SF Pen Show Recap

This was my first trip to the SF Pen Show and it turned out to be a very busy and fun weekend. I didn't really know what to expect or plan for so I flew in from Portland Friday around noon. Devon had driven up to SF from Monterey and had arrived shortly before I did so she checked us in and got our all access passes. As soon as my taxi dropped me off I spotted her out front waiting for me and casually chatting about Disneyland with Drew Brown from Fahrneys...that seemed a little surreal but I was in far too much of a hurry to get into the venue and get in line for the Toyooka Craft Pen case I had been planning to purchase so I grabbed my pass from her and went straight to the show. After picking up a number (in lieu of a line) for Toyooka I walked around a bit to see who was where and when the general entry started at 1pm I got out of there! Talk about a stampede at the door! This was exactly why we chose to stay the whole weekend and get the all access pass...exploring is much easier when you don't have to fight for position or to enter or exit the venue. You may be getting the gist that I really don't like crowds but I like pens and stationery more than I dislike crowds so it's worth overcoming and accommodating to particular hours. 

There are way too many vendors to talk about individually or even to engage with over the course of a few days. My plan had been to concentrate on the companies from overseas so I could find a few items without paying the current wonky import fees we have going on right now. 

Side note here...while I do have a business dealing in pens, I was really at the show to look for items for my personal collection. A few times I was asked questions and only really realized later that they were likely asking me about something from my business perspective not my personal perspective. 

I really enjoyed meeting some people I had purchased from in the past and some new vendors as well. I bought paper to try out as well as ink and some amazing Namiki pens...and my pen case! I plan to blog more about these items after I have them set up and working. 

I also took some classes and had some nib work done. 

Takeaways....It was well worth the trip to me. There were far more modern pens and stationery than I expected to see and I was astounded at the amount of nib masters that were there. What a great opportunity to get nib work done! Some of the vintage pen prices I inquired about seemed high to me and I now wonder if the vendors expected to engage in some haggling? Or maybe it's just the market...it all seems to be increasing in price very quickly right now. Most of the classes were engaging and I learned quite a bit in a of couple days. 

Far more vendors sold out than I expected...some were done by mid day Saturday. The one thing I really did not like was how many people were in the venue foyer on Saturday, you literally could not move through there. 

Next year I will do things a little differently...fly in Thursday so I am there when they open Friday, explore/shop Friday and early/late Saturday. Take classes Saturday and then travel home Sunday sometime. 

Would I recommend it? Absolutely...but if you don't like crowds or have a particularly limited item you are looking for go early on Friday.