AusBonsai

Over the last 20 years I’ve been a member of all three clubs in Brisbane at different times, from time to time.
I recall in those earlier days that I struggled at the club meetings to find relevance. They were not particularly helpful and too infrequent to really advance my knowledge and understanding. I learnt so much more subscribing to Bonsai Today.
More recently I have been observing new members, beginners, joining up, coming for 3 months or less and then disappearing. This happens to 95% of new joiners, leaving us old codgers there with very little fresh blood, ideas and enthusiasm. What happens? Is it not what they thought or is it just not meeting their needs?

I’ve been thinking about how better to meet the needs of beginners. The sort of program run in Sydney by the School of Bonsai with weekly and term structure is a model that might be the answer, with a program that is practical and deals with the basic like just how do you grow a plant in a pot for a long time and keep it alive. This is the sort of thing beginners need to know, as I recall, and will never pick up at the standard club demos and workshops. It needs to be regular, intensive, practical vs theoretical, about art and horticulture etc etc and deliver what beginners need. What do you beginners out there think and what would help you stay keen and enthusiastic?

Cost is an issue too. The Sydney school charges just $40 for a 9 week term, which is unbelievably cheap given venue, materials and people’s time costs. Perhaps that’s the problem, beginners not prepared to pay much and too few benefactors willing to do the prep and teach for almost nothing more than petrol money. What would people be prepared to pay?

Anyway I’d be interested to hear if there would be any interest from beginners in Brisbane for something like this. If so it might be possible to somehow pull it off in affiliation with a club or entirely independently.
So what do you think?

I think that would be an awesome idea and would be very interested in going along to something like this.

I am one of those Brisbane newbies. To be honest I don't even know about the clubs up here. So far my learning has been done through this site, books and trial and error.

I guess the reason I have for not looking for a club is firstly my life is pretty busy with a growing career, a partner, needy pets, and training for a sport at a pretty high level. I haven't looked for a club because I wouldn't want to be one of those people who just randomly shows up now and again, I would want to make it to most meetings. I am sure I could make time for a program like you suggest though.

The second reason I haven't looked for a club is that I want to get my basic skills down pat first. Again such a program would probably help with this.

Don't worry mate, they're not all going!

I'm 15 going on 16 next month and I've been a part of bonsai for almost a year now! One of the best LIFESTYLES there is! Get a few funny jokes thrown at me a bit for being a Bmx rider that grows "little trees" hahaa. It's funny to see how bonsai has changed my life already, shrubs have turned to inspiration, school books filled with concept drawings and study time has gone down the drain!

Pricing is tough, what I thought was expensive when I first started looking into the hobby, I've learnt now is actually quite cheap!

I really enjoyed my beginners course and wouldn't change much about it at all, I think it just comes down to finding that 'happy medium' between the theory and the practical. The term structure would definately interest me though (if I was in the right state:( ) as it'd just provide even more of an oppurtunity to learn, and for that information to sink in

as a product of "the School of Bonsai" it totally agree that the structured course is the way to go.

We run ours over 3 years, and the final year is essentially weekly workshops and after 9 years am still going every week as a Student.
I have often wondered whether it be feasable to run an online course along the same lines, but is really hard without the student teacher hands on experience.

Ken

Good to get your feedback everyone and especially Ryan, great to see you've found an absorbing creative outlet. Much better to be pre-osccupied with bonsai that work, that's for sure. It would be interesting to see if there were any likely experienced bonsaiistas who would be will to step up as tutors too?
Cheerrs,
Happy Potter

I guess the reason I have for not looking for a club is firstly my life is pretty busy with a growing career. I haven't looked for a club because I wouldn't want to be one of those people who just randomly shows up now and again, I would want to make it to most meetings. I am sure I could make time for a program like you suggest though.

Ditto. When I'm not at work I try to stay in my house, mostly working on my little hobbies. I'm a bit of a hermit like that. I do need to start making more effort to interact with people outside of work, especially now my work exams are finally over forever and I can actually have hobbies again!

I have been meaning to go to the bimer club but chickened out.

Great idea,awesome way to get the younger generation into our amazing hobbi (lifestyle)

Nice to see your enthusiasm, almost enough to encourage me to try something.
I think it's better to be a club member than struggle along on your own, but you do really have to work at engaging. You have to make the moves or you might be left standing around on your own! So you see bonsai help with all sorts of new skills. The workshops can be good to get advice, not to mention collecting cuttings of species you don't have. I've got some nice little Little Rubys now, that came home that way.
Cheers,
Happy Potter

Well I'll be??? Haven't been on AB for ages (sorry about that) and the first post I saw on Sunday was this one. Things have been in the wind for a while now, and too long I reckon, so you fired me up.

I have just registered Brisbane International Bonsai School and will be posting in the Clubs and Schools section shortly with more details when some things get finalised and set up. I will still have the same come to you private or group sessions, but will also offer structured classes and topical workshops through a Nursery in Brisbane that will also have supplies available. Been waiting too long for this and I'm excited to be able to offer classes again. Hope to have the first classes available late spring.

Good on ya Happy Potter.

Tony

Yay tony,
Will look forward to some info as things get organized. Mia

I'm a student of the School of Bonsai also. First did a year there almost 30 years ago and have been back several times since. I'm currently going to the Tuesday night advanced classes which are like a weekly workshop. We have several mentors/teachers there each week who freely give their time to teach and discuss bonsai. For me it is a great environment to work on my trees, get advice, bounce ideas and hang out with like minded friends.

The beginners and advanced classes are very well structured with even amounts of theory and hands on work. The curriculum has been refined over many years and is the collaboration of several bonsaists. The success of the SoB shows in the member base which is currently around 240 I think but not all are active. There have been thousands of students over the years!

it is a great way to teach and to keep beginners involved.

I was pumped to read your post on Facebook Tony! Congratulations mate, I wish you great success with the Brisbane International Bonsai School

Good topic Happy, thanks!

Regards,
Steven

Tony, great to see your dream finally happening!! I was excited when you told me about it a while ago
Let me know if you need any help with anything!
To all the Brisbane newbs - Tony is obviosuly getting his school set up now, but in the mean time there are other avenues.
Tess at Bonsai Northside Nursery in Morayfield runs a "beginners course" which is a one day course and goes over some theory and practical stuff. She suplied tree, pot, wire, tools etc and you leave with a better understanding of bonsai and a tree. Further to that seh runs many workshops, which are much cheaper, where you bring your own tree and work on it within a group of people.
Otherwise our Bimer club is running a workshop event for our October meeting, and the other clubs do similar things.
Any Brissie newbs, feel free to PM me about any questions or anything you may have as well.

In! Was just now looking for something like this. Really looking forward to it getting underway Tony. I should join the club too... I have been saying that for almost a year now