DC Pen Super Show

I'll be in VA the week of the pen super show at DC and I'll be glad to meet some of you guys who'll be attending. For sure, I'm excited to see the nibmeisters, the independent pen makers and dealers as well as the repair gurus.

Looking over the program over at pencentral.com, I noted that August 12 and 13 are designated as pre-show dates while August 14 and 15 are described as 'open to the public'. What exactly does pre-show mean and who are allowed to come during these days? I emailed bjohnson@pencentral.com with these same queries but never got a reply.

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Looking over the program over at pencentral.com, I noted that August 12 and 13 are designated as pre-show dates while August 14 and 15 are described as 'open to the public'. What exactly does pre-show mean and who are allowed to come during these days? I emailed bjohnson@pencentral.com with these same queries but never got a reply.

Verily, into the Lion's den.

Pen Shows started- literally- as hobbyist gatherings in basements and grew from there during the past 30 years. Today shows have a variety of flavors, but most still have a moderate to strong presence of old pens. Most pen shows today have a day or two (rarely three) open to public, usually with $10 or so per day fee. Most shows offer early-trader days, when the dedicated ($50 the weekend or $100-180 table holders) gather before the flood occurs of customers who want just to peek in or to buy a few pens. On occasion people show up early to liquidate personal pen collections. Others arrive early to have less crowded period to carefully swap pens. When the public arrives on Sunday (or Sat or Fri), it is possible that some pens have changed tables several times already. Early Trader status lets one get in on that core action. Indeed, it might be one well known Chicago collector who recently passed on who said, to paraphrase, "if you are involved enough in the hobby to post online, you probably are involved enough to want to be an early trader at a pen show".

Early days tend to be a bit quieter. Time for lunch/dinner with pen friends and dealers (not mutually exclusive). Have chance to catch early deals, but of course in "buyer beware" there is not guarantee those deals with be good ones

I'm at the point with the pen show dynamic, strangely enough, that I can attend shows perhaps only for the early days and do quite well. I sell largely online, I buy at shows early on, and my time has grown more limited of late. Missing Sunday isn't such a bad thing for me. Missing Thurs and Fri at a big show would be disastrous.

regards

david

You need to pay to get into the show on "pre-show" days.

Bob got back to me on my 2nd email to him. If you email again you might be able to reach him.

Alternatively, he sent out registration info some time back. If you prefer you can email me (via my Profile page) and I'll forward the materials to you.

I'll be in VA the week of the pen super show at DC and I'll be glad to meet some of you guys who'll be attending. For sure, I'm excited to see the nibmeisters, the independent pen makers and dealers as well as the repair gurus.

Looking over the program over at pencentral.com, I noted that August 12 and 13 are designated as pre-show dates while August 14 and 15 are described as 'open to the public'. What exactly does pre-show mean and who are allowed to come during these days? I emailed bjohnson@pencentral.com with these same queries but never got a reply.

Newbie,
Preshow day access is typically limited to those who have reserved tables (dealers) and those registered as 'weekend traders' (those not reserving a tble for the full show, but who wish access to the trading that usually goes on during the preshow days). There is usually a fixed weekend rate for each of these categories (more for table holders, naturally) that allows access for all days.
The D.C. Show site does not have a registration form listed currently, or at least it did not a few days ago. I e-maile Bob about that and he responded that it had disappeared from the site. We're hoping that it's back soon!
Janet (my better half, or three quarters) and I do the weekend trader whenever avaialble - the first days are more relaxed and a good time to chat and learn, not to mention sometimes find what you want in pens.
Hope this helps,
D. Wright

Thank you for the replies. I shall try to email bjohnson again and see what happens.

Thank you for the replies. I shall try to email bjohnson again and see what happens.

Probably can just show up Thurday. Suspect reservation not needed to be an early trader.

regards

david

hi, chito--i went to the chicago show on its first couple of days last year and didn't regret it one bit. got the chance to meet and even have dinner with dr. isaacson and some other dealers and collectors. it was fun to watch the dealers set up and to see what goodies would tumble out of their cases. have fun at the DC show--i'm in DC quite often but strangely enough have never synced a visit with the show. one of these days.....

Being there early is nice. Especially DC, where it will be a mob on Saturday and Sunday. At least try it once, and see if you find a benefit.

I'm hoping to be there again this year. I suspect I'll be in the hunt for a few pen parts and maybe a decent Touchdown Imperial. I'm not looking to buy anything big or expensive this time around. It's a popular show certainly.

I'm hoping to be there with my two teenage boys and a friend of theirs. All are converted FP users now, and hopefully someday, pen restorers.

Dave

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Frank

hey, i haven't been to the DC show in a few years. Is the hotel the same one that was linked to a bunch of other activities, or am I thinking of when the show was in crystal city?

If memory serves right, it was sorta connected to a larger mall, with several restaurants, and places to shop.

I am wondering, because I got the family in tow this time around, and need to find something for them to do for a few hours on Saturday.

Rick,

You're thinking of Crystal City, I suspect. The Sheraton is stand-alone. However, it's fairly close to Tyson's Corner, which is a rather large shopping mall (which is a major understatement). They'd need the car, though. Not that much in walking distance.

Hirsch

Rick,

You're thinking of Crystal City, I suspect. The Sheraton is stand-alone. However, it's fairly close to Tyson's Corner, which is a rather large shopping mall (which is a major understatement). They'd need the car, though. Not that much in walking distance.

Hirsch

Nah

Before Sheraton it was in Tysons' Ritz Carleton (hoity toity no doubt). The hotel opened into the Galleria mall. Quite nice it was.

regards

d