Finding new carvers

[DickB]

Hi everyone,
I belong to a small group of aging carvers. We meet once a week carve a little-talk a lot. We would like to get some new blood(no pun intended). Kicked around the idea of having a display at a local library with a sheet to gather contact info of interested people. The subject came up of having classes to introduce basic wood carving, however, the issue of liability arose.
Would this be a problem? Any suggestions or other ideas to attract new folks?
Thanks,
DickB

[Magicman]

Hi Dick
My Club has Demos at the local libraries and we have picked up a few new members that way. We also demo at the State Fair and a few of the local Festivals all of these things seems to generate some interest. I can't help on the liability thing we have shown people how to make the various cuts and things while carving but have not let them handle the knives and gouges. You might try a little soap carving with a simple pattern and plastic knives to kind of simulate the carving of wood. Just an idea.
Larry

[bbowers]

Our club displays & carves at a couple of local events to get out in front of the public. We also hold an annual weekend open house where we display completed carvings & carve too. We promote it with the local media & by handing out business card size flyers with the dates & times. It always attracts a few people that "always wanted to try carving". We are doing a beginners class right now. 10 people signed up & I think 8 will finish. I'm hopeful 3-4 will hang on & join the group. We haven't done a beginners class for awhile. Usually we try to pair up a new carver with an existing member & do some one on one. I think the class idea seemed less of a commitment for some.

[Bob K.]

You might try having a club booth at a local craft fair.

[DickB]

Larry, Barry, Bob,
Thanks for the great suggestions. Doing demo's sounds like a good idea. I like the one-on-one instruction. Bob, we just missed the opportunity for a great craft show. Maybe next year.
Thanks
DickB

[kdispoto]

My club's membership has doubled since I joined. Here are some of the things I initiated...
1. Started a newsletter.
2. Created a simple website. www.JerseyHillsWoodCarvers.com
3. Signed up or renewed our club name and contact info with many carving and woodworking magazines (such as WCI) and websites.
4. Provided carving demonstrations and exhibits at local libraries.
5. Provided carving demonstrations and exhibits at our county fair.
6. Provided carving demonstrations for both boy scouts and girl scouts.
7. Invited local newspapers (both print & internet types) to our meetings.

You could also get other ideas from reading the articles of other clubs in Chip Chats - see what they've been doing.

Good Luck!

[Bill102M]

Expose your club to new people whenever and where ever you can! The local library is a great source of new people interested in carving. Cub scout, and boy scout troops are also a source of new members. Liability, is an issue in the times we live. As a young child I travelled from Toronto Canada To Fort Lauderdale sleeping in the back window of my dad's Merc. Not all things change for the better.