Jump to content

First Time At The Dc Show - Questions And Advice Please!


DessertMaker55

Recommended Posts

Hello,

 

My first pen show and was wondering if there's any good advice to be had. I'm sure being the largest event it will be on the overwhelming side.

 

I'll be flying in on Friday morning and there until late Sunday. I'm concerned if I don't check a bag and I have fountain pens and ink traveling there and definitely on the trip home if they'll be allowed. Or if I'm restricted to the liquid limit when flying. Is it better to check a bag?

 

Also I noticed the pre-show dates Thursday and Friday aren't open to the public. Does that mean staying at the hotel won't get me into the event on Friday? Or is there somewhere I'd need to sign up?

 

Any advice you could give would be such a help!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 10
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • inkstainedruth

    3

  • Mags

    2

  • DessertMaker55

    2

  • NobleDel

    1

You'd probably want to check a bag for any liquid ink bottles. I can't imagine they'd allow those in carry-ons.

 

Regarding the Thursday & Friday pre-show, it requires separate admission as a "Weekend Trader". Here are some links to help out with that:

http://www.pencentral.com/preshow_activities_august_8_and_august_9

http://www.pencentral.com/2014_exhibitorweekend_trader_registration

 

From my personal experience, I think if you're really into vintage and finding rare finds, the Thursday & Friday would be more appealing. It's a lot smaller - just a fraction of the vendors are set up - and a lot more low-key. Saturday & Sunday are the big days, with all the vendors in multiple ballrooms. That's when the biggest range of products are available. I don't think there's anything on Thurs/Fri that wouldn't also be there on Sat/Sun. But it's more low-key, so easier to have conversations! I'm only planning to attend Sat & Sun, because I'm just not that into vintage (and I need to work during the week anyway). But it's totally up to you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wear comfortable shoes -- that main ballroom is *big* (plus, there's the side ballroom and the lobby...).

Have a reasonable idea ahead of time what you're looking for, and have a small notebook (and of course a reliable pen that's full of ink :lol:), to make notes of what tables have things you might want to go back and take a better look at.

This year, I'm probably only skimming the pen tables (a shocker, I know) -- but I'm *mostly* going to be buying ink and talking to repair people and parts people this year. So one other suggestion might be to have a budget and try to stick to it. I didn't -- and I was with a friend who is a TOTAL enabler (he kept saying "If you don't buy that pen I will....") :rolleyes:

Oh, and while this might be *utter* blasphemy -- take some time away from the tables. Because it is really a bit overwhelming. If you're staying at the hotel, the pool (and hot tub) are really nice to go relax in for a while after the show shuts down for the day (although the ink testing table seemed to be having business 24-7).

One other tip: prepare to have a blast! I can't wait! And that's with being (like last year) completely exhausted *before* I get in the car Saturday morning (it's gonna be at around 0 dark thirty) although at least this year I might actually get a couple of hours of sleep Friday night -- last year I flew home from Spokane, WA the day before and because of flight delays and such I didn't get into my house till 1:30 AM. And by the time I repacked from two suitcases down to one, and such, it wasn't worth going to bed. So I basically spent Saturday on caffeine and adrenaline (and then crashed about 10:30 because I had to get up in the morning for Richard Binder's nib smoothing class).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

edited for typos

Edited by inkstainedruth

"It's very nice, but frankly, when I signed that list for a P-51, what I had in mind was a fountain pen."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I recommend taking Binder's Nib Smoothing class. I attended it last year and applied what I learned on a Pelikan purchased at the show. Just one nib alignment and smoothing more than paid for the class.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I recommend taking Binder's Nib Smoothing class. I attended it last year and applied what I learned on a Pelikan purchased at the show. Just one nib alignment and smoothing more than paid for the class.

+1 on that. I actually went home from my vacation for part of a day so I could be all ready to go for that class when signups opened (in theory, I could have had email access at the campground I was at, but this way I was sure there weren't going to be any Internet connection issues.)

Although 8:30 AM, after having not quite enough sleep (and literally none the night before that) was probably not a good plan -- I wasn't kidding about the caffeine and adrenaline.

And one other thing -- have cash. A number of the dealers don't take plastic (although I was able to write a check at one booth).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

edited for typos

Edited by inkstainedruth

"It's very nice, but frankly, when I signed that list for a P-51, what I had in mind was a fountain pen."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow thank you all so much for the feedback! I'm so excited to go and can't wait to see what it's all about. It's going to be a long weekend! Leaving the house by 5am on Friday and back around 11pm Sunday night so it'll be a busy one.

 

I like the notebook idea to map out what's going on and what to go back to. I'll definitely have a list. Having cash on hand is a great tip!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You likely will be overwhelmed, as well as confused. There will be significantly different prices for seemingly simialer Pens. Some of this will be because of differences in nibs, condition, or simply what the person selling it perceives it is worth. Also, unless you regularly do some type of activity in which you stand for long periods of time bent over tables your back will likely hurt. And then there is the matter of food. It simply does not make sense to spend significant amounts of time eating while the show is on, so don't, instead I suggest a light meal before starting, and some light snacking during the show with adequate water consumption. You don't want to be hungry, but you also don't want to waste time away from the show because you had a large breakfast or lunch and are forced to sit out for a while. It will feel like you are in the Penalty box. The one difficulty I sometimes have is budget. Not in going over what I have set, but in deciding how I am going to spend it. Deciding to spend most of my budget on one, two, three, or more pens is difficult, as each time I buy one, down goes my reserve for the remainder on my wish list. So, before a show, I make a list of what I am interested in, and research the going price for them. If they are common, I remove them from my list entirely, as I can get them without going to a show and likely will at another time of the year. If they are moderately scarce, I will set a price limit, with a note regarding condition. If they are rare, I will again set a price limit based upon research, and when I go to the show, the pens on my rare list will be the ones I look for. I do however look at and try other pens, keeping about half of my budget for them. That is how I picked up my Pilot 823 and my Aurora Talentem, two of my now favorite pens which I hadn't considered until at a Pen Show I had the oppertunity to try.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree with the advice shared. I rushed in and out last year and combined sight seeing and pool times and other fun things for my two children who came last year. This year they decided for Father's Day my going on my own would be fun for me so I am.

 

I recommend taking 4 pens you like to use as benchmarks against others you might try and want to buy. Ink and try before you buy especially true of vintage which should all hold water without vendor complaints.

 

I make a list which normally exceeds my budget by 5 fold. Still getting something off the list before impulse hits is rewarding.

 

Look at your budget and add a 0 to the end of that number. There are nice pens, and bargains. The FountainPen Hospital parts bags and old stock grab bags looked popular too. $35-50 each.

 

The ink table is often busy but a wonderful place to pause and try out the display inks. If you like to ink journal this is your Mecca like place to be at this show.

 

Stay hydrated and pause for sustenance is another tip. Pen shows and the odd pint or glass of wine go hand in hand.

 

I think if you want to have a card to hand out that would be a good idea too. Some people had little shopping bags, others backpacks or satchels. There will be a need to carry things so consider what's your comfy carrier of choice.

 

I think airlines allow 1000 ml of fluids in 60 ml or less containers. No flammable aspect to ink so may allow them in carry on. I carried 1 bottle of ink a few times in carry on but have yet to try this with 3 bottles and the airline. I think I am picking up 2 bottles for my favourite ink moderator and maybe one for myself too. :)

 

What we pen geeks do not so well is organize ourselves to chat and visit at the event in a larger non retail space. I think there are stories to be heard and told if only we could all link up .....though the bar is still a popular point to mix.

 

Cheers!

 

Mags

Rob Maguire (Plse call me "M or Mags" like my friends do...)I use a Tablet, Apple Pencil and a fountain pen. Targas, Sailor, MB, Visconti, Aurora, vintage Parkers, all wonderful.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What we pen geeks do not so well is organize ourselves to chat and visit at the event in a larger non retail space. I think there are stories to be heard and told if only we could all link up .....though the bar is still a popular point to mix.

 

Cheers!

 

Mags

Last year I didn't even realize the hotel *had* a bar. :rolleyes: But somehow got invited up to the hospitality room on the top floor, and then went down to the pool for a while. After I went back up to my room and got the chlorine washed out of my hair I was pretty wiped (especially after literally having zero sleep the night before, and traveling back from the West Coast on Friday); plus, I had to get up early to grab breakfast before the nib smoothing class. So I crashed about 10:30 pm....

I know, boring. I think last year someone scheduled a FPN meet and greet on Friday night, but of course I was still somewhere between Denver and Pittsburgh at that point.

I think I counted days correctly and can actually *have* alcohol Saturday night (can't at the moment due to the meds I'm on... :().

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

"It's very nice, but frankly, when I signed that list for a P-51, what I had in mind was a fountain pen."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Inkedstainedruth:

 

With the kids in tow I was at the coffee shop and saw the bar but had only stopped for a pint one night. Sitting with two youngsters was not practical for me to sit the bar or hospitality suite though oddly no one invited me. Wishing you more sleep this year and hopefully we meet for a sprite or beer over my short visit this year. My mug shot is my picture with my profile.

 

Mags

Edited by Mags

Rob Maguire (Plse call me "M or Mags" like my friends do...)I use a Tablet, Apple Pencil and a fountain pen. Targas, Sailor, MB, Visconti, Aurora, vintage Parkers, all wonderful.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43844
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      33494
    3. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    4. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      26627
    5. jar
      jar
      26101
  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Shanghai Knife Dude
      I have the Sailor Naginata and some fancy blade nibs coming after 2022 by a number of new workshop from China.  With all my respect, IMHO, they are all (bleep) in doing chinese characters.  Go use a bush, or at least a bush pen. 
    • A Smug Dill
      It is the reason why I'm so keen on the idea of a personal library — of pens, nibs, inks, paper products, etc. — and spent so much money, as well as time and effort, to “build” it for myself (because I can't simply remember everything, especially as I'm getting older fast) and my wife, so that we can “know”; and, instead of just disposing of what displeased us, or even just not good enough to be “given the time of day” against competition from >500 other pens and >500 other inks for our at
    • adamselene
      Agreed.  And I think it’s good to be aware of this early on and think about at the point of buying rather than rationalizing a purchase..
    • A Smug Dill
      Alas, one cannot know “good” without some idea of “bad” against which to contrast; and, as one of my former bosses (back when I was in my twenties) used to say, “on the scale of good to bad…”, it's a spectrum, not a dichotomy. Whereas subjectively acceptable (or tolerable) and unacceptable may well be a dichotomy to someone, and finding whether the threshold or cusp between them lies takes experiencing many degrees of less-than-ideal, especially if the decision is somehow influenced by factors o
    • adamselene
      I got my first real fountain pen on my 60th birthday and many hundreds of pens later I’ve often thought of what I should’ve known in the beginning. I have many pens, the majority of which have some objectionable feature. If they are too delicate, or can’t be posted, or they are too precious to face losing , still they are users, but only in very limited environments..  I have a big disliking for pens that have the cap jump into the air and fly off. I object to Pens that dry out, or leave blobs o
  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More
  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...