Brand New Video Podcast/WebCast… Make More Bonsai. A video podcast about doing bonsai!

Hi all
I have come to enjoy this site and all of the postings, images, and insights everyone here provides. It is among the things that inspired me to try and make an ongoing video podcast about bonsai. It's called Make More Bonsai.
The goal is to create an informative, entertaining 'cast that can be enjoyed, and be something all of the amazing bonsai folk may want to participate in.
I'm going to try to limit the episode length to under 10 minutes. I will be discussing a variety of topics, exploring basic bonsai design and management, and more advanced techniques and methods.
This is where you all here can really participate. I encourage you all to check out the first episode. It is my hope that some of you all become inspired by the content. It is also my hope that some of you become inspired to share your adventures with me to incorporate into the podcast, or maybe offer suggestions for topics to cover.
I have never met a person into bonsai I didn't like, so I'm sure I'll have lots of fun with you all in the future!
Please feel free to email me, John
at
makemorebonsai@gmail.com

Nice video...I familiar with what it takes to include all the little extras and I appreciate your efforts...I am sure your production was long and involved....but you ended up with a good product.

If I were new to bonsai I think I might feel a little lost...straight from intro to the basic parts of a tree to airlayering (without any clear idea as to why)???

Furthermore...I hope nobody tries to follow your airlayer example since you just left them hanging half way through the process??...not sure I would have chosen to end right there. I am sure your next video is in production...but it seems that keeping these videos to a single purpose is better than trying to put too much in.

One more point, if you are making this video series for just entertainment than I think all the music and transitions are probably a good thing, but I am not sure that is really your intended audience...at least that is what I gathered from your intro. What I think I've learned from carefully analyzing my own videos over the years is that most people who are serious about learning could careless for all that stuff and would rather you get right to the learning/teaching.

It seems like I am sounding awful negative, but please don't take it that way...I am only trying to offer a little constructive criticism. From my experience you would do even better to keep your videos under 5 minutes...I have noticed that much longer than that and it rarely gets watched all the way through!

John

Hi John

Thanks so much for your feedback!

You're right, this is definitely a difficult thing to produce. It's funny… I did produce a single subject video at first, but scrapped it because the more I reviewed it, the more questions it raised that needed some aid in explaining, that would make the video longer!
I decided to "serialize" with different segments because I am hoping to explain more per segment, and add more segments per episode.
I also hope to inject some light hearted stuff that viewers may enjoy as a more passive medium.  

I'm not going for a "blog" feel. I'm going for segments that viewers may enjoy following not because they need to glean information primarily, but because bonsai may be an interest they feel worth exploring but much of the material available out there is made for people who have bonsai experience already. I am someone who will watch an hour-long demo because I am 25+ years deep into bonsai. THAT material is already out there and is really valuable. I hope more and more of it gets made, and I will lovingly consume it!

My thought process on this 'cast is more simple. I learned a lot about cooking by watching Alton Brown be an entertaining food geek on his show "Good Eats". It was so easy to digest the food science principles… when demonstrated with hand puppets and buffoonery in the characters. I never used to think about the cellular breakdown when salt is added to a steak before grilling. I never had fun making a steak! Now I do. "Foodies" are is a popular term due to the amount and variety permeation of cooking broadcasts.

My hope is for bonsai to become more deeply embedded in the "meta" of modern society. There are so many people confounded by bonsai, classify it as something difficult - and then turn on an awful reality show about millionaires misbehaving or zombies taking over Georgia (I am a fan of that one).

By creating something at offers bonsai and all of it's many flavors in easy to digest, entertaining, sometimes silly bits, in a serialized package that maybe begs you to watch more and look forward to what that guy is gonna do next, I hope to reach the unconverted and raise awareness. I'm sure there are tons of folk out there who never even considered touching a tree with any confidence. I'm sure there would be more brilliant bonsai created if it were more popular.

I hope more people find the fun in bonsai and add to the creative base that exists. I hope my silly antics lead to more serious bonsai all around. If in the process people point at me and laugh because I'm that goofy dude on youtube… it's a small price to pay!

I am reaching out to the experienced bonsai folk to participate if you like. I know there's lots to say and teach. I kind of like the idea of hosting for those who don't have the time and wherewithal to make and post their adventures, or want to have some additional animated goodies made to help explain the process. In time I hope this becomes an attractive thing to some great bonsaists!

Thanks for the input. I'm still mulling some of the conceptual stuff which I expect will get better as the 'cast matures.

Best of luck...I wish you many views!
John