[TheForge] Levels of Conferences / Storage on wheels...

Grover Richardson grover.richardson at gtri.gatech.edu
Thu Feb 22 09:16:43 EST 2007 

Duuh.  Yes, following the logical progression, the foxes have lead me around
to my starting point.

The problem with portable equipment is taking it places.  When I do an
event, I have easily a ton in the back of the truck and the trailer.  Only
by co-ordinating events, and having things toted to nearby places can this
be cost effective.

Then, again, I do like the idea of 26 conferences a year with the big rig.
A lot of vendors do that professionally, almost 50 events a year.  It's a
big step, but starting small would be good<G>.

Problems to solve

1.	What to do (hopefully we are helping)
2.	Who is going to do it (good question)
3.	Who is going to be responsible (ABANA?)
4.	Who is going to fund it. (another good question)

A massive calendar will be necessary (aka the SCA) so that conferences won't
interfere.

Unfortunatly, IMHO it appears that more than the conference is at stake
here.  Merely the conference is the long pole in the tent.  Possibly by
taking up the slack on the proper ropes to fix this problem, the other
almost as long poles may also be adjusted properly.

All the best.

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bruce Freeman
Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2007 9:01 AM
To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [TheForge] Levels of Conferences / Storage on wheels...

Grover,

I think you've come back to square one.  We ALREADY have a system of ABANA
conferences at different levels.  They're the local affiliate meets.  As I
mentioned before, you choose what you attend by whats being presented, and
don't pay for what you don't want or get to see.

Maybe ABANA could simply provide coordination.  Come up with a "level of
instruction" rating system, and classify
demonstrations/demonstrators/conferences accordingly.

While they're at it, venues could be rated by appropriateness for numbers of
viewers, etc.   Most of this would be self-rating by the folks putting on
the conference.  They'd answer a bunch of questions (size of demo area,
lighting, size of audience area, schedule of demos, etc., seating, local
fooderies and accomodations, etc.)  However, if feedback from attendees
warranted it, additional information could be added to change the rating.

As for storage of ABANA property:  This strikes me as such a waste.  NJBA
has a small trailer with blacksmithing equipment.  Usually this is just
parked on Marshall's farm, but a few times a year it gets hauled to meets.
One weekend this coming autumn, we need it in two places at once (so we're
gonna fake it).  Why can't ABANA's equipment be used this way?

One reason, of course, is ABANA's equipment wasn't made to be particularly
portable.  But less portable equipment could be sold off and replaced with
more portable equipment.  (E.g., I made two forge hoods for our trailer that
are of an irregular conical pattern.  They nest, so take up hardly more room
than one.   I could make and nest four more and they'd still take up about
the same space.  I want to modify all our equipment to do this as much as
possible to greatly increase the number of forging stations that fit into
the trailer.)

But forget those details and consider an alternative:  Put all the ABANA
equipment into a truck or rig trailer.  Let someone drive this equipment
around the country setting up meets everywhere he goes.  26 conferences a
year, a week long each (including weekends) and 26 weeks of travel time +
time off for the driver/blacksmith/conference organizer.  Okay, maybe
far-fetched, but a starting point for discussions?

Bruce
NJ


>>> grover.richardson at gtri.gatech.edu 2/22/2007 8:38 AM >>>
Yes.

Three levels of conferences (like classes at J C Campbell).  
Beginner
Advanced
Special projects

I rate whether I am going to attend a conference based upon
My availability to attend, am I free and how far is it
My funds at the time
The demonstrators


Have a traveling conference.  Every second month it is in a different area,
hosted by another group, with possibly different demonstrators.

Yes, setting up for every second month is difficult, it's a goal, not a
start<G>.

All the Best



-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Peter Fels And Phoebe
Palmer
Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2007 1:24 AM
To: Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: Re: [TheForge] "Official" news from ABANA N+1

If there are going to be a lot of folks, i want a lot of 
demonstrators.
The value of that is greatest for more experienced smiths, cause 
a bunch of us already know the basics and a bit more.
With time, it gets harder to find a demo where one learns enough 
new stuff to make it worthwhile.
If there's a big spread of demonstrators, chances are better for 
finding something tasty.
Perhaps a horizontal, knowledge based division of conferences is 
needed?...
and a cheap , fast and comfy way to get to them...sigh....pf

Larry Brown wrote:
> Another possibility with several demonstrators over several days is to 
> have the demonstration repeated on a different day or time
> L Brown
> 
> 
> 
> At 03:35 PM 2/20/2007 -0500, you wrote:
>> Thank you Grover for making that point so succinctly!
>> Bigger is not necessarily better.  Having more choices is only a 
>> slight increment better than having one (because I can watch only 
>> one).  After all, if there is only one demonstrator, my choice is to 
>> attend or not to attend, and the latter choice costs me nothing.
>> Bruce
>> NJ
>>
>> >>> grover.richardson at gtri.gatech.edu 2/20/2007 12:46 PM >>>
>>
>>
>>         This I understand.  But the direction of my comment was that 
>> if the
>> gate fee is paying for 10 demonstrators all hammering at the same 
>> time, and
>> I can see only one demonstrator, then I am paying for 10 and seeing 1, 
>> and
>> am getting only 10% of my event fee returned to me.  That is distinctly
>> adverse economy in any eye.
>>         Now, having 2-3 forge stations and watching one, while paying an
>> overhead of 100% or 200% is easier to digest.
>>
>>
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