What would make you want to attend a Bonsai Convention?

[PaulH]

We are beginning planning for the combined convention of the American Bonsai Society and the Golden State Bonsai Federation to take place in Northern California in Fall 2014.

I would greatly appreciate any feedback and suggestions regarding what would attract you to attend a convention. Any ideas of exciting events or activities, theme, artists you'd love to see in person, or any other new ideas will be very helpful.
For those of you who have never attended a convention the usual events offered are: demonstrations by world class bonsai artists, workshops offering high quality bonsai material, raffles of bonsai and related items, sales bazaar, seminars, critiques, and exhibits of the best bonsai to be found.

Last fall I co-chaired the GSBF convention in Sacramento, CA, and we tried a couple of new things that were very well received. Our main exhibit was limited to tree species indigenous to California. We also held a separate judged bonsai exhibit offering prize money for the first time at one of our conventions.

Thanks in advance for your ideas!

Paul

 

[Bill S]

May I

watch this for the same purpose for the Mid Atlantic, Paul?

This could be advantageous for everyone, please lets us hear what you want to get out of a Bonsai convention. It does seem that lately everyone is doing something different, this year we have the Mid Atlantic, the ABS in Saratoga, and Bill V's event in Rochester, as "local" events, hopefully I can get to all, if nothing else to compare the events itineraries, and what and how presented.

I will start with some of my want to see/do list.

Lots of vendors with lots of good to great materials/equipment/trees.

I am one that thinks that raffling off a demo tree is a good thing, in many cases an only chance to get a tree as "valuable", or worked on by a particular artist, for a pitance. I say pitance because the raffle cost almost anybody can pay, an auction limits the sale to a few people that can toss money.

We have what we call break out rooms, where the artists will take a demo tree and work the finer details where you can watch from near, ask questions, maybe lend a hand, this is a good thing, for me any way.

Detailed talks from an artist re. thier specialties, and even subjects tha run simple, one of the best workshops I did was with Kathy Shaner, kind of followed her around tree to tree and just watched and listened, learned a lot that day.

Theres a start Paul, I will keep an eye on this, hope you all pitch in, it is for you to.

 

[stacy allen muse]

?????????????

 

[Gene Deci]

The set-up of the show itself can make a big difference. Proper backgrounds for all displays, skirts on all tables, proper table height, plenty of aisle room, no trees in dark corners and so on. Even the best trees suffer if poorly displayed. Things like that won't attract a crowd but you don't want people going home disappointed either.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

By "Northern California" do you mean north of San Francisco? I would think a primary consideration would be ease of access to major airports and/or ease of driving from the major population centers in Southern California.

 

[gergwebber]

.... or ease of driving from the major population centers in Southern California.

So... just have it in So. cal? oh wait!!!! you could take the high speed!

 

[bonsaibp]

Lots of workshops with decent material and reasonable prices. I've heard many people say that they would like more workshops, especially on the weekend. For a lot of people the opportunity for workshops is one of the main draws.
A great raffle. Including headliners trees.
A small but quality auction.
Reasonable hotel rates.
A great exhibit.
Did I say lots of workshops?

 

[PaulH]

By "Northern California" do you mean north of San Francisco? I would think a primary consideration would be ease of access to major airports and/or ease of driving from the major population centers in Southern California.

I will be either in the Sacramento area, San Jose, or possibly Monterey area.
GSBF bylaws specify that the convention alternates annually from Southern to Northern California.

 

[dpowell]

+1 to San Jose!

With that said I agree with Bob's points, I think workshops with good material are a huge draw, just please no more staked procumbens junipers

I find auctions quite fun as well.

 

[PaulH]

Lots of workshops with decent material and reasonable prices.
Did I say lots of workshops?

I agree! I've noticed that convention workshops are one way a lot of people add to their bonsai collection; good material is a must! I've also noticed that workshops are a lot more pricey than when I was starting out about 30 years ago. Thanks Bob. this is a keeper.

 

[Si Nguyen]

Here are some suggestions:
- pick a location that is closest to the most enthusiasts. They might not register for the classes but they come to buy and make the vendors happy.
- advertise in the garden section of the local newspapers (it could even be free), and put fliers up at the regular nurseries.
- invite the local clubs to use the convention for their annual business meetings. Give them free use of a meeting room for their meetings. Most clubs need to have a business meeting once a year anyway.
- invite the local koi clubs to attend too. They are the biggest source of potential bonsai enthusiasts.
- have a good opening ceremony with a good keynote speaker and a good national anthem singer.
- have an open discussion forum for all active members of the association. Have a good speaker/ moderator and use it as a brainstorming session for members to contribute ideas.
- have a styling contest for young people.
- have a bigger display area for more trees and that would allow more new members to show their trees.
- recognize the old timers, including those who are not active in the association. Pick a local old Japanese American master/teacher/ nursery owner and invite him to the convention for free and for an award of some kind. He will bring in more people to attend the Gala party. Most of the old timers in California are better than most of the young outside experts. They contributed so much to our hobby and they are disappearing.
- suiseki hunt at the Eel River. I will sign up for this !
- consider doing a convention in the middle of California sometime, like in Santa Barbara.
- keep up the good work. I have never been disappointed with any GSBF conventions.

 

[PaulH]

- invite the local koi clubs to attend too. They are the biggest source of potential bonsai enthusiasts.

Interesting idea....

 

[PaulH]

- suiseki hunt at the Eel River. I will sign up for this !

Or Cache Creek.
What about tree collecting? Maybe an olive dig?

 

[PaulH]

- have a styling contest for young people.

Great idea! Maybe even tied in to the new Harry Hirao scholarship.

 

[Si Nguyen]

Or Cache Creek.
What about tree collecting? Maybe an olive dig?

Sure! I'd sign up for that too. There's a ton of olives around there. People from out of state would love that.

 

[jkd2572]

I for one would love if you held it in Plano, Texas.

 

[Poink88]

Interesting idea....

In the Philippines (at least 20 years ago), bonsai shows are almost always tied/partnered with orchid and other hort/garden shows.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

So... just have it in So. cal? oh wait!!!! you could take the high speed!

Don't get me started

No I'm not saying only have it in Southern Cal. But if you were going to have it around San Francisco, maybe have it on the south side rather than up in the wine country (or even further north). Once you head north out of San Fran it gets rural very quickly. Northern California is half way up the coast from Southern California. It's like driving from Georgia to New Jersey.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

One thing that Si said that rings a bell...

The Orange County Orchid show they hold in South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. There are truly tens of thousands of people who attend the show because it is in the busiest shopping center in Southern California - and many buy orchids for the first time, or otherwise get involved in the hobby.

The GSBA Show (when it has been held in Southern Cal last two times) has been held in the Riverside Convention Center. Nice enough location with plenty of room, but it is in a very quiet part of town (in a gentrification zone) with zero walk-through traffic. The only people who attend are those who are there for the express purpose of going to the bonsai show. The exhibit hall you almost have to hunt out - it is buried away on the 2nd floor. No way would you see those amazing trees unless you actively hunted them out.

There are pros and cons to each. But I think core bonsai enthusiasts will seek out a big show wherever it is held; whereas the general public will go only if they bump into the show.

 

[Si Nguyen]

I have been to many GSBF conventions, and I noticed there were always a few empty spots in the vendor area. The vendor area can definitely be more colorful and livelier with a few orchid vendors. There are many orchid nurseries and orchid enthusiasts in California, way more than bonsai's. I was into orchid long before I was into bonsai. So maybe invite orchid vendors. Then they will advertise for themselves and hopefully bring in more foot traffic. We need more foot traffic to help our bonsai vendors. I know so many orchid societies , and lapidary clubs and bird societies etc.., who are always looking for venues to show their stuffs and recruit new members. We got to find new members too!