Turning at shows?

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Jjartwood

Jjartwood

Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2011
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Location
Chicopee,Ma
I have purchased the stuff to turn on site at the shows and I'm curious if anyone with past experience with this has actually found it to be worth
the extra effort and expense? Well,the expense being a generator and given the track record of the power grid in this area it isn't a bad idea to have one.
the show turning thing is really a by product of pre-planning for another round of snow storms and power loss.
But any opinions on show turning would be appreciated,
Thanks
Mark
 
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I've tried it on several occasions and don't intend to do it again.
Turning draws lookers but not buyers, actually the lookers get in the way of potential buyers.
If the show sales are going so slow that there is time to turn, find a better show.
 
Chasper said:
I've tried it on several occasions and don't intend to do it again.
Turning draws lookers but not buyers, actually the lookers get in the way of potential buyers.
If the show sales are going so slow that there is time to turn, find a better show.
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+1

If you want to show folks how you turn pens, how about a video? A large flatscreen TV and something to play the video on it are a lot easier to transport, set up, and power than everything you need to turn a pen from start to finish.
 
One thing I try to do occasionally is have some blanks turned ready for pressing the components together. That allows me to show the process to a degree, explaining how I mark for grain match, drill and glue in tubes and then turn to size. By taking my pen press along I can then assemble a few while people watch. This often results in people taking notice. Get a few people around your table and others will come to see what is going on! I haven't wanted to deal with bringing my lathe or the liability that comes with it! Besides, I'm afraid if people saw how quickly you can do the actual turning they would get a false sense of just what goes into making a decent pen! JMO
 
+1 on a lap top or flat screen presentation. The movement on the screen will draw thier attention to your booth. but put it to one side so watcher dont block the view of your product. It can be used to open conversations with that lead to sales.
 
My wife does the shows with me so there is someone in the tent,I was planning on turning pre-rounded and present the whole two ticket show,small cuts,caliper checks,straight edge
checking,frequent stops to sharpen tools(old ones I have carbide for the show)and of course only turn to draw the crowd(hopefully) and take a break (because it's a high stress activity to do correctly) when I have aaa..let's call it target rich environment, and the rest of my shows are in high income artsy areas where the only tool the ever use is the phone.
I don't think I would attempt it in some of the border line tag sale "arts and craft shows"

I do like the video idea,I have a guy that makes jury DVD's for me I may give him a call,aaaaand someone did mention big screen right?
 
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My opinion...... Bad idea! Why show the crowd that you can turn a pen in two minutes, open a bag of parts and assemble it in another minute then want $50 to $100 for the pen?

Several years ago the Ft Worth Wood turning club would ask volunteers to visit area schools and do demonstration turning which usually involved whipping out some slimlines and giving them to the kids who were watching. I'll never forget a comment made by a parent who watched me turn a blank then assemble the kit in front of him in a few minutes. He asked what such a pen would sell for and I told him. He said "Wow, $30 for five minutes of work, I'm in the wrong business!"

I could have spent an hour discussing all the overhead involved but regardless of everything else involved in making a pen THAT five minute demo is what stuck in his mind and that I was grossly over charging for my work!

Be careful what you show your customers, they will form an opinion solely on what they see, not what goes on behind the scenes!
 
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"My opinion...... Bad idea! Why show the crowd that you can turn a pen in two minutes, open a bag of parts and assemble it in another minute then want $50 to $100 for the pen?"

After a lot of practice on a machine worth several hundred if not thousands of dollars. I used to get that from fellow potters when I demos at shows, and occasionally I'd get "why should I pay $40 for that? It took you less than 15 minutes!" "OK have a seat" and in 30 secound they would be covered in clay and I would have 4 more sales. What I would do is turn tops and give them to the kids, NEVER assemble a kit in front of a crowd! But do have a barrel or to to turn in case someone asks.......that is IF I was going to turn at a show! Throwing pottery lends itself to the "sideshow/carnival barker routine" Well! Not so sure turning does.
 
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there was a someone turning pens at the big e show for years while his wife sold them
he seemed to do well drawing a crowed . he since passed away
 
Dust from your turning could iritate fellow vendors or observers. A piece could come off and hit someone in the face. Too much risk of liability in today's world.
 
beck3906 said:
Dust from your turning could iritate fellow vendors or observers. A piece could come off and hit someone in the face. Too much risk of liability in today's world.
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I have seen turners at shows turning quick bowls. They had an extra space next to the tent and it was roped off so the crowd was held back. Also the turner had a large pain of plexiglass in front of him to prevent something from flying into the crowd.

Before attempting anything like this you should discuss it with the promoter. If you show up and just start turning it mite be your last time at that show.

Just a thought :rolleyes:
 
I saw a very lucky turner at a show this summer. He put an unbalance chunk on the lathe, and proceeded to round it. After about a minute, a chunk flew off, through the crowd, and hit another tent wall. Lucky for him, there wasn't much of a crowd yet, and the other vendor had their tent walls up. Lucky for me, and him as well, I wasn't standing a foot to the right. It flew right passed me just I got to the back of the group, and a half second after I noticed there was no crowd protection.

The really bad part about it all was that he just kept on turning.
 
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