Traveling Academy

[dusty]

All of you who are feeling deprived because you have no Traveling Academy to attend must do something more than feel sorry for yourselves. Let it be known. Try to sign up, NOT ONLINE. Call direct to customer service and tell them you want to attend. Make a nuisance of yourselves. Once Shopsmith is made aware that there are hundreds of you people out here who want to attend - they'll restart sessions in your area. If there really is a significant demand Shopsmith can not afford to ignore you.

[8iowa]

In many ways, the basic function of the TA and the "big box" demos as well, was that of a "traveling salesman". In general, the high cost of travel, and our exploding internet technology, has put the traveling salesman occupation in a situation of obselence. This is the reality of the marketing trends today. We may not like it - but we can't change it.

Nick's "hands on line" sawdust sessions represent the wave of the future for Shopsmith's educational programs. About a decade ago, major universities began offering "distance education", an interactive way for students to take classes from the convenience of their far flung locations. Now, distance learning is much improved and more widespread. It is only natural for Shopsmith to take advantage of this technology.

That being said, there is a place for actual hands on schooling. The Marc Adams school in Indianapolis is a good example of a successful woodworking school. I would much rather have Shopsmith re-establish their academy in Dayton, than spend a lot of money trying to buck our present marketing trends.

[dusty]

What I love about this country and about this forum is that we all get to have differing opinions without consequence.

With that, 8iowa, I disagree. Yes, I would like to see the Academy return for the benefit of those who could/would go to the academy. But, I believe that Shopsmith needs the results of the Traveling Academy - the up close and almost hands-on presentations.

How many people log on to Hands On Sawdust Sessions. Are there thirty or forty or even fifty different people who have been present for a Sawdust Session. Furthermore, they all have their Shopsmith equipped shops already. Not many new sales represented there. Certainly not enough to sustain the company.

I have watched every one of them, so far, and it seems to be the same group of people almost every time. Occasionally, a new name appears but that is not going to sustain the Shopsmith marketing effort.

I don't even see the forum membership strongly represented at the Sawdust Sessions. Again, I would love to have someone tell me I don't know what it is I am saying. Maybe all those people who don't log in and view as Guestxxxx are all different, new people each time. That would be great news.

Go ahead, somebody, anybody who has information to the contrary. I would really like to hear that the Sawdust Sessions are a booming success and that Shopsmith sales are on a constant increase ever since the "Nick and Drew" show hit the web. I would love to hear that because if I don't, The Nick and Drew Show will go the way of Laugh In and we won't have them or the TA.

OK. I am done. I'll be standing by to take the flack. But that is my story and I'm sticking to it.

[ryanbp01]

Thanks for clearing up the question I had. You know while I agree that the use of technology has certainly helped in education from an academic standpoint, there are some clear benefits to having the instructor look over your shoulder and make recommendations, suggestions, etc. to what you are doing. This is especially true in woodworking. While I appreciate the efforts that that Shopsmith has made in this area, I still believe the Travelling Academy was (and is) the best way to impart that knowledge. When I attended the last TA that was offered in my area, I went to it with the idea of gaining knowledge how to be a better woodworker with the Shopsmith system, not to be sold items that I wasn't sure whether or not I needed at the time. Since it soon became apparent with me that was one of the aims of the TA, I was fine with the idea but I wonder how many other attendees weren't. That's probably the #1 reason TA's are no longer available in the east.

Now I know someone out there is going to suggest "why not join a local woodworking club?" and I am going to provide an answer. First off, I believe I am already in one, that one being a Shopsmith owner. I bought my Shopsmith with the idea I am never, ever going to replace it.I know that my learning style is one of direct hands-on participation. I want to learn on the system I have, not on separate machines. It helps me if there is someone there with me to offer encouragement and support, especially since my skills have been self-taught and are limited as a result. The TA I went to provided me with answers to questions that DVDs and technology couldn't. Add that to the fact that I am pretty well tied to the computer in my regular occupation (high-school social studies teacher) and I hope you appreciate and understand my position on TA's. There are days when I feel the computer is more of an electronic ball and chain. While I appreciate and view the educational opportunities that Nick and Shopsmith has provided, I still believe the TA's to be a practical way of teaching woodworkers, especially those who have limited knowledge, what their system can do. If this appears to be a rant to you (it does to me after reading this), so be it. This also serves as an explanation for some of the ideas I have had in the past about getting Shopsmith owners together in a face to face format over the last year.

BPR

[8iowa]

dusty:

You're a great guy and I certainly have no intention of coming to grief with you. I've always felt that people can disagree without being disagreeable.

However, I would like for you to check out;

http://mail.google.com/a/up.net/?AuthEventSource=SSO

I'm impressed with the success of Nick's efforts. This is bringing the Shopsmith woodworking concept to a lot of people.

[greitz]

Dusty, I think there's a lot of us who do not participate in the live Sawdust Sessions because of (1) poor computer connections, (2) Saturday mornings aren't a good time, or (3) we don't feel we know enough about the subject(s) to ask reasonable questions, therefore we don't want to waste Nick and Drew's time asking questions which are probably obvious to the majority of attendees. But I really appreciate the recorded sessions, and often view them repeatedly. It really helps sometimes to be able to replay that 30-second or one-minute snippet with the "Eureka!" moment.

Once Shopsmith puts the recorded Sawdust Sessions up for sale in a DVD format, we'll be able to gauge the overall interest better, don't you think?

I thought Nick has made comments here on the Forum saying that sales of individual items are doing better due to exposure on the Sawdust Sessions. Even so, your point is well taken that the Sawdust Sessions may not be the best way to encourage a non-Shopsmith owner to purchase a Mark V.

I've been to the traveling TAs twice, and would be more likely to go again if one of the three sessions was rotated to a different subject, or focused on a different SPT in more detail. For example, since I don't have much experience with routing, I'm not likely to buy the OPR without seeing it demoed in person, even though it looks like a great tool.

Anyway, there's my $.02 (not adjusted for inflation).

Gary

[8iowa]

Dusty:

Did you get the March 10 email from Shopsmith regarding the fact that Hands On Line has now been seen by 100,000 viewers on both Shopsmith's web site and U Tube? This is alota exposure for Shopsmith!

If you did not get this email, send me a PM with your email address and I will forward it to you.

[reible]

Dusty:

Did you get the March 10 email from Shopsmith regarding the fact that Hands On Line has now been seen by 100,000 viewers on both Shopsmith's web site and U Tube? This is alota exposure for Shopsmith!

If you did not get this email, send me a PM with your email address and I will forward it to you.

I saw that and the first thing that came to mind was how did they come up with that number. They have to be tracking something, and if so what???

I can see a post that says 100,000 views but that is not the same as saying 100,000 viewers. The 100,000 viewers is a VERY large number. We have 3082 members, the ssug.org site has 1937 and the yahoo group has 4757. Given a lot of us belong to all three, say 25% then the real memberships in more like a total of 7332.... are we that small a drop in the bucket of the viewership???

Just seems odd to me.

Ed

[dickg1]

The "viewers number" is obtained using a program called "Google Analytics." I have observed that ShopSmith is using it. With this program, which requires just a few lines of code in your web site, you can determine the approximate location of the viewer, the time on site, the number of times that particular location has been on the site and time spent (down to individual page), repeats, and on and on. I use it on the web site that I maintain. It is a very valuable tool in evaluating the impact of your site and it's content.

Dickg1

[ryanbp01]

I wonder how many of the people are viewers and how many are users?
BPR