Posts filed under Pen Shows

Pen Shows Are Happening Again! Now what?

(Kimberly (she/her) took the express train down the fountain pen/stationery rabbit hole and doesn't want to be rescued. She can be found on Instagram @allthehobbies because there really are many, many hobbies!.)

2020 and the first half of 2021 really did a doozy on the pen show circuit here in the states and internationally as well. Many shows were cancelled and a few were even held virtually. With the recent Triangle Pen Show in Raleigh, the upcoming DC Pen Show (and many others later this fall, including my home show, SF), it seemed like a good time to share a few tips about pen show etiquette and preparation so you can make the most out of your pen show experience.

This isn’t meant to be an exhaustive list, but some of my favorite tips and thoughts on how to navigate this “new normal”. There are many wonderful articles and videos with lots of tips on pen shows including this pen show article from Fountain Pen Love and this How To: Pen Shows video from Inkdependence Mike so definitely check those out too.

Before the show

Do some homework - Which vendors are coming? Should you buy a day pass or weekend/traders pass? Can you buy it ahead of time or only at the door? Interesting classes or seminars? Do you have to register/pay for those classes in advance? Does the hotel charge for parking? What’s the food situation like at the hotel?
Make a list - I often have several lists for every show, my own shopping list including which vendors might have the stuff I’m looking for, a “stuff I wanna look at in person before deciding if I want it” list (this is especially useful for inks and papers), stuff friends have asked me to purchase for them, vendors/people I want to talk to, etc. You get the point.
Have a budget - Or at least some semblance of a budget. It is VERY easy to get caught up in the buying frenzy and spend more than intended. Or you start looking at limited edition Montblancs or Nakayas and suddenly that $300 pen doesn’t seem so expensive any more. Having the shopping list can definitely help keep you in check.
Get cash ahead of time - yes, many vendors including vintage ones, will accept credit card or PayPal, but occasionally the hotel wifi is spotty and some vendors may give a small discount for cash. It will also help you stick to your budget. Don’t assume that you’ll just get more cash at the hotel ATM because that is often emptied out pretty quickly at a pen show.
Snacks and water - Every hotel has different food options which vary greatly in terms of convenience, speed, quality, cuisine, price, etc. Even if you have figured out your lunch/dinner plans, having some snacks and a bottle of water will make it easier for you to get through the day and hopefully not make any hangry purchasing decisions.

General Tips

Carry a small bag(not backpack) - The aisles aren’t always wide and it’s very easy to block the aisles, knock people (and things) over as well as getting bumped by people trying to get by. If you have to carry a big bag, put it on the ground in front of you when you’re standing at a table.
Always ask before grabbing something off the table - While the answer is almost always “yes!”, asking first lets the vendor know that you’re interested in something and they can help you with questions or finding the perfect item.
Do the twist- When in doubt, always use a twisting motion to uncap a pen. If that doesn’t work, then ask the vendor if it is a twist cap before pulling the cap. While useful for all pens, this is particularly important for vintage pens which can easily be ruined by a forceful pull of a cap that wasn’t meant to be pulled.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions! - No question is a stupid or silly one, and most vendors are more than happy to answer your questions. Ask if there is a similar model in a different color, if you can uncap it (see above), if you can dip it in ink or water (the latter can give you an approximate feel of how a nib might write), if they’d be willing to do a discount for cash, etc. If the vendor seems put off by your questions (and it’s not because they are swamped), maybe that’s a sign to try again later or move on altogether.
Bring your favorite paper - this is useful for trying out pens/inks that catch your interest. I like to write the name of the pen or ink I’m trying, as well as the vendor in case I want to go back later.
Bring your favorite pens and ink - Having your favorite pen inked up ahead of time will make it easier to try new paper to see if you like it. If you are getting nib work done, you can show the nib worker “I really like how this feels, can you make XYZ grind feel like this”? A small vial of your favorite ink means you can also ink up any new purchases, though let’s be real, who doesn’t buy a bottle of ink at a pen show?
Bring stuff you don’t love - You may be able to sell your pen/ink/notebook/whatever during after hours or possibly even trade with a vendor towards a different purchase. In some cases, the show may also have a table for folks to drop off their unwanted items that aren’t worth the hassle of selling. Or you may meet a newbie or student or kid that would be the perfect recipient of your items.
Take breaks- Remember the water and snacks you brought? Yeah those! Taking a break to refuel/rehydrate is a great way to make sure you’re not making impulse purchases because you’re hangry. Plus it gives you a chance to rest your feet, take stock of what you’ve seen/bought and what you want to do next.

*Pen people at the 2019 LA Pen Show hotel lounge.*

Wanna meet pen people? This is my favorite part about pen shows -- THE PEOPLE! Throughout the day (especially around lunch time and afternoon) and definitely after the show, many folks will congregate near the hotel restaurant, bar area or lobby - it’s pretty easy to tell who the pen attendees are because they’ll often be lugging around pen/paper.

What do I bring?- Bring your favorite pens and a notebook to write in. You might also want to bring some of your pen show purchases to show off too.
Where are they?- Look for pen-wielding folks who may already be sitting down and swapping pens and what-not. Saunter on over and say “anyone sitting here?” and join the fun! If you’re shy, that’s ok too! No need to be afraid, just look for smiling folks (most of us usually are!) and you can hang around until you feel comfortable approaching someone. Something like “ooh, what is that pen?” or “that’s an amazing ink color!” is a great way to break the ice!

*Adding tables to make room for pens and things at the 2019 St. Louis Pen Show.*

Ask questions!- This time, I’m not talking about asking pen/ink questions, but people questions. “Who should I talk to if I’m interested in trying out a Visconti?” “Who’s a good person for ink suggestions?” You’ll come away with at least a good recommendation, a new person to follow on Instagram, and often, someone will say “oh, you should talk to that person over there with the blue shirt, lemme introduce you”.
Look for fellow Pen Addicts!- Yes, that’s right, look for folks who might be sporting a Pen Addict t-shirt, patch, or even this button! And quite a few vendors have this nifty “Ask me anything” button on their lanyards too. If we can’t answer your question, we’ll definitely find someone who can!

New Normal (anyone else hate this term?) With COVID pandemic during the past year and a half, many shows were cancelled and shows are just beginning to pick up again. Unfortunately, as of this writing, COVID cases are picking up too. What things should you consider if you’re planning to go to a pen show?

Get vaccinated - I’m not going to go into this because all the data and science is out there. If you’re able to, get vaccinated. ‘Nuff said.
Wear a mask- Airplane travel will require masks in the airport as well as on planes, so be sure to have plenty of masks on hand for your trip. Shows may also be requiring masks indoors depending on local guidelines and mandates. Even if you are vaccinated, wearing a mask may help others feel more comfortable about being at a show.
Hand Sanitizer- Washing your hands often is the best way to keep germs and bay but if you can’t, hand sanitizer is very useful. CAVEAT: do not handle pens immediately after using hand sanitizer. Nor should you use hand sanitizer to clean any pens. It can damage a lot of pen materials, in some cases, even melting certain resins/acrylics. If you have used hand sanitizer, wait until your hands are completely dry before handling any pens, or ask the vendor to hold it up for you. All that is needed to clean a pen is water and maybe a touch of dish soap, just like before.
Be patient and understanding - Not everyone can get vaccinated due to health issues and not all vaccinated folks are super comfortable being around people after the past 18 months. Give people extra space when possible, ask before handling products (whether at a vendor’s table or during happy hour), and be aware that everyone has different levels of comfort in a group setting. This will help us all have an enjoyable time at a pen show.

This is a strange time for all of us as we figure out how to attend pen shows, whether it’s your first or your 50th show. I hope some of these tips will help you make the most of your pen show experience. Have fun and hope to see you at a pen show soon!

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Posted on August 6, 2021 by Kimberly Lau and filed under Pen Shows.

The Pen of Jeopardy

(Diane L. is a renegade physicist, engineer, photographer and writer, and was gracious enough to write this geust post for The Pen Addict.)

I was over a thousand points ahead and each of my two opponents had just provided a wrong answer to the final question. I knew I had given the right answer, so I was poised to win Pen Addict Jeopardy at the Baltimore / Washington International Pen Show 2020. What could possibly go wrong? But just as the show master Brad Dowdy prepared to read out my answer, it dawned on me that I had committed the most egregious mistake a Jeopardy player could make. I covered my head in my hands as Brad announced, “she said ‘shoes!’” and then repeated in horror “wait, she said ‘shoes…’” and turned in consternation to the other judges, Ana Reinert and Corinne Litchfield …

The Thomas Point Lighthouse Pen by Greg Hardy of Hardy Penwrights is a one-of-a-kind custom pen made to be a prize for a competition at the show.

Hardy Penwrights Thomas Point Lighthouse Pen

To quote from the pen’s Instagram page, “The barrels of this pen feature a custom pour by McKenzie Penworks in DiamondCast Ocean Blue and Clear resin. It was chosen to fit the theme of the pen which highlights the Thomas Point Lighthouse located on the Chesapeake. The idea for the metal work came up in a brainstorming session with fellow pen maker Tom Gauntt of Chesapeake Pen Co., and is constructed of nickel silver and bronze – a dozen separate pieces in total.”

Hardy Penwrights Thomas Point Lighthouse Rollstop

And that metalwork, forming the roll stop, is a replica of the Chesapeake Bay’s iconic Thomas Point Shoal Light.

What literally sparks joy about this pen at a first glance is the presence of tiny flakes of mica and real diamond dust which recreate both the sparkle of the sun on the waves and the twinkling stars in the night sky behind the lighthouse. The swirls of deep blue in the translucent material move like waves as you rotate the barrel.

Hardy Penwrights Thomas Point Lighthouse Pen Barrel

The lighthouse theme is also a personal favorite.

The pen came with an easy-going Jowo #6 F nib, which I chose to keep although an exchange was offered. As a lifelong extra-fine enthusiast recently getting into architect and flex nibs, I’m happy to just write with this pen without expending any mental effort on alignment and form - and I can always swap it for another of my Jowo #6’s if I change my mind. In terms of construction, the cap has a slightly conical, nearly flat top and a rounded end. The cap takes just over 2 turns to open or close, and the triple threads on the barrel are barely perceptible to the touch as well as being out of contact when I grip the comfortable, slightly flared section.

Hardy Penwrights Thomas Point Lighthouse Pen Section

The pen came with a name-branded Schmidt converter which fits reliably. Although I often go for a contrast color when inking pens, in this case I decided to go matchy-matchy with Organics Studio Glycine.

As mentioned above, this pen is one of a kind. However, Greg Hardy is a custom pen manufacturer working from a variety of inspirations including Arthurian legend, Celtic knotwork, nature and astronomy. He has a variety of pens available for sale in gorgeous colors with handmade metal clips and roll stops, and invites suggestions for concept pens.

Hardy Penwrights Thomas Point Lighthouse Pens

So how did I win Pen Addict Jeopardy? As I was called up to join the game in round 2, I muttered “this won’t go well,” because I have never watched an episode of Jeopardy. As a spectator during the first round, I had learned the importance of stating the answer in the form of a question. I carefully drilled myself to think before I spoke and always speak the question; for example in response to “this pen company makes the Soubriquet?” one would have to reply “What is the Desiderata Pen Company?” rather than just “Desiderata.” Unfortunately, having trained myself to do this when I spoke, I forgot to do so in writing for the last question: instead of turning in something like “what are shoes” in answer to “Jim Rouse was selling this when he met Bert Oser,” I simply wrote “shoes.” So despite being correct, this answer was wrong, and I lost my bet.

However, rather than betting the entire farm on my answer as my two opponents had done, I bet a conservative 600 points, and so even though I lost the question, I still won the game. Winning was such a rush that I completely forgot there were prizes. I was given a gift bag containing a bottle of Pilot Iroshizuku Take-Sumi and a plain black pen box. When I opened it, I was in disbelief that I was the new owner of the beautiful pen within. The next day I was able to meet and thank the maker, Greg Hardy, hear the story of how the pen came to be, and see more of his wonderful creations.

With many thanks to Bert Oser for another fantastic BWI pen show, Brad for being the Pen Addict Jeopardy show master, Ana and Corinne for judging, to the other competitors, especially runner-up Meghan,> and to the spirit of the late Jim Rouse, who would surely have been entertained by the turn of events at the end of the game.

(I didn’t pay for this pen. I won it in a game of Pen Addict Jeopardy!)

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