Editing The Pen Addict 575/transcript (section)

== Shopping plans and pen show purchases ==


'''Brad Dowdy:''' I'm not planning on spending a lot, but I do have a list, which we're going to get into in a minute. But like I'm going to bring a couple of pens. I'm going to bring my plotter as my paper and a half empty suitcase. Like I just can't decide if I'm going to have like a roller board that's half empty or go all the way and do like a medium sized check-in suitcase that's half empty. Because I know there's going to be a lot of stuff to haul back. Like this is going to be a good show for work to get a lot of products for review for the rest of the year. Right. So I will end up with a lot of, you know, things like I don't have much personal stuff that I'm looking for, but I will end up with a ton of stuff that's going to be review goods. So I just got to decide how much space do I need? Because I don't need to pack much else. Right. Like I'm there two nights. Like it's, it's very minimal from like a personal perspective. So just can I carry everything home? So my shopping list is very short right now. There's one thing that I've been waiting for this show all year to grab, even though I've had opportunities throughout the year. I'm finally going to get a shown design Monarch nib. Oh, okay. Yeah. It's time. Why? Like it's because he keeps adding like these new colors, new anodizations. I'm hoping he's going to have some finer tips on there. If not, I know I can get a, the tip modified. I've talked to Gina at Custom Nib Studio. They do that. And they have, they've done enough Monarch nibs to feel comfortable modifying that. And I've tested one of theirs before and loved it. So now I can get the color that I want, hopefully. So this is like, I will do this immediately on Friday afternoon. Right. Because I know Ian will be insanely busy all weekend. I just want to get that done. And that's going to be like a big chunk of my budget. That's going to cost me like three, $400. Right. These nibs are expensive. I just have to decide, do I bring like one of my barrels that this fits in? Or do I buy a new barrel?

'''Brad Dowdy:''' It's probably going to buy a new barrel, right? Like, let's be honest. But I have, I have a peak barrel. I have an Ultem barrel and I have an aluminum barrel that all of these, this nib will fit in. So I'm just trying to decide, do I want to commit the budget for a new barrel? If I'm going for the pin, you know, and I'm going to get like a wild color. Well, maybe I get a wild barrel to match. Who knows, Myke?

'''Myke Hurley:''' I mean, it wouldn't be bad to at least check, you know?

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. I'm probably not going to bring my own barrels, but so I'll probably end up with something new. New from Ian, because like every show I go to, like he has escalated quickly with the awesomeness of like just the pin barrels, not to mention the nib stuff. So I'm going to get a bunch of stuff from Ian. He's got some other things going on too, some pin cleaning syringes and things like that. I wanted to make sure I get, get a hold of. Something else that went on my shopping list just yesterday, which Instagram has been good for like DC pin show prep. If I can see like what people are up to, what they're bringing to the show. So Sugar Turtle Studio, who I just met for the first time in Baltimore, they make really, really fun, like stationery, like accessories type stuff. They collaborated with Diamine to make some custom Sugar Turtle Studio inks, which are very neat colors, like a pink and a teal, which are kind of like my jam. Like even though like I probably got a million of both of these colors, I'm 100% getting these from Sugar Turtle Studio. So check them out if you're looking for some fun color Diamine inks. And you should watch your wallet at Sugar Turtle Studio. They're going to get you with all of their awesome accessories. So Tom is great. And I really, really look forward to seeing him again at the show.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' That's kind of it. Like that's dedicated shopping. I know I'm spending this. Like the Monarch nib is going to be very expensive. So like I'm not really looking for much else other than that for me personally, right? Then I have the whole other, you know, hey, review stuff, blog stuff, all that stuff. That's a completely separate, separate deal. So I did see again on Instagram. Something I want to look at is the pin family had an Instagram post, which was just text. And it was saying like they're making some changes. They're going to have a bunch of deals, a bunch of sales. A lot of their brands, Armando Simone, Wall Ever Sharp, a lot of the brands that they carry are just pins that are too large for me. So I'm not hoping for something different. But their post said, Italian craftsmanship, Japanese precision. And knowing me, that's like how you get me to come visit your table. So Italian celluloid pins, Japanese nibs, but I don't know more specifics than that. Like it's a teaser. So like that's on the list, right? So that's how this weekend is going to go. It's I'm going to go in. I'm going to handle business real quick. And then we're going to get to work. Like this is a work weekend for me. There's a lot of people I need to see. A lot of people I need to meet. A lot of discussions I need to have. A lot of products I need to come home with. And I am really, really excited. And that is before I get to hang out with all my friends and meet people who are coming to the show. And help people find products and things that they want. So I'm never too busy for anyone to just come up and say hi at any time. Please interrupt me. If you have questions, I want to help you. That's more important to me than anything. Especially if it's your first show or you're looking for something specific. And I can help you find something or point you in the right direction or get you in front of the right person. Or answer any questions you have. That is my number one goal at any pen show that I'm attending when I'm walking around. I am there to help anyone who needs it. That is the most important thing to me. That's how I have the most fun. That's how I get the most enjoyment. Is making other people happy. And helping them have a great experience at a pen show. So please, if you see me, come say hi. Don't hesitate. Interrupt me. Anything. So I look forward to being there this weekend. And I'm ready. If you couldn't tell, I'm ready to go. Public service, Brad.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' That is my biggest move. And it's probably as hard at this show as any. Right? Just from the size of it and the volume of people. Right? It's pretty difficult.

'''Myke Hurley:''' How long are you there?

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Literally Friday afternoon, all day Saturday. Leave Sunday morning. So I won't be. Basically not at the show Sunday. Right. Right. That limits my time. But I'll be at the hotel Friday night and Saturday night. I'm going out to eat Friday night. That's the only off-site plans I have. I'm going to, after the show, go grab some dinner. Because there's not a lot of options directly right there. And then I'll be back at the hotel Friday. I know there's some events Saturday night that Kenra is putting on. I'll be there. So just going to hang out a bunch. So that is the goal. So I genuinely can't wait. I'm super excited.

'''Myke Hurley:''' I'm pretty jealous, to be honest. I'm too far overdue on a pen show. Yeah.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' We're going to fix that. We're going to fix that.

'''Myke Hurley:''' I hope so.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Somehow.