This AM, like many others this past year or so, I log on to this forum and read the adios message from Nick and the pages of lamenting over the loss of the Sawdust sessions, et al.
Well, I'm not ready to say adios. We ShopSmith advocates have been handed a lemon, but we could suggest making some lemonade! I invite Nick's attention, although I don't doubt he may already be considering what I am about to propose being who he is. But, what he may need to tip him from the dark side is our commitment in his ability to convey, in terms we can understand, a lifetime of woodworking knowledge.
I suggest that Nick transfer the Sawdust sessions from a give away to a subscription service. Of course, the per session, monthly, annual charge would have to be determined by Nick. Given enough of us subscribing it could be possible.
Rather than just saying adios, let us encourage Nick to continue by indicating our willingness to pay for his efforts.
So, how about it? Was the value of the Sawdust sessions high enough to continue them without the freebe? Your input to this thread will determine that!
Will all due respect to all who took advantage of the Sawdust sessions, BUT ONLY BECAUSE THEY WERE FREE, yes, adios. Let the rest of us give Nick the encouragement to continue.
Dick
Adios, H**l No
Moderator: admin
-
chiroindixon
- Gold Member
- Posts: 246
- Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2006 1:42 pm
- Location: QCA Iowa
I am in for this also... Great idea. I was truly disappointed when the TA was cancelled in Orlando. I had registered and was truly excited to see them back on the road again.
George, in Florida
George, in Florida
George
Ormond Beach FL SS 520, Jointer, Band Saw, Miter Saw, Radial Arm Saw, OPR, Router Table, 5 Routers, Incra 5000, Table top Drill Press, Thickness Planer
Ormond Beach FL SS 520, Jointer, Band Saw, Miter Saw, Radial Arm Saw, OPR, Router Table, 5 Routers, Incra 5000, Table top Drill Press, Thickness Planer
-
judaspre1982
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 1237
- Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2008 10:10 pm
========================
Last edited by judaspre1982 on Sat May 20, 2017 5:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
dusty
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 21530
- Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2006 6:52 am
- Location: Tucson (Wildcat Country), Arizona
I am in along with the rest but I have my doubts that SHOPSMITH is listening.
Remember, Nick and Drew didn't make this decision. The Folkhert's, along with the board, did.
We have seen evidence that they don't hear us. They spend their time watching the stock reports not reading the forum.
There is no doubt that the Sawdust Sessions , the V-Books, and the Academy have value. It would be neat if somehow these aspects of Shopsmith could be separated out to go their their separate way but I don't believe Shopsmith will allow that.
Please prove me wrong.
Hopefully, this is only a financial maneuver to buy time. Remember, no one has said that the forum is being abandoned!
Remember, Nick and Drew didn't make this decision. The Folkhert's, along with the board, did.
We have seen evidence that they don't hear us. They spend their time watching the stock reports not reading the forum.
There is no doubt that the Sawdust Sessions , the V-Books, and the Academy have value. It would be neat if somehow these aspects of Shopsmith could be separated out to go their their separate way but I don't believe Shopsmith will allow that.
Please prove me wrong.
Hopefully, this is only a financial maneuver to buy time. Remember, no one has said that the forum is being abandoned!
"Making Sawdust Safely"
Dusty
Sent from my Dell XPS using Firefox.
Dusty
Sent from my Dell XPS using Firefox.
Dusty,
My proposal is that Nick continue Sawdust sessions. This has nothing to do with Shopsmith. It would be a private venture by Nick. What would make it viable is enough of us to pay Nick for a subscription that would cover his expenses and provide him with a worthwhile stipend.
If Nick saw it as a possibility, I would also suggest the sessions be prerecorded, thereby taking the pressure off possibly allowing a week of recording several sessions which would allow him time for other ventures (which I don't doubt he has).
Finally, because of the subscription audience, another consideration would be subscriptions at different levels, i.e., some of us have limited incomes so sessions could be charged on an individual basis, others may prefer a more open subscription at a commensurate per session rate somewhat discounted, finally an annual open subscription would allow unlimited access to all sessions.
One last point. Others have made videos which have been sold by Shopsmith. This is another possibility for Nick, and could allow a limited revenue stream even if Shopsmith has to (temporarily) close doors.
Dick
My proposal is that Nick continue Sawdust sessions. This has nothing to do with Shopsmith. It would be a private venture by Nick. What would make it viable is enough of us to pay Nick for a subscription that would cover his expenses and provide him with a worthwhile stipend.
If Nick saw it as a possibility, I would also suggest the sessions be prerecorded, thereby taking the pressure off possibly allowing a week of recording several sessions which would allow him time for other ventures (which I don't doubt he has).
Finally, because of the subscription audience, another consideration would be subscriptions at different levels, i.e., some of us have limited incomes so sessions could be charged on an individual basis, others may prefer a more open subscription at a commensurate per session rate somewhat discounted, finally an annual open subscription would allow unlimited access to all sessions.
One last point. Others have made videos which have been sold by Shopsmith. This is another possibility for Nick, and could allow a limited revenue stream even if Shopsmith has to (temporarily) close doors.
Dick
-
Ed in Tampa
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 5834
- Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2006 12:45 am
- Location: North Tampa Bay area Florida
I'm a Nick/Drew fan and I really hate to see them go. I think it was a desparate act forced on by a desparate situation. That said I don't think the sawdust sessions were that big of a draw. Think about it, most were open to 30 or 60 people with the last wide open and I don't actual numbers but I think there are 3000+ members of this forum yet the number on the sawdust session was probably around 1% of that number. 1% of your possible audience is not a prescription to success.
My hope was that as the technicial difficulties got ironed out viewership would show a constant increase. However if you remember toward the end the technicial difficulties increased to the point they had to cancel the sessions. Not good.
As for making them on CD or DVD, it sounds great but frankly I would rather spend my mony buying tools, wood and materials. I know many of you raved about the traveling academies. I attended one, I left with two opinions. It was a live demo/sales pitch and I really don't think I learned anything that I hadn't already learned by reading the manuals that came with the Shopsmith, doing the self study course, and reading Power Tool Woodworking for Everyone book
What I really will miss that the Sawdust sessions, traveling academy, our interaction with Nick and Drew is the sense of community. It was like we were a family and all in it together with Nick and Drew being the heads of the family keeping us straight and on track. I suffered that same loss many years ago when SS stopped publishing the Hands On magazine. Most the articles were nothing more than repeats of things already published else where by SS but the magazine with it's readers comments, project showcase and words of wisdom from "Smitty" gave me a sense of belonging to a the SS family of woodworkers.
Did that sense of family cause me to buy more? I'm not sure but it did help me through my buyer's remorse and probably did induce me somewhat to purchase more from SS. However factors like price and quality influenced my buying decisions a lot more. There was a period around the time of the 510 upgrade where SS quality was in the tank and I stopped buying anything. That quality has improved and I bought 520 upgrade and a lot more since.
I guess to net out what I'm saying is while I support Nick and will miss Nick and Drew I think cost of production of SS sawdust sessions will probably out weigh any potential profit.
Ed
My hope was that as the technicial difficulties got ironed out viewership would show a constant increase. However if you remember toward the end the technicial difficulties increased to the point they had to cancel the sessions. Not good.
As for making them on CD or DVD, it sounds great but frankly I would rather spend my mony buying tools, wood and materials. I know many of you raved about the traveling academies. I attended one, I left with two opinions. It was a live demo/sales pitch and I really don't think I learned anything that I hadn't already learned by reading the manuals that came with the Shopsmith, doing the self study course, and reading Power Tool Woodworking for Everyone book
What I really will miss that the Sawdust sessions, traveling academy, our interaction with Nick and Drew is the sense of community. It was like we were a family and all in it together with Nick and Drew being the heads of the family keeping us straight and on track. I suffered that same loss many years ago when SS stopped publishing the Hands On magazine. Most the articles were nothing more than repeats of things already published else where by SS but the magazine with it's readers comments, project showcase and words of wisdom from "Smitty" gave me a sense of belonging to a the SS family of woodworkers.
Did that sense of family cause me to buy more? I'm not sure but it did help me through my buyer's remorse and probably did induce me somewhat to purchase more from SS. However factors like price and quality influenced my buying decisions a lot more. There was a period around the time of the 510 upgrade where SS quality was in the tank and I stopped buying anything. That quality has improved and I bought 520 upgrade and a lot more since.
I guess to net out what I'm saying is while I support Nick and will miss Nick and Drew I think cost of production of SS sawdust sessions will probably out weigh any potential profit.
Ed
-
paul heller
- Gold Member
- Posts: 288
- Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:41 pm
- Location: Arvada, CO
I would subscribe to a periodic DVD of sawdust session. Gee, I get like 10 different magazine now. So for the cost of a saw blade, why not (gosh, you know how much a saw blade costs!) In all honesty, I've enjoyed the snippets on u-tube, and I would continue to view hot tips if offered.
Gary Kalyn
Kalynzoo Productions
Woodworking
Porter Ranch/Northridge
Los Angeles, CA
Kalynzoo Productions
Woodworking
Porter Ranch/Northridge
Los Angeles, CA