Last week I got to attend the "first" annual (I hope) "Woodworking in America" Conference sponsored by Popular Woodworking Magazine and held in Berea, KY. Click on the image below to see the conference website and details.
Probably, many of you were there, or have already read a lot about the show, so I will not go into any great detail other than to say it was "FANTASTIC". If you can go next year. DO IT!
The presenters, vendors and the attendees were some of the nicest people that you will meet, and it was a rare occasion to spend time with people that are even crazier about this stuff than I am. A veritable army (or maybe feeding frenzy) of hand tool nuts.
Someone mentioned that the conference organizers might be considering doing either a bigger show next year, or several around the country. My vote would be for them to do several smaller shows (no bigger than this year and charge more if they need to) around the country, if those are the two options. One of the best things about the conference was that it was a manageable size and attendees got to interact personally with many of the presenters and vendors. A larger show would make that harder. Also, the hands-on sessions (that everyone wanted) were hard enough to get into as it was.
I know that the organizers need to balance this with the economics of the conference, and I will likely attend again either way. But I like the conference smaller and am willing to pay a higher entrance fee for it.
It was great to meet many of you last week in person and I hope to see you at the show again next year!
