The Benefits of Being Social Offline July 07 2017

teamBeing on social media is a great way to find information and solutions to problems, but as a woodworker, either hobbyist or professional, sometimes you just need to talk to someone in person or watch a process done live before you understand it. For example, YouTube is a good place to start when looking for information, but you still have to search and sift through the results to find a video that will give you answers. Results can vary immensely depending on who made the video. Also, the video is still two-dimensional meaning you just can't see all the angles. Forums and woodworking pages on Facebook may be informative but asking a question on a forum may get you many varied answers, none of which address your situation.

Sometimes, then, a "real life" conversation with another woodworker may instantly solve a problem or spark a new direction for your current project. Whatever your level of expertise, being with others who have the same interests can be beneficial. A good place to start would be to check for a local woodworkers' club or association.

Here's some of the benefits of belonging to a club or association:

  • meet and network with other like-minded individuals
  • others may have solved the same problems that you have
  • expert advice in the form of seminars or presentations
  • reviews of products from other members, pros and cons
  • online resources that others use that you didn't know about 

It couldn't be easier to do a search online to find a group or association nearby and you can start here with this list of Clubs and Associations from WoodNet