[TheForge] Re: Demos

[Jeff Harding]

Question from the audience... at this point that's what I am in
blacksmithing).  Why not have some leaves, hooks and nails going while
heating a large piece?  Other than the obviously needed break for your
hammer arm.  Hmmm, maybe you should demo with an "apprentice" at hand.

   Anyone born in the last 35 years thinks everything takes two
seconds to do, "mom always had it ready in two seconds", and the TV
does attention span stuff of  1/10's of seconds.


   Just some thoughts...

   Jeff   ><>


----- Original Message -----
From: <VenezianoJ@aol.com>
To: <theforge@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2002 2:37 PM
Subject: [TheForge] Re: Demos


> 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.
>
> Jerry V
> Williamsburg, VA
>
>
> <<     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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