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Tips for Demonstrating
Or, more precisely...
Tips for Woodturning Demonstrations
Andrew Hilton
In this article you'll find some tips for demonstrators of
woodturning "out in the field" so to speak. I don't mean
demonstrating at club meetings to other woodturners. I mean public
demonstrations at malls, craft shows, fairs, businesses, out in the street and
galleries. Mainly, this is a place where I, personally, can come to in
order to remind myself of what are best practices and what I've learned either
by my own experience or by listening (yes, actually listening kids!) to the
great woodturning demonstrators that have come before me.
1) Be Prepared
Bring everything you need and more. If you're planning to do two
demonstrations, bring enough for four of them. If you're planning to
make spheres, bring the equipment and materials to make goblets too because
your sphere jam chuck may break or something else may go wrong where you
can't make spheres. Always have a backup project and materials.
2) Don't bring too much stuff
This often happens when you're new to demonstrating. You keep
bringing more and more things "just in case" (see #1 above) and
end up having 3 boxes full of wood and all of the chucks, centers, and tools
you own. By the time you get everything to your demonstration space,
you're too tired to do anything! Not to mention that it all just gets
in the way.
3) Practice what you are going to do
Practice your "routine" down to the last detail. Spontaneity
in woodturning is a basic right and privilege that not many
woodworking related hobbies/professions have. But, this is a
demonstration. They're not going to understand why you're sitting
there staring at that piece of mesquite because there was a "design
change (opportunity)" when you accidentally rolled that skew the wrong
way and you have a huge chunk missing out of that weedpot neck now. Or
maybe you accidentally got your only spindle gouge caught in the spur drive
and tore it up beyond fixing at the demonstration. You better know how
to go on with your demonstration project with another tool. Don't get
caught doing something new at a demonstration. You're not there to learn
.... THEY are. Know what you're doing and do it that way.
4) Slow Down
This is something else that new demonstrators and, especially, younger
turners do. Unless your audience is just a bunch of woodturners that
you are wanting to impress, slow down everything. That means the lathe
speed, your actions, and how you prepare or mount the wood. People
want to see the process as much as they want to see the final product.
That's why you're there. Otherwise, you might as well just have a
display of your woodturnings on display. Slow down, talk to the people
and explain the process. You'll find that it's more enjoyable to turn
this way as well. It also forces you to think about what you're doing
and presenting it to the viewers in the best way possible.
5) Where are your viewers?
We often get into the habit of sanding, especially, in all sorts of
positions (or maybe it's just me?). On some projects, mainly smaller
ones, I like to sand on the opposite side of the lathe from me. But,
this is where the viewers are going to be. They can't see much going
on with your hands in the way. Now, I'm not saying that sanding is the
most interesting part of woodturning but the thought is still the
same. Know where your viewers are and play to them. Don't get in
their way of seeing what you are doing. If you're going to be
mounting a piece of wood on a scroll chuck or on a faceplate, do it in front
of them and not back behind the lathe where nobody can see. Again,
they want to see the process. If you turn away from them too much,
they'll loose interest and walk away sooner. Don't give them the
opportunity. Engage them with everything you do.
6) School is NOT in session.
I've split this into two sections and is a big pet peeve of mine....
A) Viewers
This often happens with other artists or demonstrators at a crafts
fair, for example, but it also happens with just ordinary passersby
too. They are so interested (or just bored) in what you are doing
that they will constantly bug you about what you are doing and how you
are doing it. You just know that they are wanting to step behind
there with you and have you give them lessons in woodturning!
There's a fine line between demonstrating, educating, explaining what
you are doing and it turning into a turning class. Many times, I
am just as much to blame because of my desire and passion about
turning. But resist the temptation and their attempts to turn it
into that class. It does a disservice to the other viewers and to
that person as well. You can't effectively do both at the same
time. Be ready to offer your turning education services to that
person or direct them to a local woodturning club or other place where
classes are offered. They'll appreciate it and you can get back to
demonstrating.
B) Other Turners
I've seen this happen when a woodturning club does a public
demonstration before. What will happen is that either a club
member will be taking a break from turning or just be there "for
support". He'll not retire to the background though. Oh,
no! He's wanting to show you, the person turning now, and
the viewers (which is more likely his intent) that he can teach it to a
slob like you now. It's the ones that don't want to actually help
out and turn for awhile themselves that really bug me. But,
oohhhhh, they can certainly stand there and teach you how it's done!
<grin> Don't be one of these guys. It's great to have
support from the other turners either morally or by helping you sharpen
your tools or getting things ready for you but don't give a lesson to
the guy turning during a demonstration. It's not the time or the
place for it. If you're going to turn ... turn. If not, then
get out of the way.
7) This isn't your club meeting.
This goes very much along the same lines as #6B above. Moral
support from other turners, especially your club members, is great.
But don't just hang around to be hanging around at a demonstration
event. This isn't your club meeting. This is for the public at
large to showcase what woodturning is all about and to advertise your
club. Having half of your club standing in front of the lathe(s)
blocking the public view of it isn't good at all. Get out of the
way! If there's nobody viewing the demonstration, THEN maybe have a
person or two stand out there in order to get people to stop and watch (the
rubbernecking syndrome I guess). At that point, the club members should fade
back and get out of the way. If you're scheduled to be demonstrating,
show up a little early just in case you're needed earlier than
scheduled and to get things ready but don't hang around all day long.
8) DON'T show me the money!
This one depends very heavily on where you are and the reason you are
there demonstrating. For club demonstrations at local businesses such
as malls, home centers, trade shows, symposia and many other events such as
some fairs, you and your club is there as a non-profit organization most of
the time. Don't try selling things. Sure, it can be tempting
when you have a person drooling over your latest woodturning but don't give
in to that urge. You'll only risk hurting the feelings of your fellow
turners or making your host (the fair, mall, business, etc.) mad! This
isn't to say you can't offer to meet those potential buyers after the event
or give them your contact information so that they can buy on your own
time. Remember, this is a time to "sell" the CLUB or
organization and not yourself or your woodturnings. Of course, with
some club events, selling is perfectly acceptable and encouraged. If
in doubt, check with the organizer from your club AND the contact
person of where you are demonstrating.
9) Freebies make the world go around
You're sure to draw a crowd ... and a happy one at that ... if you give
stuff away. I'm not talking, necessarily, about a raffle or give-away
item that people sign up for and you draw for it later (although those are
good ideas if you can legally do that). I'm talking about making
things before the spectators' very eyes that you can then give to
them. Kids love it and so do the big kids (ie
"Adults")! You'll get people lined up watching you and
they'll go away with a little gift that was handmade and done right before
them. It amazes people! So, what to make? Something quick
and easy is usually best. Things like spinning tops (with various
colors are favorites), whistles, snowmen, spurtles, garden dibbles, Bic
pen-insert pens, and basic boxes. There's all kinds of things you can
make within 15 minutes or less that people will really like. As with
#1 above .... bring plenty of wood with you for these projects. You'll
run out much quicker than you think!
10) Make the Most of Your Host
Assuming that you want to be invited back to the event where you are
demonstrating (fair, store, etc.), don't make the host of it mad.
Follow their rules. Ask and keep asking them (without being a pest) if
everything is alright and if there is anything that you or your woodturning
group can do to make things better. Your host wants to make your
demonstration as much of a success as you do. They have a stake in how it
goes too. Give them feedback on what you liked or disliked in the
space, parking, people traffic or anything else that you can think of.
Be sure that they'll do the same.
11) Clean Up After Yourself
If you're not the only demonstrator at an event, you should clean up when
you're done. This means any shavings on or around the bed, tailstock,
toolrest and other places where it accumulates. Many times you can
simply knock it off to the floor. You may have to sweep it over to the
side or under the lathe so it's not a hazard though. We're not talking
about having it spotless either. It's just common courtesy to give the
next demonstrator a clean place so they can move things around and start
"fresh". But dust and shavings aren't the only things you
should put in order either. Put the speed down to the lowest level
(belt/pulley or knob for variable speed) so the next person doesn't get a
surprise (and maybe an accident!) with too high of speed to start.
Take any chucks, centers or steadyrests away if you aren't absolutely sure
that the next demonstrator is going to use it after you. Don't take
any of their time away from them by making them deconstruct what you've done
to the lathe.
12) Make Some Noise
We're not talking about yelling or throwing your lathe and tools to the
ground. Nor are we talking about having a party of rowdy turners gathered
around a burl ebony tree either. If you want attention ... to draw a
crowd from the surrounding area, start roughing out a square spindle of some
solid hardwood. We all know that sound, right? Sounds sort of
like a machine gun going off in the foxhole next to you? BBBzzzzzz
BBBzzzzzzzzz BBBzzzzzzzzzzzzz as you knock off those
corners. It may be music to our own turners' ears but it's also a
fantastic signal to anyone in a 10 booth circle around you that something
really interesting ... or at least mildly dangerous and in need of immediate
attention ... is going on in your booth. You'll draw a crowd very
quickly as people wonder what all of that noise is about. So,
periodically, mount a piece of hard square stock in the lathe and make a
little noise. It's a great way to announce your groups presence
without having to resort to things like yelling "Hey! Want to
sample some free cheese / perfume / moisturizer / honey sticks / shavings
?"
More coming........
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