Editing The Pen Addict 524/transcript (section)

== DC Pen Show Week ==


'''Myke:''' Like, I'm excited. I'm excited it's DC Pen Show week, Myke. Like, this is, like, at this point, I should be, like, the DC Pen Show hype man. Like, I talk about it so much, but I think it's just because the people I talk to so much, just on social media, Twitter, Instagram, Slack, things like that, everyone's, like, getting hype for the DC Pen Show.

'''Brad:''' You think if you were the hype man, though, that you would actually put the respect on the show's name, like, which you refuse to do? It's actually the Washington DC Fountain Pen Super Show, and I think it's about time you started calling it that, you know? That's what I'm going to say on the matter.

'''Myke:''' Yeah, so the reality of the situation is I have to keep talking about the DC Pen Show because it is such a hot mess every year. They can't get out of their own way. There's always a problem that I feel like I have to prepare people for what they're about to walk into if it's their first pen show or even if it's their multiple-time DC Pen Show. So it's some different mess every year, and this, hey, Myke, this year's no different. Okay. So we've talked about this before, and we talked about it last week, and I'm only bringing it up again because, number one, it's actually time for the show. It starts tomorrow. But number two, I mentioned last week that I'm reminding people who are attending this show who happen to be listening to this podcast, there is going to be a ballroom in a place where it has never been before, and I hope that all of y'all make a point to go see and visit this other ballroom because that's where a lot of – it's formerly the Cool Kids room that was on the side room outside the main room, and they put a lot of makers in there. It was just a joke, but it was like show design and Brooks and Canalea and a lot of people who make their own stuff.

'''Brad:''' Was that where Canalea were in the year that I came?

'''Myke:''' Yes. Okay. So it was that odd little side room, right? Yeah. But it became a thing, and it was on the path in the way to the main ballroom. So most people saw it, even though some people didn't. Well, this time, that room is not there, and they're actually going to be in a basement on a different floor from the main room. And it's like a whole thing is like, well, are people actually going to go visit this room? So we are keeping our eyes and ears peeled to see how the DC Pen Show handles that. So that's why I keep bringing it up to make sure that people are aware, hey, there is more than meets the eye at the DC Pen Show, and you better go into that other room because you're not going to get the whole full show experience unless you do that. So there will be people in there that you will want to see and want to check out. I don't know where everyone's tables are, but I did want to point out our good friends at Plotter, Myke. Last year, I was part of their trial program, getting testing. Yeah. I was a penfluencer for Plotter last year and was testing out one of their products, and I very much appreciate what they're making and what they're doing. And they were at the San Francisco Pen Show last year. That was their launch weekend. Was it San Francisco? This year, they're going to DC and San Francisco, and they're going to have special goods. So this is another thing. If you're going to DC and you're going to be there on Friday, there's going to be vendors there, and you should probably just kind of look at DC vendor lists and maybe kind of check those matching vendors that you like. Maybe check their Instagrams to see what they're doing for the show because a lot of them are going to have special show-only things, and those show-only things might not make it past Friday. Like, Plotter is going to have some new – they're introducing some new kind of show-special paper formats, right? So the standard papers that fit into their systems with some different types of rulings like manuscript ruling and different types of rulings and things like that. They're also going to have Traveler's Company. It's by the same company, the same parent company. They're going to have these brass ballpoints. The Traveler's Brass ballpoints. You're going to be able to get them engraved there. So they're doing lots of special things. So you should figure out, you know, what you're doing, what you're thinking about doing, what your game plan is for the show as you head to the DC Pen Show. So it's not just, you know, it's not just Plotter. That's one that crossed my eye. Like Ian Schoen has, you know, a great display. Hey, we're launching all these new colors at the show. Some of these are show-only. You know, our friends at Canalea, you know, have, you know, pens each morning that aren't normally available. So be thinking about that if your time's limited at the show and you're interested in some of these, you know, unique kind of one-off type of goods that you can only get in the show. Think about what your game plan is when you get there. So I'm looking forward to follow everyone at the DC Pen Show. I hope y'all keep me in the loop. I'll be following the Instagram, checking in on Slack. I'm just anxious to see how it goes because it's something always happens at DC. San Francisco runs infinitely more smooth and I will be there later this month at the end of August, August 26th through 28th. Then I'll be in Orlando September 8th through 10th. So I am looking forward to some Pen Shows of my own, but I am jealous of all my friends at DC. Even though I know it could be a bit of a hot mess. But like I said last week, it might be a hot mess, but by the time it's done and gone and you've left, you will have had a good time.

'''Brad:''' Pretty jelly of you, you know.

'''Myke:''' Yeah. Why? Getting out to Pen Shows for a change?

'''Brad:''' Yeah. I would like to go to a Pen Show. It's been a really, really long time. I mean, and it was, these were staples of my year. At least like two a year for like four years. And I haven't been to one since 2019.

'''Myke:''' So maybe I need to head your way soon. Like maybe I need to head to one of the London shows or we both go to the Dutch show or something like that.

'''Brad:''' That'd be nice.

'''Myke:''' I mean, I know we're talking about Tokyo, but you know, you always come over here to a show. Maybe I should head over there. We've talked about it off and on.

'''Brad:''' I would, I don't think that's a bad idea, you know?

'''Myke:''' Yeah. So like the London Pen Show, I think is, they have two or three a year. I think they're just one day. I wouldn't bother with that, Brad. So, so maybe the Dutch, maybe the Dutch. Yeah. If we're going to do it, you shouldn't, you shouldn't come to the London. The problem, the problem with the Dutch show is it's in June, like early June. Whoops. For you, that's a bad, yeah. That's not happening.

'''Myke:''' Maybe I'll just come and I'll bring, I'll get like a cutout made of you and just carry it around with me.

'''Brad:''' That would kind of suck though. Not for me. If you came to Europe and then I just, I was in California. That's the, that doesn't work. I don't know. It kind of works for me. That's for you. You're a bully. You're a bully.