Who Should Pay for the Conference Hands-on Classes? | Page 7 | For the Good of the Order | Forum

So here's a good one.

anyone else think it was stupid to have a 2 sets of hands on demonstrators at the last conference and only one set got paid?

Pay them or don't pay them charge or don't. But its asinine to pay one person and not another for the same job.

jack
charging for the class isn't about making a profit. We started charging to make up for the rising cost of materials and the instructors. Its not healthy for the group to go bankrupt after every conference. The more money left over after a conference the more we have to better the group by offering scholarships and helping out those who cant afford it. or for buying tools, and upkeep on sound equipment and the hands on area. There is nothing wrong with savings.

yes it was free in the past, however it sure is alot cheaper than a full 3 day class.

well its off to bed, first day back to smithing since being laied off for 2 months tomorrow!
ryan

Rich Waugh;3642 wrote: Here's my two cents' worth:

Yes the students should have to pay a nominal fee - say, $25. Since the participants are selected by a lottery, perhaps a couple of the selectees could "win" free admission. One out of ten, perhaps? That adds the possibility of a free ride, something that might increase participation and somewhat defuse the issue of charging. Kinda like a win at iron in the hat.

There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. Those who work the hands-on classes should get paid for it, otherwise you don't have any control over how good a job they do. Those who really teach well have a skill/gift they are sharing for which they deserve compensation. Teaching is actually much more difficult that demonstrating.

Rich

Put the charge for the hands on classes on the registration sheet, then there will not be any surprises.(conference registration) Twenty-twenty five bucks for a class is nothing if you want to learn something valuable.If you don't put forth the effort and/or some money then you aren't serious. Blacksmithing for a living is HARD, dealing with the people is the hardest! Kids need to know this, if they can't sacrifice something now they won't make it in blacksmithing. PS the demonstrators should be paid.

I said my piece. Thanks, Gary

All of the hands-on instructors listed in the Fall Conference schedule were offered full payment for their classes. I'm not sure if all of them chose to accept the payment, but I am sure they were offered. Where did anyone get the idea that only certain instructors were paid?

Ryan, I'm not really sure what you mean by "normal hands-on" but if you are talking about the open forge area or the black smoke alley (ab-normal hands-on?) then you are correct. Open forge is not a formal class, but a place where any smith can share his knowledge with other members. During the course of the event, quit a few smiths were demonstrating and assisting. A few guys approached it a little more formally than others, but they were all volunteers.
The folks in black smoke alley were also volunteers. We did supply the coal for the sessions.
If anybody had gripes about compensation, they didn't get to me.
Geez - Did anybody have a GOOD time at the conference?

Wow to be honest I am glad I didnt go, after already having butted heads with a couple folks on here then what I heard here, I would have washed my hands of the whole association. But there have been a few kind folks around and I guess that alone has made me rethink the having nothing to do with the NWBA. Now if I remember correctly even before the Conference someone in a thread asked what it would cost to come to the event, and once again if I remember correctly he was told its free just come on down. Now I can see where it would upset folks that may have seen that as well and showed up and be told well we gotta charge ya for specific classes or events. And while I can see charging for materials and gas or coal...yada yada, not having seen that specifically spelled out LONG before hand so people who are financially challenged like myself can try and put something away towards that end.
And yes people put in alot of time and work to get ready for these events and put out personal money to get there and whatnot, but something I think everyone is forgetting is what got us all involved on the Path, our love of making things and working with steel. We all learned something from someone for free most of the time and in repayment helped the teacher out with stuff or found some way to compensate the person for the knowledge. But what I am seeing is alot of the Pay me mentality instead of do what you can. I mean g-d forbid that someone came to me of all people and wanted to learn something or just to play a bit, but I would not charge someone for it, at most I would say bring a bottle of wine or something fun to drink and a chair cause I take lots of breaks.
But I know Ill get flamed for this viewpoint, it should have been more upfront long before people showed up at the gate. Charge for the materials for the hands on classes not for the sharing of knowledge and time. Are we not trying to share info or just show off?

P