Jimmy Williams asks for ideas to increase our relevance, reach and bring in new blood (eg. kids).
I’ve probably said much of this before, but there’s a couple of new ideas, a couple of ideas expressed differently, plus you asked.
We should take an embrace and extend attitude to knotting figures, whether they are new or enduring. We should be giving them free memberships (a year or a lifetime depending on their scale of their contributions) and once they accept, we should resoundingly claim them as our own.
eg. Philippe Petit made a splash with his book. Fortunately he is already a member. This should not stop us from publicly congratulating him when he hits bestseller lists or best of the year lists.
eg. who is Grog of Animated Knots fame? Is he/she/they a person or a team or a corporation? We should find out and give the originator a membership
similarly find out the knot content creator(s) involved in Columbia’s (clothing, outdoors co) knot app and recognize them.
eg. we should give lifetime memberships + some form of award to Lydia Chen, Eun-Young Kim, and Hee-Jin Kim. Now, while they are still alive. Bruce Grant? John Turner? I’m sure there are other luminaries, equally deserving in mizuhiki, climbing, fishing, etc.
We should create and give out annual awards for achievements in knots, teaching, book of the year, etc.
A small group of guild members should stand ready to newsjack any knot-related stuff that happens. (more on newsjacking here, here, and here). We should talk about the historical context of knotworks, we should provide how-tos as much as possible (eg. Janelle Mona?'s music video, knot related home-dec trends, celebrity neck tie stuff, any cool knot-related recreations or archaeological finds, cosplay, etc.)
Crafts are often very silo-ed, blindered and individual. We should forge formal alliances and offer content to their newsletters and publications and invite reciprocation. Including but not limited to: The Braid Society, theoretical mathematicians+other scientists, the ropemakers, basket makers, needle workers, arbourists, climbers, fishers, theatre riggers, etc.
Make sure the museums and media know where to go if they want accurate recreation assistance or information in general. Publish news releases when we do help (if possible) and make sure the contact information is out there, the types or expertise that is available, etc.
International outreach. Formally contact the Chinese knotters in China, Taiwan; maedeup tyers in Korea;the Spanish macram? collective; etc; etc
Create scout/guide leaders guides to knots. Create an IGKT demonstrators certification program. Create a best practices checklist (materials and examples to have). Teach and certify people. Support and communicate with them. Create a directory of demonstrators.
I’m going to plug Makerfaires in particular, again, as a young growing community open to learning exactly this kind of handcraft.
This is all good stuff and whether or not one agrees with all that KnotMe says it is at least worthy of serious consideration by those who run the Guild. I for one would like to see minutes of Trustees meetings and Management Committee meetings posted on the main website so that members can see what the Guild management are actually doing - from experience as Secretary I can say that little if anything discussed would need to be removed for publication.
WRT Janelle Mona?'s music video. If her style of music is so much noise and unbearable to you, this is a direct link to the most interesting and knot-related part of the video: [url=http://][/url]
Back then I also supported the idea of helping equip members for formal demos. Have done three Aus Wooden Boat Festivals with m’learned friends Bowline and Snapper Dave (and for one, happily, wydonknot and Colin Grundy) and learned a lot real quick. I’m sure many of our elder statesmen have pearls of wisdom to share.
Even if the IGKT didn’t go as far as a certified demonstrator program, a lot of experience and gotchas to watch out for could still be recorded and passed on in demo guidelines. If My Ladyship may quote 'erself from the previous thread:
Demonstration guidance could cover, amongst other things, insurance and other legal stuff, physical security for your books/tools/handiwork, simple physical aids for demonstrating knots and braids, examples of knots that work well for on-the-spot teaching, how to set up your stand or workspace for security/visual appeal/your own comfort, hints for packing your gear for quick set up and tear down for events lasting more than a day, suggested types and lengths of cordage to have on hand, the kinds of questions people frequently ask and suggested responses, etc.
I don’t know how guidance-y it is, but here’s my previous post about Maker Faire including pictures of my displays. Seriously, I cannot recommend a knot table highly enough. If I can make one, anyone can make one, and people seem to love them.
I have displayed at various venues closing in on a dozen times I think, and I’ve never had any security issues. But then I’m not Loren, and I don’t have anything on the order of, say, a nice braided leather whip or anything not of the “little bits of string” (or wire) variety. My jewelry pieces are clearly made of common materials not worth planning crimes for. I’m pretty sure my cards from the games are slowly disappearing, but I think that’s a misunderstanding from people who think they are give-aways. My tools I keep behind/under the table and that seems sufficient. I have considered if ever I was going to exhibit at something really big like the Bay Area Maker Faire that I might take my loose knots and sew them down onto display boards so that whimsy and chaos would not create lossage.
WRT cordage, I have used and demo’d with everything from satin cord, paracord, braided line, and jump ropes. Everything but laid line methinks and it all works fine. Whatever you’re comfortable with.
Since I’m mostly decorative, the questions I was asked are unlikely to be what you would be asked, so maybe others can contribute something more relevant for you.
Its not very often that I get involved, but this items does get me annoyed. Ive been a Guild member since 1986 and since 1990 I’ve been asked to give demos talks and workshops by many organisations, these being Women’s Institute groups, The Liverpool Maritime Museum, Ellesmere Port Boat Museum, The National Trust and many Local Authorities. I am dissapointed with the response from the Council of the IGKT, when I have asked them for support. Even as a council member and as an Hon’ Sec’ I felt that I was banging my head against a brick wall. I did receive some support from Brian Field, we suggested that the Guild could hold a Demonstrators Workshop at an AGM. Our idea was to invite all knot tyers who demonstrate and give talks so that we could pick up and pass on tips and tricks. What happened, nothing. What I would like the Guild to do, is produce banners, promotional items, clothing, all displaying the IGKT logo. With all the money the Guild has in its coffers it could very easily support us. Don’t the Council want new young members. I’m still willing to get involved if someone asks, but I wont hold my breath.
This is probably not what you want to hear, but WRT signage, I had mine made at the local Kinkos. I think it was somewhere between $20-35 or so, but I could be remembering wrong. It was a 4 or 5 ft banner printed in black and white. The logo I had printed separately in colour. The whole works laminated together and grommets put into the 4 corners. At the size it is, I think mailing one back and forth would not be cost effective (at least on the North American scale. In the UK if you could maybe hand one around physically and it might make sense to make a waterproof fabric one for better durability).
IGKTPAB has a box of display stuff they are willing to send to members displaying, given enough warning. So, that’s guild support on the branch level.
I’ve attached the info cards I give out (printed on regular paper and cut), and the logo I used (biggest one I could find) for the banner.
I would have attached the banner itself, but it’s too large (plus PAB specific), as is the knotted dragonfly instructions (although I am perfectly willing to contribute them to the guild materials).
WRT guild logo stuff, I’ve been doing research on Print on Demand (POD) stuff. Mainly t-shirt centred, but also mugs, mousepads, etc.
http://tshirtspotlight.com/shopkeeper-resources/how-to-start-your-own-t-shirt-shop/
http://teesinapod.blogspot.ca/2010/05/which-pod-gets-your-nod_12.html (includes some interesting basic info)
Note that the general consensus is that if you want t-shirts on hand (i.e. not print on demand fulfillment, but if you?re taking on stock) that http://www.bluecotton.com/ is highly recommended.
Bowline and self managed to shake down to a system that worked onboard the May Queen for the four days we had “set up shop”, but the point I think Dave and I are making is not so much about finding answers for ourselves but about something the Guild might consider providing support and guidelines for, especially for newbies.
(Noting of course that yes, we can also share helpful hints among ourselves!)
Firstly, I must mention that the IGKT did support Barry Mault and myself by paying for some cord when we ran a workshop for the Blind Veterans UK Centre in Llandudno last August (see “Knotting Matters”, issue 120). Barry and I have been invited back in 2014. These, incidentally, are voluntary workshops where neither Barry nor I seek payment.
However, when it comes to shows, demonstrations, workshops and talks, I DO promote the IGKT but do NOT do it as an IGKT event. I will always acknowledge any help from the IGKT of course.
I am a member of Toastmasters International, and seek speaking engagements for which I am paid.
I am unwilling to organise an event representing the IGKT, because it is much easier not to - no bureaucracy to deal with, just me and a third party who can make quick decisions. I repeat that I will promote the IGKT wherever I can, but I never claim to represent the Guild.
On top of which, any event where payment is involved could cause problems with the Guild’s charitable status, unless all monies go to the Guild. Let’s face it - the IGKT does not need any more money; in fact I think it needs to spend more!
Historically, it seems that many members do what I do, i.e. hold events off their own backs, because involving the Guild is more trouble than it’s worth. Support is fine, but representing the Guild involves too much hassle.
There have been a few posts here now, and I pray that we can all stay polite and I hope the thread doesn’t degenerate into a slanging match and slinging of insults (that’s why I have resisted posting in recent times)!
Phil - just to be clear, I’m talking about general guidelines for the art of demo-ing. I’m not talking about paid demos or formally representing the Guild as opposed to promoting it, or expecting the Guild to pay for materials.
It is possible to provide general guidance to members who are called on to provide demos without it involving “representing the Guild”.
That’s not to talk across your point, just to clarify mine.
The Guild has taken out public liability insurance to cover members demonstrating knots to the public on behalf of the IGKT. Some members have their own insurance but either way event organisers usually require proof of indemnity. In order to be sure that you are covered UK members are required to let me know in advance which events they are attending on behalf of the Guild (this is to avoid a problem later if a claim arises). An email is all that is needed with details of the event (date, venue and approximate time will do).
In case members outside of the UK are wondering, the Guild cannot arrange insurance with a UK insurer if the risk is outside the UK (unless it is a UK member temporarily abroad) - they simply will not offer cover.
Carol - Thank you for starting this thread!!! And thank all of you that have offered “constructive” ideas. Some of you have EXCELLENT ideas that seem to be more in line for the Guild itself. I have also received a few messages via e-mail with valuable suggestions. I will have to digest all of the information received so I can reply without putting both feet in my mouth (hopefully). I will say that my intent is to seek help from the IGKT for the PAB (& other branches not in the UK) in promoting the Guild itself. I don’t know if other branches are experiencing the same issues, but I kinda feel like a “red headed step child”! Please keep up the dialogue Carol has begun as there are probably many more ideas out there in addition to the really GREAT suggestions we already have.
In the North West (of England) we have had polo shirts and fleece jackets embroidered with the Guild logo and “North West Branch” and I’m sure others have done the same. Individual members paid for these of course. Although I have more than one blazer badge the Guild could take a more corporate approach to banners, clothing and material - the current leaflet is looking a bit dated for example - in order for us to be more recognisable at shows. Too often we seek volunteers to help with design, publicity etc when with the funds we have there is scope to employ professionals to give us a ‘makeover’ taking account of the different nationalities. Running simple training events especially for first timers, is a great idea - start with a couple of trials and see what works. Then write the manual for trainers to help deliver events anywhere locally - if nothing else let’s try and get some members to come out of their shell, they might even enjoy it!
