Expert Maintenance

[kcpoole]

I have never actually permed any bonsai work for hire.
The prices quoted is only what I would work for or expect to pay others to.workmon.my trees, not what I have been paid
I am only an amateur.

[kcpoole]

Very surprised of that figure Tien.
Interesting points too Gerard

[Pup]

I would do so for $80 per hour. minimum 1/2 day call out

Ken

hi Ken
if you don't mind me asking, how do you arrive at your price? it'd be useful for the general bonsai public to get a sense of how we value our work. and perhaps if anyone cares to comment, how they value our work.

A point to consider before paying for a days work by one of the more proficient bonsai practitioners around is do you have any trees worth the expense? <br abp="708">In my view, unless you have a stump with plenty of options for carving or extreme bending, or a tree which is at or near show quality which you want to take to the next level, then you waste their time, experience and your money. <br abp="709"><br abp="710">Another point is each probably have high level of skills or experience in certain areas which the others may not have, or at least not to the same proficiency. For example if I was doing Melaleucas then I'd call Pup.<br abp="711"><br abp="712">Another point to consider is artistic flair. Do you appreciate an artists style? Picasso is a world renowned painter but I loath his work. Give me Rembrandt any day. <br abp="713"><br abp="714">In my view, $100 an hour is probably a fair rate for most demonstrators whilst those who have developed trees to say international level e.g. Pup and Hugh Grant, Ray Nesci etc. would have to be worth at least double or triple that figure.

hi EdwardH
it's great to know that there are someone like you who are willing to pay $200-$300 an hour for Pup, Hugh or Ray's work. i'll personally get in contact with Ray to inform him of the good news.

I work for $50-00 an hour plus expenses.

[bodhidharma]

I work for 45 plus materials plus beer. oh, and i babysit trees for a dollar a day plus expenses.

[Jow]

I do work on customer trees but tend to quote per tree. This obviously changes depending on what needs doing. Most trees i work on take 6-8 hours to clean, wire and style. If i was charging $50 an hour I would be running into the $400 a tree mark. this for most people would be far too much. Obviously you need to price at a level that is affordable and encourages repeat custom.

Its a hard problem and probably why doing it 'professionally' is so difficult.

[Andrew F]

Trying not to rustle too many jimmies but is there any trees in Australia that warrant the sorta money thats been proposed?

[kcpoole]

Interesting discussion.
It seems I might be thinking way above the real price, Good thing I am not trying to get work or make any money out of Bonsai.
Does anyone know what the contract labour costs are in the nursery or Tree lopper / Garden care game?

Around here, Builders charge from $60 and hour for the young blokes to $100 + for the older more skilled guys. ( i am pricing them now). Similar for plumbers. My thoughts would be the 10 - 20 year skill veteran would be worth similar.

Good Question Andrew and i can only say I assume so. There must be high value trees around that need or would benefit from profession care.

Ken

[Billy]

Trying not to rustle too many jimmies but is there any trees in Australia that warrant the sorta money thats been proposed?

It's not really about if the tree's are good or not, some people are collectors of Bonsai for example and don't really want or know how to wire/style trees.
There's a saying(not mine) -maybe oldschool-maybe not." There are 2 types of bonsai people, the first can Grow good bonsai , and the second can Style good bonsai. People that can do both properly are rare." The difficulty is finding the balance between the two.

[bonsaisensation]

Trying not to rustle too many jimmies but is there any trees in Australia that warrant the sorta money thats been proposed?

It's not really about if the tree's are good or not, some people are collectors of Bonsai for example and don't really want or know how to wire/style trees.
There's a saying(not mine) -maybe oldschool-maybe not." There are 2 types of bonsai people, the first can Grow good bonsai , and the second can Style good bonsai. People that can do both properly are rare." The difficulty is finding the balance between the two.

My observation is this" there are those who can grow trees well, and those who can style trees well. People who can do both properly are rare. When they do, I'd call them people who can grow bonsai".

[Pup]

Trying not to rustle too many jimmies but is there any trees in Australia that warrant the sorta money thats been proposed?

It's not really about if the tree's are good or not, some people are collectors of Bonsai for example and don't really want or know how to wire/style trees.
There's a saying(not mine) -maybe oldschool-maybe not." There are 2 types of bonsai people, the first can Grow good bonsai , and the second can Style good bonsai. People that can do both properly are rare." The difficulty is finding the balance between the two.

My observation is this" there are those who can grow trees well, and those who can style trees well. People who can do both properly are rare. When they do, I'd call them people who can grow bonsai".

I would like to think my trees speak for me, so I guess, you might say I can grow bonsai.

[bodhidharma]

I would like to think my trees speak for me, so I guess, you might say I can grow bonsai.

Onya Pup

[Grant Bowie]

I charge a flat rate of $70 per hour whether for bonsai work or private workshops/lessons etc and am busy enough in my retirement. People also pay for travelling time to and from if I go to their place and I am getting repeat business.

I have overhauled, repotted, wired, styled single trees up to whole collections .

I enjoy the private one on one workshops as these are very focused on a result; passing on skills and getting a good bonsai at the end of the day.

Grant

[Sean M]

Trying not to rustle too many jimmies but is there any trees in Australia that warrant the sorta money thats been proposed?

Without wanting to rustle more Jimmies have a look at the 360 degree red pine post on here. I'd say there are a few.

[Jow]

I charge a flat rate of $70 per hour whether for bonsai work or private workshops/lessons etc and am busy enough in my retirement. People also pay for travelling time to and from if I go to their place and I am getting repeat business.

I have overhauled, repotted, wired, styled single trees up to whole collections .

I enjoy the private one on one workshops as these are very focused on a result; passing on skills and getting a good bonsai at the end of the day.

Grant

Hi Grant, what would you say is the average time you are spending when working on individual trees during styling/re-styling?

[Mojo Moyogi]

Unskilled labour $60 an hour? Perhaps if charged out by a 2nd or 3rd party.

Cheers,
Mojo