Where do you want to see a big PBE/Nationals level show?

[Sansokuu]

I don’t want to hijack the PBE thread anymore than it has been, and it is a wonderful show in every aspect. But where do YOU want to see a Nationals/PBE level show? And what do you want to see at it? Curated vendors? All the vendors? How many exhibitor trees? What about workshops, special guests? What would make you really really want to attend? How do we make this a show big enough for multiple thousands of people want to meet? Including international attendees? Or maybe it is the nature of bonsai folk that they prefer not to gather in places with lots of people.

I have a few great bonsai friends who have never attended PBE from either lack of interest (one couple prefers the Bonsai Rendezvous in Santa Nella I believe which is all workshops) and another friend said they needed ‘another reason besides PBE to make the trip’.

I would love to see a PNW show. I am biased, that is also where I live lol! But that also means being able to volunteer to make it happen. I would also want food delivery/catering/multiple food truck options, or be close enough to food people can pop out for a bite and come back. Ok that isn’t bonsai related but people gotta eat I have attended shows where they put out a huge sandwich order and all vendors have to do is fill out a slip of paper and lunch appears.

I would also love to see a Socal show (excuse to visit family and friends).

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I enjoyed the GSBF shows when they alternated between central CA and southern CA. I don't know that I would be interested in the Bonsai Rendezvous if it were nothing but workshops. Sad to hear about the demise of the BSBF shows - because I think the shows are an excellent publicity venue.

 

[Ruddigger]

@Bonsai Nut I just got an email today about next years GSBF Rendezvous. Headliners are Mauro and Suthin, and the new change is a small judged show with entries from each GSBF affiliated club. Could be interesting.

 

[BrianBay9]

I enjoyed the GSBF shows when they alternated between central CA and southern CA. I don't know that I would be interested in the Bonsai Rendezvous if it were nothing but workshops. Sad to hear about the demise of the BSBF shows - because I think the shows are an excellent publicity venue.

Yes, I was disappointed in the Rendezvous last year. The shohin meeting in Santa Nella is good.

 

[BrianBay9]

I don’t want to hijack the PBE thread anymore than it has been, and it is a wonderful show in every aspect. But where do YOU want to see a Nationals/PBE level show? And what do you want to see at it? Curated vendors? All the vendors? How many exhibitor trees? What about workshops, special guests? What would make you really really want to attend? How do we make this a show big enough for multiple thousands of people want to meet? Including international attendees? Or maybe it is the nature of bonsai folk that they prefer not to gather in places with lots of people.

I have a few great bonsai friends who have never attended PBE from either lack of interest (one couple prefers the Bonsai Rendezvous in Santa Nella I believe which is all workshops) and another friend said they needed ‘another reason besides PBE to make the trip’.

I would love to see a PNW show. I am biased, that is also where I live lol! But that also means being able to volunteer to make it happen. I would also want food delivery/catering/multiple food truck options, or be close enough to food people can pop out for a bite and come back. Ok that isn’t bonsai related but people gotta eat I have attended shows where they put out a huge sandwich order and all vendors have to do is fill out a slip of paper and lunch appears.

I would also love to see a Socal show (excuse to visit family and friends).

I think everyone would like a major show within an easy drive from home. The SF Bay area works for me in its entirety, but San Jose would be a bit closer. Oakland has the advantage of using the East Bay Bonsai club for volunteers, but there are 11 clubs in the bay area last time I looked. I'm sure there are plenty of potential participants in Washington or Oregon too, but it's all a function of who will take the reins for organization.

I know some vendors thought there were too many vendors at this PBE, but from the buyers' perspective there can never be too many. Still, making the vendors happy is vital to a good show. I want to see great trees, but I also want a really superb shopping opportunity. We have almost nothing local and hands on beats website shopping hands down.

At this point in my journey I'm less likely to make use of workshops, unless it's something really unique.

 

[RJG2]

My Portland, not your Portland, @Sansokuu







(Obviously sarcasm, there is very little bonsai here)

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I think everyone would like a major show within an easy drive from home.

Yes. I have to admit I love the Winter show outside of Charlotte... because it is a 45 minute drive That said, Boston is a 12 hour drive to the north, Miami is a 11:30 drive to the south, Memphis is a 10 hour drive to the west. A big chunk of the eastern third of the country is within reasonable driving distance.

The only complaint I have about the national show in Rochester is that it is a 14 hour drive... from Charlotte That makes it over a 24 hour drive from Miami, etc. Normally I would say "who cares - take a plane!" but when you are transporting trees, or hoping to buy trees, it is a different thing altogether.

 

[Sansokuu]

My Portland, not your Portland, @Sansokuu







(Obviously sarcasm, there is very little bonsai here)

Speaking of Portland, Maine (and out of respect when I tell people I reside in Portland I try to add in the Oregon ), there was one fellow we sold a pot to in that area from fb auctions.. Nao called it his unicorn vomit pot but it was a big one, and the buyer had a very gorgeous maple for it. Wondering if he is around this forum or if you know him??

 

[Sansokuu]

Yes. I have to admit I love the Winter show outside of Charlotte... because it is a 45 minute drive That said, Boston is a 12 hour drive to the north, Miami is a 11:30 drive to the south, Memphis is a 10 hour drive to the west. A big chunk of the eastern third of the country is within reasonable driving distance.

The only complaint I have about the national show in Rochester is that it is a 14 hour drive... from Charlotte That makes it over a 24 hour drive from Miami, etc. Normally I would say "who cares - take a plane!" but when you are transporting trees, or hoping to buy trees, it is a different thing altogether.

Rochester also isnt much of a destination city I would love a show in Boston!! What will happen when Bill decides to officially retire? Where and who do you think the reins will be handed off to?

 

[yenling83]

I think you're posing some fantastic questions. Out of all of them, I'm really curious what's the #1 thing which currently isn't being done that would make more people come to the PBE given the same ticket price, location, etc?

I have a hunch that one thing might be quality workshops. I feel like the average hobbyist wants a quality exhibit and sales area, some educational opportunities, but also to take something home with them. They want the experience and memory of working on a tree, pot or stand under a teacher in a workshop and getting to keep it.


Just for fun here's some ideas I think could be cool for future Expo's
-Workshops
-Music-I picture a string quartet playing in the middle of the expo during the day and a DJ at the Friday reception
-Silent Auction-to raise funds
-Short Speeches by the prize winners at the Friday Reception
-Q&A panel or speeches from the show Organizers at Friday's reception

 

[Sansokuu]

Yes. I have to admit I love the Winter show outside of Charlotte... because it is a 45 minute drive That said, Boston is a 12 hour drive to the north, Miami is a 11:30 drive to the south, Memphis is a 10 hour drive to the west. A big chunk of the eastern third of the country is within reasonable driving distance.

The only complaint I have about the national show in Rochester is that it is a 14 hour drive... from Charlotte That makes it over a 24 hour drive from Miami, etc. Normally I would say "who cares - take a plane!" but when you are transporting trees, or hoping to buy trees, it is a different thing altogether.

I heard from @Pitoon that the Kannapolis show is very restricted in terms of venue space.. if you can even land a table, the tables sound like 6 ft by 18” sizes and a max of two. We couldnt bring a bunch of big pots unless we refreshed the table constantly from somewhere??

 

[RJG2]

Speaking of Portland, Maine (and out of respect when I tell people I reside in Portland I try to add in the Oregon ), there was one fellow we sold a pot to in that area from fb auctions.. Nao called it his unicorn vomit pot but it was a big one, and the buyer had a very gorgeous maple for it. Wondering if he is around this forum or if you know him??

I have an idea who it might have been, but I haven't met them yet. I only know of a handful of people with trees that would fit that description around here.

 

[Paradox]

For me, southern New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Eastern PA are all fairly easy to get to.

I'd rather it not be in the middle of NYC or Boston because of traffic. Somewhere on the outskirts of those cities is better along a major highway like 495, 95, 80 etc

Furthest I went for a show was Rochester (yes it's even far for me) and just outside Baltimore, MD (ABS show).

 

[vp999]

About a block or walking distance from my house would be ideal .

 

[RJG2]

Rochester also isnt much of a destination city I would love a show in Boston!! What will happen when Bill decides to officially retire? Where and who do you think the reins will be handed off to?

I went to college in Rochester (RIT), and the best thing about the city was the ferry to Toronto, but that didn't even start until my last year

I'm sure I might actually appreciate their lilac festival now, which was not the case at the time (2001-2005).

 

[bonsaiwood]

I have a hunch that one thing might be quality workshops. I feel like the average hobbyist wants a quality exhibit and sales area, some educational opportunities, but also to take something home with them. They want the experience and memory of working on a tree, pot or stand under a teacher in a workshop and getting to keep

echoing the above- quality workshops would be great for those who want to learn ‘hands-on’ with a professional. I think it could provide for a unique way for hobbyists to build confidence, enhance their skillset with the help of those who know what they’re doing, and interact with other participants in a collaborative setting where everyone is learning all at once. As a newer hobbyist with a long term goal of becoming a practitioner, I would not hesitate to sign up provided a quality tree could be made available- which can be a challenge in itself.

 

[Ruddigger]

PBE should be in the Bay area, but not in Oakland.

Nationals should be renamed to Atlantic Bonsai Expo and could be held somewhere more accessible than Rochester. Philadelphia maybe. They switch off years with PBE like they do now.

Then every 8 or 10 years we have a REAL National show, centrally located. Someplace like Chicago or Kansas City, with jury selected trees by American artists.

 

[Pitoon]

I heard from @Pitoon that the Kannapolis show is very restricted in terms of venue space.. if you can even land a table, the tables sound like 6 ft by 18” sizes and a max of two. We couldnt bring a bunch of big pots unless we refreshed the table constantly from somewhere??

The Kannapolis show has an outstanding atrium lined with marble where the trees in the show are displayed. But in terms of vendors, there's just two rooms. One that I would consider more of a storage room that has poor lighting. This room is where Steve had a majority of the vendors with trees in to keep the carpets clean. The other room is somewhat partitioned in two. 1/3 of that room was dedicated to pottery/stands. The other 2/3 of the room was split between mixed vendors of pottery/trees and a small demo area.

I've attached the layout from last year's show. As you can see there’s no room to even sit behind your table. There's just a couple of vendors that get that privilege.....space is tight. You could probably refresh your table as the parking lot for the vendors is not far. But it would definitely be a headache to stock the table with attendees walking about as it gets pretty crowded and honest not sure how Steve would feel about that in terms of liability.

Come to the show and have a look to see if it's worth your time. That's what I did my first year, I just drove down to scope out the show. But it's a 6hr drive for me not a cross country trip as it is for you guys. The PBE was definitely an adventure for me . I learned a lot from that trip.

 

[Pitoon]

PBE should be in the Bay area, but not in Oakland.

Nationals should be renamed to Atlantic Bonsai Expo and could be held somewhere more accessible than Rochester. Philadelphia maybe. They switch off years with PBE like they do now.

Then every 8 or 10 years we have a REAL National show, centrally located. Someplace like Chicago or Kansas City, with jury selected trees by American artists.

I dig the Atlantic and Pacific Expos alternating each year, and a national show every 10th year to cover both coasts.

 

[Sansokuu]

The Kannapolis show has an outstanding atrium lined with marble where the trees in the show are displayed. But in terms of vendors, there's just two rooms. One that I would consider more of a storage room that has poor lighting. This room is where Steve had a majority of the vendors with trees in to keep the carpets clean. The other room is somewhat partitioned in two. 1/3 of that room was dedicated to pottery/stands. The other 2/3 of the room was split between mixed vendors of pottery/trees and a small demo area.

I've attached the layout from last year's show. As you can see there’s no room to even sit behind your table. There's just a couple of vendors that get that privilege.....space is tight. You could probably refresh your table as the parking lot for the vendors is not far. But it would definitely be a headache to stock the table with attendees walking about as it gets pretty crowded and honest not sure how Steve would feel about that in terms of liability.

Come to the show and have a look to see if it's worth your time. That's what I did my first year, I just drove down to scope out the show. But it's a 6hr drive for me not a cross country trip as it is for you guys. The PBE was definitely an adventure for me . I learned a lot from that trip.

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I feel claustrophobic looking at this I might attend this show solo as I have a very dear friend who lives in the state, so it would be more a trip to see her if anything. In which case all my pots I can put in a carry on, and any Nao pots I bring would be check ins. I can bring easily 50 of my painted pots, and maybe a very generous two dozen of Nao’s depending on size (thank you southwest for free check ins ). I’ll have to see if I can even nab a spot.