Is Bonsai Mirai Live Worth $300/year?

[justBonsai]

Well.....it’s good to know I’m not the only one that breaks branches. No video of me though....I just get to take a quick look around to glance if anyone saw me. Usually just the chipmunks see me....I think they just laugh at me and tell stories about my activity behind the nearby rock pile.

Haha, I wanted to look up the video but it's not among the free released series

I can sympathize with those spine chilling hair splitting cracks that mean you just decimated a branch.

 

[KingJades]

I am thinking of signing up for Mirai, but I don't really understand the difference between Tier 2 and Tier 3.

I know we get a 1 to 2 hr session about each week. Is that all Tier 2 gets? The about weekly session and access to the archive? Is there more to the archive than shown here once you're on the other side of the paywall? https://live.bonsaimirai.com/archive The archive looks a bit smaller than I thought it would be.


Tier 3 you get access to the Q&A and some behind-the-scenes stuff? Is there an archive for that or do you need to be ready at the moments that they are happening?

 

[Cadillactaste]

I jus

The Interactive package is a hell of a good deal. No traveling, no additional expense, and it is a damn good value for the money if you consider what sessions cost per sitting. If you disagree or have a question - no problem, as if you were there.

Grimmy

See...when it first started...I had broadband width issues. But,then I ponder what @Adair M gets with hands on...what is it...$400? But one has to be realistic...I don't like watching live. I live in a DVR world of rewind. If I miss something. So the 2 teir applies better to my thinking then. Food for thought. I doubt I would have time to travel and get away for say a Boon student aspect.

 

[atlarsenal]

Tier 3 you get access to the Q&A and some behind-the-scenes stuff? Is there an archive for that or do you need to be ready at the moments that they are happening?

There is a Q&A archive

 

[markyscott]

There is tertiary content for Tier 3 that is not accessible to Tier 2 members. There is also a live Q&A. The tertiary content is accessible in the archive as well as all the past Q&A sessions.

Scott

 

[Adair M]

I jus

See...when it first started...I had broadband width issues. But,then I ponder what @Adair M gets with hands on...what is it...$400? But one has to be realistic...I don't like watching live. I live in a DVR world of rewind. If I miss something. So the 2 teir applies better to my thinking then. Food for thought. I doubt I would have time to travel and get away for say a Boon student aspect.

A Boon Intensive is $650 or so. That’s for 3 days of small group instruction with Boon’s material and wire and supplies. Also includes lunch and dinner all three days.

 

[Cadillactaste]

A Boon Intensive is $650 or so. That’s for 3 days of small group instruction with Boon’s material and wire and supplies. Also includes lunch and dinner all three days.

I was off by some pocket change. (Not my pocket) But, hands on...is priceless. Cool

 

[milehigh_7]

I've always got quick responses using the email listed on his web site. It doesn't get directly to Ryan but rather to one of the people working for him. I'm sure they would pass on your message to him.

Okay, email sent! Getting the samples out tomorrow AM.

 

[Rodrigo]

I just signed up for tier 2 today. Looking forward to watching and learning as much as I can. Anyone recommend any specific good ones to start with?

 

[Potawatomi13]

Yes Tier 2. Have visited Ryan several times and asked several free questions in person. Reason he is doing is he Loves Bonsai and wants to advance USA Bonsai. Despite sour grapes from cheapskate personally consider well worth learning from master.

 

[Gary McCarthy]

Okay, email sent! Getting the samples out tomorrow AM.

COOL!!!

I'd be interested in knowing how this goes when you get a response back from Ryan. Keep me IN THE LOOP as it were

 

[Vasyl]

Here's what I know....

Over the last 6 years I've killed more than $300 in nursery stock. Closer to $1k.

Just the free content has me sure most of that would have been alive today had these streams been available 6 years ago.

So a year at tier one would have saved me about $400.

Here's my pricing schedule...

Tier 1...Carrot Dangled. Get Tier 2.

Tier 2...Economical and Valuable.

Tier 3...Baller Status. Get Tier 2.

Sorce

What if I just want to watch the vids in my free time, no live stream or any of the bells n whistles, do I get Tier 2?

 

[Bonsai Nut]

What if I just want to watch the vids in my free time, no live stream or any of the bells n whistles, do I get Tier 2?

Yes. Probably (in my opinion) the best value. As the streams get more popular, they are bumping into a couple of problems:

(1) More Tier 3 members show up in the chat room during the live stream. Harder to ask questions because there are so many people. I was originally hoping there would be meaningful discourse in the chat room during the stream, but it now appears to be just a one-sided venue for asking questions. I find myself tuning out of the chat room now. As soon as I do, I find myself leaving the stream half way through, and just watching it later from the archive.

(2) Same can be said for the live Q&A sessions. You have a lot of people with very basic knowledge showing up for these. I don't know how you solve for this. You don't need Ryan Neil to tell you how/when to repot a Chinese elm (just giving an extreme example to illustrate a point).

(3) Some of the live streams have had technical issues with dropped streams, repeating, etc. These issues are missing from the recorded archive footage.

If there is no real reason to show up for the live stream (ie if you don't feel the need to ask questions and would rather just observe) the archive is the better path. This is particularly true if your schedule isn't predictable, and you can't always be there for the live stream.

 

[Vasyl]

Yes. Probably (in my opinion) the best value. As the streams get more popular, they are bumping into a couple of problems:

(1) More Tier 3 members show up in the chat room during the live stream. Harder to ask questions because there are so many people. I was originally hoping there would be meaningful discourse in the chat room during the stream, but it now appears to be just a one-sided venue for asking questions. I find myself tuning out of the chat room now. As soon as I do, I find myself leaving the stream half way through, and just watching it later from the archive.

(2) Same can be said for the live Q&A sessions. You have a lot of people with very basic knowledge showing up for these. I don't know how you solve for this. You don't need Ryan Neil to tell you how/when to repot a Chinese elm (just giving an extreme example to illustrate a point).

(3) Some of the live streams have had technical issues with dropped streams, repeating, etc. These issues are missing from the recorded archive footage.

If there is no real reason to show up for the live stream (ie if you don't feel the need to ask questions and would rather just observe) the archive is the better path. This is particularly true if your schedule isn't predictable, and you can't always be there for the live stream.

My irregular schedule is exactly my concern. As long as I will have access to the archive I will give it a shot. Thank you

 

[reddog]

Yes. Probably (in my opinion) the best value. As the streams get more popular, they are bumping into a couple of problems:

(1) More Tier 3 members show up in the chat room during the live stream. Harder to ask questions because there are so many people. I was originally hoping there would be meaningful discourse in the chat room during the stream, but it now appears to be just a one-sided venue for asking questions. I find myself tuning out of the chat room now. As soon as I do, I find myself leaving the stream half way through, and just watching it later from the archive.

(2) Same can be said for the live Q&A sessions. You have a lot of people with very basic knowledge showing up for these. I don't know how you solve for this. You don't need Ryan Neil to tell you how/when to repot a Chinese elm (just giving an extreme example to illustrate a point).

(3) Some of the live streams have had technical issues with dropped streams, repeating, etc. These issues are missing from the recorded archive footage.

If there is no real reason to show up for the live stream (ie if you don't feel the need to ask questions and would rather just observe) the archive is the better path. This is particularly true if your schedule isn't predictable, and you can't always be there for the live stream.

Value?: I agree 100% with your points on Tier 3 and the different sessions. Many questions are very basic and have been asked in one form or another again and again. Its getting tougher to send in a question and get an answer. There are a few T3 members who seem to monopolize the Q&A. I'm finding myself listening to archives versus live and will drop down to Tier 2 later this month.

 

[reddog]

A Boon Intensive is $650 or so. That’s for 3 days of small group instruction with Boon’s material and wire and supplies. Also includes lunch and dinner all three days.

Hands on is always better. However, on top of the $650 don't forget cost of plane ticket and hotel.

 

[Adair M]

Hands on is always better. However, on top of the $650 don't forget cost of plane ticket and hotel.

Very true. The plane ticket is not so bad, I can fly in on Southwest. The hotel is a killer,though! Some have been cutting costs by staying at an Airbnb.

 

[LanceMac10]

Haight-Ashbury sleep with the hippies?

 

[GrimLore]

The hotel is a killer,though!

Good point... Me and Crystal go to concerts in Philly and found it to be expensive enough that we now call a Limo service instead of staying overnight. For us it costs the same...

Grimmy

 

[BillsBayou]

Well.....it’s good to know I’m not the only one that breaks branches. No video of me though....I just get to take a quick look around to glance if anyone saw me. Usually just the chipmunks see me....I think they just laugh at me and tell stories about my activity behind the nearby rock pile.

I edit out most of the breaks I get on video.