I will try to explain why I would buy the winger and or the videos instead of going to the seminar. Information is a powerful thing. It appears that the OP has a new puppy. I am looking at the flyer for Hillman's May 24-25 seminar. The topics include:
Teaching the “Fetch” command (a/k/a “force breaking”)Bill’s famous “Traffic Cop” method of teaching the SIT command and reinforcing the SIT command with the electric collar and other stimuli and distractions.
Understanding how to create an electronic signal between you and your dog using the “soft collar” method.
Fundamentals on land and in the water: casting, pile work, single T, Powercast, water T, swim by, cheating marks, lining and casting drills
Next steps up from foundation work.
My questions would be "what can I take from that seminar and use tomorrow?" How much of the swimby stuff will I remember when the time comes to teach that? Much of the stuff is several months away from being useful to the OP. I understand that a using a winger is still a few months away,but nothing will be forgotten. Videos can we watched over and over and the winger will always be useful.