SSW&C promoted at Craft show

[meydenhart]

I have just finished a major two day craft show - although I'm exhausted, I had a fabulous time! I took my saw, did demos and promoted SSW&C by giving away some extra copies I had. The interest and response was overwhelming. I 've been toying with the idea of presenting classes, and at the end of two days, had 19 people signed up for a beginners course

Any input from those who have given classes will be welcome - What worked for you and what didn't. If you have 3 scroll saws available, would you take 3 people at a time or 6 and let them alternate with the sawing. Ideas for a simple beginner project. I'm planning on writing a manual, so that they have a hard copy to take with them and refer to when they need to.

Needless to say...I have some work ahead of me, but my aim to promote scroll sawing in S.A. might finally become a reality - one person at a time.

[Shannon]

That is awesome! Thanks for your support! Do you have a copy of John Nelson's Scroll Saw Workbook. It's really an excellent book filled with skill building exercises specifically for the beginner scroller. Let me know if you don't have a copy!

[Jediscroller]

That's great news Sue!!!! I'm thrilled for you. If I can help in any way, please let me know.
BTW, my wife's talking about a 2008 trip to SA so I may need some travel tips from you (not to mention I want to meet a cheetah in person).

[meydenhart]

Thanks Kevin, yes I can definitely give you some travel tips - it's good that you plan on coming before 2010 (Soccer worldcup). Meeting (and hugging) a cheetah is also possible

[CanadianScroller]

And to think I had always heard that Cheetahs never prosper

[Back2Jake]

That would be so cool.... I could only imagine the energy a creature such as that would offer.

You are very lucky to have that possibility Sue.

Take care
Toni

[Rolf]

You are doing a good thing. Learning things in a group is great, and not all of us are blessed with a local club.

Having just been to an advanced class with John Nelson, I have a few suggestions based on how he had it set up.
1. Have a saw for each individual. This way they can all do the lesson while you explain it.
2. Instead of writing your own manual why don't you buy a bunch of John's books and add it to the price of the class.
3. We all brought our own saws but John had them there for a small rental fee.
4. He also charged us a small fee for the materials he provided.
He provided the wood, the patterns, the spray glue and the blades. This way we were all doing the same thing with the same materials.
5. Try to keep the same level of scrollers in the class.
6. Include at least one or two projects that the students can complete and take home with them. ( we did a very nice inlay project that has now gotten me hooked on inlay)
7. Have a display of your work, from simple to complex, to give your students ideas on what they can do with this wonderful hobby.(affliction )

[meydenhart]

Yes, I am rather fortunate! One is allowed closer after feeding time and you enter their enclosures at own risk of course, but as a cat lover, there was no hesitation. Their hair is very course and the purr is like the sound of a Harley idling. They become very aggressive when they have litters and do not like small people and kids - apparently they are seen as prey. It is a fantastic experience.

[meydenhart]

Classes

Rolf, some good tips thank you. What did he charge for the class, if I may ask? Was it a full day, half day?

[Back2Jake]

Timing is everything

Sue, something that is relative in some areas is WHEN you hold your classes. For example, perhaps different times of the year are better for people to participate in the classes. I routinely have some in the fall and have projects aimed at holidays. It gives the participants time to learn and make things for presents for the holidays. Also, I get a large number of "referals" this way because the people who took my fall classes will give things at holiday gatherings and it generates an interest in the craft. Thus, when I have classes in January (winter and cold here so no one wants to go outside and looks for activities indoors) are book tight.

Hope that helps.

Take care
Toni

[Woodbutcher68]

apparently they are seen as prey.

Don't you mean Lunch?
Then they would like them!

[meydenhart]

cheetahs

I guess I should have said: they get very worked up and aggressive when kids are present

[Rolf]

Sue,
John charged us $175, I suspect a large part of that went to the facilty where he tought the class.

I also like Toni's suggestion about the time of year to do your class.

[Back2Jake]

Thanks Rolf!

Take care
Toni

[meydenhart]

Thanks for the info Rolf and Toni. We are in mid winter which would partly explain the large amounts of interest at the moment. Generally, crafts here are very much put into 'boxes' - tole painting, sewing, decoupage and scrapbooking are for females and wood crafts are for males
...which is why it's so nice to have so many ladies showing an interest in scrolling! As soon as I tell them it's very similar to using a sewing machine, even the 'browsers' become interested