Hi Michaelb,
interactive remote demos are not new, we started with them back in 2017, having Lyle Jamieson demo to us at an outside venue. We then had delays as we had to get access to the wifi at our venue, which we did in mid 2019. We then planned 3 remote demos to the venue, we had two there and the last one, Emiliano Achaval, had to be switched to a "direct to home".
In our venue, members watch the demo on a large projector screen and we have a roving mic so they can ask the demonstrator questions and get an instant answer. Members who do not attend can be given a link to the Zoom call.
Video conferencing is not new but it is new to woodturning. We (Cheam) and other clubs see this as a way to supplement our live demo program but obviously in these troubled times, we have had to resort to interactive remote demos to fill our program.
The Lucid Woodturners group has strived to educate, advise and to maintain standards for anyone who is interested in rehinking demonstrations, be they a demonstrator or a club. Do check out the likes of Phil Irons, Cindy Drozda, Mike Mahoney, Trent Bosch, Glenn Lucas, Paul Hannaby and the 40 or so others who offer IRD's and individual tuition.
Some clubs just use Zoom for chats between members, workshop tours etc. Another way to keep in touch with members.
Happy to give you more info if you are in on the AWGB session tonight.