How much $$$ is Bjorn worth?

[Arlithrien]

Yeah.. It is insane the variation in prices. I have been looking to find an old farm with 1Ha (Say, 2.5 acres) for the last 6 years. Not come across one under 750K USD, let alone for a price that I could afford. Then I watch home makeover shows from the USA and I am shocked at the prices; Properties in places are given for free when you buy a Big mac, it feels like.

You can find that for less than 100k out in the GA countryside. And by that I mean a 30min drive outside of a major city. You go out a little further into an actual rural area and you can find huge swaths of land for great prices. Of course location is everything and there are plenty of other factors to consider.

Bjorn probably wanted land closer to civilization so he has access to customers in the city. Tennessee sounds like a great place for bonsai. Not too hot. Not too cold. Blue ridge mountains sound like bonsai heaven if you can find a way to make it work.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

You can find that for less than 100k out in the GA countryside.

I'm less than one hour out of Charlotte, and you can buy 15+ acre lots here for less than $100K.

131 Lamb Rd, Statesville, NC 28677 | MLS #3574643 | Zillow

For sale: $95,000. BACK ON MARKET! Buyers got cold feet! These 2 beautiful tracts (4702-78-6418 and 4702-78-79300) total 15.7 acres. Once had a home on it but has been removed. Old septic on property, no records in Iredell County. Road frontage portion would make a wonderful spot for your...

www.zillow.com

 

[leatherback]

I'm less than one hour out of Charlotte, and you can buy 15+ acre lots here for less than $100K.

131 Lamb Rd, Statesville, NC 28677 | MLS #3574643 | Zillow

For sale: $95,000. BACK ON MARKET! Buyers got cold feet! These 2 beautiful tracts (4702-78-6418 and 4702-78-79300) total 15.7 acres. Once had a home on it but has been removed. Old septic on property, no records in Iredell County. Road frontage portion would make a wonderful spot for your...

www.zillow.com

Wow..

 

[Gaijin]

I meant more as a personality rather than an artist, but even as an artist still. He has a growing following on YouTube, comparable to Peter Chan and Niegel Saunders. But he is half their age which means he has a lot more room to grow. He is the future of the hobby.

I think he only does youtube videos as teasers to get people to join bonsai u, or draw attention to his other activities. I don't think he depends on being monetized by them. Nigel Sanders and Peter Chan on the other hand...it seems obvious to me by the crap they put out that monetization is a big part of their plans. Bjorn is legit, whereas the other two seem to rely on drama and sensationalism.

 

[Adair M]

I think he only does youtube videos as teasers to get people to join bonsai u, or draw attention to his other activities. I don't think he depends on being monetized by them. Nigel Sanders and Peter Chan on the other hand...it seems obvious to me by the crap they put out that monetization is a big part of their plans. Bjorn is legit, whereas the other two seem to rely on drama and sensationalism.

Bjorn is a brilliant marketer. Of course he’s doing the free videos for publicity! Now is the perfect time: he can’t travel to visit clients, clients can’t visit him, everyone is stuck at home, bored and watching TV. So, why not do some videos to keep him “top of mind”?

His “Bonsai art of a Japan” videos he made while he was still an apprentice put him in demand as soon as he finished his apprenticeship. Worldwide!

 

[bonsaibp]

Is there really that much value in Bonsai? I’m sure you can make a pretty penny, but can it make you a millionaire?

The best way to become a millionaire in bonsai is to start with 2000000.00

 

[mbunro]

also none of my business but im more interested in what it took to settup mirai. i hadnt thought about it until i heard ryan have a bit of a giggle in one of the recent podcasts when the guest (cant remember who) mentioned something about how a wealthy family would be very helpful.

 

[canoeguide]

I think he only does youtube videos as teasers to get people to join bonsai u, or draw attention to his other activities. I don't think he depends on being monetized by them. Nigel Sanders and Peter Chan on the other hand...it seems obvious to me by the crap they put out that monetization is a big part of their plans. Bjorn is legit, whereas the other two seem to rely on drama and sensationalism.

Have you actually watched their videos? I don't think there's a dramatic or sensationalist bone in either of their bodies. One can certainly argue that they disagree with their techniques or methods or even philosophy, but to accuse either of them of being sensationalist for the purposes of monetization is so ludicrous to be downright laughable.

I'm sure that Nigel is just making mad bank on those videos where he talks about his old beater truck for half an episode or walks around a park looking at trees and doing push-ups on a park bench. Real sensational. It's more like a video blog than it is something designed to actually make money, and that's obvious.

 

[Potawatomi13]

The problem some people are missing is the cost of running a business. Land isn't cheap and has to be paid for. You rent that money from the bank for a mortgage payment for 15 or 30 years. You have to be routinely open for business, even when you are in Timbuktu teaching a workshop, so your wife is working, too. Being on the road is necessary to maintain your image, but it ain't fun and you can't maintain your stock while you're in Butte collecting trees. The trees are perishable and need to be maintained in salable condition. It's a business like any other and if your stop working at it for a vacation, the work just piles up. There are no easy ways to make a lot of money, or even just a living. There are two clichés regarding work and hobbies: When you love what you do, you'll never work another day in your life. On the other hand, when your living depends upon what you do everyday, it takes the fun out of a hobby. The truth lies somewhere between the two.

Wanna make a million in bonsai? First, get yourself two million...

Believe it or not there are still places we can get good land for a reasonably reasonable price.

 

[one_bonsai]

How much would he charge to do a bonsai demo?

 

[Vance Wood]

I meant more as a personality rather than an artist, but even as an artist still. He has a growing following on YouTube, comparable to Peter Chan and Niegel Saunders. But he is half their age which means he has a lot more room to grow. He is the future of the hobby.

You cannot compare Bjorn's work with that of Peter Chan or Niegel Saunders, Bjorn's work leaves all the competition in the dust.

 

[Vance Wood]

How much would he charge to do a bonsai demo?

He is actually very reasonable, we looked into it a couple of years ago for our club but the club was not so courageous as to commit to it.

 

[Dzhokar]

You cannot compare Bjorn's work with that of Peter Chan or Niegel Saunders, Bjorn's work leaves all the competition in the dust.

I don't think you can consider Nigel or Peter to even be competition for Bjorn.
Nigel is a hobbyist who shares his love of bonsai with the public.
Peter is a retail nurseryman who specializes in bonsai, sure
But Bjorn is classically trained in Japanese bonsai techniques and does appearances/demos while also having a high end bonsai nursery.
His peers are more along the lines of Ryan Niel, Masashi Hirao and the like.

Even though they are not at the same high level, I love both Nigel's and Peter's YouTube content.

 

[Vance Wood]

I don't think you can consider Nigel or Peter to even be competition for Bjorn.
Nigel is a hobbyist who shares his love of bonsai with the public.
Peter is a retail nurseryman who specializes in bonsai, sure
But Bjorn is classically trained in Japanese bonsai techniques and does appearances/demos while also having a high end bonsai nursery.
His peers are more along the lines of Ryan Niel, Masashi Hirao and the like.

Even though they are not at the same high level, I love both Nigel's and Peter's YouTube content.

I did not make the comparison I only responded to it. Of course I appreciate both Nigel and Peter's YouTube content but the stuff Bjorn puts up is spectacular.

 

[Dzhokar]

I look to both Bjorn and Ryan for technical expertise.
But I have to say that I hate Ryan's work while I love Bjorn's

 

[Vance Wood]

I look to both Bjorn and Ryan for technical expertise.
But I have to say that I hate Ryan's work while I love Bjorn's

That's kind of a particularly nasty statement without reasons. I've watched everything Ryan has published onYouTube and his artistry is spectacular. Bjorn's work is wonderful as well, we are fortunate as a bonsai community to bave them both. I remember the day if you wanted to see this kind of work you had to go to Japan and spend a pile of money. I remember the day even if you had the money you could not find this kind of work for any price.

 

[Dzhokar]

That's kind of a particularly nasty statement without reasons.

You mean because I hate Ryan's work? I just mean I don't like his style of bonsai. Not actual hate.... figure of speach.

 

[rockm]

I've got friends who have had a bonsai nursery/landscaping biz for over 25 years now. It's not an easy road, financially, or professionally.

In the last six or seven years, they have shifted most of their efforts to installing Japanese gardens around the state and in D.C. They're VERY good at it. They import alot of old stone basins, huge rocks and other stuff, now. I wish I had room and the $$ for some of it...They've installed a native plant garden at the U.S. Capitol greenhouse/garden on Capitol Hill, a karensansui garden at a local university and other high profile stuff...

Anyway, they moved away from bonsai because they got VERY tired of the repetitive demos and "entry" level stuff they had to do to keep their bonsai business going. Do 1,500 demos/classes where you're working mostly with sticks and Walmart junipers students bring in and see how long you can keep at it. Unfortunately, that work was what kept the lights and greenhouse heaters on in the winter and put gas in the trucks.

They work now only on high end trees, like $5,000 imports and above, private lessons, storage, boarding, etc. You'd be surprised at how much of that high end stuff is around nowadays. I've seen some trees at their place there that were obviously old quality Japanese bonsai imports... There is a higher end market now--which Ryan N. and Bjorn are into and actively cultivating. That's a smart move to where the money is. That avenue that wasn't open 20, or even 10 years ago. The U.S. has "come around" to better stock and bonsai. It's more readily available now.

Doesn't make much difference about how much money anyone has invested and really nunya, as in "none of your business" You interested in starting a nursery? Ask the folks who are doing it. I'm sure they would be more than happy to talk. Ask THEM how much it costs. Speculating on how deep their pockets are is idle gossip. Want the 411, go to the practitioner.

 

[Gustavo Martins]

You mean because I hate Ryan's work? I just mean I don't like his style of bonsai. Not actual hate.... figure of speach.

I honestly don’t see how one can hate the work of one and love the work of the other. They are not that different. If you put me in front of a tree I can’t say who style it. Can you?

 

[Dzhokar]

To me Ryan's work looks more stark and suffering while Bjorn's is more lively and idealized....
I'll throw another artist out there while I'm at it. I think Mauro's work is beautiful, but I wouldn't want to own most of it because it's very stylized in my opinion. It doesn't catch my fancy.