Pacific Bonsai Expo, October 26-27, 2024, Oakland, CA

[Eric Schrader]

Hi All - just a reminder that we're about two weeks away from the submission deadline. Thanks for your thoughts so far.
I really want to encourage folks to submit trees - we have a good selection so far, but not quite as many yet as we're hoping to have!
If you have transit/transport challenges for the trees but would otherwise want to submit reach out to Jonas, Andrew Robson or myself and we can work on pooling resources.
Here's a blurb from Jonas' newsletter:

Why participate in a regional event like the Expo?

• It’s a great way to learn how to prepare trees for exhibit
• It’s a great way to learn about display
• It’s a great opportunity to meet and learn from your peers

More than anything else, participating as an exhibitor in a regional event like the Expo is one of the best ways to support your bonsai community. Our jury members, Bjorn Bjorholm, David De Groot, Michael Hagedorn, Todd Schlafer, and Eric Schrader are looking forward to selecting the best possible trees for the exhibit. You can help them do this by sending photos of your work.

AND - accepted exhibitors get a free weekend pass with their table fee, and free admission to the Friday night reception. The exhibitors are the stars of the show!

 

[Sansokuu]

Just booked our airbnb!! Very eggcited.

 

[Ruddigger]

Yup, I can’t wait to attend the best show in the United States again!

 

[Eric Schrader]

If anyone is interested and not already aware - Jonas and I did a podcast recently on PBE-related Jury and Judging topics.
Check it out on your favorite podcatcher or here's the web link:

Eric and Jonas Chat about Jurying and Judging the Expo - Bonsai Wire

The submission period for the 2024 Expo has closed and Eric and Jonas discuss next steps with a focus on the Expo's goals for the jury and judging processes.

www.bonsaiwirepodcast.com

 

[Ruddigger]

The email I got when I submitted said we’d know by June 1st. Think that’ll still happen?

Also, wow, parking is 30 bucks a day this year? What if we just want to load or unload?

 

[John7429]

I recommend people stay in the Berkeley or Alameda area, though I believe downtown oakland has a few decent stays and is a more gentrified area. Definitely check reviews
. And whatever you do, do NOT get gas for your rental car at the gas station closest to the Oakland airport. Infamous for smash and grabs. I dont want to scare people away from attending, but just want people to know how to avoid unwanted shenanigans. I have some great friends who lived in the Oakland area over a decade now so they are familiar with that sort of thing. Just don’t leave anything within sight inside the car (given in any major city really!). We might do the extended stay in alameda or an airbnb i liked last PBE. Depends on if I will have any kids in tow.

I was victim to a smash and grab at the last PBE. It's real, folks.

 

[Ruddigger]

I was victim to a smash and grab at the last PBE. It's real, folks.

Damn John, that sucks. I gotta say, I was worried about it last time. So I borrowed my girlfriends car to get there.

@Eric Schrader Any idea when the jury selection results will be in?

 

[Eric Schrader]

@Eric Schrader Any idea when the jury selection results will be in?

Jury: there has been a slight delay in the final juror submitting scores. We have everything compiled and they have until Friday (2 more days) to complete it. If they're not done we'll use the results from the 4 jurors that completed it already.
I've seen the results so far and this show will be the best ever in the US. Better than 2022 PBE. And I think there's a real chance that a deciduous tree could win best in show!

Re: Parking - unfortunately the venue is charging us for parking - in fact the entire thing is a pass-through. The up-side is that there will be paid security in the lot. There are other options - most notably a two-block walk to the Lake Merritt BART station. There will be a FREE area for loading / unloading. The building is not isolated from the surroundings so this is relatively easy to set up. I have to check with Jonas about the shuttle to the Emeryville hotel and Emeryville public market but I'm pretty sure it's happening. (E.g. you could park in that area and take the shuttle if you want.)

Tickets are On Sale now in case any of you didn't already know. https://pacificbonsaiexpo.org/collections/tickets-and-merchandise

T-Shirts are also on Sale now. - https://pacificbonsaiexpo.org/collections/tickets-and-merchandise

View attachment unisex-staple-t-shirt-black-heather-front-665c706329ccb.webp

Friday Party and Award Ceremony- Shameless plug - Rather than a Saturday sit-down awards banquet, this year we're doing a Friday night party in the exhibit space. Free to accepted exhibitors and open to donors who support the show at the $250 level and above. I just saw the catering menu and it's going to be a fun mix of small bites and yummy flatbread! (2022 banquet menu was a disaster so we're getting a Top-Notch outfit to do this year.) No charge for parking Friday night. 5-8pm.
More info here: https://pacificbonsaiexpo.org/pages/friday-donor-reception

 

[pandacular]

Just bought my ticket! Now to begin selling my girlfriend on coming with…

 

[Sansokuu]

Just bought my ticket! Now to begin selling my girlfriend on coming with…

What does she like? The bay area is *fun*, I’m sure you won’t be spending the entire time at PBE………………………

 

[pandacular]

What does she like? The bay area is *fun*, I’m sure you won’t be spending the entire time at PBE………………………

She’s like staying at home…reading…being with her cats.

I’m half joking, I think she’ll be interested. Might have her grab an afternoon pass and meet up with me. I think I can sell her on the all the great food there is to eat!

 

[yenling83]

Jury: there has been a slight delay in the final juror submitting scores. We have everything compiled and they have until Friday (2 more days) to complete it. If they're not done we'll use the results from the 4 jurors that completed it already.
I've seen the results so far and this show will be the best ever in the US. Better than 2022 PBE. And I think there's a real chance that a deciduous tree could win best in show!

Re: Parking - unfortunately the venue is charging us for parking - in fact the entire thing is a pass-through. The up-side is that there will be paid security in the lot. There are other options - most notably a two-block walk to the Lake Merritt BART station. There will be a FREE area for loading / unloading. The building is not isolated from the surroundings so this is relatively easy to set up. I have to check with Jonas about the shuttle to the Emeryville hotel and Emeryville public market but I'm pretty sure it's happening. (E.g. you could park in that area and take the shuttle if you want.)

Tickets are On Sale now in case any of you didn't already know. https://pacificbonsaiexpo.org/collections/tickets-and-merchandise

T-Shirts are also on Sale now. - https://pacificbonsaiexpo.org/collections/tickets-and-merchandise

View attachment 551693

Friday Party and Award Ceremony- Shameless plug - Rather than a Saturday sit-down awards banquet, this year we're doing a Friday night party in the exhibit space. Free to accepted exhibitors and open to donors who support the show at the $250 level and above. I just saw the catering menu and it's going to be a fun mix of small bites and yummy flatbread! (2022 banquet menu was a disaster so we're getting a Top-Notch outfit to do this year.) No charge for parking Friday night. 5-8pm.
More info here: https://pacificbonsaiexpo.org/pages/friday-donor-reception


View attachment 551692

Really appreciate the update here and have enjoyed listening to the podcasts! I really can't get enough of you guys talking about the expo. I enjoy hearing all the, "behind the scenes" topics you guys talk about. Super fun to listen to, Cheers to you and Jonas!!!

 

[Eric Schrader]

Jury results are done. Gonna be a BIG show! I think 24 trees in the XL categories! More to come soon.

 

[Sansokuu]

How about vendor discounts for the donor reception *hinthintwinkwink*

(I already asked Jonas and it was a firm )

 

[Ruddigger]

How about vendor discounts for the donor reception *hinthintwinkwink*

(I already asked Jonas and it was a firm View attachment 552299)

Personally, I would like a +1 for exhibitors. Or at least, have Eric tell my wife she has to sit on the curb. I dont wanna do it.

 

[Eric Schrader]

How about vendor discounts for the donor reception *hinthintwinkwink*

(I already asked Jonas and it was a firm no)

TBD. Possible but we'll need to gauge interest first.

Personally, I would like a +1 for exhibitors. Or at least, have Eric tell my wife she has to sit on the curb. I dont wanna do it.

This was a policy that we debated quite a bit. In the end the catering cost for the event coupled with the fact that this potentially means 90-120 free attendees versus 45-60 made it unfeasible. The attendance limit is 250 total.
The Friday event is a Fundraiser for the organization, it gives donors a big thanks for their support. Being an exhibitor is an equally important form of support.
The budget for the event is now published on the site here.
If you look at it you will see that there is not a lot of wiggle room. We've made a lot of assumptions based on last time and our hope that the community will see the event as valuable enough to support.

So all that's to say: Please consider donating to and attending the Friday event in the spirit of what it is.

 

[Sansokuu]

Are you saying attendance is capped at 1200?!

 

[Sansokuu]

TBD. Possible but we'll need to gauge interest first.

This was a policy that we debated quite a bit. In the end the catering cost for the event coupled with the fact that this potentially means 90-120 free attendees versus 45-60 made it unfeasible. The attendance limit is 250 total.
The Friday event is a Fundraiser for the organization, it gives donors a big thanks for their support. Being an exhibitor is an equally important form of support.
The budget for the event is now published on the site here.
If you look at it you will see that there is not a lot of wiggle room. We've made a lot of assumptions based on last time and our hope that the community will see the event as valuable enough to support.

So all that's to say: Please consider donating to and attending the Friday event in the spirit of what it is.

How about donating in non-monetary ways? Like say pottery valued at $250 - A charity auction? I would be happy to donate pottery for auctioning. I know that is a ‘traditional’ thing for shows to do, but it really is fun.

 

[Eric Schrader]

Are you saying attendance is capped at 1200?!

No, that's an estimate of ticket sales for budgeting purposes, not a cap.
So far across all types of tickets we've sold about 200. We're working on the volunteer policies and mechanisms since we know a lot of local people want to consider that when looking at tickets.

 

[Ruddigger]

@Eric Schrader What happened with the judging? Did that holdout judge submit their picks, or did you end up going with just the 4?