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Thread: What time to get to a pen show?

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    Senior Member penmainiac's Avatar
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    Default What time to get to a pen show?

    I am aware that lines at a pen show can get ridiculously long, so does anyone have any advice on what time to get to the general admission show that starts at 10 am on a Sunday?


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    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
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    Default Re: What time to get to a pen show?

    I'm guessing you're getting ready for LA. I've seen people lining up sometime after 7:00 on Sundays in past years. I'm not certain you have to do that. Take a look in the "Pen Shows" forum and see if there are recaps/reports from Ricky (AltecGreen) with titles like "LA Pen Show Report". He documents each day and shoots lots of photos and he's always included pics of the line forming on Sunday.

    So... no definitive answer. I go the other days and skip Sunday, it's just a madhouse.
    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

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    Senior Member penmainiac's Avatar
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    Default Re: What time to get to a pen show?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jon Szanto View Post
    I'm guessing you're getting ready for LA. I've seen people lining up sometime after 7:00 on Sundays in past years. I'm not certain you have to do that. Take a look in the "Pen Shows" forum and see if there are recaps/reports from Ricky (AltecGreen) with titles like "LA Pen Show Report". He documents each day and shoots lots of photos and he's always included pics of the line forming on Sunday.

    So... no definitive answer. I go the other days and skip Sunday, it's just a madhouse.
    Oh where can I get to that forum?


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    Default Re: What time to get to a pen show?

    Click on the Forum tab top left for a list of the forums.

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    Default Re: What time to get to a pen show?

    Update: So I did some more research, and it seems that name tags are recommended, are they something I should be concerned about?


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    Default Re: What time to get to a pen show?

    Believe LA hands you a name tag and expects you to write a name on it.

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    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
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    Default Re: What time to get to a pen show?

    Quote Originally Posted by Farmboy View Post
    Believe LA hands you a name tag and expects you to write a name on it.
    And there is no stipulation that the name be your own.
    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

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    Default Re: What time to get to a pen show?

    Quote Originally Posted by penmainiac View Post
    Update: So I did some more research, and it seems that name tags are recommended, are they something I should be concerned about?


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    Why would a simple name tag be something that you (or anyone for that matter) should be concerned about?
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    Default Re: What time to get to a pen show?

    I have only been to one show that did name tags, I chose Tom Mix, I was with a friend of mine called David, he chose D. Duck. No-one mentionned the silly names throughout the day.

    Name tags are just silly.

    I saw one man with a sign round his neck saying 'Parker 51 parts wanted' which made more sense, I think people going round autojumbles do the same thing. Didnt stop him looking a dick though.

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    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
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    Default Re: What time to get to a pen show?

    Quote Originally Posted by Fermata View Post
    Name tags are just silly.
    While I don't think they should be *required*, there is a good reason for them: identification. I came into the online pen world quite a bit before I ever made it to a pen show and while you often make a lot of friends this way, one often doesn't know how to recognize them in the real world. Numerous people say "I'll look for you at the pen show" but without a name to put to a face/body, it can be hard! Having a name hanging on a person can make it easy to greet someone you already know but don't recognize at sight. In that sense, not silly at all.

    If you want silly, do what I've always done: at the first pen show, people would say "how will I know you?" and I responded "I'll be wearing a bow tie". It stuck. It is almost impossible for me to not go to a pen show without wearing a bow tie because now people give me a ration of crap if I don't wear it!
    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

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    Senior Member Ron Z's Avatar
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    Default Re: What time to get to a pen show?

    Name tags are just silly.
    I find them to be helpful. I'm really bad with names, and the problem is compounded by the fact that many people know me, while I may have had only a passing interaction a couple of years before. Or you may walk up to my table, we talk, maybe I fix a pen or sell you something. I like to know who I'm talking to, so that if you write to us, or call, we can remember - or at least Robyn will. She's really good with names. If we've done business before, it reminds me who you are, and fills in the blanks.
    Last edited by Ron Z; February 3rd, 2020 at 06:39 PM.

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    Default Re: What time to get to a pen show?

    Quote Originally Posted by Farmboy View Post
    Believe LA hands you a name tag and expects you to write a name on it.
    We don't do that in Dallas. It's up to the visitors to either remain unknown or to introduce themselves.

    The vendors are required to wear their nametag at all times though, to help visitors to address them or to find them. And so we (organizers) can spot new vendors or their assistants.
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    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
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    Default Re: What time to get to a pen show?

    LA, a couple years ago. User-supplied flair...

    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

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    Default Re: What time to get to a pen show?

    Jon, you look like the mayor with all that badgewear around your neck...
    Vintage. Cursive italic. Iron gall.

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    Default Re: What time to get to a pen show?

    Quote Originally Posted by Ron Z View Post
    Name tags are just silly.
    No, they're helpful. I'm really bad with names, and the problem is compounded by the fact that many people know me, while I may have had only a passing interaction a couple of years before. Or you may walk up to my table, we talk, maybe I fix a pen or sell you something. I like to know who I'm talking to, so that if you write to us, or call, we can remember - or at least Robyn will. She's really good with names. If we've done business before, it reminds me who you are, and fills in the blanks.

    Personally I wouldnt wear a name tag, perhaps its a cultural issue but for me its too close to asking 'do you want fries with that'. I can understand the benefit if you are a dealer or repairer, for me, as an ordinary Joe, I am just not that friendly.

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    Default Re: What time to get to a pen show?

    Most Mayors I know wouldn't be caught dead in a bow tie--they (the mayors) lack class.

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    Default Re: What time to get to a pen show?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jon Szanto View Post
    LA, a couple years ago. User-supplied flair...


    Looks pretty elegant. I once had an IT management job where I would wear stuff like that and often a suit. I kind of knew instinctively I couldn't act like I had the personality of a fever blister all my life.

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    Default Re: What time to get to a pen show?

    So I should probably use my email name in big letters, and perhaps my real name in smaller letters. I'm thinking about going to the San Francisco show, which would be my first. I need to figure out how best to get there by car, planning to stay at least one night in the show hotel. I'm new to fountain pens. So far I know I like old pens, but I also like new pens. I'm kind of waiting to see what kind of lectures or classes will be offered, because it's 300 miles each way.

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