claybair on thu 19 may 05
Hi Lee,
I have to tell you that there are factors that can=20
throw off someone's customary excellent workshops.
One years ago was with a famous potter.
I was psyched because I love his work and=20
friends of mine had raved about his workshop.
Well, my experience was the opposite.
He seemed tired, distracted and spent
the bulk of the workshop working
verrrry slowly on some teabowls.=20
He took 2 days to complete those teabowls,
when I/we "got" his technique after 2 of them.
Towards the very end he rushed showing other techniques.
Then in one statement it was clear to me why
this workshop was hampered..... he said he had=20
a show coming up and he didn't have enough pieces.
So he was working on his pieces for a show and not
really focused on giving a workshop.
I never got to see a demonstration of the=20
numerous wonderful tools he teasingly had
placed on a side table.
I was very disappointed to say the least.
So.......... as far as I am concerned there are times
a very good workshop presenter may be off his/her game.
This throws arbitraries into word of mouth unless there
are numerous reports from different workshops.=20
Even then variables like particular interests, technical knowledge,=20
personal aesthetics, personalities, stages of development etc.=20
throw a monkey wrench into the works.
I think it would be awful for someone to find they are being ostracized
as workshop presenters because of 1 or 2 times they were off their game.
Best regards,
Gayle Bair
Bainbridge Island, WA
Tucson, AZ
http://claybair.com=20
-----Original Message-----
From:Lee Love
The big advantage back home, that they really don't have here in Japan,
is the workshop system.
I have never attended a bad workshop, but maybe I was spoilt living
where I did and having part of my studio at Northern Clay Center:
Snip>
What might help is if you get word-of-mouth recommendations. Go for a
purpose and not just as a consumer. Go to learn something from the
specific potter. In many cases, the students and their questions make
the teacher.
Snip>
--=20
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.322 / Virus Database: 266.11.13 - Release Date: 5/19/2005
=20
Earl Brunner on thu 19 may 05
And yet Gayle, you pay good money to go to a workshop with an expectation. Any excuse for a bad workshop is still an excuse. If you take a commitment, you have an obligation to deliver or perform the services you are being paid to perform. Anything less is considered bad form. If you do it, you should be prepared to pay a price. I find this excuse less forgiving than, personal illness, or flight problems. Each situation needs to be judged on it's own circumstances, but when participants are dissappointed, there is going to be a problem.
claybair wrote:Hi Lee,
I have to tell you that there are factors that can
throw off someone's customary excellent workshops.
One years ago was with a famous potter.
I was psyched because I love his work and
friends of mine had raved about his workshop.
Well, my experience was the opposite.
He seemed tired, distracted and spent
the bulk of the workshop working
verrrry slowly on some teabowls.
He took 2 days to complete those teabowls,
when I/we "got" his technique after 2 of them.
Towards the very end he rushed showing other techniques.
Then in one statement it was clear to me why
this workshop was hampered..... he said he had
a show coming up and he didn't have enough pieces.
So he was working on his pieces for a show and not
really focused on giving a workshop.
I never got to see a demonstration of the
numerous wonderful tools he teasingly had
placed on a side table.
I was very disappointed to say the least.
So.......... as far as I am concerned there are times
a very good workshop presenter may be off his/her game.
This throws arbitraries into word of mouth unless there
are numerous reports from different workshops.
Even then variables like particular interests, technical knowledge,
personal aesthetics, personalities, stages of development etc.
throw a monkey wrench into the works.
I think it would be awful for someone to find they are being ostracized
as workshop presenters because of 1 or 2 times they were off their game.
Best regards,
Gayle Bair
Earl Brunner
e-mail: brunv53@yahoo.com
| |
|
