Paul, while a contest is always fun, educational, and entertaining. Why would KoB limit itself to such a narrow section of its readership. It makes one question KoBs motives in hosting such a limited contest.
If you ever decide to host a contest for people in Pennsylvania. Shady Side Bonsai would love to provide the contest material and you can have who ever you want judge it.
I guess if someone of Peter Chan's experience and reputation is supplying the stock and giving the prizes, he can set the location as well.
KoB is proud to have been chosen as the internet outlet for such a contest and we fully expect it to offer some serious educational insights on designing bonsai.
Will
It makes one question KoBs motives in hosting such a limited contest.
Our motives are pure and simple. Promote the knowledge of bonsai around the world (no not the site, but actual knowledge).
-Paul
Paul, I am for any site that enhances the greater non commercial good of bonsai. KoB has certainly done that. At least possibly to this point. What I do question is the timing of this contest as it coincides with Peter trying to dump stock as per his clearance sale. Being in the business I'm for anything that will help business, to a point. This contest strikes me as a ruse having the overtones of a commercial advertisement due to the limits placed on the contest (i.e. only material purchased at Peter's business will be considered for the contest). Which I do not considered "supplied" as per Will's reference. This gives the impression of a wolf in sheep's clothing.Why would this contest make anyone question the KoB (more than they already do)? Our motives are pure and simple. Promote the knowledge of bonsai around the world (no not the site, but actual knowledge). The KoB is merely hosting the event, making it possible for the whole world to watch and learn.
As for myself perhaps it would. I know for others it would. As for not entering the last contest why would I. If I didn't have a piece of material at that time that I thought would win. That is the purpose of entering a contest..to see if you can win. Providing you have confidence in that material and think it might have a reasonable chance. To enter a contest with out such material enters the realm of "where fools rush in". KoB reaches to every corner of the Internet. To exclude any portion of your viewing audience to me does NOT make sense and alienates the people that do want to participate and at the very least questions why Peter should have monetary gain from a contest to promote bonsai knowledge.Let me ask you something, if the contest was open to the entire world, would that sway any of you into entering? You didn't enter the last one, so what make this any different? Does it not make sense to limit certain areas of the world to compete directly with each other?
Attila,Well, when Kimura came to California last year, nobody was upset about the fact that he got some serious money for his appearances. Same with other "big names".
Peter Chan's name is big enought that he shouldn't be asked to work for free. His time spent on this is worth something.
I am not sure why is OK to have monetary losses in a contest, but never monetary gains, or at least, breaking even. As long as you are a money-loser, and work for free, people love you.
It's very hard to organize high quality contests, with no money and sponsors. People who run a website, cannot be required to give their live's earnings away. They give their time away, and that doesn't always seem to be noticed. Somebody has to pay. Usually, those who complain, are not the ones who pay the bill for the contest.