[TheForge] Sacred cows are better eaten than catered to.

[Kathy]

What is the percentage of artist blacksmiths who have industrial power hammers?
How many ABANA members, or regional organization members have--or ever plan to
acquire--an industrial power hammer? If the percentage is as low as I suspect,
than why are these power hammers given such a high priority at blacksmith
conferences?

The point I'm trying to make is that, if successful conferences on any level are
going to be put on, perhaps we should make sure that the amount of consideration
given to sacred cows conforms to their actual relevance in the lives of the
hoped for audience. If the audience is going to be general, not many of them
will be able to operate an industrial power hammer in their garages. Even the
minority who live in the country aren't likely to invest in such equipment. Now
consider the infinitesimal few who have proved their interest in industrial
hammers by going out and acquiring one. Given a choice between looking at one
more industrial brand, or a cleverly constructed home built hammer, which do we
suppose they'll want to see?

Every student who built a gas forge in my garage wanted an anvil right away;
every one of them wanted tongs and hand hammers. A few of them were even
interested in powered exhaust systems. Just one of them wanted a power hammer,
and he is building it.

What makes a Big Show for the audience consists of the things they find
entertaining, informative, and relevant to their own ambitions; not great big
shiny equipment that requires a full blown business to justify. Where are the
Heinz 57 different varieties of home-built power hammer at these shows? I'll bet
their owners could give chapter and verse as to what they take to operate, and
plenty of cooperation about setting up and operating them besides.

Perhaps industrial hammers should be relegated back to the status of vendors,
where they belong, instead of being catered to. It's just a thought; something
along the lines of "just how many super tents are really needed for a July
conference in Seattle?"
Mikey