Guilds and Associations

R Dockrell

R Dockrell

Joined
Mar 26, 2000
Messages
658
Are there any knifemakers groups that do not have the requirement to attend a given number of shows in a set number of years.
I want to join a Guild or association but the ones I have looked at all seem to have a stipulation like you must attend 3 shows in 5 years.
I live in the middle of timbuck F**k and the nearest international airport is a 3 hr drive. I can also not afford the world wide travel at this point in time.
I have no problem in sending knives to be inspected on a regular basis. Just the required travel.
 
Robert, I am a member of The American Bladesmith Society and I dont remember reading anywhere that Im supposed to attend 3 shows. Did I miss something? I was required to be in Atlanta for my journeyman judging but even that could have been done without my presence by special request.
 
Bruce,you are right.ABS does not require you to be at shows.You could have sent your knives to be inspected.This is a great group and we would be glad to have you. Robert Washburn ABS Journeyman Smith
 
I guess the one guild that has the requirement to attend shows is the Canadian Knifemakers Guild. There is no way at this time that I can travel 2000 miles every 3rd year to a knifeshow. They are out of the question for that reason and that requirement really pi$$e$ me off and they seem to be the only group with that requirement.

Thanks for the invite to the ABS but in all reality even though I make my own damascus now I still only hammer forge about 4 or 5 knives a year. 80% of what I do is stock removal.

The PKA and the Montana Knifemakers Association are looking very attractive to me right now.
Any members of the above two willing to offer any insights, here or by E mail is OK.

I have not been able to find a Western Canadian based group. Does anyone know of one. I am willing to travel but would like to keep it to a minimum after all I'm just a working stiff.
 
Im a member of the ABS and The Montana Knifemakers Association. I reccomend them both. Our show in Missoula was so much fun this year. For Rick Dunkerlys birthday someone hired a cross-dresser to come into the show and totally embarrass him!
 
If you do not want to go to the shows you are missing out on the major benefit of belonging to a guild or association. If all you want is information the net will satisfy that need nicely.

Shows provide an interaction in real time with other knifemakers that is invaluable so if you don't find a group to join at least get out to some shows.
 
I'm not yet a member of the canadian knifemakers quild but it only apears to have guild shows in Ontario,living on vancouver island thats a long way..How about a guild show out west..Surely we have enough knifemakers out here.
 
The problem is that I do want to go to shows. But travel to Ontario 2000 miles away is a big time and money investment that I can not afford at this time.
Were as I could go to a show or two a year in Montana for almost three straight years for the price of going to one show in Ontario. And the Montana shows are within a days drive of were I live.
However the thing that probably keeps me from joining the Canadian Guild is that I would have to go to at least one show in 3 years or loss membership and I have been told that the Canadian shows will continue to ALWAYS be in Toronto. It seems like they have told the rest of Canada to take it or leave it.
 
The Guild show is in Toronto by default. It was located in Toronto initially because Toronto had the only ongoing series of shows, the Canadian Knife Collectors Club shows which ran 4 times per year.

These shows were successful in spite of virtually no advertising because of the local population base, there are about 5 million people within a couple of hour's drive of the show venue. It simply made sense to locate where an existing show was operating successfully. Regrettably the collectors club has folded.

There is no hard and fast rule that the show must be held in Toronto, if a majority of the members voted to move it then the show would move.

One of the arguements for staying in Toronto is the experience of the American Guild in moving it's show around the country, some venues don't attract flies. This is possibly due to low local interest or difficulty of collectors in reaching the destination. Shows which are resident in the same location year after year tend to build a repeat clientel.

The only way to change the policy is from within the guild so join and try or forget about it.

PS The vice president of the Guild lives in Alberta, give Greg Lightfoot a call.
 
Originally posted by george tichbourne
One of the arguements for staying in Toronto is the experience of the American Guild in moving it's show around the country, some venues don't attract flies.
Click to expand...

George, your wrong!:) One thing we did have in New Orleans was flies.:D

I know it can get boring and inconvenient for some makers, staying at the same location all the time. But, I go to shows to sell my knives. Right now, Orlando has been the best, with Las Vegas close behind.

Stay Safe,

A.T.
 
George
I have talked with Greg at the Western Canadian Knifemakers Symposium. I was told the show is in Toronto to stay period. When I asked about regional shows I was told the CKG was not interested.
As a group The CKG sounds pretty stuck on Toronto and I can't blame them for that, as that is where all the population base is. But it sounds like there are some pretty succesfull shows held in a lot smaller places in Montana and other western states. Could the same thing evolve in say Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver,or any other major western point.
 
Robert,this is only a suggestion,but maybe you could get in touch with other western Canadian knifemakers,and start doing your own thing where it is convenient for all of you,ie:Put on your own shows,start your own regional knifemaking assoc.,etc.Just a thought.
 
Robert you could get together with a couple of other makers and put a show on locally. If it is successful it will grow and attract more makers and then more customers etc. What makes for a sucessful show?
Location, location,location.

Location #1 is location relative to customer base...the larger the local population the more likely you can get a good turnout.

Location #2 is near international air transportation to make it easier for out of town makers and buyers to get there.

Location #3 is a hotel or tourist area with adequate accomodation for out of town people at an affordable rate. Holiday Inn price range. With a large well lit exhibition area.

Going to be expensive to put on? Of course but table fees should cover exhibit area costs with gate price going into contingency fund to advertise next year's show.

Why won't the show move?.. no viable Canadian alternative to the present location currently exists that boasts a tradition of holding successful knife shows. Building a new local population of knife enthusiasts takes a long time and a lot of money.

Like A.T. I go to shows to sell knives.
 
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