What could be better on a drizzly weekend than to work behind a brand-new high-end lathe, and teach scores of other woodturners new techniques and methods they may have never seen before? How about also watching other demonstrations and learning from some of the best names in woodturning in the same weekend!
It was my honor and pleasure to be one of the demonstrators at the 2011 Florida Woodturning Symposium this past weekend. With attendance well over 300, the show was a resounding success, and the amount of information and ideas shared would take a lifetime to master.
New friendships were made, and old friendships rekindled. Familiar faces brought recognition and smiles and new faces were put with names only known previously as email addresses.
I gave three classes during "Rotations" on Friday and Saturday, and the rest of the weekend was mine to enjoy, and learn.
My first and third demonstrations were on the same subject, with a completely different topic covered in the second rotation.
Being scheduled in the very first set rotations of the day has it's advantages and disadvantages. You get an alert, attentive, awake(!) group of students, but you also get an alert, attentive, awake(!) group of students. That means you have to be at your very best right form the very start. I was much more "comfortable" in my later sessions, once the ice and tensions were broken.
Note to self: Start off your demonstrations with some sort of ice-breaker to relax the students and yourself!
First and Third Demo was on my Stacked Ring (Bowl from Board) technique. Had over 60 people attend for demo #1 and demo #3, and about 50 for demo #2 with the middle session on "jigs, fixtures, and handy tips."
Here as just a few pictures, taken by my lovely wife, Brenda.
Got some pretty positive feedback, including a number of invites to clubs around Florida for demos and workshops, so all in all it was a pretty successful weekend.
More soon.....
No comments:
Post a Comment