Question about the Albuquerque Symposium

[Tom Lewis]

I have been a member of the AAW for several years but the Albuquerque Symposium will be my first experience at a AAW Symposium and I am really looking forward to it.
It seems like I remember reading something to the effect that womens purses and mens backpacks were not allowed inside the last AAW Symposium. Is that true? Will purses and backpacks be allowed inside the Albuquerque symposium?
Also, any advice you have to give to a first time symposium attender would be appreciated.
I might also mention that if you have the time when in New Mexico, the Carlsbad Caverns is really worth seeing. Carlsbad NM is about a 4 1/2 hr drive from Albuquerque.
Also if you like caves, the Carlsbad Caverns National Park has a cave called Slaughter Canyon Cave where the only light in the cave is the one you and the others in the group carry.
The Carlsbad Caverns also have guided "off trail" trips which are worth while if you like caving. If you are interested in this, go to the Carlsbad Caverns National Park web site for more information.
The Guadalupe Mountains National Park is also close to Carlsbad and they have a web site.
There is lots to do and see in New Mexico.

 

[Rob Wallace]

Good to do your homework before arriving at the Symposium

I have been a member of the AAW for several years but the Albuquerque Symposium will be my first experience at a AAW Symposium and I am really looking forward to it.
It seems like I remember reading something to the effect that womens purses and mens backpacks were not allowed inside the last AAW Symposium. Is that true? Will purses and backpacks be allowed inside the Albuquerque symposium?

Hi Tom:

Backpacks (...with owners of either gender!) and purses ARE allowed in many parts of the Symposium (during rotations/demonstrations, in the Trade Show, in food areas) but they are not allowed in the Instant Gallery and other certain other exhibits. There are designated areas where you can put your backpack/purse that are intended to be "secure" and supervised by volunteer staff, who are supposed to keep an eye on them. Unfortunately, I am aware of one case last year at Richmond where a purse was apparently stolen while the owner was in the Instant Gallery. I hope there will be a better system for securing individual's property (particularly at the Instant Gallery) than the line of freely accessible tables that we had in Richmond.

Also, any advice you have to give to a first time symposium attender would be appreciated.

[The following was cut and pasted from the recent "Who's going to Albuquerque" thread]


Some recommendations for the first-time Symposium goer can be found HERE.

My advice for your first symposium: In addition to attending the rotations that you think will improve your turning technique the most, be sure to visit the Instant Gallery (program at least 2-3 hours for this, at a MINIMUM, and look at everything carefully - make notes and sketches if you feel the need to "capture the inspiration"!) and spend time in the Trade Show (be sure to check your wallet frequently and keep track of how much you spend - this is one of my biggest "flaws" - I like too much stuff!)

The link to the 2009 AAW Symposium page can be found HERE , and more specifically, you can have a look at the grid of demonstrators and their topics by going HERE and downloading the extensive table showing days and times for each rotation. A handy, printable "Take-along" schedule can be downloaded and printed from HERE.

The list of Trade Show VENDORS can be found HERE.

You also can have a look at many images from previous AAW Symposia from the AAW's web site to get an idea of what to expect. Have a look HERE for images from the 2008 Symposium in Richmond, VA

I hope this information can give you some insight into what to expect at the end of June in Albuquerque!

Look for me when you get to the Symposium..... I'll be the enthusiastic, moderate sized, middle-aged guy with a beard who looks like a woodturner - along with 600+ of my clones....

Rob Wallace

 

[hockenbery]

Tom,
You will have a great time!

Gallery exhibitons usually restrict Purses and backpacks, imagine someone turning around inadvertently sweeping their bag over the table. Who wants to add a broken piece to their collection?

Regarding demonstrations: I suggest focusing on 3-4 you would like to see. all the demonstrations will be excellent but some will center more on what you want to learn about. I've been fortunate to attend a dozen AAWs and only seen one demonstration I would not watch again.

Use the web site and the AAW journal descriptions to make a list of demos you want to see. Also pick one demo you think you have no interest in. I often go see a segmentation demo and I never glue more than three pieces of wood together but some of those segmenters do some cool stuff.

Be sure to see the Talk Thursday night By Versery and Martin.
Friday night check out the special interest sessions.
Be sure to spend some time watching the resident Artist.
Bring 3 pieces to share in the instant gallery.
Bring a small notebook. You'll want to jot down ideas.
Attend the auction and banquet consider buying a piece.
Visit the exhibitions and instant galley
Introduce yourself to at least 5 people.

Consider volunteering to be a room assistant or possibly a teaching assistant in the youth classes. As a room assistance you can usually see most of the demo. Teaching assistant you get to help kids and learn first hand how to work with kids and possibly add a project to you bag of tricks.

have a child, niece, nephew, grandchild 10-17 ? Bring them to participate in the youth turning.

One more thing about the Caverns. The bat flight is spectacular. They are only there for the summer. One of the few places on earth you can see millions of animals at once.

The sympsoium is open for about 48 hours. It would take about 50 hours just to see the instant gallery and there are 250 hours of demonstrations.

Happy turning,
Al

 

[Tom Lewis]

Thanks for the answers. Another question. Are there any areas where cameras are restricted?

 

[Steve Worcester]

Thanks for the answers. Another question. Are there any areas where cameras are restricted?

Technically, not that I have seen. As a demonstrator (not there), flash is disrupting, but otherwise, ask the guy at the front.