Woodworking events and gatherings range from large trade shows displaying the latest tools and materials to local woodworking festivals celebrating craftsmanship. For hobbyist and professional woodworkers alike, these lively happenings provide great opportunities to spark creativity, gain knowledge, network with peers, showcase talent, and appreciate the art of woodcraft.
| Takeaway | Description |
|---|---|
| Types of Events | – Multi-day trade shows like AWFS Vegas and IWF Atlanta – Local woodworking festivals and county fairs – Educational conferences and seminars – Competitions and exhibitions to showcase work |
| Choosing Events | – Identify goals for attending – Evaluate location, dates, and budget – Consider size and scope based on needs |
| Getting the Most Value | – Prepare logistics and research options – Make connections through conversations – Showcase your own woodworking |
| Safety Tips | – Wear protective gear like closed-toe shoes – Bring finishing supplies to competitions |
| Follow-up | – Collect contact info to connect post-event – Use sites like LinkedIn to continue dialogues |
| Exhibiting & Selling | – Review guidelines before attempting sales – Shipping preparations important for large items |
| Vendor Questions | – Ask about power, weight, safety etc. when buying tools |
Types of Woodworking Events
Multi-Day Woodworking Trade Shows
Massive, energetic trade shows attract tens of thousands of attendees and hundreds of exhibitors in cavernous convention halls. The largest annual woodworking trade shows in North America include AWFS Vegas for cabinetry and furniture manufacturing and IWF Atlanta showcasing machining, finishing, tooling, and supplies. Wandering the bustling aisles viewing fine exhibits of equipment, materials, and supplies provides outstanding access to the latest industry innovations with chances to connect with manufacturers and suppliers. Many shows also offer valuable educational talks and live demonstrations revealing tips, techniques, and safety information useful for all experience levels of woodworkers.
The Association of Woodworking & Furnishing Suppliers (AWFS) trade show occurs every two years with the next event scheduled for July 19-22, 2023 in Las Vegas.
Local Woodworking and Craft Festivals
For family-friendly entertainment blended with woodworking demonstrations and activities, county fairs, craft festivals, and cultural celebrations often include interesting woodworking components. California’s annual Kinetic Sculpture Race dubbed “The Triathlon of the Art World” features teams racing handmade wooden sculpture/vehicles over 42 miles of road, water, and sand. Smaller community wood shows attract local wood artisans selling wares from wood carvings to custom furniture pieces. Luthiers may display handmade guitars and ukuleles while offering instrument construction and repair tips. Such folksy gatherings let you glean hands-on advice from experienced woodworkers in relaxed environments ideal for all ages to embrace woodcraft hobbies.
The North Carolina Woodworking shows are a series of one-day regional events held annually in Raleigh, Winston-Salem, and Asheville.
Woodworking Lectures, Conferences and Seminars
For those seeking more concentrated learning opportunities, multi-day conferences dedicated specifically to woodworking education allow intimate access to industry leaders. Renowned masters demonstrate specialized techniques to packed audiences during hour-long presentations about finishing methods, wood bending, veneering, marquetry inlay, carving Relief, using CNC machines, and much more. Valuable question and answer sessions often follow each talk. Smaller group seminars let participants get hands-on guidance applying the latest research about moisture meters, solar kilns, or business tax tips relevant to custom wood studios. These intensive workshops for advancing woodworking skills also facilitate networking with fellow artisans.
The Woodworking Shows provide full-day seminars focused on specific woodworking topics like cabinet building, woodturning, or hand-cut joinery.
Woodworking Contests and Exhibitions
Skilled hobbyists and professionals alike enjoy opportunities to showcase fine workmanship through juried woodworking competitions seeking the highest quality pieces. Entries categories cover the gamut from traditional furniture, carving, woodturning, marquetry, and sculpture to innovative uses of recycled materials and CNC-machined components. For example, the AWFS Visionary New Product Awards spotlights cutting edge designs while the annual Wood Diamond Awards hosted at local wood shows recognizes superior craftsmanship in years-long constructions of challenging Works-in-Progress. Winners earn coveted titles publicizing their mastery. Exhibition spaces allow both contest entrants and other creators to display Collections for public appreciation and potential sales. Vendors of hand-crafted wares from wood utensils to rustic furniture often exhibit together at these vending venues.
Choosing Woodworking Events
Identify Your Goals
Consider what motivates you to attend wood events so you select those offerings the experiences meeting your aims whether expanding woodworking knowledge through demonstrations and lectures, networking to find clients or collaborators, comparing your skills against top woodworkers by entering contests, or exhibiting your peculiar style of wood crafts. Setting clear goals before registering helps match events to your personal objectives.
Evaluate Location and Budget
If deciding among several potential woodworking events, investigate the locations and ticket costs to judge travel feasibility and total expenses. Comparing entry fees, hotel rates, transportation options (fly versus drive distance), and availability of free local shuttles can determine the best values for your budget. Consider sharing costs by inviting friends along or coordinate room shares with other attendees to reduce lodging bills. If you plan to transport large contest entries or market wares in exhibit booths cross-country, make sure to reserve vehicle rentals or trailer hitches well in advance of event dates.
Consider Event Size and Scope
Huge trade spectaculars in massive convention complexes offer unbelievable access to cutting edge tools and equipment options not always accessible in smaller venues, but can seem overwhelming navigating the enormous halls. Alternatively, humble county fairs provide friendly, folksy vendor and demonstration hubs letting families casually engage artisans while the kids enjoy rides and 4H animal barns between sawdust sessions. Regionally focused woodworking seminars or competitions may provide more targeted networking and education options with others sharing similar wood species availabilities and local market interests.
Getting the Most from Attending Woodworking Events
Prep Logistics and Research Options
Register early once you select target events to get best rates and ensure space for popular hands-on classes that fill quickly. Study floor plans and maps to plot efficient routes between far-flung halls. Download exhibitor lists and mark top attractions on schedules to maximize time management wandering long aisles. Pack effectively with comfortable shoes, surge protectors, device chargers, medication, snacks avoiding costly venue prices, and collapsible carts lugging purchases from vendor booths. Ship bulky display props and contest entries early paying attention to deadline receiving policies.
Make Connections through Conversations
Getting the most value from time invested attending woodworking events requires engaging others beyond just passive observing. Strike up conversations everywhere possible whether standing in registration lines, resting tired feet while scrutinizing competition entries, or asking exhibitors questions about displayed products. People attending share your interests sointeractions unfold easily, especially if you ask their advice demonstrating you value their perspectives. Always accept offered business cards to enable future follow-up and take photos exchanging contact info to continue dialogs after the hubbub dies down. Custom furniture makers may discover interior designer collaborators and carvers connect with stone sculpture artists by simply saying friendly hellos that start meaningful conversations.
Showcase Your Work and Skills
While watching world-class demonstrations and contests builds appreciation, nothing substitutes for hands-on creating experience. So be bold displaying your own wood projects and talents at gatherings that include public audience participation and judged competitions. Carefully review contest guidelines and voting criteria to present pieces optimizing your chances winning awards. Whether participating in highly competitive venues or local county fairs, expect to answer lots of questions about your wood selection, joinery choices, finishing processes, carving methods, and polishing techniques. These exchanges let you articulate mastery helping build reputation as knowledgeable wood artisans. Always showcase best work to establish styles and skills that may open future client commissions or consignment sales opportunities.
FAQ About Woodworking Events
Q: What safety gear should I wear to woodworking trade shows?
A: Close-toed shoes, hearing protection for loud machinery halls, and dust masks when sanding or sawing demos release fine airborne particles.
Q: Can I earn Continuing Education credits attending woodworking seminars?
A: Yes, many conferences provide certificates of completion with CEUcontact hour credits for each class attended.
Q: What tools should I pack if driving to attend distant competitions?
A: Bring all sculpting chisels, gouges, and files needed for last minute fine-tuning plus finishing supplies like touch-up markers, steel wool, and wiping rags.
Q: Is there an easy way to follow-up with interesting people I met at conferences?
A: Collect emails and phone numbers but also send connection requests on sites like LinkedIn to continue conversations after events conclude.
Q: Can I sell my hand-crafted goods without registering as a trade show exhibitor?
A: Most shows prohibit sales without formal vendor booths rented. But non-profit groups may allow donation-based exchanges.
Q: Should I ship large contest entries early or transport myself?
A: Review receiving policies. Shipping prepared crates with handling instructions often safest despite added fees.
Q: What questions should I ask vendors about machines or tools that interest me?
A: Ask about available power options, weight, noise levels, balance, safety features, warranties, and training support.
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Below are three external links that could be relevant to this article:
2024 woodworking showshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qdz5Xz7iM9Mhttps://www.thewoodworkingshows.com/