Back from Tunbridge

[Carl Russell]

Patrick;21490 wrote:

…The informal style of some of the presentations is great. I really love it, and it works for me for $20. If I miss out on some parts, or get slightly inconvenienced, it’s not the end of the world. For $50 I’d want a bit more for my money. JMO. I hope the feedback helps.

Just another thought on this. We are not trying to suggest that we get $50 for something that isn’t worth it, just reiterating that based on attendance $20 just doesn’t cut it. So as the event/network moves forward I think it is important to have an honest view of what the market truly is. If an event is oriented toward general public, then $10-20 may be appropriate, and reflected in a more relaxed environment. However, a more technical event could be worth more. The other component is that as we tried to hold the event in a way that it could accommodate more people with a bigger venue then the costs add up, and attendance income is more important.

We also feel that along with the shortcomings of farmer/presenters comes a different type of validity that can’t be gotten in more polished arenas……

I really appreciate all the thoughts on this, and hope that as a community we can find affective solutions.

Carl

[Andy Carson]

@Carl Russell 21501 wrote:

However, a more technical event could be worth more. The other component is that as we tried to hold the event in a way that it could accommodate more people with a bigger venue then the costs add up, and attendance income is more important.

We also feel that along with the shortcomings of farmer/presenters comes a different type of validity that can’t be gotten in more polished arenas……

I personally would be very interested in a more technical event. I definately got alot out of the event, but at several times it was because I talked one on one with the presenters either during, after, or before thier presentations. I personally like communicating like this, and feel there were tons of opportunitues to do at all the presentations I went to. If the presentation was a late getting “officially” started, that gave me a chance to ask a few questions or discuss a little. All the presenters were EXCELLENT at this and seemed to really enjoy the interest and personal interaction. I am a little afraid that if the presentations are made too formal, then some real expert might feel less comfortable. Personally, I would rather have a so-so presentation from a real expert than a really polished presentation from a peson with less knowledge. Presentations to me always stimulate questions and if they can’t answer the questions, I sometime walk away disappointed. At some of the presentations on saturday, I felt it was more appropriate to ask questions after rather than during the presentations, especially at the more popular demonstrations. Maybe it’s silly, but I kinda felt like technical questions might be a turn off to some people who wanted to know the breeds of the horses, what thier names are, what a cultivator is used for, etc. I think this speaks a little bit to the concern about the target audience… All the people who came to my draft buffer presentation were very interactive, knowledgable, and would have enjoyed a technical event. Several came to me at other times to discuss as well, so I think many other people feel pretty comfortable seeking out the people they want to talk to, introducing themselves, and learning. So, in a big way, the people that were benefitting most were pretty professional and technical in how they were approaching the meeting anyway. By the use of the words “technical” and “professional,” I don’t mean that the content must be “new technology” and “polished” or that the presenters shouldn’t be sleeping in the barn… There is definately tons or knowledge from traditional and sometimes rough (dare I say “old timey”?) users of draft animals that needs passed down to myself and others. I think there is alot of interest in this as well and these talks/demos seem to fit well to. It’s a shame that by picking a target audience, you kinda have to abandon one or the other… It is definately important to attract new animal users, and maybe I’m just being greedy by supporting content that I personally find interesting, but that’s my vote nonetheless. I really did enjoy the event as it was.

[Rod]

[QUOTE=Carl Russell;

…We also feel that along with the shortcomings of farmer/presenters comes a different type of validity that can’t be gotten in more polished arenas……

Carl

I agree and thought the speakers were great, (I especially liked the lumber camp joke), and find it to be refreshing to hear real people who are doing real things speak about their experiences. We are a hands on group and most of us probably relate best to the same.

I had a thought on the fees and admission cost and the obstacle course on Sunday (which sounded like fun). Would it be possible to schedule events where folks could bring their animals and either compete, participate or have workshops which included hands on stuff with each participants animal.

I noticed this year it seemed like more folks were doing this on an ad hock basis I assume and were participating in some way. If this were formalized and opened up to members only (the $50 crowd) or have entry fees if you bring your animals I think it could not only add interest but might enhance the income picture as well. In effect their would be two tiers of participants, the public or lookers and those interested in the deeper shared experiences, showing off their animals, and hands on training/workshops, professionals so to speak although somehow this term does not quite fit.

Think about it, through the DAP forum we almost know the participants animals as much as we do the posters. It would be nice to see some of them in action or in training workshops etc.

[jac]

Over here the Royal Highland Show costs the equivelent to $30 a day to get into… there are no workshops , the food is crap and expensive, the exhibiters all pay a fortune to attend.. and it now has a pile of stalls selling cheap rubbish !! All this to try and attract numbers in the general public. I cant comment on Tunbridge but from what I’ve read you certainly dont want to cheapen it by turning it into a glorified fair. Attract the general public that are genuinly interested in the movement but not those that see it as a place to take the kids for a day out because there is nothing else on… just my tuppence worth..
John

[mitchmaine]

less is always more, isn’t it?
a few hundred people on that fairgrounds who all really want to be there and are excited about it gives each of us more room and freedom to get involved in small discussions here and there, or roam around and actually see what there is to see with some peace and quiet. worth $50 bucks to me. no carnivals, please.
and thanks again for all the invisible stuff that happens when nobodys looking to make stuff like tunbridge happen.

mitch

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