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 feeling it simply might be bonsai being such a niche/small hobby it might be difficult to get higher attendee numbers because there are not enough people out there. Granted I personally knew a few folks who could not make PBE due to scheduling conflicts, I thought after the smashing success of the first PBE they would have had a much higher jump in attendance. I think it is on a good trajectory though.
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.
There is also the issue of transport. It is unfortunate the US is so honking large, we thought last minute we could give our leftover pots to Todd Schlafer for a Colorado event we might attend in the spring and he had zero space.
Maybe a business opportunity for someone? Like a Mirai covered wagon but a smidge more affordable, sprinkling bonsai goods to their home. If there were kusamono workshops with young choe and styling prebonsai with a pro that people can take home I am sure they would love it. But we ran into that problem for shohin school, it was simply too hard for people to fly home with their trees even shohin sized.
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
I love the idea of silent auctions, it is fun for people to bid on them. I also like the idea of Iron Bonsai Artists where three pros duke it out over a selected species (and streamed). Dramatic styling workshops would be fun to see, where we see a before and after.
I think it would have to be more of an extended social/educational show and convention to draw more people. Friends meeting friends, making new friends. Fly in on a thursday, go home monday morning. There would be a welcome ceremony, ice cream or pizza socials, lots of workshops and educational classes (growing techniques, breaking myths, wiring techniques, soil and fertilizer discussion, how to take pretty photos of your trees
, auto watering systems, a media room where people can pop in for a rest and maybe watch a video by bjorn or one on tokoname potters, lots of Q&A or meet and greets of pros, some fun activities (bonsai paper mache?
)), local tours of bonsai collections (portland has a catio crawl, think some cities do the same with chicken coops). Vendors could sign up for a delivered lunch and maybe a catered breakfast
.
Some ideas for workshops/lectures:
-Assemble your own bonsai stand (david knittle/Austin heitzman)
-make a kusamono with young choe
-hands on tree styling
-How to choose elements for a formal display (pot, stand, tree, accents, scrolls)
-planning the perfect bonsai-centric trip to japan
- bonsai on a budget
- picking the perfect pot pairing
- soil and fertilizer myths
- optimizing growing conditions to meet growing goals
- the magic of mame bonsai and their care
- Can I save this tree?
- automatic watering systems so you can go on vacation with your family instead of being a hermit
- Collecting yamadori successfully and respectfully
- tips on running clubs (encouraging membership, how to invite pros, put on events etc). There must be lots of places that are bonsai club deserts and could need the help establishing a club presence.
That’s all I have for now, I’m a potato after 8 pm and these kids need to go to sleep so I can
