Print

[mad_abt_cricket]

I would personally love to know the answer to your question.
There is more than enough one can learn from Julian's videos and on a forum like this for a taster. I have personally gone through this phase and know how difficult it is to move on to the next level. Probably its a good starter course for cricket enthusiasts but certainly not for some one looking to start his own company.  It can give some one a start but I feel its an  expensive for its scope and not everyone can afford it.

[Beachcricket]

You learn far more by doing, and also benefit from having someone show you the proper techniques which you then have to go away to practice and perfect. This isn't a "how to setup your own bat making business" course, it's an introduction to a craft.

If you're willing to put in the hard work, it's more than enough to send you in the right direction towards setting up a business. Considering that so many people on here say "I want to get into bat making", here's your opportunity. I didn't have it when I started, I'd have killed for it. An opportunity to be guided into a craft by a master, do you realise the mistakes he will help prevent you from making just by a little bit of guidance.

[mad_abt_cricket]

Yes he can show how to use the tools but at the end of the day it is a craft and does not have one definitive way to do it... my main concern is the road map after this course which constitutes the practice and perfection part.. Will it allow someone to set up a workshop buy tools, clefts and perhaps a pressing machine to practice?   If not where he will head to apply the knowledge he learned over 5 days?

[Beachcricket]

Will it allow someone to set up a workshop buy tools, clefts and perhaps a pressing machine to practice?   If not where he will head to apply the knowledge he learned over 5 days?

The person will use some initiative or perhaps even ask some questions whilst on the course.

[tim2000s]

If you want all this, I would expect to pay the Podfather one hell of a lot more money than eight grand aud. You are asking for his lifetime of experience. Try 100,000 aud and you might be nearer the mark...

[skip1973]

Where are you going to use the skills ? If Julian has struggled to make a living making bats in Australia, how will people with little experience fair? The Market in Australia is different to the UK, plenty of small brand have come and gone with virtually no batmakers left.

[Nmcgee]

I think JM offering a meet-and-greet, personalised bat making experience is a wonderful idea. I don't know why he didn't just advertise it on his website without worrying about the kickstarter program.

m_a_c is right though. This is hardly going to save the Pod Shaver craft in the long term and this seems to be what JM is suggesting as his goal.

[smokem]

As the name implies, the goal of Kickstarter is to give new business/business ideas a kick start via an injection of funds. The very first line of the project text reads:

"A unique opportunity to set up the world's first cricket bat making academy with the world renowned bat maker - Julian Millichamp"

Read the whole Kickstarter campaign and watch the videos carefully. Via the Kickstarter campaign, you are helping JM to setup a new pod shaving academy which will continue to offer courses for years to come (not just for the life of the Kickstarter campaign). The facility will introduce aspiring pod shavers the art of pod shaving and become a training ground for aspiring pod shavers.

Nowhere has he promised to turn you into a fully fledged professional bat maker and equip you with all the know-how to run a bat making business, by making the $2,500 pledge!

If anything, JM is staying true to the Kickstarter principle. All too often, there are projects from people/companies who are just using the platform to flog their goods and don't actually need a genuine kick start...

[smokem]

I think JM offering a meet-and-greet, personalised bat making experience is a wonderful idea. I don't know why he didn't just advertise it on his website without worrying about the kickstarter program.

m_a_c is right though. This is hardly going to save the Pod Shaver craft in the long term and this seems to be what JM is suggesting as his goal.

To quote the KS campaign:

The idea of using KickStart has multiple purposes:

1. To raise necessary funds to relocate to and fit out a premises that can house the academy.

2. To acquire the tooling for the the academy as many sets of traditional tools will be necessary.

3. To ascertain the interest from the cricket community.

4. To save a cottage industry and ensure that the tradition of pod shaving continues.

[mad_abt_cricket]

Apologies I am still not clear.
Does this mean this pledge will be done 4 times a year by students who will attend the course and then continue the next year and so on ? Or after the academy is setup it will be a different fee and course structure?
In principle I agree that he requires funds at the start of this setup and would love to contribute as well but not
clear when kick start will end and a real academy will shape up.
To answer Tim's comment regarding podfather I don't think and believe Julian started this for money.  He decided to pass on his knowledge
to the next generation in the same way he got it and I don't think he paid 100000 dollars to podfather John Newbery for that.
I sincerely am looking for some genuine answers and perhaps will call Julian directly to understand better.

[smokem]

Kickstarter campaigns are generally a one-off. Although some individuals/companies do continue to post campaigns which I think is taking the mick of the KS concept.

Good question regarding the course structure and fees after it's been setup. Some KS projects attract backers by providing a discounted price for "rewards" compared to what it will sell for after the KS campaign. In this instance, it is not clear what the course will cost after the KS campaign.

Technically, a KS projects ends when all backers have been fulfilled with the rewards they backed. JM has a website setup for the academy which also references the KS project. So if you want to see what happens after the KS campaign is finished and the academy is fully up and running, I'd suggest checking JM's website on a regular basis.

Do ask him questions. It might be helpful to ask via Kickstarter (by messaging him), as your questions and answers may get added to the FAQ for all to see.

[Nmcgee]

Well, after the best part of a week and just over 6k raised, I'd say the whole point is moot anyway. With all respect to JM, it was a noble and nice idea I suppose.

[blocka]

As much as I respect JM as bat maker/pod shaver. This whole campaign reeks of profit and not "saving the craft"
As someone else suggested, taking on a couple apprentices etc to continue his brand and carry on the craft would IMO serve the purpose better.
I have nothing against people trying to make money but call it what it is.
I like the ideas of meet and greet with getting to do some of the work on your own bat. However do you need a kick starter campaign for that?

[Tom]

This whole campaign reeks of profit and not "saving the craft"
As someone else suggested, taking on a couple apprentices etc to continue his brand and carry on the craft would IMO serve the purpose better.

That's assuming Screaming Cat weren't selling enough bats to be sustainable and being able to take on 2 further employees, if not how would taking on apprentices solve that problem? As said above, the AU market is different to the UK and there are very few successful small brands out there.

It seems like some people think that JM owes us something and should be giving away his valuable knowledge for nothing.

[TBONTB]

I am surprised that this has not been done before but on a much smaller scale. A bat maker offers a 'make your own bat experience'. You get to come along, they do the tough buts such as handles etc. You get to discuss the shape, they guide you on using the tools and then can jump in if you get stuck. There can be price variations on willow used, and I think a lot of people would enjoy being able to say 'I made that'.

And if you really enjoy it you can look at making it more regular or in groups. What I struggle to see is why you would need such a huge huge investment.

But I do not know the ins and outs of screaming cat!