Thread: Pen Shows

Mike at silverpenparts.com would probably know
Joe

Amos ( Woodnink ) has done a couple of pen shows down in Melbourne, he put plenty of photos and a rundown of the show in a thread at the time.

But apart from that, we dont have penshows here like you do over your way.

As far as I am aware we do not have pen show like the ones I believe you are talking about. The only shows we have of rare and vintage type pens (i think) Amos would know more about this subject because he has exibiteted there on a few occasions with according to him minimal success. I have spoken to him about how it would be great to be able to go to shows and see what others can make and even learn heaps from all the guys that are there but until someone takes up the challenge of organizing such a thing I don't believe it will happen.
Therefore the only way we can learn is but great things like the forum

Cheers Ian

Will put in an answer very soon, Amos

Have no idea about pens shows here. Ask Amos he would know.
Cookie

Hello JTT, thanks for being open and honest and for having a genuine interest about us pen turners in Australia
We read much about USA especially from the Pen Forums over there, and many of us have made great friends with USA counterparts via pen swaps and through the Forums, certainly I have learned much from you all, thank you.
The culture in Australia is somewhat different than USA, and that reflects on our attitude towards arts and crafts, and also life in general.
Here in Australia, by and large, you mention a gun, or a gun show, and the general public will look with deep suspicion, over there it is an open and normal thing, therefore great turners like Les would struggle to sell bullet pens etc, for one, there would be very little and limited amount of people and therefore not enough sales to make it profitable,
Then there are arts and crafts and tourist stalls, and some manage to do ok at it, but by and large it is barely enough to buy more kits to keep up the hobby.
As for Pen Shows in their own right, we have only one in the whole country, once a year in Melbourne, Vintage pens, Pens by all the major manufacturers, Visconti, Parker, Mont Blanc, Stewart Conway etc etc, only one turner has persisted at this one for more that one year running, others have come and gone after one year! The type of person attending is usually a pen user fanatic and professional people, their main interest is Prestige, so unless you have a Brand name, they look at your pens, admire and pass on to the Big Name Manufacturers and think nothing of parting with 800 dollars for their pens.!!!
Then there are country shows where machinery, livestock, arts and crafts etc are on display, but most of the time pens are admired and the people pass on, occasionally you get some turners come by, snicker to each other how they can do it cheaper, then walk on!!, Occasionally you get a good customer, or friendly turner, but that doesn't pay for the stall or the petrol or the labour etc.
The idea of a Pen Turners Gathering, or Pen Turners Pen Show would be a great thing to do, but, like most things here, It would be a labour of love.
We do have Wood Shows here with many manufacturers and resellers of all sorts of equipment, and some of our Pen Kit Resellers do set up and sell kits and tools, but that is different to seeing the many Pen Turners and buyers that you have in the States.
Not a pretty picture, BUT, it is the reality. That doesn't stop us pen turner addicts from keeping on, and there are quite a few very skilful and wonderful turners over here.
here is a link to the Melbourne Pen Show. Amos
Melbourne Pen Show Nov 2100 pictures by WoodenInk - Photobucket
also to the Royal Melbourne Agricultural Show
Royal Melbourne Show 2011 pictures by WoodenInk - Photobucket

Spot on Amos, a pretty fair rundown on how things are generally in this Country re handcrafted pens. We have to love what we do to keep going as the sales generally are not enough incentive . As you have said you can have the best pen in the show,but without a brand and a million dollar advertising budget it doesn't get a lookin ! . I make pens for a price at the local craft markets ,never gonna get rich ,but I do better than break even , and that allows me on a pension to keep going and not get into debt Once a pen gets up around $50 dollars it is hard to shift ,so as much as I love to make the better class pens ,in my market place they would become Antiques . Some individuals of course get much better prices,but usually from friends or workmates .a bit different with walking by people who buy on a whim, as most market browsers don't have fat full wallets lol. I am about to look into a portable eftpos machine to stop that being an excuse in future as I do lose some sales for just that reason ,is it all worthwhile ,that is the burning question . Cheers ~ John

Interesting subject indeed selling pens, making pens, marketing pens etc.

Now my take on it is this referring to Australia we here are a minority with a population of about an average larger city in the USA spread over an area comparison you can see accurately from my deliberate Avatar.

Population mostly around the seaboard concentrating Sydney,Melbourne,Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide look up a map.

Then examine what do you expect from your useage of what type of pen and in your lifetime how many top pens have you bought or are likely to buy.

If you make pens do you base them on how much beaut timber or plastic you can get for scrounging, do you buy without complaint from reputable dealers,sellers.

Is this a "hobby" intention, are you like a rat with a gold tooth ready to be a pen spiv?
Are you scrupulously honest? Are you business oriented? Are you a sharing person or full of predudices? I could go on, the bottom line is the same as your future in laws view of you or as a Dad faced with a prospective new son or daughter in law what are your expectations and capacities. Can you step back and enjoy or do you want Pen Of The Year every year in a gold case separated from the public by a hoard of gold.

Having said all of these things I tried to give you food for thought first Slaughter your Ox as a famous Cook once wrote as a preface to her most famous book on the subject of Cooking.

I enjoy the chase for timber particularly, hoarding and sharing the spoils, not frightened to pay for my material within my budget, stay self sufficient and have fun. Been in business travelled a lot, very well aware of my own deficiencies, inadaquacies, willing to continue to share with others in my own way.

My final observation is enjoy the journey, family first.

Kind regards Peter.

I would like to thank Amos and the others that have input on this topic. Thanks for giving me a better picture of what it is like over there and the pursuit of the pen maker. I agree about the big names and people with money. That happens here as well. It is a prestige thing and if you are not a well branded name you get overlooked even though your product is just as good and sometimes even better than a big name.

Being able to compete with the big names would take total commitment and alot of disposable cash which is needed for advertising. Too many people can not do this and thus the failure rate is high. We stick to the small craft shows to just make enough so we can continue to enjoy the hobby. I know I will always fall into this class but I am fine with that.

I have yet to go to a pen show but want to do this just to see what it would be like and to see what all the new innovations are out there. I am always curious as to what drives people to purchase pens and what they are looking for. Someday I know this will happen as you all said the opportunities are greater here than over there because of the many more shows around the country.

Anyway we keep the thrill of penmaking alive through forums such as this and that is just fine with me. get to meet some nice folks and see some nice works of art from true ARTISANS and not machines. Keep on turning.