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

[Riverbend Blacksmiths]

VERY, VERY good point. I think you've got it, 100%. We see all this  
terrific power-hammer work being demonstrated, and automatically  
think, hmmm, now, how in the hell am I gonna try something like that  
back home, when working all by myself?
---
On Mar 15, 2007, at 2:13 PM, Kathy wrote:

> 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
>
>
>
>
>
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