Editing The Pen Addict 148/transcript (section)

== Atlanta Pen Show ==


'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah, so you're here for a very specific reason, which we're super excited about, and all of our listeners are super excited about, and that's for the Atlanta Pen Show pregame planning podcast.

'''Ana Reinert:''' Woot!

'''Brad Dowdy:''' So it's going to be a pretty insane adventure, if you will, even for me, who doesn't have to travel very far, for you guys who are traveling far, even more so. But we wanted to get you on and get Myke to talk about everything Pen Show related and kind of get everyone ready for the show. So we got about, what, two and a half, three weeks to the Pen Show, and there's going to be lots of people traveling in. There's going to be lots of cool events, and there's going to be lots of pressure on me to deliver.

'''Myke Hurley:''' I do have a quick question, something I just realized. I don't have a ticket to the Pen Show. Like, do I need to get one?

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah, but we can do that, like, when you show up.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Okay, that would suck, wouldn't it, if I arrived, like, Noah sold out. But I came from London.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Ah, well, go home. Go home. I'll give you one of our vendor badges. I think I have four, so you can be a special vendor. But, yeah, you don't need to buy tickets in advance. You can get them at the door. So let's talk about that. Let's talk about the Pen Show in general. I am no expert. This will be my third Pen Show. But, Anna, you have never been to a Pen Show. Is that correct?

'''Ana Reinert:''' I have not.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' I've only ever been to one. And Myke's been to the London Pen Show, like, two years ago, right?

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah, because I forgot about it last time.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Right? It was, like, afterwards. It was, like, the week after someone said, Hey, didn't see you there. You're like, what? Where? Yeah. When? So, Anna, I'm going to put you on the spot right away. Sure. What are you the most worried about?

'''Ana Reinert:''' Probably spending too much money.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' That's a very valid concern.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' So, yeah, the way I have tackled the Pen Show, and let me give you my experience from what I've seen, and for all these listeners who are coming to the Pen Show for the first time, it's a really, really amazing experience. All the people you meet, all the vendors, all the other attendees, so nice and so willing to help, just like the whole Pen community online. It's like the same thing, but in person. So, don't be afraid to talk to anyone. Don't be shy about saying hi to someone. I remember people last year tweeted me after the show, Hey, I saw you there, but I was too nervous to come up and say hi. It's like, don't do that. Come say hi. I'm a hugger, though, so if you do say hi, you're probably going to get a hug. So, you should know that in advance. So, you know, watch out for that. That was the court order, right? That makes you bring people in the car. Yeah, so I'm fulfilling my judicial duties.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' But seriously, I was very nervous the first time I went to a Pen Show, and it was this Atlanta Pen Show. And I felt like I just kind of walked around in a daze, and then I finally kind of got my bearings. So, what I suggest for everyone to do is kind of, when you arrive at the Pen Show, don't plan on doing anything except walking around the whole Pen Show and kind of getting a feel. Browse around, look around, chit-chat, kind of get a feel for everything that's going on there. And then you'll kind of settle down, and you'll settle in, and then maybe you'll do a little bit of shopping or a little bit of talking to people or a little bit of figuring out what's going on. You know, that's kind of the biggest thing that I found is, like, it took me a minute to get my bearings the very first time I showed up. It's not an overly large show. Don't think this is, like, a huge, massive event. Where you can't see one wall from the other wall. It's in two smallish ballrooms. So, get in, get comfortable, kind of get a feel for what's going on, and then just mingle. I mean, it's really, it sounds silly to say, but it's like a party. Everyone will be walking around with a smile on their face, and everyone that is a vendor there will be more than willing to help you out. So, that's kind of step one. You know, don't be shy. I feel comfortable being there. And, you know, we all have our, you know, our worries about, you know, talking to people we've never met. And, you know, I'll make that easy for you. You know, I'll be willing to help anyone out, help, you know, introduce people to other people, and, you know, kind of play the liaison, if you will, because I've been fortunate to go the past two years, and I've met a bunch of people. So, I'll be happy to do that.