Club demos

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woodwish

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Lynn Haven, Florida, USA.
I belong to a fairly active but small AAW group, meet once per month with maybe 25 average attendance. We usally take turns doing demos and share techniques with friendly banter. Once per year or so we will get in a "professional" turner for an all-day demo with good attendance. At today's meeting I found out that we are doing an all-day demo next month by one of our own members, and charging a fair chunk to attend. I later inquired what the fee was for since lunch was not going to cost that much per person, and was told that we are paying our own club member what I consider a professional fee to demo. It has me miffed a little that he would charge us the cost of good mini-lathe to do a demo, and that we are really paying him that much. I know he is considered a pro demonstrator by some, and is very good as an artist, but just seems wrong to do it for his own club. Personally I'm going to a neighboring AAW chapter to see a pro they have coming in that is far more "famous" and the cost is less.

Would you pay the cost of a half-dozen decent pen kits per person to see one of your own club members do a demo that the rest of us do for free?
 
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I understand your feelings. I have seen other clubs that have "professional" members that charge for mentoring when the "amateurs" do not. I think it is up to the professional to decide how they treat their own club. At the same I think we have to respect their decision. We don't have to hire them and we don't have to attend their demonstrations. In our club I would urge you to voice you opinion to the club officers. It is important for them to know how the members feel. Maybe there are others that feel the way you do and changes can be made for future demonstrations. By the way our demos this year are $35 and that does include lunch.
 
That goes a little beyond friendly sharing of knowledge. I think I would also skip that meeting. If no one shows up for the demo, I think they will get the point.
 
I have mixed feelings about this, I agree if he is a member of the club he should not be charging the "professional" rate, Yet he should also not be expected to do it for free just because he is a club member. now to pander this question on you how do you all define professional? I define it as he makes his living doing what he is wanting to demo (or close to it) other wise IMHO he is an advanced hobbiest.
 
My woodturning club does much as you describe with monthly demos and an annual pro for which we charge. But, it sounds like the decision for your club was made by a few in charge and not the membership in general. I believe the guy giving the demo is being a jerk by charging. After all, he sits and watches the demos by the other club members. IMHO, he is taking advantage of a situation and your club officers need replacing at next election. BTW, we had a top pro in our club until recently. Unfortunately he had to move for family reasons. He would give his own annual FREE demo at his own home just to be helpful and share with others. BTW, we gave him a FREE lifetime membership. Nice guy that deserves a big thanks. Speaking of sharing, please check out the website for my club.
http://ozarkwoodturners.org/index.htm
Can you post yours?
 
Ray,

This reminds me of the old adage, "An expert has to live at least 50 miles from you, or he's just another guy".

As long as he told your club what he would charge, and they agreed, there should be no problem. Your club leadership would have been smart to do a phone canvass of the membership BEFORE they agreed. There are probably several who share your opinion (and I might agree with them), but that bridge is now crossed. So, will you offend him if you don't attend? Do you care?

FWIW!!
 
Does this person ever demonstrate anything for you guys during the regular meetings? If he does, and there is still much to learn from him, then I may pay. However, if he just attends regular meetings, doesn't give up some skill or information, and then demands $$ to show you what he knows, then I would not attend and make your feelings known to the officers. After all, others are sharing their skill for no compensation, why can't he.
 
Please keep in mind if he really is a Pro this is how he pays the bills and I would not blame him at all for cahrging to demonstrate. We have a couple pro's in our club and they do not charge to demo as far as I know, but that is their choice. If you do not think he should charge don't pay.
 
We have had the same issue a few times over the last few years, and learned to try to make out "paid" demos from turners that we can't see locally. There are a lot of "professional" turners in the local area here, and we have paid some, with good results, and had some "volunteer" their time for the demo.
We have also had local "professionals" do a "free" demo, with the understanding that they would be pitching and selling their tool/jig/video/what-have-you in lieu of demo fees. That works, too.

My opinion (for what it's worth) is that if I would pay to see the demonstrator if they were from out-of-town, then I should be willing to pay to see him/her if they were local.
 
Ray-
Hopefully this will make you feel a little better about your officers. I was approached by the board (were incorporated) of my local, 250 members, to organize a group buy of Tasmanian Burl, for which our club would not be able to front any money, we now pay $400 a month for our meeting location. After I started collecting money the President decided that the club should not be associated with the buy and left me hanging in the wind. It turns out that he had decided to do a group buy for $5,000 using club funds and was unhappy with me because I succeeded in getting my group buy off the ground. No one else on the board did anything other than support him.

Hell when our board buys wood with club money, some members and their friends take first pick of the wood before they make any available to the rest of the club. I'll trade my officers for yours.

Not that I don't think you have a reason to complain, though I agree with others that it is your board not the member that the anger should be directed at, I am still envious of you.

When we have pros come in our attendance fee is $5, generally lunch is not included. One of the joys of having 250 members. We have 4 to 6 pros a year as well.

Our board generally hand picks the candidates for the next officer election, allows them to maintain the status quo. One of the disadvantages of having 250 members.

Drew
 
Some comments were made that the board decided to book and pay this demonstrator without input from the members. We used to take meeting time advising the membership of most all decisions the club made. The board learned that the members did not want to "waste" meeting time with the business of the club. They wanted to get to the show and tell the demonstrations and the real turning stuff. They felt that the board was voted on to make club decisions. The board members make all business decisions including demonstrators. The decisions we make we all hope are for the benefit of the club. If members do not like what the board does we hope they express their opionions and suggestions to someone on the board. Like the opinions expressed here not everyone can be satisfied with every decision.
 
I know that my club has members that feel exactly this way.

One can only hope officers act with honor.

Drew

Originally posted by Russb
<br />Some comments were made that the board decided to book and pay this demonstrator without input from the members. We used to take meeting time advising the membership of most all decisions the club made. The board learned that the members did not want to "waste" meeting time with the business of the club. They wanted to get to the show and tell the demonstrations and the real turning stuff. They felt that the board was voted on to make club decisions. The board members make all business decisions including demonstrators. The decisions we make we all hope are for the benefit of the club. If members do not like what the board does we hope they express their opionions and suggestions to someone on the board. Like the opinions expressed here not everyone can be satisfied with every decision.
Click to expand...
 
"Board" has only one definition, but many meanings.

With 250 members, you expect the board to work on your behalf and make most of the decisions.

With 25 members, it is a close-knit group and the board should certainly have a good "sense of the membership". If there is ANY doubt, each board member can call a handful of members and the entire membership is covered in 2 nights. At this size, a "true democracy" is a viable option.
 
Ray,
If I may ask....What will they be demonstrating that you are expected to be paying for?

BTW.....I'll be in your area the last week in April to maybe we can get together and meet with your group and have some fun! NO COST!![;)]
 
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