I did. Awaiting your resume

hmmm... where to begin...
the first demo i was asked to do was sit with 3 other club members all with the same type of juniper and style it... Purpose was to show the differences that people can see in a tree.

After seeing some other demos like you have all experienced "chop, chop, pot, pot". I thought that some different is needed. so I now always try and focus on some very specific. The last lecture i did was a two parter.

First Part... Virtual Styling. had a lap top, projector and a compltly wired large juniper. then I/we went thru and i showed them how they could do this on stubborn trees that they did not know how to approach.

Second Part... Transformation. Most attendees, were repeats from the virtual class to see it transformed.

The Two part class was very narrow in scope which allowed me to get in depth about only the concepts that i was focusing on. At the end i went into aftercare for a tree going thru such a serious bending transformation.

So to sum up my position, I think some demos that are "ahh" inspiring have there place, when you have several new members that need to see the "magic" as someone said... . While some just need to be focused on a single subjuct that is geared to more knowledeable persons...

Hmmm . . . I haven't attended any of those yet. I did become interested in bonsai by a demo, but it was done by a local club, presented by one of their own with mostly their own in attendance. The presenter made a point of demonstrating various techniques, using nursery stock but not trying to turn it into a "finished" bonsai, merely showing how to get started with it and using some of the club's more developed trees, which were on display, to point out various aspects of the art. It was very well done, I thought, and obviously it was interesting because, well, here I am today, learning the art myself.

I don't know, but I would suppose most of the demos you are talking about are not given for bonsai clubs, but for garden clubs or other groups of that nature. They are probably not attended by people actively learning bonsai techniques, but rather by people who enjoy the "finished" product. Maybe a few care to learn about bonsai techniques, but I'd guess most will find it interesting but not necessarily something they want to do themselves. To that extent, it may be relatively harmless to do an "instant bonsai" demo for them.

On the other hand, the demonstrator could certainly talk about the differences between what he or she is doing to the nursery stock and what is actually done in bonsai development. They could have a couple of more mature examples on display to point out features of a developing or "finished" bonsai. It would be very simple to work good information into such a presentation, as well as information on caring for and further developing the "instant bonsai" that is destined to be raffled off to someone who probably won't know what to do with it.

Of course, a lot depends on the exact circumstances, but presenters worth their salt know that they need to tailor their presentations to their audience. What one does in front of a garden club and what one does in front of a bonsai club would not be the same. Also, what one does to entertain a garden club would not necessarily be what one does at an arboretum plant sale where one hopes to draw in and hook potential new members for the local bonsai club, even though the kinds of people one gets there may be very similar to the kinds of people attending the garden club demo.

In these matters, one size never fits all.

[QUOTE=rockm
The very concept of cutting a large tree down to a bonsai is a very very foreign thought for those starting out. They usually are of the impression that you have to grown those teeny bonsai into larger bonsai. Understanding the concept of "cutting down" can be revolutionary. So what if the initial tree a new person tries it on kicks off...Ya gotta break some eggs...Demos can supply the egg beater for some.[/QUOTE]

So true Mark, at least with Newbies. Folks at Bonsai Conventions are not as "Suprised".

A few other thoughts that could ALL be expanded on are:

1. Time involved in a demo. 1 1/2 hours...what can you do?
I prefer a two-part demo or "finish the next day" type. The best guys in my opinion will tweak a tree on their own time if not finishing.
2. The material, I've certainly see pro's get the worst material for a demo. Oftn promotors say" Lets give him something challenging ( read crappy) to see what he can do" Well, often the outcome is...crappy. Then you hear "Jeez, he's not so good"!
Sometimes you can't win!
3. Getting a "8 hour " piece of material for a 2 hour demo.
4. Getting a 1/2hour piece f material for a 3 hour demo!
5, One thing I often do is the old,... OK, I'm going to do this NOW at this time and this time of year!....you DON'T!! and, HERE IS WHY!!!
Dale