[TheForge] Demo's

Sun Jun 16 14:22:02 2002

Ralph,

I'd love to see your demo set up pictures.  Can you send them to me too, 
or better yet post them on photoaccess.

Bill Clemens
Hound and Hare Forge
New Columbia, Pa

Ralph Sproul wrote:

>        John,  It is all in presentation and figuring how to keep people
>interested.  We found when we did our first few demos we had picture books
>that were to large and one person hogged the book for what seemed forever
>and then asked how much was and walked off in disgust......while 100 other
>potential customers breezed past.  Our solution to this was "quickfolios" of
>what we consider to be 12 of our best pictures.
>        During these same initial demos we found ourselves being asked the
>myriad of questions over and over.........what is wrought iron?, what kind
>of coal do you use?, so what is so special about what your doing?, what is
>this thing?, etc, etc.  In answer to this we found public demos to be easier
>when we did some proper signage and samples.  To have a sample board of
>wrought iron, mild steel, tool steel, cast iron, solves alot of question
>time being spent on common answers.  The story board of how one goes thru
>the original stock to complete a thumb latch or a leaf is another good
>example to show people a series of what happens to a piece your working
>without you actually having to go thru the work while they have to watch.
>Many people inquire about railings so we made sample of rail caps with all
>the different vairations of what can happen to a piece of 1/2" square
>stock.........this makes people go..........WOW - that's all from the same
>kind of stock !?
>        In answer to your main question (as we found after a couple demos
>there were many areas to improve upon),  we made small fast items like the
>hooks you hate to hear about - but it's a fast dollar and everyone wants
>them.  Other items we've made have been little rings from horseshoe nails,
>or a hand made nail for those interested in rebuilding their
>homes.........and tell them imagine how long it takes to make approximately
>5-7,000 to put a house together in the old days (sort of puts perspective on
>things).  Other items we've done are key rings of different shapes like a
>fish from 1/4 x 3/4 flat bar, or a small leaf ring, or a tree shape if it's
>a harvest festival or something on that order......pumkins work too for a
>fall festival.  Key rings are fast and folks like them when they see them
>made.
>       On another improvement was using a cordless drill to drill all the
>holes in the key chains............. which then evolved into a hand crank
>drill press attached to the forge to solve that problem.  Your stock is
>pulled out on the top for the key ring or chain - so there really isn't much
>to hot punch when your done in small scale like that and like you say folks
>get bored quick.  People seem to appreciate hand work with a hand drill
>press, which fits right in with the hand crank blower ............wicked old
>timey.   :-)
>        Our demos have evolved into about 12 of us now doing them in groups
>with tables and burlap on the display tables as a back drop cover, another
>table is full of everyone's "quickfolios", and then samples of work for
>people to oogle over like dragons, hinges, latches, pot racks, towel racks,
>large hooks and hangers, etc.   Now we do things a bit more organized and
>have two guys working from the forge, a person or two explaining what we are
>doing, and also refering people to the "quickfolios" and contact information
>inside of them for those folks interested in having work done.  We find it
>easier to concentrate on working from the forge OR talking to the crowd  -
>and taking turns on each instead of doing it all yourself.  It's a good
>excuse to get together and have fun too - makes a demo a much more pleasant
>and relaxed event.
>        With 6-12 people it also allows a "feature demonstration" which is
>something two people have worked out in advance and have a finished piece on
>the table with all the parts and jigs/or tools - that can be shown to
>interested folks.  So far we've done a pair of andirons, a boot scraper, and
>a candelabra on our past three demos that we've done in a group.  This
>really seems to draw a crowd to have a finished piece that they would like
>to have in their house, see the parts you are working on as well as how long
>just one part takes, and then see you going thru the motions of making that
>complete part if they are so inclined.  I wouldn't recommend this as a one
>man show as folks will walk off yawning.
>        We have also developed a demo trailer and gear so we can arrive on
>site, and be up and running with all the tables, covers, rope stancheons,
>samples, story boards, quickfolios in place in no time at all.  The forge,
>vice drill, anvil, stands, etc are all modular and fit together so there is
>about a 20-30 minute set up and take down.
>        I'll send you a picture to show you our set up, trailer, and samples
>of what we do.  This is after seven public demos over four years that this
>has been perfected, so it is not something I threw together in a couple
>days.
>        I'm working on a copper arch to hang signs, pot racks, candelabras,
>etc. from to act as a back drop to our demo station when we don't have a
>building, wall, fence or other appropriate backing for the demo on that
>particular site.
>        And above all have some shade so you can see the true colors from
>the fire.......nothing like burning up all your parts in the sunlight to
>really impress some folks!!
>
>Ralph
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "John Chobrda" <[email protected]>
>To: "The forge" <[email protected]>
>Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2002 10:20 AM
>Subject: [TheForge] Demo's
>
>
>>    I would like to ask a question about doing demonstrations for the
>>general public. For those of you who have done this, what do you find to
>>be the best things to make to give people an idea of what we do. I was
>>at a event yesterday and found myself at a loss as to what to do, that
>>could be done quickly, and even given to some of the kids in the
>>audience as a reminder of their experience. I noticed that people don't
>>stay very long, so I'm trying to think of something that would be quick,
>>and not to involved, something besides a hook please. I'm not too much
>>of an original thinker, but I can take an idea and run with it.
>>Thanks in advance
>>John C.
>>
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>>password:  anvil
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>>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
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>
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>

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