Is WorkBench Conference a Complete Waste of Time and Money?

In January of 2020, I began my woodworking journey. Shortly after I started, I began looking for a community who would accept a novice woodworker like myself. Quickly, I found the woodworking community on Instagram was an extremely supportive and encouraging group. As I initially queued up my Insta account it was right around the time of the 2020 WorkBench Conference. I was brand new and was being inundated with social media chaos in the form of photos of happy makers winning at life at WBC. I was enamored with the idea of a conference full of woodworkers, makers, and industry coming together to nurture one another and help each other grow. However, is that what WorkBench Conference actually is? Is that what it’s really about?

Each year, I got better at my craft and I was blessed to grow my following and my community. Each year, I saw the opportunity to experience WBC come and go as life just continued to happen.

However, this year was my year. This year, the stars aligned and a coveted kitchen pass was granted. If you know me, you know my Mrs. has allowed me to do some pretty wild stuff on a pass or two. Usually in the saddle of a motorcycle. I’ve been allowed to explore three separate countries from the cockpit of a motorcycle. Of course these adventures were in addition to my work adventures that took me to six of the seven continents. This year, I would have a new adventure. I was Southeast bound and down to Hotlanta for WBC. I was extremely excited and nervous. My imposter syndrome was set to level 10. Garth and Wayne’s “we’re not worthy, we’re not worthy” comes to mind.

I flew direct from Seattle to Atlanta a day early. While in the air, I made an Instagram post about being on my way. I was still worried if I belonged in this crowd of makers. Immediately, I had a comment on my Post from Scott from Dad it Yourself whom I had never met even though we’re both Washingtonians. When I finally made it to the baggage claim at ATL, there was Scott, waiting for me. We had never met and had only been social media “friends” for years. Yet, there he was.

Scott immediately introduced me to Mike with Woodwork and Weld, Kimani of VanStray Designs, and Katrina of PNW Farmhouse Design Co. Scott then invited me to ride with them to WBC since he had a rental car. Again, I had never met any of these folks and yet here I was piling into the backseat of a rental like I’ve known these people all along.

Once I made it to the hotel, I began seeing a lot of familiar faces. Scott began introducing me to a lot of woodworkers and makers.  That evening was like a high school reunion of classmates that you actually liked. I was invigorated.  However I still wasn’t convinced the event would be worth the price tag.

Thursday was a day of networking and a late afternoon check in for the actual conference. Then, it was back to networking. The conference hosted a meeting for Newbies where we were “forced” to interact with all of the other new attendees in the form of multiple icebreakers. There were zero trust falls. I promise. This opportunity was followed up with more networking. I have to be honest, it was a LOT of peopling and a late night back to the hotel room.

Friday started with a continental breakfast provided by the conference followed by a 10 AM opening ceremony and. Keynote address given by the VERY charismatic Xyla Foxlin. By 11 AM, I was on my way to my first class with Jess Crow with Crowcreek Designs. If you don’t know, she’s a really big deal in the epoxy resin art/woodworking industry. She was very down to earth and a fantastic teacher. Following Jess’ class there was a catered lunch where I sat and spoke with even more fellow makers.

During lunch I met with KariAnne Wood of Thistlewood Fashion who reviewed my website and social media. Her advice was to sign up for an Amazon Influencer account and begin leveraging my social media in order to make passive income. I signed up the same day. With that said, I’m shamelessly sharing my new link with you here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/influencer-6bbd1442

After lunch it was back to class. This time it was “Optimize, Engage, and Grow” presented by Vectric, Avid CNC, and Andy Bird Builds. After this class, I went to the panel discussion “Double Your Creator Income” moderated by Cam with Blacktail Studios, Sam the DIY Huntress, Brad from Fix this Build That, and Jon from Lincoln St. Woodworks. It was a fantastic course.

Following classes for the day, I went to dinner with my fellow makers and then was back for a networking mixer put on by WBC. At the event I had the opportunity to meet the one and only John Malecki. The man is just as down to earth in real life as he seems on his YouTube Channel. A little later I had the opportunity to introduce a couple to the legendary Steve Ramsey (the man has nearly 2 million YouTube subscribers). This couple was literally star struck by the man. Luckily for them I’m an idiot and I didn’t know who he was. I just saw the opportunity to introduce a couple woodworkers to someone they both look up to. Ignorance was certainly bliss on my part. Steve is fantastic and so kind. You would truly never know he’s the Hulk Hogan of the maker movement. Then, more networking and back to bed. Late.

Saturday morning was a bit rough. Continental breakfast provided by WBC and then opening ceremony keynote by Tom Bodett. Then, off to “20 Tips for Making Better DIY Videos” taught by Michael Builds. Dude has a TON of energy and even more experience with his YouTube channel boasting 366,000+ subscribers.  I took copious notes. Following class, was a catered lunch. There I had the privilege of meeting and breaking bread with Alabama Papa Chad. Then, back to class where I attended “Fine Tuning Your Bandsaw Skills,” which was taught by Alex Snodgrass. An absolute magician with the bandsaw. Dude has more knowledge in his left pinky than I’ll acquire in my entire life. I knew it would be a good class when Cam from Blacktail Studios sat next to me in the front row to learn from this man. It was a fantastic class.

I may or may not have skipped out on the late afternoon class as my social battery was completely drained.  I did come back for the closing ceremony. The keynote speaker for the closing was Anne of All Trades, someone both my wife and I absolutely adore. Anne was absolutely fantastic and really gave me some things to think about moving forward. Um, she’s also building a woodworking school at her home in Tennessee. She publicly proclaimed the first classes will be this fall, which means it has to happen now. I’m super excited for her and hope I can attend a class or two someday.

Following the closing ceremony it was dinner and then to the bar in the atrium for even more networking.  This is where I dealt with my first a-hole of the entire conference. Of all the YouTubers and makers with literally millions of subscribers between them, I almost let some snarky, vindictive wannabe YouTuber derail my whole experience. That was completely my fault. I should’ve moved on immediately after they were offended I didn’t know who they were. Again, I didn’t know who Steve Ramsey was initially, much less some no name.

Thankfully this morning, all hope was restored when I sat with Alex Duffey,  Matthew Ableman, and Jessie from Building Jessie. Now these folks, they’re my people. They unwittingly breathed fresh air into my sour experience from the night before. Again, that was my fault for letting it happen in the first place.

I shared an Uber with Alex, Jessie, and Katrina as we all traveled to the airport. We said our “see you laters” with Alex and then we headed for our plane.

Now, here I sit on the plane at 30,000 feet headed home. I’m excited for opportunities that lay ahead of me. I even have another hare-brained idea I’m going to have to sell my Mrs. on first, but I’m very excited.

Thinking of some of my takeaways from the entire event:

• I’m SO happy I got to meet a bunch of my Insta Friends in real life (IRL for you kids). Particularly, I was happy to run into Pha from Touch Woodworx, Omar from Omar Builds, Frank from The Real Frank Does It, Annette from 513 Woodworks, Char the Woodenmaven, Nick from NPG Creations, and Tyler from Temecula Yard Games just to name a few.

• I’m extremely happy for the new friends I made.

• I’m stoked I got to say “thank you” to a bunch of YouTube woodworkers who have inspired me along my path so far

• The event was very well organized with a variety of classes to choose from each day.

• The catered lunches were delicious.

• The “stars” were very approachable and there was zero gate keeping.

• I’m very excited for the continued opportunity of this crazy ride.

So, back to my original question, “Is WorkBench Conference a  Complete Waste of Time and Money?” I think this question is something each person has to answer for themselves. For me, this was absolutely, 100% a great investment. It also took me four years to get here. My simple goal I had when I came was to be re-inspired. Well, here I am. Inspired AF and ready to get back to it.

Did this conference teach me everything I need to know? Of course not, that’s on me. I need to continue to study and learn. I need to keep moving forward. I need to keep learning from my network. With that said, WBC gave me a lot of inspiration, tips, tricks, new contacts, new friends, and new tools for my tool belt.

I’m not going to blow smoke up your rear, WorkBench Conference is a big investment, but for me it was a worthwhile investment and I look forward to being back next year.

Learn more about WorkBench Conference at https://www.workbenchcon.com.