Comments on: 2008 Woodworking Show- Underwhelming http://thewoodwhisperer.com/2008-woodworking-show-underwhelming/ Education and entertainment for the modern woodworker. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:19:02 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Keith Smith http://thewoodwhisperer.com/2008-woodworking-show-underwhelming/#comment-44052 Keith Smith Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:00:43 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/2008-woodworking-show-underwhelming/#comment-44052 Yes, I have to agree that the show needs to make many changes. I am a carpenter by trade I cannot tell you how disappointed it is go to the show and have someone pushing towels on you. I have pulled my teenage son out of school on Fridays for last 4 years so we could go to the shows together "just for the record we tied to go on the weekends but just to many people too really enjoy the show" but anyway we went last year at Pomona fair and the show was so bad that we left and ended up at the military show we really enjoy the time that we get to spend together as father and son at the wood show.We are praying that they get the show back to what it used to be! Yes, I have to agree that the show needs to make many changes. I am a carpenter by trade I cannot tell you how disappointed it is go to the show and have someone pushing towels on you. I have pulled my teenage son out of school on Fridays for last 4 years so we could go to the shows together “just for the record we tied to go on the weekends but just to many people too really enjoy the show” but anyway we went last year at Pomona fair and the show was so bad that we left and ended up at the military show we really enjoy the time that we get to spend together as father and son at the wood show.We are praying that they get the show back to what it used to be!

]]> By: Joe http://thewoodwhisperer.com/2008-woodworking-show-underwhelming/#comment-39407 Joe Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:29:56 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/2008-woodworking-show-underwhelming/#comment-39407 I'd like to know id anyone knows of any woodworking show coming to Upstate NY. Thanks! I’d like to know id anyone knows of any woodworking show coming to Upstate NY. Thanks!

]]> By: Marc Braun Nov 2008 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/2008-woodworking-show-underwhelming/#comment-37664 Marc Braun Nov 2008 Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:04:22 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/2008-woodworking-show-underwhelming/#comment-37664 After reading some of the comments about the wood working show, I figured I should put in my 2 cents. I also enjoyed going to the shows in the New England area. But I have not done so for a few years. Most of them take place in the late fall or winter so traveling is a consideration. I use to go weather permitting almost every year. If not just to see the demonstrations, I also wanted to see the new equipment. I did notice the change of attitude in the demonstrators during the last years I attended. I even heard a demonstrator say that he was there ,so people would buy, not just to demonstrate. The show I went to often just got smaller and smaller. One franchise that handled a lot of the major manufacturers, decided to not attend anymore, saying the cost were to high. The manufacturers decided not to attend after that. But perhaps the thing that bother me most, after paying to get in, paying for outside parking ( in the rain), I did not feel like they ( in general the show people or demonstrators) really wanted me or anyone there. It just seemed like the overly friendly attitude, with let me show you how this works or how you can do this or that ,was gone. You know with Gas prices high during those years it cost us going to the shows quite a bit of money too. Not just the vendors. I guess I am saying the atmosphere was all wrong. Other people I know stopped going for some of the same reasons. However , if at all possible I would like to go to a bigger show and see how different it is compared to the smaller shows. As far as pricing on items, I do not expect them to meet internet pricing. Discounted maybe, but not the lowest price ever. These are just my thoughts. m After reading some of the comments about the wood working show,
I figured I should put in my 2 cents.
I also enjoyed going to the shows in the New England area. But
I have not done so for a few years. Most of them take place in the
late fall or winter so traveling is a consideration. I use to go
weather permitting almost every year. If not just to see the demonstrations, I also wanted to see the new equipment.
I did notice the change of attitude in the demonstrators during
the last years I attended. I even heard a demonstrator say that
he was there ,so people would buy, not just to demonstrate.
The show I went to often just got smaller and smaller. One
franchise that handled a lot of the major manufacturers, decided
to not attend anymore, saying the cost were to high. The manufacturers decided not to attend after that.
But perhaps the thing that bother me most, after paying to get in,
paying for outside parking ( in the rain), I did not feel like they
( in general the show people or demonstrators) really wanted
me or anyone there. It just seemed like the overly
friendly attitude, with let me show you how this works or how you
can do this or that ,was gone. You know with Gas prices high
during those years it cost us going to the shows quite a bit of
money too. Not just the vendors.
I guess I am saying the atmosphere was all wrong. Other
people I know stopped going for some of the same reasons.
However , if at all possible I would like to go to a bigger show
and see how different it is compared to the smaller shows.
As far as pricing on items, I do not expect them to meet internet
pricing. Discounted maybe, but not the lowest price ever.
These are just my thoughts.
m

]]> By: Mike Bules http://thewoodwhisperer.com/2008-woodworking-show-underwhelming/#comment-34838 Mike Bules Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:39:25 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/2008-woodworking-show-underwhelming/#comment-34838 Marc & Joe I have gone to the show in Portland for (I think) ten years or so. It has always been something I looked forward to. In fact, it became sort of a tradition that I would go....find wayyyyy to many cool things and spend wayyyyy to much money. Just so I could justify it to my wife, I would say "consider it my Christmas presents. This worked fine until she started trying to confiscate the stuff and hold it till Christmas. I don`t knnow about the rest of you, but I got that stuff cause I NEEDED that stuff, and I needed it RIGHT NOW! When I first started going, everything I saw seemed like something I just HAD TO HAVE. Then,in later years I started realizing how much I could learn from the seminars and I would plan My whole weekend around catching them all. It seemed like I had lost an old friend when, each of the last few years, the show got smaller and smaller and the seminars fewer and more repetitious. I had pretty much decided not to go this year. It is encouraging to hear that something may change to try to make the show what it once was. I don`t agree that times have changed and everyone just uses the internet now. I myself rarely buy something I cannot hold in my hands or see it operate. I really hope the show will be improved and, hearing that there is even a possibilty of it, I will go one more time this year. If it isn`t any better than the last few years then I am gonna give up on it. But as much as I used to enjoy it, I don`t want to give up on it just yet. Marc & Joe
I have gone to the show in Portland for (I think) ten years or so. It has always been something I looked forward to. In fact, it became sort of a tradition that I would go….find wayyyyy to many cool things and spend wayyyyy to much money. Just so I could justify it to my wife, I would say “consider it my Christmas presents. This worked fine until she started trying to confiscate the stuff and hold it till Christmas. I don`t knnow about the rest of you, but I got that stuff cause I NEEDED that stuff, and I needed it RIGHT NOW!
When I first started going, everything I saw seemed like something I just HAD TO HAVE. Then,in later years I started realizing how much I could learn from the seminars and I would plan My whole weekend around catching them all. It seemed like I had lost an old friend when, each of the last few years, the show got smaller and smaller and the seminars fewer and more repetitious.
I had pretty much decided not to go this year. It is encouraging to hear that something may change to try to make the show what it once was. I don`t agree that times have changed and everyone just uses the internet now. I myself rarely buy something I cannot hold in my hands or see it operate. I really hope the show will be improved and, hearing that there is even a possibilty of it, I will go one more time this year. If it isn`t any better than the last few years then I am gonna give up on it. But as much as I used to enjoy it, I don`t want to give up on it just yet.

]]> By: Joe Strong http://thewoodwhisperer.com/2008-woodworking-show-underwhelming/#comment-33985 Joe Strong Fri, 03 Oct 2008 03:40:07 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/2008-woodworking-show-underwhelming/#comment-33985 Marc Just for the record I took over the shows 2 weeks before they started. I was a vendor for 20 years and hated to see the shows die. My ability to effect the first few shows was limited and, just for the record, the rent in Phoenix for the vendors was free to entice more participation - so I don't think the rent was too high in this case. This year we have more education, more deals, more free stuff - just for coming to the show. Education areas like our hands-on Hand Tool Rodeo and the Skills Express: Train Building Seminars are free - all included with a $9 entry ticket. I do not believe in paying for seminars.WOOD MAG is back with Jim Heavey for "From the Pages of Wood Magazine." He is sponsored this year by Delta Porter Cable. Both companies were not in the Phoenix show last year. The show in your area this year is in Tucson, because of the Cardinals home game on the same weekend. We are also trying to put together a golf tournament like a pro am(pro woodworker am woodworker) for that show are you interested. Believe me when I tell you I will do all I can to bring as much talent and as many interesting woodworking tools at the best prices possible to your show for the 2008/2009 show season. We look forward to seeing you on the show floor! Marc

Just for the record I took over the shows 2 weeks before they started. I was a vendor for 20 years and hated to see the shows die. My ability to effect the first few shows was limited and, just for the record, the rent in Phoenix for the vendors was free to entice more participation – so I don’t think the rent was too high in this case.
This year we have more education, more deals, more free stuff -
just for coming to the show. Education areas like our hands-on Hand Tool Rodeo and the Skills Express: Train Building Seminars are free – all included with a $9 entry ticket. I do not believe in paying for seminars.WOOD MAG is back with Jim Heavey for “From the Pages of Wood Magazine.” He is sponsored this year by Delta Porter Cable. Both companies were not in the Phoenix show last year. The show in your area this year is in Tucson, because of the Cardinals home game on the same weekend. We are also trying to put together a golf tournament like a pro am(pro woodworker am woodworker) for that show are you interested.
Believe me when I tell you I will do all I can to bring as much talent
and as many interesting woodworking tools at the best prices possible to your show for the 2008/2009 show season. We look forward to seeing you on the show floor!

]]> By: Steve http://thewoodwhisperer.com/2008-woodworking-show-underwhelming/#comment-11760 Steve Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:18:05 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/2008-woodworking-show-underwhelming/#comment-11760 Marc- I attended on Friday - in the downpour! First of all, the facility was terrible! A leaky "tent" with the "outhouse" two hundred feet away across the asphalt lake! And the poor folks at the Forrest booth up to their ankles in water, while some guy sloshed around them with a floor squeegy. I'd never been to Westworld before, but I think it's better left to the horse shows. Before I went, I checked the woodworkingshows.com website for more info. There was nothing indicating the admission price. Just a two dollar off coupon. The Sommerfeld mini-seminars were OK, but it gripes me that we have to pay to go see product "commercials"! I wouldn't mind it if there were some worthwhile classes, even if we have to pay extra for them. But, paying money just to go shopping for 20 minutes? Not my idea of a worthwhile experience. And did you try the $3 bottled water? Marc-
I attended on Friday – in the downpour! First of all, the facility was terrible! A leaky “tent” with the “outhouse” two hundred feet away across the asphalt lake! And the poor folks at the Forrest booth up to their ankles in water, while some guy sloshed around them with a floor squeegy. I’d never been to Westworld before, but I think it’s better left to the horse shows.
Before I went, I checked the woodworkingshows.com website for more info. There was nothing indicating the admission price. Just a two dollar off coupon. The Sommerfeld mini-seminars were OK, but it gripes me that we have to pay to go see product “commercials”! I wouldn’t mind it if there were some worthwhile classes, even if we have to pay extra for them. But, paying money just to go shopping for 20 minutes? Not my idea of a worthwhile experience. And did you try the $3 bottled water?

]]> By: Vic http://thewoodwhisperer.com/2008-woodworking-show-underwhelming/#comment-11594 Vic Wed, 05 Dec 2007 05:41:48 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/2008-woodworking-show-underwhelming/#comment-11594 Marc....First of all, I doubt the lighting was halogen..It was probably Metal Halide...not great light. A lot of my lighting upgrades are from the MH to T5 or T8 fixtures. As to the nature of LIVE. It's going to need reinvention if it is to continue. With the internet, podcasts, ease of "live" demos, and availability of instructional DVDs, the live shows have to start offering something you can't get at the "Big Box Store" that is the internet. I'm not sure what that is, but if not rethought, they face the same demise as the local retailer to Home Depot or Walmart. The world is moving on and fortunately you have been positioning yourself well for the changing environment. I hate to see my local feed store, or Washington or Ace Hardware store close. Some have managed to create a value added experience (namely service) and stay afloat but, for how long:( I still buy local whenever I can justify it financially. But, a lot of the time it comes down to price and I have to go with the big box store or the internet. Sorry for the downer Marc….First of all, I doubt the lighting was halogen..It was probably Metal Halide…not great light. A lot of my lighting upgrades are from the MH to T5 or T8 fixtures. As to the nature of LIVE. It’s going to need reinvention if it is to continue. With the internet, podcasts, ease of “live” demos, and availability of instructional DVDs, the live shows have to start offering something you can’t get at the “Big Box Store” that is the internet. I’m not sure what that is, but if not rethought, they face the same demise as the local retailer to Home Depot or Walmart. The world is moving on and fortunately you have been positioning yourself well for the changing environment.

I hate to see my local feed store, or Washington or Ace Hardware store close. Some have managed to create a value added experience (namely service) and stay afloat but, for how long:( I still buy local whenever I can justify it financially. But, a lot of the time it comes down to price and I have to go with the big box store or the internet.

Sorry for the downer

]]> By: Mike http://thewoodwhisperer.com/2008-woodworking-show-underwhelming/#comment-11589 Mike Wed, 05 Dec 2007 03:31:29 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/2008-woodworking-show-underwhelming/#comment-11589 Interesting .... http://www.woodworksevents.com/ I had never heard of this one till I picked it up on Andy's FWW blog... http://blogs.taunton.com/n/blogs/blog.aspx?webtag=fw-andyrae&entry=4 Interesting ….
http://www.woodworksevents.com/

I had never heard of this one till I picked it up on Andy’s FWW blog…
http://blogs.taunton.com/n/blo.....mp;entry=4

]]> By: joey http://thewoodwhisperer.com/2008-woodworking-show-underwhelming/#comment-11580 joey Tue, 04 Dec 2007 18:40:54 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/2008-woodworking-show-underwhelming/#comment-11580 Maybe it is time to move past the trade shows, and tool porn. And come on, you have to drive an hour in Phoenix to get anywhere, you might have to travel a bit for an improved experience. What show wouldn’t be better in Vegas? Maybe it is time to move past the trade shows, and tool porn.
And come on, you have to drive an hour in Phoenix to get anywhere, you might have to travel a bit for an improved experience. What show wouldn’t be better in Vegas?

]]> By: Charlie http://thewoodwhisperer.com/2008-woodworking-show-underwhelming/#comment-11562 Charlie Tue, 04 Dec 2007 02:31:19 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/2008-woodworking-show-underwhelming/#comment-11562 Hi Marc, I totally agree w/ you. The show is a great disappointment. I remember the shows in the Philadelphia area when they turned a huge bowl big enough for the fellow to stand inside to turn it. Hardly any vendors. The only high light was talking to Mr. Keller. I promptly ordered a dovetail jig from him. I emailed the owners of the show and he is very passionate about making the show a success but it sounds like with the large sponsors missing - the old owners, that vendors are hard to come by. There is a Mark Adams woodworking show coming to New Jersey in February, I am hoping that will be better. Keep up the great work. Hi Marc, I totally agree w/ you. The show is a great disappointment. I remember the shows in the Philadelphia area when they turned a huge bowl big enough for the fellow to stand inside to turn it. Hardly any vendors. The only high light was talking to Mr. Keller. I promptly ordered a dovetail jig from him.
I emailed the owners of the show and he is very passionate about making the show a success but it sounds like with the large sponsors missing – the old owners, that vendors are hard to come by. There is a Mark Adams woodworking show coming to New Jersey in February, I am hoping that will be better.
Keep up the great work.

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