A friend asked about this sort of thing and I had not heard of anything like it. I know there are a lot of people that are into detailing but also do this professionally, so I thought I would ask about it here.

Basically a meet where people could get together and learn about detailing their cars. Does anyone know if anything like this exists? Or know of a large enough place to host such a thing?

Thanks!

I would like to know as well.

Detail addict does training on the product they sell. Hit them up and inquire about a group buy/training/BBQ?

Ask Detail Maniac.

I detailed professionally for 3 years. You'd sure as hell never guess my paint has nearly 280,000 miles on it. I would be okay with doing some sort of beginner seminar, but it wouldn't include buffing. Basically washing, claying, and sealing the paint. Wheels. Interior work. Etc.

Thats an interesting concept. One we do not see too much around here. Too bad we weren't closer to Mike Phillips, or Meguiars or Adams Polishes and some others that actually do open garage workshops and sponsorship gigs at local venues that contract their products.

I know Leo over at Detail Addict offers product training if you buy enough of his products or schedule an appointment or hands on training. Other than that, absolutely no one else around here.

I would just suggest organizing a weekend gathering of several detailers or vehicle appearance specialist from this forum and just have them all duke it out and show you the basics to general.

Nice, that sort of thing could be great - get a bunch of people together who bring their own supplies (or have a way to purchase at the meet) and basically work with people at their own paces on their own cars.

Yeah it seems like it's sort of a rare thing around here I guess. Would be really great to be able to attend one of those things, but just seems like with as many people are here in the Bay Area, something would happen here.

My friend actually did reach out to Meguiars regarding their road-shows and such, but so far there has not been any response.

He mentioned this on another forum and had people commenting that they would be interested in coming to the Bay from Sac, Fresno and other places for this.

Seems like if someone wanted to arrange it, it would be pretty cool for the attendees as well as a big marketing boost for whoever put it on.

Does anyone know of a place where it would make sense or be possible to do something like this?

I'd be interested in a clinic, also.

Yea you should show up and teach it also. Make some donations for the weekend.

I've been out of the game for awhile now, and I might be contractually restricted to sharing "trade secrets" (non-disclosure?).

Haha, exactly why I wouldn't be doing any buffing.

Because you've been out of the game or because buffing is a "trade-secret" or "proprietary information."

Oh yea, that contract. Well theres several ways to bypass with a little bit of originality.



Well all the techniques are predominately out there, you just have to know where to ask and look. Like some sole proprietors out there, I didn't get hands on guidance or training, I distinctively taught my self for the past half a decade or so. Its not so much a secret any more as long as you possess the correct knowledge and foundation, all procedures follow a sequence like the scientific method. If you do not possess the knowledge and basis of understanding, then I would consider it a foreign secret to some (Read: the general public).




I've had plenty of clients hang around most of the time frame of 10 hours plus when working on their vehicle, just so they can gain my trust in knowledge and educate themselves on why I am doing what I am doing. During the whole process, it was basically having a lot of good conversations to get to know the customers with Q & A for as long as they liked to stick around and pick my brain. I've most likely mentioned this before in one of the many detailing related threads on here; the client can only be as satisfied as the knowledge they possess. Hence why so many customers are "satisfied" with the quick valet "buff and go" services out there. My business model was to always inform the client and establish a mutual understanding with knowledge so that they know the difference between a buff job and a correction process that their expenses are going towards.


With that said, hope there could be a hand full of you guys on this forum to meet up and exhibit some hands on seminars.

Sure. I am good though. As much as I can use the extra cash, I rather not be gone after for breaching contract. Lawyers ain't cheap.

Other more relevant reasons than just giving away knowledge that made my living for years. Time is a huge factor. Product cost. Materials cost. I can detail the entirety of a car in the same time that it takes to do a single stage buff of a car.

Also trying to teach someone to buff a car properly is not something done over the course of an hour or two. Took me 6 months of full time work to be competent, much less as good as the owner is.