[TheForge] Re: Demos

[Ralph]

At 03:37 PM 6/16/02 -0400, you wrote:
>I demo'd for a living for too many years.  Probably will again at some point.
>  There is a natural tendancy to want to make something quick, so the
>short-attention spanned visitor can see everything, beginning to end.  And
>that's fine.
>
>However, one of the more telling comments came from a family that happened
>upon me when I was making something "big"...a holdfast.  Now, you and I might
>not think that its big, but it IS bigger than a nail or hook, which is what
>these kids were used to seeing.  And it got their attention.  They got to see
>the metal move, they got to see the real work behind it, it made an
>impression.  They stayed for an hour, got involved in the process, asking me
>(intelligent) questions, and answering the ones I put to them.
>
>It was the only thing in the whole museum that captured their attention...big
>doings when you're competing against 3 tall ships.  Still have the copy of
>the letter the parents sent to the museum's director somewhere.
>
>So, maybe we should think outside of the "hook, leaf and nail" box we've put
>ourselves into, sometimes.
>

Good point Jerry. But you have to be able to read the crowd. I have had 
folks stay for an hour or more watching and asking. But I was able to see 
their interest and was able to tailor my spiel accordingly.....

Hmmm, another idea that can be sorta quick, make a friend Cross'  take a 
piece of 3/4 stock using a hot cut split it down about 2 inches. turn over 
90 degrees and split from the opposite end as the first cut. Be sure the 
cut goes past the first by about 1/2 inch. Then unfold and you have a nice 
cross .......   You can use smaller stock but I have a harder time with it.

Ralph



"Good is the enemy of Excellent. Talent is not necessary for Excellence.
Persistence is necessary for Excellence. And Persistence is a Decision."