Symposium first timer

[Will Armstrong]

I am very much looking forward to attending my first AAW symposium in Portland!

I will hopefully get there in time for the “First-Time Attendee Orientation” and have signed up for the Banquet. Besides that, I am reaching out to members for any advice they may have for a first timer.

I am coming alone and looking forward to meeting any of you members who I have become acquainted with on the forum. Feel free to message me directly. Thanks!

 

[Darryl Fective]

Comfortable shoes, notebook, and bring along a couple pieces to show in the instant gallery. Prepare to be blown away. It's really an awesome collection of work and shared talent.

 

[Darryn Achall]

I am very much looking forward to attending my first AAW symposium in Portland!

I will hopefully get there in time for the “First-Time Attendee Orientation” and have signed up for the Banquet. Besides that, I am reaching out to members for any advice they may have for a first timer.

I am coming alone and looking forward to meeting any of you members who I have become acquainted with on the forum. Feel free to message me directly. Thanks!

My first symposium as well. I'll be at the orientation. Will bring along a couple of pieces I feel ok about putting in the gallery. Would love to meet anyone interested in saying hello.

 

[Rusty Nesmith]

Bring a pen and notebook to take notes at the demo’s.

 

[Richard Coers]

Plan out the demonstrations you want to see and prioritize them. If the crowd is big, you may want to get to the room early while the demo before is going on. You may have to stand for the end of that demo, but your chance of getting a good seat for the demo you really want to see is much better.

 

[Darryl Fective]

Plan which demos you want to see, but have a backup plan. If it's too busy or not what you thought it would be, know what room your next choice is in and how to get there. You will be amazed, but be prepared, it's a LOT of info and it can wear you out. When you need a break, stroll thru the instant gallery and vendor area.

 

[hockenbery]

You will have fun. Meet lots of folks. Get inspired, get overwhelmed.

If you think you might ever turn another sphere see Christian Burchard

I attached a great plan. Note rotation 5 I put instant gallery.
If I haven’t seen it yet going during a rotation is a great time it’s not crowded.


Take some pieces to put in the instant gallery.
Sign up for an intimate critique you’l get some good ideas.

 

[William Rogers]

Bring a lot of money. There are so many vendors with products. I have always spent more than I intended.

 

[Russ Braun]

Engage and say hello 100s of times a day! This one will have taped demonstrations available for later viewing if I’m understanding things correctly. IG is going to blow your socks off, it does mine every time!! Wear your name tag with the name pointing out, lol… don’t ask me how I know!! Have fun every day….spend money at the Tradeshow like your wife isn’t watching!!

 

[Donna Banfield]

Lots of great advice so far, Will. I will be there, as a demonstrator and panelist. If you see me, please introduce yourself. When not in my rotation rooms, I most likely can be found in the Exhibition area.

I’ve often described attending the AAW International Symposium for the first time as getting a drink of water from a full open fire hose. It will blow you away. Try to pace yourself….I know… it’s hard to imagine me saying that, and you understanding and internalizing exactly what that means. But on Saturday evening, you just might feel it, and get it.

Lastly, give yourself at least a day, or two, when you get home, to unwind. When the adrenaline rush has peaked, and you will experience one, you need to be aware that you will feel a rapid oncoming of exhaustion. The human body can only tolerate so much stimulation, until it says enough. So give yourself that break. You’ll need it.

 

[Mike Obuchowski]

I am very much looking forward to attending my first AAW symposium in Portland!

I will hopefully get there in time for the “First-Time Attendee Orientation” and have signed up for the Banquet. Besides that, I am reaching out to members for any advice they may have for a first timer.

I am coming alone and looking forward to meeting any of you members who I have become acquainted with on the forum. Feel free to message me directly. Thanks!

My advice for what it's worth......Have Fun! Enjoy the amazing demonstrations that you are interested in and intrigue/inspire you! As a vendor and hopeful demonstrator at future AAW Symposiums, hold off on buying all of the shiny tools until you learn the basics and can understand the benefits and features of the products being sold......
Stop by Lyle Jamieson's booth and introduce yourself, I would love to give you my perspective...

 

[DON FRANK]

Besides your brain exploding from information overload, you will meet some really fine people.

 

[Kevin Jesequel]

Dale Larson has some good advise. He says that he always prioritizes the demonstrators who live the furthest away because they are the least likely to be seen again in the near future. This year we have 3 international demonstrators - Eli Avisera, Eiko Tanaka, and Rolly Munro. Don’t discount the panel discussions either, I have found them to be a great source of information and interaction.

 

[Michael Anderson]

Solid advice here. I’d also add don’t get too attached to your pre-determined plan. Last year Louisville was my first full-value symposium, aside from the free Gallery and trade show experience in Chattanooga. I had a plan for Louisville, and ended up attending only a few of the demos that were on my original list. I deviated from the plan based on being inspired by someone’s Gallery pieces, needing a mental break to tour the gallery and trade show, and by wanting to see a demonstrator more than once. In fact, I think I only went to two demonstrations where the lathe was turned on. I found a lot of value in the discussions, critiques, and lecture-based rotations (ex. one of Ulf Jannson’s design talks). That’s just me though. There are a couple of folks I regret not seeing, but overall I’m happy with what I attended.

 

[Will Armstrong]

WOW!! Thanks to you all for taking the time to comment. You have shared some really good perspectives that I would not have come up with on my own. I didn't expect so much feedback. It's proof of what a kind community we have here in the forum and AAW!
I'm not sure how the banquet seating works but I am happy to join at anyone's table if you have room for a mild-mannered Canadian! Feel free to direct message me.
Thanks again! Will

 

[hockenbery]

I'm not sure how the banquet seating works but I am happy to join at anyone's table

There are a some reserved tables with posted signs.,. Most are open seating. Clubs and other groups will often get a a few folks to get in when the doors open @nd save tables/seats for their group.

 

[Hugh]

Take a camera. Take pictures of everything you like.
Take notes.
By the end of the symposium....you will have massive overload.
When you get home......go to the shop and try some of the stuff you saw that you liked. Before you forget.
Have fun. Learn a lot.

 

[Chuck Engstrom]

Plan to spend time in the Instant Gallery and be aware of how much better good and exceptional pieces will look in real life compared to online or magazine photos -- clarity of small details, richness of colors, actual size, etc all are much better up close and personal. This is particularly true of pieces with surface treatments of carving, burning, coloring etc such as by Donna Zils Banfield, Jacques Vesery, Elizabeth Weber, and many more. That was my big take-away from Louisville where I saw all of these and of couese so many more.

 

[Peter D'Attomo]

What? Puppy stays home???😄

 

[Rusty Nesmith]

If you want an odd-not vacuum Chuck that would be the place to buy it.

 

[Will Armstrong]

If you want an odd-not vacuum Chuck that would be the place to buy it.

I had never heard of these chucks. Looks interesting. I don't see them on the venders list.

 

[Rusty Nesmith]

I had never heard of these chucks. Looks interesting. I don't see them on the venders list.

I bought one at the Kentucky symposium. By far the best vacuum Chuck I have used. I bought the aluminum Chuck he sells not the plastic.

 

[Darryn Achall]

I had never heard of these chucks. Looks interesting. I don't see them on the venders list.

I have the aluminum one too. Hoping he will be at the symposium. I would like another, and the Odd-Not website is always out of stock.

 

[Ted Pelfrey]

Hard to add to this great advice but if someone gives a critique type demo, go! Jacques Vesery did one at Louisville and it was one of the best and helpful demos I’ve ever attended. He just went through the gallery and would randomly pick a piece to critique. Really opened my eyes to form. Enjoy!

 

[Dave Landers]

Hard to add to this great advice but if someone gives a critique type demo, go! Jacques Vesery did one at Louisville and it was one of the best and helpful demos I’ve ever attended. He just went through the gallery and would randomly pick a piece to critique. Really opened my eyes to form. Enjoy!

FYI -- Jaques will be doing that later this year at the Rocky Mountain symposium

 

[Will Armstrong]

I will just add for anyone attending, that I have found the symposium app rather helpful for planning and having ALL the symposium info in one place and easily accessible. It allows you to easily create a personal schedule that then links you to the synopses and demonstrators bios etc. And it is very user friendly.

Symposium App | AAW Symposium

www.aawsymposium.org

 

[Pat Wisniewski]

Solid advice!
I am volunteering at the Registration tables on Thursday from 4p to 6:30p if anyone is arriving then look for me.

And, remember to drink and eat (it’s easy to get super-involved in all that is going on) 🙂

 

[Pat Wisniewski]

Will,
Are you here in Portland?
And anyone else - I am hanging out in the lobby at Hyatt Regency.

 

[Doug Rasmussen]

And, remember to drink and eat (it’s easy to get super-involved in all that is going on)

Go point Pat.

I usually attend a couple conferences every year. It never seems to fail I get so engrossed in the event I forget to eat or drink. And when I realize the need for something to eat and drink the only option is waiting in a long line to pay exorbitant prices. Last conference in Portland I needed a caffeine boost and paid $7 and change for a small Coke in a paper cup half full of ice.

Of late what I do is go to a deli type place and buy a ready made, wrapped sandwich and a drink of two to carry in my tote bag.

This is not in anyway a complaint about the AAW. The prices come with the rental of the venue and likely have to be justified in publicly owned facilities such as the Oregon Convention Center.

 

[Will Armstrong]

Will,
Are you here in Portland?
And anyone else - I am hanging out in the lobby at Hyatt Regency.

Hi Pat. I don't get in till later this afternoon

 

[Donna Banfield]

So, Will...now that it's over, will you give us your thoughts as a first-time AAW Symposium attendee?

 

[Will Armstrong]

Thanks for asking donna! First impression from a first-time attendee - - wow!
I thank you all for your advice above, I think all the comments had truth and we're helpful.
I would certainly encourage anyone who has the ability to attend next year to do it. The atmosphere was welcoming, so my initial intimidation was pretty quickly alleviated. I am generally timid, but through the encouragement from many of you I did bring some pieces for the instant gallery and was glad I did. I even got up my nerve to sign up for an intimate critique from my now friend Donna Banfield which two weeks ago I would never have considered doing.
It was wonderful to meet some members who are greatly admired and to now know them a bit and that they are kind and encouraging and very human! It was fun to be able to casually chat with some big names in turning and feel comfortable doing so.
My advice to anyone going to a symposium for the first time is to have an open mind and don't necessarily follow a plan of what demos you want to see. I changed my mind several times about who I wanted to see and left several demos when I realized it was not what I was looking for. It was easy enough to show up late to another demo and usually find a chair and be able to see everything on the big screen.
The instant gallery was mind blowing and very inspiring seeing the huge variety of what people are creating. By the end I was just looking forward to getting home and trying out some new approaches.
The show has inspired me to continue trying to improve my skills and enjoy the creative journey and to be myself.
I am so happy that I attended! Thanks again to you all.

 

[Kevin Jesequel]

If you are a member of a local club, be sure to submit this write up for your club newsletter. It just might encourage a few more folks to attend next year.