I'm sorry it came across that way, Dave. If you want to be financially embarrassed take it up professionally! You'll quickly find out about financial embarrassment. Earning a living from what was once a loved hobby very quickly takes the enjoyment away when you have to worry about making rent, business rates, insurance, vehicle upkeep, stock purchases of timber Etc., utilities and consumables, and all the other sundry things that come with doing it as a business. So please don't imagine that all "professional" turners are rolling in it to the extent that the seminar fee is an acceptable loss. I suspect for most it isn't.
My point was that in comparison to most (if not all) hobby seminars (and a few years ago David Buskell did the research to support this) are substantially more costly.
The EC have always negotiated very hard to keep costs down; we have to because it is self financing and we do not use member subscriptions to fund it...that would be clearly unfair on those members that cannot ever attend for whatever reasons.
The costs you quote are actually almost 50% personal choice. You don't have to take another £200 to spend. The all-in fee covers all meals and coffee/tea Etc., and so if you don't want to spend the evenings in the bar, and not all delegates do, then the cost is the cost. Of course there are fuel or rail costs, but these can be shared or rail tickets booked online early with a large discount. We do have it at Loughborough because it is as geographically central as we can find a venue with suitable facilities and logistics to provide for our needs.
The only part I take actual umbrage with is this persistent claim of elitism. If it is there it is there only in the eyes of the person who perceives it.
The Instant Gallery is set up as a display of work from delegates, and I cannot see any reason not to display the work of noted professional, or simply successful (as there are as many non-professional successful turners as the alternative) in prominent positions. Any gallery would do the same. People don't go the RA summer show to see Mr's Jones' from Barking watercolour of a field scene, they go for the big names and the rest is a bonus. And in truth, the feedback we receive indicates that most people who go to look are looking for the work of the well known turners because that's where they predominantly draw inspiration from. In fact quite often you can see the influence of past IG's in the work submitted by hobbyist delegates. And that's always nice to see....you know that it's making a mark.
The seminar is put on as a member benefit. The aim, always, is to inspire, inform and hopefully entertain. And in so doing it promotes woodturning, encourages progression and the development of ideas and techniques, and helps to ensure the continuation of our craft. And it doesn't matter if you're Joe Bloggs from a shed in Sheffield or Nick Agar from a studio in Devon - you can still be inspired, informed and entertained. And at £384 for the full all-inclusive standard accommodation package I think that's damned good value.
