Best Pen For A Business Meeting

[SteveE]

I think, for the most part, the others in meetings have no idea the significance or value of your pen. I subscribe to the approach stated in an old country song. . . "You've got to dance with who brung you to the dance." I typically have 3 or 4 pens inked on any given day. When I'm going into a meeting (all too often - I'm the company VP), I simply check to see which of the day's pens has enough ink in it, and clip it into my pocket. I think that virtually all of my pens are respectable looking, but they range from vintage 3rd tier oldies to MB, Pelikan, Omas, Delta, then back to some Indian ebonites. I don't really think anyone else in the meeting cares what I use, so I act accordingly. Life is too short to worry about what they think of my pen. I feel the same way about what they think about my car, my watch, my glasses, or anything else.

[Seele]

Good thing I do not have to do business meetings anymore. For those who think pens don't matter, imagine turning up with a giveaway cheap ballpoint advertising a popular blue pill by Pfizer...

 

But at the time I never had to interview for jobs, but only as equals. My lightweight Montblanc 22 was always appropriate.

[richardandtracy]

I will take almost anything in to a meeting.

I like my Pearl & Black Duofold, but if I want something with a little less brightness, then my Kaigelu 316 in Charcoal does the job, it's basically a Duofold copy, but looks gorgeous with its pearlescent grey resin.

 

I would NEVER take a Jinhao 1200 to a meeting where bling was inappropriate. No photo can do justice to how bright they are.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[UK Mike]

For years I used a stainless steel Parker Frontier - quietly reliable, not too flashy.

 

I can't use Vanishing Points at all - I find them uncomfortable to write with. I am left handed so I'm not sure if that is significant but the positioning of the clip is just too awkward for me. And the Lamy Dialog 3 is just too snub-nosed.

 

My ex M.D. usually wrote with a Montblanc 146 or the matching ballpoint.

 

In UK I noticed on several sessions of Jury Service, that our High Court judges make copious notes with Parker Duofold or Montblanc fountain pens. One of the skills of a barrister is to pause his, or her, questioning until the Judge has "caught up".

Edited February 3, 2014 by UK Mike

[highlander1307]

It depends if the pen. In addition to its utilitarian value, is to be an accessory or part of the narrative? As an accessory, it speaks only once, defining you, but as part of the narrative it can be a powerful 'editorial' or management tool. As an accessory, it tells others what you wished they believed about you. They will assume you're lying. Modest and of understated quality is probably the best choice for a pen as accessory.

 

As for pen as a management tool, imagine the CEO or senior manager comes into a meeting, lays a pad on the table, and sets an understated, but high quality pen at the head of the pad, unopened. Imagine the pen is a Nakaya, Hakase, Aurora 88, old Waterman, or similar, not a MontBlanc 146 or 149, which (unfortunately) will often be interpreted as a 'climbers' pen, not the pen of someone who has necessarily arrived. The pen remains capped until a significant moment, from the owner's POV, arrives. The pen is then uncapped, a few words jotted down - what they are doesn't matter - , the cap is replaced, and returned to the original position. A message has been sent; what the message is and how equivocal it is depends on the context. Used that way, the pen can punctuate the meeting and influence its direction.

Excellent post. Yes. As an Executive Officer it is a clue I look for and lets me know the participants are prepared and ready. If not, I need to set the tone of the meeting. I select my pens for meetings the same way I select my cuff links. I even had to learn how to use a carpenter's pencil on a construction site, no more than two motions with your pocket knife to sharpen!

[Paddler]

Whatever you do, don't outshine the boss (or his boss). If those guys show up with their MontBlancs, use the Parker Vector they gave you.

 

[CAG_1787]

I think we tend to over-estimate the importance of our hobby when it comes to the general population.

This is probably true, save in the most outlandish cases. I work in public accounting, one of the more restrained professions, and my bringing fountain pens rarely does more than raise an eyebrow on occasion. However, my natural pen tastes are towards the more restrained anyway, so that may have an impact after all.

 

In general, I stick with a Pilot VP or Lamy 2000 when meeting clients or new personnel, just to avoid any potential misinterpretation.

[legume]

I wouldn't use a fountain pen at all at work unless I was alone at my desk and the pen was filled with permanent black ink, and it seems annoying to have to switch pens around when I have to get up and about on a moment's notice, so no, I would just not use fountain pens at work. When you are in a meeting where the point is to pay attention to each other, it does get noticed, then it becomes a distraction, however a momentary one. It's an oddity or something vaguely interesting at best, or it's something antiquated, expensive, and hipster. It's worse if there's time to make it a conversation piece. The situations Mickey describes sound irritating and exhausting if someone's holding up the entire room trying to make a statement. I'm not saying that I only use fountain pens when I'm alone in a dark room, but I already know I have something high quality which provides years of interest and writing pleasure. No one else needs to. The way I see it, it's the same as carrying a purse with whatever brand name plastered all over it. That's just not the kind of attention I want to get, and the fun in the hobby for me isn't trying to spread the gospel of fountain pens.

 

That's my opinion on it, but then again, I change my mind all the time. I think a hooded nib would do quite well. Pens like the Lamy 2000 and Parker 51 fly under the radar and look indistinguishable from ballpoints unless you're really paying attention and know what you're looking for. Other than my rant above, my other concerns would be dropping the pen on the nib when I'm trying to write a quick note or having to share it with someone else. That just wrecks my nerves.

[goodpens]

What if the business meeting is with an artistic company or creative department? I'd go for fun. Something like a neon yellow Safari--maybe filled with something just left-of-center color-wise, e.g. Baystate Blue. [And I'd have a second pen with me, likely a black xf gel rollerball, as I usually have 2 colors for note-taking purposes; the second can also be a loaner, since someone always shows up without a pen.]

 

I think something that you enjoy, that is truly you, and that won't slow down your own note-taking is always fine. Something that just screams "expensive" would not be my pick.

[georges zaslavsky]

For formal meetings a sheaffer triumph valiant crest is a very discrete pen and a sign of good quality as well as a sign of refined taste