WENATCHEE — Cam McNeill’s shtick worked “like a magnet” at the home show this weekend.

McNeill, owner of Chim Chimney, tied himself to the end of a pole and stepped inside a dry hot tub to lure his audience into conversation. He said he heard the same gags over and over on Saturday.

“It’s always fish,” McNeill said. “I’ve heard ‘Should we keep him or let him go?’ Or, ‘Does your wife have you on a leash?’ ”

The hot tub was designed as an aquatic fitness center. One end of the pool emits water currents that provide constant resistance for the swimmer. McNeill says it’s the same technology Olympic athletes use in training. The tub is also equipped with therapy jets, a rowing machine and, as McNeill demonstrated, a harness for swimmers strong enough to beat the current.

He said he has six to eight folks “this close” to buying the $25,000 home show special, but like several other vendors at the North Central Home Builders Association Home Show, McNeill said he noticed a smaller crowd this year.

Marc Straub, director of the North Central Home Builders Association, agreed the crowd at the Town Toyota Center was slower but steady with more serious buyers this year.

Straub said he has not yet crunched the numbers for this year, but about 4,000 to 5,000 people usually attend the home show over its three-day run.

“I think there’s a feeling of pent-up demand,” Straub said. “There was a period when people hunkered down because of the economy, but now they’re starting to see some bright spots.”

The home show started eight years ago, and in the past two years Straub said he has noticed a shift in the kind of projects people are planning.

“I think that people are electing to stay in their homes, and in some cases we’re seeing a lot more do-it-yourselfers,” he said.

Chelan County Master Gardener Bonnie Orr saw a different pent-up demand. The spring-like weather has local plant-lovers just itching to wrap their hands around some dirt. Her advice: Wait.

“Lots of people want to start gardening right now, but it’s way too early,” Orr said.

She recommended soil temperatures of about 40 degrees before even attempting to plant onions, potatoes, leeks or peas.

Orr also encouraged people to live with last year’s dead stalks for a while longer to give the eggs and larvae of beneficial garden bugs a chance to develop.

The show wasn’t all serious garden advice and sales pitches, though.

After a few hours of meandering, several families made one last stop at the Lowe’s Kids Zone.

Wenatchee’s Servando Robledo and his two children, 14-year-old Ray and 12-year-old Ilse, hammered on Lowe’s build-it-yourself toys.

Ilse pounded together a mini-ball toss game with a small hammer, nails and perforated wood.

“It works!” Ilse announced when she finished. Her brother Ray stopped hammering on his mini-basketball hoop to take a shot at his sister’s game.

Their father, Servando, built a time capsule. He said he attended the show Saturday to get out of the house and get ideas for the condominium resort he manages.

“It’s a lot easier than calling people in a phone book,” Robledo said. “Instead of talking to people I don’t know, I can meet them at the show and they want to help.”

Rachel Schleif: 664-7139

schleif@wenatcheeworld.com