A selection of pens from the Edison Pen Company at last-year's D.C. Pen Show.

Pen Travel: D.C. Pen Show Prep 2016

August 3, 2016

It's that time of year again, folks! The Washington, D.C. Fountain Pen Supershow will be held this coming weekend, and I'm in the throes of Pen Show Prep. If you're completely unfamiliar with pen shows, you can check out the three-part "Pen Show Primer" series I did earlier this year:

Packing for a Pen Show

The essentials are comfortable shoes, a camera, and cash. Since I'm going for all four days this year (getting my money's worth out of that $45 weekend pass), I'm probably going to have to pack differently than I normally do. I'm not about to check a bag on the way there (airline fees = less money to spend at the show), but I'll have to be smarter about what I choose to take with me in order to account for extra clothes and some work I'll have to bring along (bleh). Some other things you don't want to be without:

Backpack. Better ergonomics than an over-the-shoulder messenger bag. (I like my North Face Surge because it has lots of pockets). You'll have a bag with you all day walking the show floor so make sure whatever bag you bring isn't too big and has comfortable straps. You can always opt for a fishing vest. Or maybe just a fishing vest pin.
Expandable Rolling Duffel. Expandable because I'll almost certainly come back with more stuff than I left with, and depending on how much ink I purchase, I may have to check a bag on the way home. For the record, people worry about packing bottles of ink in a carry on, but in years of pen-related travel, I've not had an issue with the TSA. Most bottles of fountain pen ink are less than 3.4 fluid oz/100ml. Still, don't push your luck if you decide to buy the entire line of Iroshizuku.
Paper. Some vendors will have paper that you can use to test pens, but it's always a good idea to bring a sample of your own paper - preferably the same paper that you will be writing with at work or home. Some people recommend that you bring a bottle of "safe ink" to dip pens to test how they write, but I've not done this in recent years because (1) most vendors of modern pens have "tester pens" for you to use and (2) many vintage dealers won't let you dip pens.
Pens to Share. The hotel bar is an active scene every night, and the D.C. Pen Show Sheraton is no exception. For the last few years, they've had a few long tables where people gather to show off that day's finds or share pens from their collections at home.
Pens and Ink to Sell. If you know other collectors/enthusiasts who are going to be at the show, it's a great opportunity to sell or trade pens. Note that it's not always the best deal to try to "trade" or "sell" pens to dealers at the show, because they are typically looking to buy for resale, not for their own use, and therefore won't offer the best price.

What to Buy at a Pen Show

I've slowed my pen acquisitions/purchasing substantially, and I want to limit show purchases to no more than one or two pens. Here's what's on my radar:

Visconti. I've had my eye on a Homo Sapiens for a while now, but I'm not sure which model. If I could find a gently used pen in decent condition, I'd jump at it.
Diplomat. Everyone is raving about the Diplomat Aero. I've been tempted by this pen before but have never given serious consideration to this less well-known German pen company.
Ink and Paper. Pen shows are a great way to save on shipping for heavier items, such as ink and paper. Both Anderson Pens and Vanness Pens will be in attendance at this year's DC Pen Show, and both bring a massive selection of ink to browse. Every major ink brand should be represented.
Nib Work. I don't have any pens that necessarily need work done this year, but if I end up buying new pens (and I'm sure I will), they'll likely need to be tuned. Dan Smith of The Nibsmith is working his first D.C. Pen Show, so I'll try to get a slot at his table.

Contact Info and Events I'm Attending

If you're going to be at the show, I'd love to meet up. I can be reached through the "Contact Me!" link on the site, via Twitter (@vintagegntlmn), or instagram (@gentlemanstationer). I will be attending Thursday, August 4 through Sunday, August 7, and will be at most of the major events. You can find the official show schedule here. Highlights include a beer and wine welcome party and a meetup organized by the Pen Addict, Vanness Pens, and Fountain Pen Day on Friday night.

Seminars will be offered throughout the weekend, including a Copperplate Calligraphy workshop with Deborah Basel from 9am to 1pm on Friday, Richard Binder's nib-smoothing workshop at 8:30am on Sunday, and the Pens for Kids Workshop at 2:00pm on Sunday.

Atlanta Pen Show: Insane Saturday Recap

April 20, 2016

Saturday's are typically the first "public day" at pen shows, meaning that there's a bigger crowd because the doors are open to anyone who pays the $5-10 admission. Thursdays and Fridays are usually restricted to "weekend pass" holders, who pay $30-40 for early access to the show, as well a invitations to dinners and after-parties throughout the weekend. I always buy the weekend pass if I will be attending for more than a single day, since it more than pays for itself in food and drink expense alone (not to mention the ability to get in early and get your name on Mike Masuyama's list).

After my adventures on Friday, I thought I was tapped out for the weekend, but I was wrong. On Saturday, I made what I think was a fairly well-thought out purchase decision. I've been wanting a Pelikan M800 for years, and I couldn't pass up Pelikan's special edition "Burnt Orange" pen before it was retired. A couple years back, I passed on the Brown Tortoise M800 Special Edition and have regretted it ever since, so I pulled the trigger. Tom Baley, who doesn't have a website but is a Pelikan specialty dealer, made me a great deal. I had Mike Masuyama grind the broad nib to a .4mm cursive italic, and the pen is an outstanding writer.

Playing at the Atlanta Pen Show Ink Testing Station, in my Fountain Pen Day notebook.  How cool is this thing?  Much better than the open bottles and dip pens at D.C.  I was very pleased to discover KWZ Ink. — Playing at the Atlanta Pen Show Ink Testing Station, in my Fountain Pen Day notebook. How cool is this thing? Much better than the open bottles and dip pens at D.C. I was very pleased to discover KWZ Ink.

To go with the Burnt Orange pen, what better than Diamine 150th Anniversary Terracotta ink, right? I then spent thirty minutes or so at the ink testing station, and had the opportunity to try a handful of KWZ Inks. They're quite nice. As a direct result of the ink testing station, I bought a bottle of Bung Box Ink of Witch (a purple black color that's now in my Pilot Custom 823), and a bottle of KWZ Green Gold (which is in my Lamy 2000 Stainless Steel). KWZ inks might be the find of the show for me: they behaved well on any paper I tried, and the colors really pop.

While I was waiting for Mike Masuyama to free up, I wandered to the end of the room and visited the Franklin-Christoph table. Scott and Jim had their typical pen show setup, with two trays of tester pens, their standard line of pens for sale, and assorted ink and leather goods. As they have in recent years, they also brought several trays of prototype pens in experimental acrylics that may or may not enter the regular line at some point. Right now, the only way to snag one of these pens is to visit the Franklin-Christoph table at a pen show, or to keep checking online in The Stock Room section of their website. I personally didn't pick up anything this year--they had some nice acrylics but none of them really spoke to me. They were, however, running a pen show special where you could purchase a pocket pen (I believe the 45?) with a standard nib for $90. Those are the deals you can only get at a show!

Mark Bacas probably thinks I'm crazy, because I visited him twice and had three pens ground. As I mentioned in my last update, I had him grind one of my Deltas to a medium "smooth cursive italic," which is a classic cursive italic grind with the edges smoothed out to make it somewhat less crisp. It's a great writer. I was in the mood to experiment a bit, so I also had him put a reversible cursive italic/extra-fine point on my Lamy 2000 stainless steel, and a "Concord Turk" (i.e., basically an ultrafine architect's point, which is surprisingly smooth) on my Pelikan M600. All of these new nibs will get their own write-up at some point.

After spending every dime I brought with me (and more), I took the opportunity to wander around the show and take pictures of the vendors and all the various pens, inks, and paper they brought with them.

Live Broadcast of the Pen Addict Podcast, 200th Episode

The show didn't close until 5:00pm, but I figured it would be a long night and ducked out an hour early to rest. Myke wasn't kidding when he said their was a sizable crowd waiting outside the door (and yes, he did visibly shudder when the doors opened). If you haven't listened to the live broadcast yet, do so. It's more or less impossible to describe the experience unless you were there, but let's just say that a lot of people commented on how they were overcome by the sense of friendship and community in the room. It was a fun night.

My 200th Episode/Atlanta Pen Show Commemorative Dudek Cube.

AND, shock: I won the door prize! I'm pretty sure I've never won a drawing for anything in my life, and certainly not one this nice. The featured prize was a commemorative Cube by Dudek Modern goods. (My old Dudek Block will shortly go to its new home with Charles Anderson in Atlanta.) The box of prizes, which was provided by PenChalet, also included a Lamy AL-Star in Charged Green, with a bottle of the charged green ink, a Quo Vadis Habana Notebook, and a Monteverde Mountains of the World Ballpoint Kilimanjaro Edition.

Takeaways

I didn't have a chance to stay through Sunday due to a family conflict, but two full days of this pen show did enough damage to my wallet! A bunch of us went out to dinner Saturday night following the live recording and had a great time. I turned in relatively early, but there was still a lively scene at the bar. If I had one recommendation for this show next year, it would be to make sure the hotel has more seating and tables available for people. I probably would have stayed out later had there actually been a place to sit, but after being on my feet for 12+ hours I just couldn't do it anymore. At one point we had bottles of ink and paper spread out over the piano in the lounge! Overall, however, this was a great pen show, and Atlanta has become a fixture on my annual calendar alongside D.C. I'm already counting the days until August.

DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links, through which I may be compensated a small amount if you purchase something from any of the sites linked to in this article. While I'd greatly appreciate it if you use these links to purchase an item you are interested in, you are, of course, under no obligation to do so. Many thanks!

Mike Masuyama hard at work.  I'm not sure Mike got to eat throughout the entire weekend. — Mike Masuyama hard at work. I'm not sure Mike got to eat throughout the entire weekend.

Atlanta Pen Show: Thursday/Friday Recap

April 18, 2016

Wow. That's about all I can say to summarize the 2016 Atlanta Pen Show. A big thank you to everyone who made the experience what it was. Seriously, so many people were there that I'm sure I'm going to leave people out of my recap, so I'll apologize in advance. The Atlanta Pen Show demonstrates how the pen community in general is growing rapidly: the small one-and-a-half room show that I first visited in 2014 bears no resemblance to what transpired this past weekend. Last year I had time in the mornings to write my show recaps on the fly and to provide you all with a real-time sense of the show. This year I was so busy visiting with people and keeping up with all the goings-on that it was all I could do to remember to take pictures. Hopefully everyone enjoyed the Instagram photos. You can find my photos and more via the hashtag #ATLPenShow2016.

Thursday Recap

I arrived at around 2:00pm on Thursday, in time for the scheduled "informal" pre-show gathering that night. Brad of the Pen Addict had reserved a room off the bar for early-arriving attendees to meet and socialize. After a group dinner at the Mexican Restaurant down the street (which was visited frequently over the course of the next few days due to the lack of walkable options), everyone gathered back at the hotel to talk and discuss their "acquisition targets" for the weekend. I made it an early night to ensure that I was rested for the first day of the show.

The few, the hardcore: those who showed up Thursday night to drink in an empty hotel ballroom with no chairs.

Friday Recap

After an early morning breakfast at the Waffle House (where Mike Masuyama and I shared neighboring barstools), the show kicked into high gear. The lines for nib work formed quickly. Mike Masuyama did not get through his entire list on Friday, and in a departure from his usual practice, allowed the list to "roll over" to the next day. As a result, Mike was running behind throughout the weekend. Fortunately, because the pen community is awesome, many people self-limited to having Mike work on only one pen, to make sure everyone got a chance to have a nib ground or tuned. I chose to have Mike tune my Platinum Chartres Blue 3776 with the Ultra Extra Fine nib, which of course now writes perfectly.

The beneficiary of Mike's delay was Mark Bacas, a relative newcomer who has been taking in paid nib work for a little over a year. Mark ground three pens for me over the weekend: a medium architect's nib on my new Pilot Custom 823 (see below), a smooth medium cursive italic on one of my Deltas, and an ultrafine nib he calls the "Concord Turk", which is essentially a super-fine architect's point that I'm enjoying. More on that later. Mark does quality nib work, and I understand that he also has a quick turnaround time.

Jeff and Brad from Nock Co. looking very serious.  Check out the stock! — Jeff and Brad from Nock Co. looking very serious. Check out the stock!

Nock Co. was present with a huge slew of stock, including Brasstowns, Hightowers, Sinclairs, and paper goods. Their Limited Run "Blue Label" products sold out so quickly I didn't even get a chance to take a picture, but they offered, for the show only, a navy blue envelope-style case with a snap closure. I'm looking forward to seeing what appears under the Blue Label line in the future.

Next door to Nock Co., Cary set up the Fountain Pen Day booth. Cary had a whole line of FPD swag for sale, including hats, pins, t-shirts, and best of all, pocket notebooks and Midori-style notebook covers. I really enjoyed getting to know Cary and meeting him in person for the second time (previously we had only spoken briefly at last year's D.C. Show).

The Montblanc Rouge et Noir pens that everyone wanted to see.

Brian and Lisa Anderson had the new Montblanc Rouge et Noir pens at the show. I'm not sure whether they sold many, but these pens prompted a hot-or-cold reaction from everyone I talked to: people either loved them or were lukewarm. The pen is too slender for me. It's gorgeous, don't get me wrong, but it's off "The List."

Look at all that Akkerman Ink!  Pretty sure Vanness Pens brought most, if not all, of the available colors. — Look at all that Akkerman Ink! Pretty sure Vanness Pens brought most, if not all, of the available colors.

Vanness Pens was present with two or three tables of ink and pens, including their large "wall" of Akkerman and Bung Box. Between Vanness and the Andersons, nearly every ink brand in existence was well represented. Lisa Vanness also had one of the Joey Feldman limited edition Retro 51s at the show, and I'm glad I didn't miss the opportunity to pick one up. The red clip version (which comes with the signed artwork) has already sold out, and the black clip version is well on its way. If you've been sitting the fence on this one, act now because you're not going to get another chance.

Friday Purchases

Most of my pen show purchases.  From left:  Nock Co. Sinclair in Navy/Steel; my Fishing Vest Pin and Pelican Clip; Pilot Custom 823 with customized architect's nib; Fountain Pen Day leather notebook cover; Bung Box Ink of Witch, and KWZ Gr… — Most of my pen show purchases. From left: Nock Co. Sinclair in Navy/Steel; my Fishing Vest Pin and Pelican Clip; Pilot Custom 823 with customized architect's nib; Fountain Pen Day leather notebook cover; Bung Box Ink of Witch, and KWZ Green Gold.

Sticking to my goal of limiting pen acquisitions to those I truly want to have in the collection, I only purchased two pens this weekend. The first purchase was a Pilot Custom 823 that I bought from Brian Anderson and took to Mark Bacas for a medium architect's grind. Brian's customer service was, as always, impeccable, and this pen is going to be in my pen case more often than not. It's an ink tank with an excellent nib that makes a perfect daily driver. The second purchase? Stay tuned for the Saturday recap.

I dropped a boatload of cash at the Nock Co. and Fountain Pen Day booths. From Nock, I picked up a Sinclair in the Navy/Steel colorway, some pocket notebooks, a Pelican clip (which I may or may not have purchased because it doubles as a bottle opener), the "Fishing Vest" pin and sticker pack, some dot-dash notecards, and some pocket notebooks. From Cary, I bought a t-shirt, some Tomoe River pocket notebooks, and a Midori-style leather notebook cover that is set up to hold three Field Notes-sized notebooks at once. This might be my single favorite purchase of the show, and I'm going to give it more of an in-depth treatment on the blog later. I really hope Cary keeps making these notebook covers because they're quite nice looking and incredibly useful for those of us who keep multiple notebooks going at once and lack a viable method of organizing them.

Overall Impressions of Day 1

A shot of the large ballroom at the 2016 Atlanta Pen Show (though this may have been a Saturday shot).  This room was mostly vintage goods, though there were a few modern dealers and brands in here. — A shot of the large ballroom at the 2016 Atlanta Pen Show (though this may have been a Saturday shot). This room was mostly vintage goods, though there were a few modern dealers and brands in here.

I was impressed at how the show organizers dealt with the heavy traffic, which skewed younger than the typical pen show due to the publicity surrounding the 200th Episode of the Pen Addict, recorded live on Saturday. Jimmy Dolive of Total Fine Writing in Atlanta is the primary organizer, and he was super friendly and inviting to all of the newcomers.

I would also say that this show probably had a 50/50 split between vintage and modern pens, with custom pen makers heavily represented, including: Shawn Newton of Newton Pens, Jonathan Brooks of the Carolina Pen Company, Fisher of Pens, and Ryan Krusac Studios. The boys from Karas Kustoms were also present, showing off their line with some limited edition show-only Inks and EDKs. Shawn Newton's wife, Elizabeth, also showed her handcrafted pen sleeves and wraps, which were a hit. If you haven't visited her site, please check it out. **UPDATE: Franklin-Christoph was also present, but I didn't get a chance to spend any time at their table until Saturday, so look for a detailed discussion of everything they brought in the next post.**

Beer and Pens after hours.  What more could you ask for? — Beer and Pens after hours. What more could you ask for?

Best of all, everyone got along! The vibe of the show was energetic, enthusiastic, and happy (which tends to be the case when the show is crowded and people are spending money). On Friday night, the show organizers hosted a cookout for all the weekend pass-holders with surprisingly decent hamburgers and hotdogs from the hotel restaurant. Apart from a slight "misunderstanding" relating to whether we were allowed to bring home-brewed beer into the restaurant, the entire event went smoothly and people talked and swapped pens late into the night. I packed it in relatively "early" (11:00pm) to save my energy for the next day.

I could go on forever, but I have to, you know, go work my real job. I'm sure I missed something, so you may also want to check out the following blogs for pictures and recaps: The Well-Appointed Desk, The Pen Addict, Penucopia, Leigh Reyes: My Life as a Verb, My Pen Needs Ink, and the Goulet Pens blog. As I mentioned earlier, check out the hashtag #ATLpenshow2016 on Twitter and Instagram. A TON of people were posting pictures and videos, so be prepared to look for a while and be tempted to attend the show next year.

Once more into the breach... the 2013 DC Pen Show

Pen Show Primer, Volume 3: Tips for Surviving the Pen Show

April 13, 2016

And not just surviving the pen show, but making the most out of your day, or your weekend, however long you have. Pure "survival" tips are pretty easy, and can be summed up as follows:

Wear comfortable shoes that will support you through a full day on your feet.
Drink plenty of water.
Don't forget to eat.

So what's my plan for making the most of my time at the pen show? I've had the opportunity to hone my "technique" over the past few years, and here's how I typically approach things:

Address Pen Work First. Do I need to get on Mike Masuyama's list to have nibs adjusted? What about other nibmeisters who I might want to work with for the first time, or any vintage pens I have that need restoration? As I mentioned last week, I always check the pen show website to see which of these vendors will be in attendance. The first morning of the least-busy day (usually Friday), I hightail it over to their tables and get my name down on the list. The ability to get into a show early makes the "weekend pass" worth the extra fee, at least in my opinion, if for no other reason than it makes it easier to ensure you can get nib work done.
Do a Walkthrough of the Entire Show. After I get my name "on the list" for any pen or nib work, I do a quick survey of the entire show by walking through all of the rooms. The purpose of this initial survey is twofold: First, you want to know where all the vendors are located. Second, you want to keep an eye out for various items that tend to go quickly, such as limited edition pens, discontinued inks, and "grail"-type purchases. If you're into buying vintage pens and fixing them up yourself, you'll notice that some vendors set out "bargain bins" of unrestored vintage pens at attractive prices. The ones in nice condition go fast.
Did You See Any Limited Editions or Items in Short Supply? If so, that's the next step. If something is at all rare, and strikes you as a "must have," then you're in the difficult position of having to make a quick call: Do I spend (potentially all of) my show money early on this purchase, or is it something I'm willing to risk not being there later? That's the pen show game!
Pick a Room to Start In. Once you've done your initial survey and picked up any "must have" items, you can take a more leisurely approach to the show, especially if you have a long time to wait for your turn at the nib grinder. I tend to go through the show room by room, spending an hour or two in each room really checking out each vendor's wares. I keep a mental list of things that I'm interested in, and note where they are located. If this list gets really long, I'll write it down, but my budget's normally not that big, and I've been more discriminating in my purchases as of late. I repeat this process throughout the day and through the weekend.
Take a Break Mid-Afternoon. I can't emphasize this enough. Pen shows can be a series of very long days, between getting to the show early in the morning to get your name on the list for nibwork, hanging out in the ballroom waiting for your name to be called, and talking/swapping pens at the hotel bar late into the evening. You can wear yourself out very quickly. Get away from the show for an hour or so to refresh/decompress. I normally try to get "off campus" to grab lunch solo, a trick I learned from work seminars and conferences. This way, you can be sure to save some energy for the after-hours activities. Much of the value in attending a pen show is in the opportunity to meet new people and try pens and inks they bring to the show, and all of this usually happens at night after the show itself closes for the day.

Leigh Reyes' Nakaya collection, which she brought to the 2015 Atlanta Pen Show and I hear she is bringing with her again this year!  After hours pen show meet-ups offer the opportunity to try pens you never otherwise might see. — Leigh Reyes' Nakaya collection, which she brought to the 2015 Atlanta Pen Show and I hear she is bringing with her again this year! After hours pen show meet-ups offer the opportunity to try pens you never otherwise might see.

One final note: I work pen shows in a pretty straightforward manner, though I certainly don't stick to this plan like a robot. ALWAYS take time to stop and talk to the vendors and other collectors/shoppers about pens you find interesting. You'll make a lot of new acquaintances and learn a lot about pens.

Because I'm attending the Atlanta Pen Show this weekend, the blog will "go dark" until next week (probably Monday). Expect some detailed recaps and reports from the show, and if you want to follow along live, follow me on Twitter and Instagram (links in the sidebar).

If you missed the first two installments in this series, Volume I discussed reasons why you should consider attending a pen show, and Volume II talked about getting ready for a show. Hopefully you can all put these to good use, and I'll see you in Atlanta this weekend!

Franklin-Christoph prototypes:  if you want 'em, make plans to get to the show early! — Franklin-Christoph prototypes: if you want 'em, make plans to get to the show early!

Pen Show Primer, Volume 2: Getting Ready for a Pen Show

April 9, 2016

So you've picked your pen show, created a valid excuse for skipping work and/or disappearing for a weekend, and committed to go. So what next? Is your head spinning from reading all of the pen show recaps discussing all of the things you need to see? Mine sure was before my first show. Here are a few things you can do in advance to make your trip more enjoyable, and ultimately, memorable.

BUDGET. I have this one in all caps for a reason. Before you leave for the pen show--and I would recommend a couple months before--sit down and figure out how much travel itself is going to cost you (in gas/airfare, food, drinks, lodging, etc.) and then set aside some additional funds for the show itself (admission, and, of course, pens and ink). I set a hard limit on spending for the show, and withdraw that amount of money in cash. While Square and the iPhone have made it easier for more and more vendors to accept credit cards, many still take only cash, and I've found that credit cards and pen shows are a bad, bad mix. You will always find one more pen you want, whether you can afford it or not.
Make a List. Not just a list of what you want to buy, but what you want to do. As with any big, highly anticipated event, you will get there and experience a huge adrenaline rush, and as a result forget to check out one or more vendors you wanted to visit. Check the show website. Most of them are fairly bare bones, I know, but at a minimum the show should list in advance which vendors are attending. Do you want nib work done by Mike Masuyama? Make getting your name on his list a top priority once you are at the show--as in, "as soon as you walk in the door"--because it fills up fast.
Get a good bag. I don't see this one discussed much in articles discussing "pen show strategy", but having a good "show bag" (or "bags") is extremely important. I bring both carry a messenger-style shoulder bag (I'm currently obsessed with Filson) and a clutch-style pen case. That way, if I need to carry around ink and paper, I can use the messenger bag, but if I have a day where I am just carrying pens to be worked on, or bringing pens down to the bar for show-and-tell, I can leave the larger bag in my room and go with the smaller carry. Good options include the Nock Co. Brasstown, the Aston Leather 10 or 20-pen cases, and if you're not squeamish about your pens touching, one of the Lihit Labs cases. On days when a show is very crowded, it can be nice to ditch a larger bag and not have to worry about it hitting people or knocking over merchandise.
Bring your own paper and ink. Hopefully, you'll have the opportunity to test lots of pens and inks. Is there a preferred type of paper that you typically write on? If so, bring it with you. Many vendors don't have paper at their tables, and the pads of paper at most ink testing stations are subpar. I usually also carry a bottle of "safe" fountain pen ink if I'm going to be dipping pens.
Connect with people beforehand. If there are people who you want to meet up with at the show, set a time and place to meet up ahead of time. This is especially true if you plan to attend a larger show on one of the busier public days, such as Saturday or Sunday. These shows can get crowded, and finding people in the ballrooms can be difficult.

Case-in-Point:  bring a bag to carry your stuff.  Most sellers don't have bags for your purchases. — Case-in-Point: bring a bag to carry your stuff. Most sellers don't have bags for your purchases.

Next week is the Atlanta Pen Show, so I will be traveling Thursday through Sunday. Posts next week will likely be thin, but before I leave I will post the last part in this series, Tips For Surviving at a Pen Show. Also, check out my Instagram and Twitter feeds for live show updates.