2017 San Francisco International Pen Show - Early Announcement

[FarmBoy]

We are pleased to announce the dates for the 2017 San Francisco International Pen Show.

August 25-27, 2017 at the Sofitel in Redwood City California.

Save the date and make your show plans now.

Watch the show website for news and updates.

[zaddick]

Woo hoo. I am already looking forward to it.

[Cyber6]

Hey guys... very little talk about the SF Pens Show.. is only a few weeks away. Any tips for a newbie of this show?

 

 

C.

[hrant]

Me included..........that makes two newbies! I have questions that might help Cyber6 too:

 

1. Is there an admission charge?

2. Other than lots of cash, what else should we bring with us?

3. Can you bring pens to trade with the vendors?

4. Is there food to buy on the premises? We don't want to buy nice things with empty stomachs and light-headedness!

5. How do you sign up with a nib-meister?

6. Any other useful tips......

 

Thanks in advance!

[Cyber6]

For #1, just go to thew page. http://www.sfpenshow.com/

 

 

C.

 

 

Me included..........that makes two newbies! I have questions that might help Cyber6 too:

1. Is there an admission charge?
2. Other than lots of cash, what else should we bring with us?
3. Can you bring pens to trade with the vendors?
4. Is there food to buy on the premises? We don't want to buy nice things with empty stomachs and light-headedness!
5. How do you sign up with a nib-meister?
6. Any other useful tips......

Thanks in advance!

[FarmBoy]

Me included..........that makes two newbies! I have questions that might help Cyber6 too:

 

1. Is there an admission charge?

2. Other than lots of cash, what else should we bring with us?

3. Can you bring pens to trade with the vendors?

4. Is there food to buy on the premises? We don't want to buy nice things with empty stomachs and light-headedness!

5. How do you sign up with a nib-meister?

6. Any other useful tips......

 

Thanks in advance!

1: yes. See sfpenshow.com

2: clean clothes and a tooth brush

3: Yes. Encouraged.

4: French hotel. They have pastries and a restaurant. If you are looking for something special, find me, I live in the area.

5: Get there early and check if they have a sign up sheet.

6: Yes but this is not the place to discuss them.

[JonSzanto]

To give a bit of the on-site flavor, you can take a look at my perspective on the 2016 SF Pen Show.

 

I'm biased, but I love this show, and make the 7-9 hour drive (depending on f***ing LA traffic) every year. Great people running it (Farmboy is too modest) and there is an intense but casual atmosphere and a lot of fun. I think in the last year or so SF has been one of the shows leading the way in addressing both the collector and new/user crowds, and there are a lot of fun social activities as well.

 

The more the merrier!

[ftdimson]

For nib technicians, come early to sign up on their lists. However for Dan Smith "Nibsmith", he will have an online signup schedule on his website. Right now, he has it for the D.C. pen show. He'll probably change when it's closer to the S.F. Pen Show.

 

There are free seminars and paid classes available and you can check it out at www.sfpenshow.com.

 

Aside from cash, clean clothes, and toothbrush, bring comfortable shoes and more cash. ;-P

Edited July 26, 2017 by ftdimson

[Cyber6]

Any FUN stuff gong on at night??

 

 

 

For nib technicians, come early to sign up on their lists. However for Dan Smith "Nibsmith", he will have an online signup schedule on his website. Right now, he has it for the D.C. pen show. He'll probably change when it's closer to the S.F. Pen Show.

There are free seminars and paid classes available and you can check it out at www.sfpenshow.com.

Aside from cash, clean clothes, and toothbrush, bring comfortable shoes and more cash. ;-P

[FarmBoy]

Any FUN stuff gong on at night??

 

 

 

Yes.

 

Auction Friday night and social events Saturday. Ricky and Franz know about these things more so than I do.

[Cyber6]

Yes.

 

Auction Friday night and social events Saturday. Ricky and Franz know about these things more so than I do.

 

WOOHOO!!!

[FarmBoy]

 

WOOHOO!!!

I should add that if food is important, I can direct you to a few places that I go. No poutine but serious edibles for the true food snob.

[888007888]

I've only attended the LA show and can't make DC. That being said, due to work constraints, I'm thinking about doing a day trip and driving up from LA to SF, hit the show, and drive back to LA all in one day. Am I being a bit too ambitious? Any thoughts or recommendations? Do I sound crazy for even thinking about it?

[FarmBoy]

I've only attended the LA show and can't make DC. That being said, due to work constraints, I'm thinking about doing a day trip and driving up from LA to SF, hit the show, and drive back to LA all in one day. Am I being a bit too ambitious? Any thoughts or recommendations? Do I sound crazy for even thinking about it?

I have done similar silly things. Drive in, stay the night, pens in the morning then drive home.

[JonSzanto]

I've only attended the LA show and can't make DC. That being said, due to work constraints, I'm thinking about doing a day trip and driving up from LA to SF, hit the show, and drive back to LA all in one day. Am I being a bit too ambitious? Any thoughts or recommendations? Do I sound crazy for even thinking about it?

 

I've done that to see bands. I like FBs idea: leave LA the night before, get a few hours sleep, come to the show and stay as long as you want and then power home the next night. You'll be blitzed but it will be totally worth it. Of course it will. (Especially *this* show)

[canucks6024]

Question from a newbie here.

 

If I could go on just one day, would everyone recommend I go on Friday? I'm going with my family who are less into pens than I. So, I would only want to be away from them for one day.

 

Am I correct in assuming that Friday will be quieter? Will all the shops be set up on Friday?

 

Thanks

[ac12]

Me included..........that makes two newbies! I have questions that might help Cyber6 too:

 

1. Is there an admission charge?

2. Other than lots of cash, what else should we bring with us?

3. Can you bring pens to trade with the vendors?

4. Is there food to buy on the premises? We don't want to buy nice things with empty stomachs and light-headedness!

5. How do you sign up with a nib-meister?

6. Any other useful tips......

 

Thanks in advance!

 

1 - yes, depending on the day. see the pen show site www.sfpenshow.com

2 - COMFORTABLE shoes, you WILL be on your feet a LOT.

3 -

4 - Hotel restaurant + there are many nearby restaurants. We will have a map of the local eats on the info board.

5 - as others have said

6a - Other stuff:

• Bring a bag for the stuff you buy, and a separate pen box/pouch for the pens you buy, so the pens don't get scratched/dinged/damaged by the other stuff you buy. Pens being small and light will migrate to the bottom of the bag, where they are more likely to get damaged.
• Check out the classes NOW. I think the tuition classes are all space limited, so if you WANT to attend a class, get your reservation in NOW. Last 2 years, some classes have sold out before the show. See the pen show site for classes and registration info.
• You should take a look at the seminars, to see which ones you want to go to, to help plan your schedule.
• Make a list of what you want to see/buy. It is easy to be overwhelmed and forget what you want to do, like I was the first year
• If you REALLY want to buy something specific, the general advice is to pay for a Friday morning "all access" pass. And get there when the show opens. The saying "early bird gets the worm" or in this case, "the early bird gets the pen," is true here.

 

gud luk

Looking forward to seeing you guys.

Edited July 27, 2017 by ac12

[ac12]

 

 

Question from a newbie here.

 

If I could go on just one day, would everyone recommend I go on Friday? I'm going with my family who are less into pens than I. So, I would only want to be away from them for one day.

 

Am I correct in assuming that Friday will be quieter? Will all the shops be set up on Friday?

 

Thanks

 

I would go on Fri.

But only because I want first crack at the pens and other stuff. If I wait till Sat or Sun, the pen I wanted may have been sold.

But if you are only going to look and experience the show, then Sat or Sun is just fine.

 

Fri, most vendors will be set up. Some vendors may not be setup, as they are targeting the Sat/Sun people, and show up on Sat morning to setup.

 

Sat morning/early afternoon has been the busiest in the past.

[ac12]

 

Hey guys... very little talk about the SF Pens Show.. is only a few weeks away. Any tips for a newbie of this show?

 

 

C.

 

yes, come find me at my table, and say HI.

Margaret at the registration desk can tell you where my table is.

 

I will be teaching a seminar Sat 10-12.

 

Gary

[ac12]

 

I've only attended the LA show and can't make DC. That being said, due to work constraints, I'm thinking about doing a day trip and driving up from LA to SF, hit the show, and drive back to LA all in one day. Am I being a bit too ambitious? Any thoughts or recommendations? Do I sound crazy for even thinking about it?

 

I 2nd FB's recommendation.

Stay the night before the show, or after the show.

We want you to get home safely.