Brings back so many memories of the first pen show I attended - in Phila. This was (back in the days) when I met Richard Binder and had him repair my (then) grail pen! So many reasons to go to pen shows!
Very good info here, thank you! I attended the Miami show a couple years ago, my first pen show, and had a great time. The etiquette is similar to other types of shows and you covered that pretty well. I will add that, for me, I find that asking about a pen before I ask to pick it up is a nice way to engage with the vendor. And one of my first questions is if the cap is a screw cap or not--that has saved me some embarrassment! On that note, though, I will also say that I try to be aware of how busy the table is. If they are very busy I don't expect quite the same depth of conversation. If the show has a workshop that interests you even a little, I think it is worth the time to do it. You might find another aspect of the fountain pen world to enjoy and you will also get to meet some new people and maybe make some new friends. Lastly, while I bought most of the stuff I had on my list and I stayed in my budget, I didn't always haggle. I take the view that if there is a pen that I want and the price is at or below the price I am happy with then I will buy it at that price. I'm not a person who haggles just for the sake of haggling. If, however, the price is a little above what I am happy with then a reasonable offer is worth making. And if the vendor won't or can't accept that offer I won't get my feelings hurt. Thank you for your continued great content!
Thanks David. This was really helpful since in am a beginner in my fountain pen journey and I didn't know what to expect from those types of shows 😊. Support from Montreal, Canada!
I watched your video pausing to take handwritten notes. There are pen shows in Asia, e.g. Taiwan, Tokyo, Manila that I'm aware of. And Sailor collaborated with Penlux for a Sailor Pro Gear LE with a 21K gold nib for their Gods series. The pen is pine green with gold sparkles and gold trim. There are only 100 pens on the market and the Mazu is limited to Taiwan.
Great video thank you for the valuable pieces of advise. The Leonardo pen you bought is called after a small fishermen village near Amalfi, whose name is Furore, on a very narrow coast inlet. (Pronounce Foorore).
Two things I did for Atlanta this year that really paid off: 1 - get a weekend pass and be there early Friday morning; 2 - have that to-do list of things you want to hit first. Having some cash is good too if you're going to use a nibmeister. Mr. Masuyama doesn't take cards - cash or check. Being on Instagram and subscribing to certain vendors you're interested in will help you with your to-do list because guys like J. Brooks will post the pens they're making for a particular show. As for having a budget, well... that's something I need to work on. I really did my homework with Carolina Pen and bagged 4 pens on Friday morning, most of which I spied on Instagram, 1 pen from Ryan Krusac, 1 from Chet Herbert who is a really stand-up guy and talked with me at length af the cookout on Friday afternoon, and 1 from Shawn Newton that was really custom and special from the other stuff he brought. Of course you pick up other incidentals like ink and a notebook or pen roll. Great fun and well worth it too. I can hardly wait for next year. Hoping to make DC for the first time!
Pen Show Poland in Katowice, about the second weekend of April. Started in 2013 and held at Kino Kosmos until this year's new location, where the show was constantly busy (and fun!). I recommend walking through the city to get to the show (maybe 2 or 3 km?) (depending on where one stays), cos walking combines sightseeing with getting to a pen show -- win, win! Plenty of international vendors attend - from England, Italy, uh... England. And the show organizers are lovely people. :-)
Can you do a video addressing nib grinding? I love this hobby but I am not deep enough yet to understand a special nib grind. I just bought a Visconti Homo Sapiens (EF), I'm lefty, and I just happily accept whatever grind Visconti put on it as I do not know any better. Is there a pen you regret not buying? For instance, you came across a pen at a show, walked by it, resisted the urge, went back on Sunday and it was gone and it was the one fish that got away. I really appreciate your videos, they have put a dent in my wallet, opening me up to the world of fountain pens but they are great and of great quality. I really appreciate that your volume is always under control. Some RU-vid videos I open the speaker is way too loud or way too soft but your content remains consistent and it is greatly appreciated!
Yes...at Atlanta last year, a reputable retailer was selling a brand new Montblanc Starwalker Ultra Black for $275. I thought about it, then walked away, thinking that I would come back later to possibly purchase it. I should have just snagged it right there. I forgot all about it. I contacted the retailer after the show, and it had sold. UGH!
An occasional break during the day around the bar or lobby area is always a great place to meet other attendees and show off purchases. Trying other's pens is also a great way to test out inks. I leave shows with a longer list of new inks I want than of new pens I want.
Attending the Chicago Pen show for the third time. Only have been able to go on a Sunday so things have been picked over a little but love it. My son has come with me too since he was 14. Everyone is so friendly and open to share and talk to us. Thanks for the tips. I'm hoping to attend one for a whole weekend someday!
It was cool getting to meet you at the show! For those of you who have not met David, he is very nice in person. And will not get upset if you say hi. I didn't want to take up a lot of your time, you were looking at the wooden pens. I don't remember the vendor. But I said I really enjoyed your interview with Neil deGrasse Tyson. Thanks for all the great videos!
Thanks for showing us your stash of goodies. You're really well blessed for pen shows and I've always found the cousins in the U S are always more enthusiastic than us in the UK (my opinion) This is really good advice because going into a situation like a pen show must fuse yer brains. Very interested in the pens you're going to review, it will be good... but please show us your interest and use of wax seals, they are something a lot of pen folks purchase I think then become shy to use them. The wax is really important as it needs to be the flexy type for the post. That will be something I'm particularly looking forward to should you decide to do it. Thanks David you're a Star. Best wishes to all PenPeople. LeZc @@
So sad I was unable to attend. Maybe next year. I’d love to meet you in person... maybe have some of that clout rub off. Glad you had a lovely time in my lovely state. Hope you’ve seen more than just Atlanta. Next year we’ll have to check out more of the city! Cheers, sir!!
Thanks for the tips. I’ve been to one pen show and I was pretty intimidated. I can’t wait to see a review of the crescent filler. I really don’t know anything about them. A wax seal video sounds great too.
Really wish there was a pen show in the Twin Cities. It's hard to know if a pen is a right fit without handling one. I also like how you can see the exact pen you may be getting. I've ordered a couple turned acrylic pens where I've been disappointed in the pattern that arrived. Watching a nibmeister at work also seems like an interesting experience. I was tempted to drive down to Chicago, but I don't want to blow my pen budget on gas and hotel expenses.
Due to lockdown restrictions, I have amassed quite a collection of fountain pens and wonder if I am a little 'crazy' ...... Do I need to use the pens or can I just display them? Sounds like a silly question really, however, it would help to know that there are more folk out there doing exactly the same thing as myself! They are all modern pens of all shapes and sizes and do not break any bank. Many thanks for the very informative information on pen shows!
We've been to the Orlando 2022 show and the 2023 Atlanta show, are planning on hitting up the Triangle show. So we've decided to go for the big time and attend the D.C. show, with Trader passes. I hope to get a chance to meet you at the Triangle show.
Thanks for the tips! I quit wax sealing envelopes when I learned that it's really bad for the USPS's sorting machines. I hope your research that and talk about it in your wax review!
Boy you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned your expensive vintage 149 that needed a little nib work, same here. Is a show better than sending it back to the manufacturer for a 149?
Just getting in to fountain pens . Wish I did a long time ago. They write so much better. And so many different inks . Plus you can mix your own. For your personal signature and no one else can forge . I got a few beginner level pens but wow Can’t wait to collect Mid to high range pens . I also collect movie props High end playing cards Knives etc .
if i ever go to a pen show i think it would take a bunch of security guards to throw me out, i would want to look at every single pen, even just a quick look, i would never touch a pen without asking first and i would let the seller do all the handling, it makes me wonder how stressful it must be for them when they have several customers writing at the same time with their pens
Hoping to attend first pen show this summer in SF. One thing I was wondering about was protocol for trading when you're not a vendor with a table. How do folks find each other?
How patient would you suppose vendors would be with a non speaking customer? I have bulbar onset ALS and I can no longer speak. I have to use a device to speak for me.
Hey David! I have a question! Do you need to stay at the hotel in order to be in the show or are you allowed to just show up and spend a few hours looking at pens?
So David, I've never been to a pen show & am considering attending the DC supershow. I'd love to try out a Nakaya, a Conid Bulkfiller & some from Jonathan Brooks & Shawn Newton as a prelude to buying them. Is this a sound strategy? Thank you.
DC is always an interesting show. In regard to your list. Jonathon Brooks typically attends, but I would check with Shawn Newton to see if he will be there. He isn't at all shows. It might be tough to try a Nakaya or Conid if you don't know someone who is bringing them. Conids are only available through their site, so retailers won't have them. Nakaya as well...the retailers are limited. I could be mistaken, but I don't believe any of the retailers attend shows. Best bet for trying out those pens would be to hang out at the bar after the show, make some friends and see if someone has one there you could test out.
Sure. They can be a lot of fun. For more general info about pen clubs, you might want to check out my video on them (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-6roINz3H-2A.html)
as long as you have money and some level of etiquette you shouldn't be rejected, anyone who rejects you because of a lack knowledge or extravagant pens in your collection is a repulsive stain on the industry, you never know if that person is filthy rich on a shopping spree or has 100,000 followers on social media
lol i realize i dont fit the demographic of a pen con but i wish i could go anyway. i live in san francisco but they hold it outside of teh city and its hard for me to get out of the house during covid. oh well next time!
Whether it's David Parker or Penultimate Dave, when someone with that given name goes to a pen show, the haul is worth seeing because there is likely to be something you just have to get.
