What would make you want to attend a Bonsai Convention?

[GrimLore]

I agree on Workshops that are affordable. I would prefer though would be a lot of short demonstrations by a wide variety of folks(that you could video tape). I think another huge plus would be at least a few booths of inexpensive items, tools, pots, trees and accent plants. It is always nice to return with something making the whole thing memorable.

 

[Si Nguyen]

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

I know you're joking, but you are actually very fortunate to live there. It would be more fun for you to travel out of state and attend these conventions than to have the convention in your own backyard. I love to travel and attend conventions ( usually for my own professional societies), and I'd always prefer it far away instead of being in my own area.

For the people who have to travel from far away, our conventions have to have something extra to make it more fun for the spouses and the families of the bonsai enthusiasts. For example, my wife would have to enjoy the trip too, in order for her to encourage me into having the next bonsai trip.

 

[PaulH]

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.

The convention this year will be at the Burbank Airport Marriott.

 

[bonsaibp]

The convention this year will be at the Burbank Airport Marriott.

It's a great place for a convention, we did a CBS one there several years back. There won't be much if any general public foottraffic though.
I don't know how important that is for a convention it would be much more so for an exhibit.
But like they say the more the merrier.

Also the raffles should be open to the public- I know that there has been some controversy about this but if the reason for a raffle is to raise money then raise money and let anyone that wants too, to participate.

Something for local kids is also a big draw and tons of fun. Both for the bonsai people helping and the kids. You might get a local nursery or two to sponsor it in exchange for the publicity.

Keep costs as reasonable as possible- money is tight for a lot of people now.

Make sure all the organizers know what their responsibilites are and that they have enough help to perform them.

 

[gergwebber]

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.

I agree and I-5 can be a bummer. Definitely no father north than SF or Sacramento. I mean it would be beautiful to have it in a scenic place like Tomales, or Cazadero, but you need populations centers. But Monterrey is maybe a little too south...

One major point on location: SF has a greater transit system, so you have a better time gettin' around if you fly in. You really don't need a car there, so that helps.

And I like the multitude of smaller workshops idea. maybe a CA masters series on the styling and care of Ca natives by those that specialize in each species? This would draw folks from all corners of the state.

 

[Si Nguyen]

One more suggestion if you don't mind:
- do 3-4 demos on stage at the same time. I know this is done before. But the key is to have a good moderator who can liven things up and keep the audience excited. John Naka was so good at that. It was more fun listening to him than to watch the demos.

You are not really doing this for your 2014 convention, you are actually doing it for the next convention. If you are successful, more people will come to the next convention.

 

[jk_lewis]

I, for one, always skip the demonstrations. Most are excruciatingly boring, filled with unfunny jokes, and take forEVER. I'd rather watch a clock tick than anyone wiring a juniper! Only occasionally have I seen a result I'd want to own -- if only because demo trees have to be so damned BIG so those in the back can see what's going on.

Workshops -- lots of them -- let YOU learn something (you always learn best by doing it). Affordable workshops are even better. Not all bonsaiests are made of money (though I know many are) and they've already spent a mint and a half on plane fare, registration fees and hotel rooms and meals). Most every club has a few "unknown experts" who are quite capable to handle beginner or intermediate workshops for much less money.

And, because many folks come by public transportation (air, rail, or bus) more shohin (transportable) workshops would be helpful (that, or some sort of service to correctly pack and ship trees to your home).

A vendor area with decent trees. tools and pots -- no crappy Chinese bright blue pots!!!!! -- is a bonus. The display area as someone said, should be well set up, well lit, and have sturdy -- unshakable!! -- tables that get the trees closer to eye level than any I've been to in the USA. And the trees should all be masterclass. An ABS/State show should not have a "beginner's" section; reserve those for local shows.

 

[yenling83]

Everything else is great, but I really hope that the GSBF Convention focuses more and more each year on the show and competition aspect. I'm already planning my trip to Portland in Oct. 2013, because I want to see the best show in the U.S. I believe placing investments here will produce the most long term value compared with everything else that goes on at a convention. The biggest draw in the Japanese Bonsai scene seems to be 2-3 shows each year, I think they have it right and we should follow. Just my opinion. Great work with the convention last year, really liked that you guys added a competition!

 

[Attila Soos]

Demos are as boring as the demonstrator himself. I've found the demos held by Ryan Neil very entertaining, because he constantly talks, while doing his demo. And he talks about things that you don't read in books. Educational and entertaining at the same time. Dan Robinson is another one, fun to watch.

On the other hand, if the demonstrator just works on a large juniper for 4 hours in a row, without much talk (or he may be a boring talker), I'd walk out after half an hour and come back at the end, to see the result.

So, it is not easy to find a truly interesting demonstrator. It's not just about bonsai. It's an art in itself, and very few have it in them. John Naka was probably the most interesting guy to watch. Walter Pall is close in his footsteps, when it comes to bonsai talk. It's like stand-up comedy, with a bonsai twist.

(btw, stand-up comedy must be the scariest job that I can think of, beside trying to tame a grizzly bear or a bengal tiger)

 

[PaulH]

Everything else is great, but I really hope that the GSBF Convention focuses more and more each year on the show and competition aspect. I'm already planning my trip to Portland in Oct. 2013, because I want to see the best show in the U.S. I believe placing investments here will produce the most long term value compared with everything else that goes on at a convention. The biggest draw in the Japanese Bonsai scene seems to be 2-3 shows each year, I think they have it right and we should follow. Just my opinion. Great work with the convention last year, really liked that you guys added a competition!

I agree. I think we made a big step in the right direction in 2012 (even if I say so myself).

 

[kakejiku]

I have been to many GSBF conventions, and I noticed there were always a few empty spots in the vendor area.

I did all of my year end compilation of sales data and bonsai represented less than 9% of my total sales this year. Bonsai was the only market that I spent money for booths and attending events. All other sales in other markets were accomplished via Organic marketing channels. (Just FYI: Martial Arts 15%, and Art 28%.) I have not yet done analysis of expenses to sales, but I am pretty sure this will come up in the red.

If a vendor of a peripheral or complementary product to bonsai (like Orchids) asked me if they should vend at a bonsai event, I would likely tell them only to do it if their expectation was to use it as a loss-leader long term sales strategy.

The only time I made a profit vending at a bonsai event was when I taught a class at the event as well...

 

[Bonsai Nut]

If a vendor of a peripheral or complementary product to bonsai (like Orchids) asked me if they should vend at a bonsai event, I would likely tell them only to do it if their expectation was to use it as a loss-leader long term sales strategy.

I think this gets to my point about a possible benefit of having a larger public attendance. An experienced bonsai group is going to be very specific about what they want, and what they are willing to buy. They may be looking for a specific piece of art to complement a specific display - and will not buy unless the item is exactly what they are looking for.

A broader public audience will be less sophisticated, and will probably buy more items on impulse. They will probably buy smaller trees, more general gardening supplies, and may buy some of your work based solely on their admiration of it as a piece of art (versus it having to play a specific role within a larger display). I cannot begin to describe how many people were buying orchids, orchid supplies, etc, at the orchid show - people who had never purchased an orchid before in their lives.

In my personal opinion, a large public audience makes a bonsai show "come alive". It benefits the show AND the vendors. At the MidWest Bonsai Society show in the Chicago Botanic Gardens, I would guess that at least half the people at the show were not bonsai enthusiasts. We would always have people volunteering at the exhibit halls to answer questions, and we were always getting new members at each show.

 

[Gene Deci]

@PaulH If you have not seen it yet, you might be interested in Colin Lewis' survey

http://www.colinlewis.com

 

[Gene Deci]

@PaulH If you have not seen it yet, you might be interested in Colin Lewis' survey

http://www.colinlewis.com

For some reason I can not get the link to work. Just google Colin Lewis.

 

[elliott]

Nathan and I are the team putting together the non judged tree display in Burbank GSBF convention in 2013. Bob Hilvers and Ted Matson are putting together the Judged show. Nathan and I are in on all the planning for the up coming convention in Burbank and we both get many emails daily on on the latest plans for that convention and I can tell you there will be a ton of workshops this year. Our goal is education over entertainment. We want you to leave the convention better at bonsai than when you arrived.
Look for workshops on wiring, soils, plant biology, stones and stone collecting trips and many more.
Also, we are doing an "artist's studio" themed convention which will become more defined as time goes by. It will be like you are at the headliners studio, so it will be more personal and educating to your specific needs.
The main headliners for Burbank will be Suthin Sukosolvisit, Dave Degroot, and Peter Warren.
We are trying to keep convention cost's down as much as possible and still work within our budget.
Last year in Sacramento, the bar was set very high. best trees I ever saw at a California show (I have only seen trees in a Ca show, HAHA). My hats off to those who put that together and thanks for the pressure!
Nathan and I are looking to get the best trees we can for the non judged display. We want great quality, but also trees that have not been seen at all or very much. We are recruiting local and plan on making a road trip up north to find trees in Northern Ca also. If you have a nice tree, please email Nate at bonsainate@gmail.com or me, Elliott at galloptort@yahoo.com, and we'll see what you got. If your putting a tree into the artisan's cup, our show is a couple weeks later, so It can go in both. Also, don't forget about the judged compettition if you think your tree is great.
We are watching the suggestions flowing in on this thread, please keep them coming!

 

[GrimLore]

As a novice I am truely happy to see all of the time, money, and effort all have put into doing or creating shows. At the same time I must again say - If you want a following create an affordable launch pad for people who are interested. I am currently researching the study of Penging in any of 6 "schools" in China for an extended amount of time - fact is this, I have at best seedlings and saplings, collected plants and 3-5 specimens 10 - 17 years old. Not a big investment of anything except for my love of Bonsai and Penjing.

At some point reality set in - I will never "see" the fuits of my labor just the labor of my love.

Consider the young bucks as they are our future...

 

[stacy allen muse]

xxxxxxxxxxx

 

[Si Nguyen]

Nathan and I are the team putting together the non judged tree display in Burbank GSBF convention in 2013. Bob Hilvers and Ted Matson are putting together the Judged show. Nathan and I are in on all the planning for the up coming convention in Burbank and we both get many emails daily on on the latest plans for that convention and I can tell you there will be a ton of workshops this year. Our goal is education over entertainment. We want you to leave the convention better at bonsai than when you ....!

Good luck to you guys! I know it is hard and thankless work. Keep it up!

Maybe we should organize a BonsaiNut gathering in Burbank. If anybody is interested in going from south OC, please let me know. Maybe we can carpool.

 

[Si Nguyen]

I did all of my year end compilation of sales data and bonsai represented less than 9% of my total sales this year. Bonsai was the only market that I spent money for booths and attending events. All other sales in other markets were accomplished via Organic marketing channels. (Just FYI: Martial Arts 15%, and Art 28%.) I have not yet done analysis of expenses to sales, but I am pretty sure this will come up in the red.

If a vendor of a peripheral or complementary product to bonsai (like Orchids) asked me if they should vend at a bonsai event, I would likely tell them only to do it if their expectation was to use it as a loss-leader long term sales strategy.

The only time I made a profit vending at a bonsai event was when I taught a class at the event as well...

You are not the only vendor who don't make any money there. I know of other vendors who'd said they did it for fun too but wouldn't mind a little extra profit to pay for gas. I think the organizers for the vendor section, who ever they are, should be more business oriented and try everything to make it more profitable for vendors. The last Riverside convention had a huge convention hall for the vendor section but it was only half-full. That was a big waste of space. It could have been a Giant Show and Sale of Bonsai and Flowers (GSSBF and advertised to the public. There are many many many more gardening enthusiasts than there are bonsai enthusiasts, and they would love our shows, had they known about it. I get that they should have a lot of workshops and demos for the dedicated bonsai enthusiasts and club members , and a separate schedule for all the business and board meetings for the organization(s), but the rest of the convention should be geared to the general public somehow.

 

[kakejiku]

You are not the only vendor who don't make any money there.

I think it sounded from my writing like I was complaining but it wasn't...The ability for sales in bonsai is limited by the number of practitioners. I do it because I enjoy working in the market and my scrolls with bonsai.

I think that organizers are trying as hard as they can, but the economy has not recovered to what it used to be. Perhaps they could open demos/lectures for vendors as well so that people may learn in a more quiet intimate setting about the products and services they provide...Could actually try out a tool they were considering buying etc.