spread the ausbonsai word

[lindsay farr]

Working on the coal face of Australian bonsai, I'm surprised at how often I meet dedicated bonsai people who aren't aware of the AusBonsai forum.
Considering that this forum is one of Australian bonsai's best schools and that it is hidden to most is dissapointing.
What can be done to spread the word?

[Gerard]

I know that it is not included on my club newsletter. Perhaps all clubs should have a section in their newsletters, "Bonsai on the Internet", which would direct people to club websites this forum and other forums as well as interesting u-tube articles.
Perhaps this forum should also have a category for club newsletters.

[Pup]

I do pass the word as much as possible, some negative comments, but when I mention who are members, and participate they are then surprised, hopefully they do join some have come aboard under pseudonyms, but that is fine as long as the contribute.

Both clubs I belong to have members here, and we do promote it as a learning experience for all people who are interested, be it in Bonsai, Penjing, Kusamono and Suiseki. We have it here.

So do as Lindsay asks and Promote AusBonsai and the Art within Australia.

Pup

[alpineart]

Hi Lindsay , give me 100 posters and consider the deed being done . Anything and everything including everyone i meet in passing conversation regarding bonsai or Hobbies in general i give them this Forum site and any other info i can .My blog has numerous references to Ausbonsai and thats global . Even in a difficult position as i find myself lately i have just returned from our local show requesting another site to display another series of Bonsai without entering the category . I need some help to set up this display but the committee has given its full support and low and behold one of the ladies is a bonsai owner . All the relative info for our forum has been passed on to her and with a lengthy discussion they have requested 5 different categories to which Bonsai can be entered , this info along with the Ausbonsai info will be handed to the Show Committee to be hopefully included in future Horticultural shows . I expect several thousand show goers to at least pass through the gates .

The Bonsai will be set up in the Floral section which is probably the most visited section . A banner or poster would create interest as i have in the past only displayed my name and my blog before it was affiliated with Ausbonsai . I might just try to contact Steven for a flyer or to at least have permission to display the Ausbonsai name , now that my blog is associated with Ausbonsai it may even breach copyright to display a sign in reference to my blog .??? Although it is short on time i didn't expect to be up and about or be it moving at all so soon after the injury so participating in a display was out of the question .Sonic 976 will be entering his Bonsai and assisting with the set up . Spreading the word most of the time .

Cheers Alpineart

[kcpoole]

Hi Lindsay and co
That is also one of the reasons i made my Transfers the other week before the Combined Sydney show.
I outlined and showed off in this thread here viewtopic.php?f=3&t=9660
I was working in the Demo Workshop area, so lots would have seen it.

I will also have on during the Schools Show this weekend and will have on while doing my Demo on Saturday Morning ( potting up 2 trees)

Ken

[lindsay farr]

Some great ideas. Think global, act local. I will erect a sign in the shop directing folks to Ausbonsai.

[Sean M]

I have found that sometimes Internet forums can be slightly elitist. This can stop some beginners from joining due to past experience on other sites. Ausbonsai is pretty good though, so perhaps having it advertised on other websites or at club shows or if there is merchandise that could be sold at shows are all decent ideas. I think that making sure newbies stay and feel welcomed is a big thing though. Sure tell 'em how it is but offer constructive criticism. Again so far I haven't seen much negative stuff, and from experience I guess when you post bad trees and no one comments that's better than negative feedback.

[Matthew]

alpine,
ive been very quiet as late but plan to contribute more soon. i would like to get involve with you activites sometimes as it seems you are doing alot for bonsai in the NE area . have to get up your way and see neil sometime too.

[Pup]

Sean you have hit it on the head, no comments on bad trees is better than negative replies, but does that help, promoting Better Bonsai?.

I was at a garden club show some years back and made the comment, thats not Bonsai. The steward heard me and said if you have better show us. So I joined there club, trying to raise the standard, after 5 years I gave up, but still promoted good Bonsai.

The problem was when they saw my trees on the bench they either took theirs off or did not bring them in.
They saw( big head) better trees but instead of trying to get better themselves they were quite happy to go away and put the bad trees back on there bench.

Now in promoting Bonsai and Penjing, the good trees here should be a good guide as to what is and what is not. Most people that use their computers are intelligent people ( I hope ) so by looking at the trees that are posted here that are being groomed,at the almost finished stage. To those that are starting there journey as Bonsai they must be able to tell the difference.
That is the idea behind posting my trees not to show off.
Yes we all started at the beginning and were not instant successes, when I started this media was not available, living in the most isolated capital in the country, it was not easy, to get good stock or even shown what was.
So with all the help that is now available I would have got there a lot sooner. In my journey with Bonsai I have made a lot of mistakes.
These I have learned by, and passed to those who would listen.
It is not by passing all of your successes that you teach, tell of your failures as well. So that is why sometimes the comment might be harsh, but it is part of learning.
So if I seem harsh at times it is not meant to harm, but encourage you (not you personally Sean ) to get better, and take it as good advice.
To improve your Bonsai and yourself. Yours in Better Bonsai Pup

[mickaus]

As a newbie I have no problem with harsh comments, If I put a tree up it is there so that I can learn from others comments and improve it... not to have someone pat my back.

Positive comments are nice, and if genuinely deserved can help me to learn. Still I firmly believe that you can learn more from failures than success and if I'm not aware of the failures I would never learn. I'd just keep making the same mistakes over and over again.

That being said there is a right way and a wrong way to deliver criticism...

Try again. Fail again. Fail better. ~Samuel Beckett

[Sean M]

@ Pup, wait you're not encouraging me? bugger. Seriously though, and I don't want to sound elitist, if you are too thin skinned to realise that you cant create perfection overnight then perhaps this life hobby isn't for you. I was lucky enough to be involved in a sport where I had heaps of encouragement and my mentors were fantastic. With their help (even starting out as late in life as I did) I managed to make the national team and attend the world championships. Now unfortunately I am old(er) and my body is too broken to continue to play so I have moved on to more peaceful pastimes but the support and the wealth of info is there (here) when I need it.
But back to promoting Ausbonsai - has there been any advertising done either by media or products (I'd probably wear an ausbonsai T-shirt if one was made up!)

[GavinG]

OK, let's get practical:

An A3 laminated poster sent to every bonsai club secretary (or a club member who also posts on the forum) with the respectful request that the poster be displayed on a wall at club shows. (and meetings?) And bonsai nurseries. And nurseries that sell bonsai.

An A4 laminated poster sent, after the usual permissions and consultations, to every Bunnings that sells mallsai. And to any others that come to mind. The point can be made that the website is not-for-profit, is no competition to commercial outlets, and supports buyers of their product in a way that the shop cannot do. They will probably like it if someone comes in and puts it up for them.

A flyer sent to garden clubs, with a brief summary of what happens here, and a respectful request that the site be mentioned at the next meeting, as gardeners have all the basic skills required for bonsai growing, and are often interested without knowing where to start.

A laminated poster on the wall at the NBPCA, Cowra, Chinese Gardens and anywhere with a collection, together possibly with a list of local bonsai clubs.

And yes, someone younger than me can sort out web links with bonsai clubs, garden clubs, botanic gardens, and all that Webbish Stuff.

Just some thoughts.

Gavin

[Pup]

OK, let's get practical:

An A3 laminated poster sent to every bonsai club secretary (or a club member who also posts on the forum) with the respectful request that the poster be displayed on a wall at club shows. (and meetings?) And bonsai nurseries. And nurseries that sell bonsai.

An A4 laminated poster sent, after the usual permissions and consultations, to every Bunnings that sells mallsai. And to any others that come to mind. The point can be made that the website is not-for-profit, is no competition to commercial outlets, and supports buyers of their product in a way that the shop cannot do. They will probably like it if someone comes in and puts it up for them.

A flyer sent to garden clubs, with a brief summary of what happens here, and a respectful request that the site be mentioned at the next meeting, as gardeners have all the basic skills required for bonsai growing, and are often interested without knowing where to start.

A laminated poster on the wall at the NBPCA, Cowra, Chinese Gardens and anywhere with a collection, together possibly with a list of local bonsai clubs.

And yes, someone younger than me can sort out web links with bonsai clubs, garden clubs, botanic gardens, and all that Webbish Stuff.

Just some thoughts.

Gavin

and very good ones too I also like the shirt option although I am a fan of Caps. thank you, Gavin.
Cheers Pup

[alpineart]

alpine,
ive been very quiet as late but plan to contribute more soon. i would like to get involve with you activites sometimes as it seems you are doing alot for bonsai in the NE area . have to get up your way and see neil sometime too.

Hi Mathew, mate i've been laid up for a couple of weeks but still manage to slip and slide out into the yard and tackle some trunks . I have had some help with some bigger tasks but when Karen comes home she is not very sympathetic knowing full well that i've been up to no good .Anytime you want to tackle some Yamadori stock just rock on up , Preparing to reduce the collection bY 50% due to the health issues so its all out to pre train and pull back the tree's i have . Just slipping outside for some fresh air now , with wire in hand and branch cutters in pocket . If your turn up bring your camera and cutters and you can make as many topics as you like for your blog and Ausbonsai .

Cheers Alpine

[kcpoole]

I know Steven has some AusBonsai stickers that he hands out and usualy has some available at the Sydney shows.

I thought he had some posters on the site to print out for your local clubs to use as well
Steven can you give us a link to it?

If anyone wants, You can grab the Hi res Ausbonsai logo files I used to print my tshirt on my own site here, http://www.poolez.com/~ken/files/

load them into a image editor and remove my name, replace with your own and print out yourself onto special Iron transfer paper. Iron on to your own tshirts if you want. The Iron on paper is $20 for 5 sheets ( at a stationary supplies or computer shop).

Ken