David,

I know I am making it harder then it is, but I learn by watching, not good at reading directions and learning! :) Many things are easier when watching, those are the things that would be good to learn in this atmosphere..

Thanks,

Aleta,

I'm the same way. As many articles as have been done on the subject, I've always learned best by actually seeing/performing the process first-hand.

Maybe a basic paint-filling workshop, where people have the opportunity to actually paint-fill their own (provided) substrate, would be good.

My #1 niche involves paint-filling. Without basic color-filling knowledge, I wouldn't have that niche. Scary financial thought :-)

Before anyone asks the nature of my niche, I'll go on record as saying that I'm holding out on that info until we go pay.

David " The Holdout" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA

David,

Thanks for understanding. I am the same way. I have done min. paint fill. Would like to know how to do it RIGHT, on wood, glass, etc. And masking those round glasses! Maybe a few tips on selecting masking tapes would be nice too! Sorry don't want to make the list too long! :)

I know having a niche is becoming more important. I am just figuring which direction I want to go after playing for the last year and a half! Only time will tell if I selected right! But easing into the direction slowly!

Thanks again,

David et al,
If you are talking about a 50 attendee maximum sign me up NOW!

Chuck

David,
If there really is a "panel" to discuss EE Live, I would be happy to participate.
Personally, I believe that maybe we should set aside an hour in LV to brainstorm this idea in person.

Chuck

Count me in.

Chuck

"Naturally, this "Maiden Voyage in Missouri" will be attended primarily by members of this forum and DSSI, since it's being promoted nowhere else."

Ok, how about this. Instead of having the Maiden Voyage IN Missouri, how about we have the Maiden Voyage ON the Missouri? Mighty Mo is permanently docked at Pearl Harbor. ( Insert laugh here)

It's mostly tongue in cheek but as this grows an idea would be to rotate EE Live around the country allowing participants in the various cities and towns to "host" the event.

As for content, I saw a few posts back about learning by "watching" as opposed to reading. That works best for a lot of people, so my thought would be that those that want to participate as "educators" offer "workshops" in their specialties. This would give the event a varied list of content from beginning to advanced. When the cirriculum is put together, the syllabus would indicate a "recommended pre-requisite" of knowledge or experience, to help newbies like myself, find the basics first, then grow.

I would also suggest that we work something out with ARA so those that are enrolled in the ARA education program can get EU's toward a CRS and CRM.

More random thoughts picked up on a day trip through Chucks head.

Chuck.

Hello,
I was wondering if you have an approximate price for this seminar yet? I am new to this industry, and need all the help that I can get. I would love to rub shoulders with some of the people here. I have gotten more out of this forum that you can imagine. (still need much more)

I am also not opposed to paying for this forum, if it becomes necessary to charge to keep this running. Nothing if free, and the first months of this has more than paid for itsellf.

I wish I could go to LasVegas, but cannot, but maybe when you decide on when to do this I will have the means to make the trip. I certainly have the desire.

Thanks again for all the help you have provided to all of us.

Barbara Sample
RGile Engravers

Quote: [I am not sure if Roy Brewer's Xenetech territory runs as far north as the Kansas City area. ]

Indeed, Roy Brewer's Xenetech territory extends to Kansas City. We'd definitely be interested in participating.

Jeanette,

As we narrow down our costs and date options we will get in touch with you to see what works best.

I have spoken with Terry Viles, the territory Epilog representative, and he is eager to participate. Maybe he and Roy could do a tag-team event. :-)

We will be talking to you soon.

One component of the seminar, which I'd like to see, is pretty much a live version of this forum, wherein we assemble a "Panel" of people capable of answering most any question relating to our industry.

My question is, "Would that aspect be better held at the beginning or end of the session? I would think the end, allowing people to follow up on questions stemming from what they've seen, or an opportunity to ask general questions on topics which weren't covered.

"Engraving Etc. Live!" has a nice ring to it, and the title would certainly be descriptive.

David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA

I agree with the panel at the end...

Will it be a one or multi day event? (multiple panels?)
There should also be opportunities for attendees to interact.

Then there's the big questions how much $$$ for hotel and Seminar.

Ken,

David T. (upthread) addressed the basics of your big questions. Once costs are narrowed down, we'll have a feel for an attendees fee.

Putting the seminar on will be the easy part. The logistics of deciding what to include, what to leave out, where, when, how many days etc. will represent the heavy lifting.

Edit: In my experience with live seminars, opportunities for people to interact have to broken up like a bar room brawl. They're so busy brainstorming etc., it's difficult to get their attention back to what's being presented :-)

David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA

 

David L,
Regarding "panel discussion" I believe that for the first time, it should be the entire event. An open forum if you will.
This will give a great indication of what EE Live would ultimately become and needs.

Just my random thoughts
Chuck

It started out as a get together...now your talking about fees.

Are you going to sell t-shirts and coffee mugs??

Sprinter,

We will only be charging a fee to defray the hard costs of this get together. The costs associated with renting hotel meeting room(s), video projection equipment rental, printed handouts, refreshments, etc.

Sprinter,

No swag. It's as David T. explained.

No attempt to turn your pockets inside-out.

David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA

Aleta,

There's another idea for a topic. Creating a niche. Everyone needs at least one.

To all:

I've re-read this thread, from the beginning. Besides a wealth of ideas for topics/demos etc., the "straw poll", shows (if we hold the attendance to 50) we're about 20% there.

In order to keep costs down, thereby, encouraging a larger crowd, does Chuck's idea of basically establishing "The Panel" and having people bring their most impressive work, for a King Size "Show and Tell" make sense?

Getting a room for a large group of people and having a projector for PowerPoint presentations/Computer Projection may be more managable than the logistics involved in bringing in a lot of equipment.

Just trying to zero in on some things. Last thing I remember, was celebrating the New Year. Now, we're on the verge of March.

Daylight's burning.

David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA

Chuck,

We definitely discuss this topic in Las Vegas. I can speak much faster than I type, and I speak rather slowly :-)

David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA

David,
As a newbie, I personally think that I would get more out of an event that "didn't try to sell me something" . Other than education. It could be like one giant mentoring session. I don't know. Just a thought.

Chuck