No,sorry, Dougy… wasn’t “banned for not behaving myself”.
I ALWAYS, behave myself, no matter where I am!! It’s just often a problem that some people don’t “understand” what MY definition of behavior is and THEIR OWN.
Some agreed, some did not… “that stripping down to my BVDs and doing the Happy Dance on top of my assigned tying table, because I’d completed a difficult fly without messing up”, was “polite and correct behavior”, for a FFF sponsored show.
Of course, then too, the two diagnosis I recieved the day before last Christmas, didn’t help my chances of doing many more shows, either.
In my time I have picked up a huge amount from watching other tiers, both at shows and demo nights at clubs.
Now I am in the privileged position of sitting the other side of the bench. I love tying at the shows, when I get feedback from people telling me that a tip or a trick has helped it is very gratifying.
One thing that the public either don’t know or don’t remember is that at most shows the tiers are there at their own expense. It is a rare thing to be paid even your expenses for doing a show. That said it is a great time and a good opportunity to meet with old friends and make new ones. If you get the chance to tie at a show do.
This year I hope to make it across the big pond to tie at a couple of shows in the States. Really looking forward to it.
I tie at shows as often as I can. When I’m not at my vice, I am watching others…Al and Gretchen Beatty, Bob Jacklin, Bob Bates, etc…It’s an invaluable resource.
Watching others tieis a great experience and an awesome chance to pick up tips and tricks the tier maynot even be aware of. I have also occaisionaly taken a tying class for the same purpose. We can always learn more. At the last tying class I took about three years ago, the instructor had a fella come and do a demonstration. This guy didn’t use a vise, he actually held the hook between his thumb and forefinger, and tied like that. quite impressive, but I don’t think he always did that, I kinda felt like he was jus’ showin’ off, wish I could remember that guys name…ModocDan
I enjoy it immensely. I was at the NCFF Flytying Expo & sat with a few tyers to observe & learn. I spent a good deal of time with our own “Fishbum” (Jerry Drake), & learned so much from him & the others I observed. The folks who attend these shows for a couple hours & leave after “walking by” everything are missing out on some fantastic learning opportunities, never mind the opportunity to make new friends, & that is always priceless.
Mike
Went to the ISE show yesterday in San Mateo, CA. I learned a few new tricks and tips I gotta try. I also leaned to spin hair which was always frustrating for me. One guy showed me how and then had me try it a few times and what a difference it made being able to have someone take the time to show you how.
I can’t wait until the end of Febraury for the next ff show.
I am new at tieing. Have only tied 5 jigs so far. I went to the show hear in Cincinnati (in Fairfield north of Cincinnati) last year and just walked through the fly tieing section. This year I plan on spending most of my time in the tieing section. I have a lot to learn still.
I feel any time you watch another tier you can learn something. Everyone has a different approach to tying. The basic mechancis are the same, but people have some great ideas I never think of in the completing a fly. I used to teach fly tying and once in a while a newbie would amaze me by executing a move to make things easier or better right before my eyes. I used to wonder why I never thought of such a simple thing. Everyone sees things differently. That’s why we can all learn from each other.
I love watching others to learn new things, to reaffirm that I MAY actually be doing things the “right” way, to see new techniques or tools in use or even to “teach an old dog” some of my tricks.
But I HATE the crowds at the shows I have attended in my neck of the woods so I don’t do it that much any more.
I am not sure I could survive the schedule that JohnScott has in this post, I would need to get serious counciling I think. Good thing I life about 8-10 hours away from the nearest big show, down near Boston somewhere.
There is a nice show in Moncton New Brunswick every year and I make sure I go, my now 6 year old goes with me and we make a full day of it. We open and close the show for the day, all 8 hours of it. He was 5 at the last one and stayed there the whole day, stood in front of tiers for hours, yes hours, and watched them, asked questions, spent his 30 dollars that he had been saving from birthdays, etc. on flies, material and a couple tools. He outdid many of the adults.
We had a great day, he goes with me to the flytying course and ties, and we tie together in our basement. Not sure what I am going to do when my other two little boys get the itch, the 4 year old is already asking if he can go with daddy when he is 5…
Shows are nice to watch others tie. But, as a show tier, I am always so busy with folks at my table I seldom get a chance to visit with the other tiers. I do four shows a year around the midwest. I use a tv camera and small tv set up over my shoulder so people visiting my table can see the tying from my perspective behind the vice. Seems to be a popular teaching aid.
I will be in Louisville, Ky. January 26, 2008 tying for the Derby City Fly Fishers. The show is at the Holiday Inn Convention Center on 2715 Fern Vally Rd.
I will also be tying at the Buckeye United Fly Fishers show in Cincinnati, Oh on February 9. 2008. This show is actually just north of Cincinnati on State Route 4.
Both of these clubs are FFF clubs.
If any of you go to either of these shows stop by and say hi.
