Sketchup help?
- Thread starter stuartpaul
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Steve Maskery
Established Member
As someone who has been scratching around for far too long trying to earn a living, this has occurred to me more than once.
It's perfectly do-able, but it seems to me that there are a number of issues to consider. I used to write and present IT training courses back in the 80s, so I do have some understanding of what is involved.
1. Location, location and location.
One man's Central is another's Back of Beyond.
2. Facilities.
A day of watching a presenter showing how he does stuff is a sure-fire anti-insomnia fix. In order for it to sink in, the student has to do the stuff himself. That means having a computer, which means that either everyone has to bring their own laptop (which is not ideal for CAD work anyway, although as LTs get bigger it is less of a problem than it used to be), or it means hiring an IT suite and installing and testing the software a priori.
3. Preparation.
A one-day course will probably take a week to prepare. That's not very long if you can roll out the same course time and again, but if it is for a one-off, it becomes a huge overhead.
4. Level.
Just who is the intended target audience? It's likely that everyone will have at least seen SU, but some may not have used it at all, others may have a little experience but find it a struggle. If you spend all morning on the basics, those who have already done a bit may be feeling rather cheated.
If it's going to be done, it needs to be done professionally, which means all these issues need to be addressed professionally. It seems to me that that is not trivial, which is why I've never got round to doing it.
All comments welcome.
S
It's perfectly do-able, but it seems to me that there are a number of issues to consider. I used to write and present IT training courses back in the 80s, so I do have some understanding of what is involved.
1. Location, location and location.
One man's Central is another's Back of Beyond.
2. Facilities.
A day of watching a presenter showing how he does stuff is a sure-fire anti-insomnia fix. In order for it to sink in, the student has to do the stuff himself. That means having a computer, which means that either everyone has to bring their own laptop (which is not ideal for CAD work anyway, although as LTs get bigger it is less of a problem than it used to be), or it means hiring an IT suite and installing and testing the software a priori.
3. Preparation.
A one-day course will probably take a week to prepare. That's not very long if you can roll out the same course time and again, but if it is for a one-off, it becomes a huge overhead.
4. Level.
Just who is the intended target audience? It's likely that everyone will have at least seen SU, but some may not have used it at all, others may have a little experience but find it a struggle. If you spend all morning on the basics, those who have already done a bit may be feeling rather cheated.
If it's going to be done, it needs to be done professionally, which means all these issues need to be addressed professionally. It seems to me that that is not trivial, which is why I've never got round to doing it.
All comments welcome.
S
Shultzy
Established Member
I agree with all you have said Steve. Having had to set up training courses in an IT suite its still a lot of effort for a one off. Maybe bashes, like the one at Brad's, is the way to go. Its would also be possible to do a "one to one" in exchange for ......... (fill in the blanks) :lol:
xy mosian
Established Member
I agree with your comments Steve.
But to address items 1 & 2.
I was lucky enough to have a one-to-one with daveR, formally of this parish, via an on-line meeting and I wonder if it is possible to set up some on-line group session.
I have never done this but it could be a way around points 1 & 2.
Thinking I might just have thrown a spanner in the works
xy
But to address items 1 & 2.
I was lucky enough to have a one-to-one with daveR, formally of this parish, via an on-line meeting and I wonder if it is possible to set up some on-line group session.
I have never done this but it could be a way around points 1 & 2.
Thinking I might just have thrown a spanner in the works
xy
BradNaylor
Established Member
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Steve Maskery":158t282s said:
Gorrit!
Steve,
Buy a Winnebego and fit it out as an IT suite. Then tour the continent giving Sketchup tutorials, eating good food, and drinking fine wines.
:lol:
Brad
John McM
Established Member
Steve, why don't you make your next DVD a 'Sketchup for Furniture makers.'
We're waiting, America is certainly waiting and yet no-ones done it yet!
Happy New Year.
We're waiting, America is certainly waiting and yet no-ones done it yet!
Happy New Year.
9fingers
Established Member
John McM":4k9vspxh said:
I'd certainly buy one of those! How about it Steve?
Bob
Steve Maskery
Established Member
Yes, I just knock one up before I go to bed!
It's a nice idea, and if I lose my workshop and find myself living in a bedsit above a chip shop, I might be glad of the project.
But the truth is that films are VERY resource-intesive (at least, they are the way I make them) not so much in expenditure, which was largely made 3 years ago when I made 1 & 2, but in time. I started making Workshop Essentials 4 & 5 back in the early summer, worked on it pretty much full time apart from my Zambia trip, and released it in December. That's a lot of work, and even though those who do buy are, I'm pleased to say, happy with what they have bought, the fact is that I need thousands of customers not just a couple of hundred, if the economics are going to work out. I've said before that I'll never recoup my investment if I live to be a hundred. I've enjoyed making them and I am proud of my cinematic oeuvre, but it's just not worth the candle, unfortunately.
If you can film a lecture, spend a day or two editing it and get product that people want, then the economics are very different, but that is not what my films are like, is it? So I think I can say that it is unlikely that I shall make any more. Not unless I can come up with a new angle, or make them much more efficiently. Anyway, I feel spent, right now. I do have more jigs, of course, but it would be just more of the same rather than anything really new. I think there wold be a market for a tablesaw DVD, like my bandsaw ones, but as my saw is not CE rated, I think I might be asking for trouble.
Right now all I want is to get a job, get financially independent, get through this divorce with as little pain as possible and rebuild my life. It's not much to ask, is it? Hmm, apparently it is.
Enough.
S
It's a nice idea, and if I lose my workshop and find myself living in a bedsit above a chip shop, I might be glad of the project.
But the truth is that films are VERY resource-intesive (at least, they are the way I make them) not so much in expenditure, which was largely made 3 years ago when I made 1 & 2, but in time. I started making Workshop Essentials 4 & 5 back in the early summer, worked on it pretty much full time apart from my Zambia trip, and released it in December. That's a lot of work, and even though those who do buy are, I'm pleased to say, happy with what they have bought, the fact is that I need thousands of customers not just a couple of hundred, if the economics are going to work out. I've said before that I'll never recoup my investment if I live to be a hundred. I've enjoyed making them and I am proud of my cinematic oeuvre, but it's just not worth the candle, unfortunately.
If you can film a lecture, spend a day or two editing it and get product that people want, then the economics are very different, but that is not what my films are like, is it? So I think I can say that it is unlikely that I shall make any more. Not unless I can come up with a new angle, or make them much more efficiently. Anyway, I feel spent, right now. I do have more jigs, of course, but it would be just more of the same rather than anything really new. I think there wold be a market for a tablesaw DVD, like my bandsaw ones, but as my saw is not CE rated, I think I might be asking for trouble.
Right now all I want is to get a job, get financially independent, get through this divorce with as little pain as possible and rebuild my life. It's not much to ask, is it? Hmm, apparently it is.
Enough.
S
stuartpaul
Established Member
I figure that as the thread starter I should report on progress!
First project:
And whilst it's taken a while I've learned a hell of a lot in quite a short space of time
All I need to do now is build one or two of Mr M's jigs and I might be able to make something that actually looks a bit like the plan :roll:
Thanks to all those who provided pointers to some really good learning material.
First project:
And whilst it's taken a while I've learned a hell of a lot in quite a short space of time
All I need to do now is build one or two of Mr M's jigs and I might be able to make something that actually looks a bit like the plan :roll:
Thanks to all those who provided pointers to some really good learning material.
OPJ
Established Member
Steve, I'm sorry, I didn't realise you were going through a divorce. Very sorry to hear that. Can't imagine what you're going through although my parents got divorced a few years ago. Despite all the problems in the past, they have remained friends since and do seem to get along better now than they ever did when they were married, which is something. I hope you'll get to somewhere like that in the end.
I agree that a table saw DVD done in the same style as your bandsaw volumes could prove to be equally popular - maybe even more so, if you can push it to America, where 'table saws are the heart of the workshop'... Could you not use non-CE-aspects of your saw to your advantage, to highlight some of the differences?
You previously mentioned something about veneering and using a bag press - that one could also sell. So, you're not short of ideas! :wink:
There must be something you could learn from The Wood Whisperer... Alright, he gets money through merchandise and the guild membership (as far as I know). But still, he's got to film, edit and produce these videos regularly and they're always of a very good quality... What is his secret? :-k
I agree that a table saw DVD done in the same style as your bandsaw volumes could prove to be equally popular - maybe even more so, if you can push it to America, where 'table saws are the heart of the workshop'... Could you not use non-CE-aspects of your saw to your advantage, to highlight some of the differences?
You previously mentioned something about veneering and using a bag press - that one could also sell. So, you're not short of ideas! :wink:
There must be something you could learn from The Wood Whisperer... Alright, he gets money through merchandise and the guild membership (as far as I know). But still, he's got to film, edit and produce these videos regularly and they're always of a very good quality... What is his secret? :-k
