8th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition, Rochester, NY, USA, September 9-10, 2023

[mwkohler]

Bonsai West in Massachusetts. I had the opportunity to speak with Gerald and Koji-san, along with Zuma who works at Bonsai West, at the hotel bar last night about it.

Thanks. I had a suspicion that was the case as Zuma was there during the demo and a lot of his material for sale had the same look to it. Appreciate the confirmation.

I make it out to eastern Massachusetts twice a year so I will have to visit Bonsai West. I haven't been in 15 years since I took my very first class as a total newbie. Usually visit nebonsai because it's closer to family in the south eastern part of the state.

 

[rockm]

It's a cultural thing for Nationals now. Everyone comes expecting to buy things between each other beforehand and you're the odd one out when you don't

It is not a "cultural thing for the Nationals." That's the way most shows I've been around have worked. The "REALLY good stuff" is sold among vendors (or a few lucky people who get access) the load-in day before the public has access. Then some of it resold the day the show opens to the public. It's not a secret. It's just the way things happen--although a vendor buying 30 pots from another vendor with the intent to sell them at the show takes real balls and not in a good way. Would be instructive to know who that vendor was to see what else they're marking up substantially, but no one will name them... Best policy for attendees is to get to shows early on the first day it's open to the public.

 

[chicago1980]

Am I considered a magician when I make my own money disappear?

Hahahaha the ole xpensivus magic trick.

 

[coltranem]

Thanks. I had a suspicion that was the case as Zuma was there during the demo and a lot of his material for sale had the same look to it. Appreciate the confirmation.

I make it out to eastern Massachusetts twice a year so I will have to visit Bonsai West. I haven't been in 15 years since I took my very first class as a total newbie. Usually visit nebonsai because it's closer to family in the south eastern part of the state.

Zuma's influence at Bonsai West has been huge.

 

[coh]

It's not just vendors selling to vendors before the show opens. At least in my experience, when I've worked on the set-up crew, exhibitors would drop off their trees and head straight to the vendor area on Thursday and especially Friday. Maybe Bill clamped down on this recently, don't know as I wasn't there until Saturday afternoon.

 

[bwaynef]

I can't wait for the link to the album. (The most recent album the current link takes you to is the 6th album.)

 

[chicago1980]

Can anyone help point me in the direction of the previous winners of the past shows? I had a hard time finding articles or images of the first 1-7.

It would be beautiful to see all of those trees together in one place to view

 

[coh]

Can anyone help point me in the direction of the previous winners of the past shows? I had a hard time finding articles or images of the first 1-7.

It would be beautiful to see all of those trees together in one place to view

I'm not aware of a single site that has all the photos of past award winners in an easy to view format. I do know that photos of show winners (as well as general descriptions/reviews of the shows) have appeared at bonsaiempire, bonsaitonight, and Bill's blog, but you'd have to search out particular years...as far as I know.

 

[Sansokuu]

It's a cultural thing for Nationals now. Everyone comes expecting to buy things between each other beforehand and you're the odd one out when you don't

Probably why he is attempting to put a damper on it, someone told me last Nationals there was really nothing good left to buy. I have seen photos of Sara Rayner’s setup on Saturday in past nationals stacked high, so it must be something that started happening more recently.

 

[Sansokuu]

I could understand the vendor-to-vendor sales on Friday, but to a limit. The only reason I think it would be ok is because you will be tending your table from opening time, so maybe you won't have time to browse and buy something you want. But on the other hand I think that will get carried away as well, as was he case of Sara's pots. I didn't get to go, but it is a shame as some of the vendors have "closed" their commissions and website offerings to sell at the event, where you have guys traveling from all over the country to probably have a chance to buy a decent "X artist name here" pot, to just find out that their material was half gone the night prior to opening. Not to mention the vultures...

Yes, we made an exception for some vendors to purchase an item or two before we opened Saturday, because once we are all vending they can’t escape their tables.. that’s a fuzzy area but it wasn’t the same as selling off a huge amount of what we brought. And yeah, our reason for no presales friday was to be fair to attendees. Nao sold all his forest trays at PBE before they opened and he felt bad about it, and that was weighed into this situation.

 

[Sansokuu]

Btw if anyone wants to see photos of trees that were exhibited, Bonsai Boon on FB has posted a five part series of everything. These were reposted also to the Portland Bonsai Society page.

 

[badatusernames]

For this reason this year we decided no presales Friday. I made literally just two exceptions (I really could not say no to Young Choe, and it was a pot that did not sell at a previous event and I really wanted her to have it. The other was a mame pot John Romano needed because his accent planting was too big, so it was a last minute exhibit display he needed to tweak. The pot he picked out I had five variants of).

If more people give Bill and Diane an earful about forbidding Friday presales Im sure he will make more of an effort. He was kicking people out to prevent presales but then the vendors were buying amongst themselves (he should also kick out vendors who are done setting up). He does this to take into consideration folks like yourself, so it is a vendor issue if they do these Friday sales. Maybe one or two private sales to good friends is ok, but not a good chunk of your offerings. Plus it doesn’t look great when your vendor table is half cleaned out at the start of the event..
I mean, I didn’t even see Sara Rayner’s stuff until it was half gone late friday...

This definitely bugged me. I showed up Friday evening after all this activity happened and went into the weekend feeling confident I had missed the best of what was on sale.

I walked away VERY happy with what I got, but definitely more a feeling of “I’m lucky this was still here”

 

[mwkohler]

This definitely bugged me. I showed up Friday evening after all this activity happened and went into the weekend feeling confident I had missed the best of what was on sale.

I walked away VERY happy with what I got, but definitely more a feeling of “I’m lucky this was still here”

I was mostly looking for starters so my experience was different. I walked away with 11 new trees, mostly young.

I kind of feel the pros having first dibs is the norm in general with material, collected or otherwise.
The pros have an in across the board to get the better material. In my case that's just fine, but I could see others being more disappointed. As I was waiting to get in Saturday morning I watched nice large pots coming out. Thankfully it wasn't what I was in the market for.

 

[snowman04]

I can't wait for the link to the album. (The most recent album the current link takes you to is the 6th album.)

I pre-ordered mine two days ago when everyone was arguing about photos of trees...

 

[ABCarve]

I think all of the criticisms are legitimate beefs and most can be associated with any exhibition…… HOWEVER, Bill and Dianne have stepped up to the plate and created this thing called the “National”. ABS, BCI, both national and international organizations have failed in the any attempt. It’s something our community has which encompasses a bit of the western hemisphere. The part that concerns me is….. where’s this go when Bill and Dianne aren’t here?Is there an exit strategy?

 

[bwaynef]

I pre-ordered mine two days ago when everyone was arguing about photos of trees...

Either I'm doing something wrong or you might've ordered the album for the 6th exhibit in 2018.

 

[IzzyG]

I think all of the criticisms are legitimate beefs and most can be associated with any exhibition…… HOWEVER, Bill and Dianne have stepped up to the plate and created this thing called the “National”. ABS, BCI, both national and international organizations have failed in the any attempt. It’s something our community has which encompasses a bit of the western hemisphere. The part that concerns me is….. where’s this go when Bill and Dianne aren’t here?Is there an exit strategy?

More than one person has said that there are multiple "heirs" who are wanting/willing to take over the role. Personally, I'd love to pilot a midwestern event; would just need enough partners.

 

[snowman04]

Either I'm doing something wrong or you might've ordered the album for the 6th exhibit in 2018.

I hope not but either way, I'll have more pics of nice trees!!!

 

[coh]

Either I'm doing something wrong or you might've ordered the album for the 6th exhibit in 2018.

Geez, you are right. I just sent them a note through their contact link about this. I don't see anywhere to order the 2023 album...

 

[mwkohler]

Either I'm doing something wrong or you might've ordered the album for the 6th exhibit in 2018.

I understood you need to preorder in person. There was a form on Bill's table where he was selling prior books.