Migoto

Joanie,

Great insights! About the mints, you should have asked, I had several packages of tic-tacs in the room. The chocolate was definately a life saver and filled the gaps betwwn meals.

In response to tip number one: perhaps having a business card on the opposite side of the name would be helpful for folks. The "plastic holder thingie" tends to flip around and then no one can see your name. I didn't think about it and reached over to turn one around and in hind sight it was probably a violation of personal space. Meeting so many famous bonsai folks all at once had me a little flustered.

The writing pad was a must have item; to take notes, make sketches, trade info (I didn't even think about the cut paste, that stuff is always tricky), and keep thoughts organized.

I really wish I had taken a backback. The tool bag really is just for tools and it's too awkward and heavy to carry around all the time. I made too many trips up to the room to pick up the camera or bottles of water. I should have had more gear handy.

Oh yeah, raffle tickets...you need some rubber bands to hold them together so you can see the numbers. I tried to figure out the best strategy for where to put my tickets, in the very large 'general' bucket or the much smaller 'single item, special' buckets. I think statistically the best chance is to put most of your tickets in the general on the first night. There are so many drawn over the course of the whole event that the odds are better than putting lots of tickets into pots that will only have one winner then be tossed. Beyond that, I guess it really is luck. I put about half my tickets in the big general pot and the rest in single item pots. I'd completely given up hope of winning anything and was getting up to leave after the final Farewell lunch when my name was called on the very last item.

As they say, "We'll know for next time."

Michelle

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