advertising and a couple of decent sales a year would possibly be a better way to go.

Ken

Originally Posted by rufflyrustic

Why do I go?

To stock up on UBeaut supplies
To check out any newly-released tools and equipment, new (to me) inventions and ideas
To stock up on any other supplies needed, check out the supplier and goods before purchasing online from them
To find new suppliers
To pick up some interesting pieces of timber
To support the woodturning/worker clubs by buying something from their stands
To meet & catch up with fellow woodworkers
To keep up to date with what's around, what's happenening, get new catalogues and training brochures
To get new ideas
To pick up any great specials I just can't be without


Why wouldn't I go

Too sick to drive
Act of God


What I'd like to see more of?
Displays of woodwork
More interesting & rare pieces of timber
Artists in Action - eg someone building something throughout the whole weekend

Cheers & Thanks for the chance to give some feedback.

Wendy

ditto

I go every year for 2 days, just so I can meet more friends from the forum.

I have lost interest in the last 5 years because when you go their is nothing realy new to see (already seen it at carbi-tec - wwwhouse, mags etc) Their are no realy good demos to see, and most importantly, no furniture on display (this year is different) so i hope its worth while.

The three good things are - Nice and close to the train so its a quick easy walk (some have said its a long way from spencer st (catch the tram then) and a long walk up the corridore, they should look at getting off their bum and get a bit fitter ) Also great to catch up with fellow woodies, and best of all, its just over the road from the Casino

I have been to the last two in Sydney.

I enjoy a day out by myself, and love looking at all the tools and gizmos.

I especially like the demos and seminars, but don't usually spend more than about $50 - I prefer to research my major purchases and buy at my leisure.

Looking forward to next year.

John

I have been to a couple (Sydney) and have spent an average of a couple of hundred at each. I am more of an impulse buyer for the smaller handy type items. Get very dissapointed when your ready to hand over the cash and get told that "Out of stock can send it to you in 3 - 4 weeks" would then walk out empty handed.

Love walking around and comparing different and new hand tools. But this can be a bit reputitous as I can just walk in to the local store and see the same items for free.

Dissapointed that the idea a getting a better than normal deal is out the window, getting hard to justify a $10 discount when it cost about $50 to get in the front door (entry, transport, parking).

In the early days would always have people fighting to get a seat in the car now I travel alone.

Bloody 'ell. Nearly 100 post and less than one hands worth from the West. We'll never get the national show at this rate!!!!!!!!

I was beginning to lose interest till we started having the members gathering & meeting.... hats... and so forth.

Last year I went three days running and had a great time... spent more than I should.... but saw what others were buying & thats almos as good as buying it myself

Its good for buying stuff from southern suppliers that you don't otherwise see and withouit the freight.


bad stuff
I heard some people were stung for freight on stuff that wasn't on hand..... what a load of BS why would andbody want to buy at the wood show and pay freight.:mad:

The various gadget men can be a pain in the kneck.....I don't mind a hard sell gadget man (someone has to seperate fools from their money) but completely unrelated stuff is stupid......... it deprives ligitimate woodwork sellers of market because some of the spend is consumed by ..."non core" purchases.
If I was an exhibitor I would be about these guys being there because they'd be taking money out of my till.

:eek: :eek:
Dummy spit warning.
please put on spatter protection.

:mad: The worst.:mad:
Hopeless, pitifull, good money wasted and a total disapointment.
The staging and presentation of the lectures and demonstrations. From start to finish the whole thing is discusting an insult to the skill of the demonstrator/lecturer.

Firstly the public address sound is atricious, inadequate, distorted, on the verge of feedback, not loud enough, not clear in the least, cheap, nasty and total and utter CRAP.

the presentation of the lecture area would not pass muster at a local church fete. The ladies auxiluary would run you out of town. No jam & scones for you.

Visability is poor, seating is far too limited.
the whole thing is flat, neither the presenter nor the audience being elivated, hopeless

the use of video if at all is crude, ugly and of limited effectiveness.

the Visual presentation of the area is dirty and uggly..... I've no idea waht the sponsors think.

This is probaly the biggest woodworking event in the country.
We have some of the best craftsmen, presenters and educators in the country being paid to present and they are presented in a pig pen.

come on this is well into the 21st century.
Even the smallest churches, schools and offices have decent AV facilities.

If only 1 decent lecture theatre was set up, probaly multiple stage, with a decent amount of seating proper staging, even half decent sound, proper visual aids some decent set dressing, and properly merchandised for the sponsor/s.
I would have it run almost continuously, probably with a compare with proper sponsor integration... thats where you would get the money.

I would even go further and say have the thing properly crewed and stage managed.
I might think about stopping to listen to what is being said.
As it is soo many people just can't be bothered and keep walking.

the only bloke that come out of the demo thing looking half good is Big Stan & thats only because he has a mostly visual presentation and he has a personality as big as the great out doors. Give the man a decent PA system and a small grand stand & he would fill it over and over.

I speak of what I have seen at the brisbane show.
None of this is hard none of this is expensive (if done right).

Can I do better..... HELL YEAH..... if approched I would consider contracting to do it..... ( for a suitable fee)

Dummy spit ends.
you may remove spatter protection

cheers