The Gold workshops are a five day event , you can get all about Steadicam in those days but you will get the experience later for sure , I joined the lake arrowhead in 2011 , the students were camera assistants , camera operators , experienced Steadicam operators attendees as well . I remember there was one with no film background at all and he joined cause he was just interested , may be you need to check the book by Jerry holloway and to have a hand on to the gear to get you ready to the workshop , and Good Luck :)