plantman
Member
:good: People are always asking how to display their pens. Last week I did a show for our Woodworkers Guild, and this is how I used the 2'X8' table I had. The tables were skirted and covered, so nothing had to be done there. I keep my collection of pens in these black leather cases. They are easy to carry, store, dust free, and hold from 24-48 pens eash. I brought about 300 pens to show and a few cases and boxes. You just open them up and your set to go. If you keep your cases full, you can always tell if something is missing if you leave your table unattended. I like to keep the better pens in clear plastic boxes, and lay them on top of mirrors in the front of the display. That way people car handle them and you don't have to clean them off all the time. The lighting in the school was more than enough to show the grains and texrures of the pens, so no added light was needed. If the lighting was not that good, or you wanted to get more attention to your display, add extra lights. Make sure you ask for a space with an outlet if you need one. Add some type of elevation to your display. I have little clear plastic squares my wife uses to display her Snow Babys that work just fine. I elevate the back row of cases so that they are easier to see, and I don't have a flat surface. Keep a nice pad of fancy paper so that people can write with your pens. This way you can show them the difference in how a ball point writes as opposed to a gel roller ball or fountain pen, and why one pen sells for $25 and another for $100. I always bring my 6' King Cobra skin, blanks of wood and acrylic, Polymay Clay, and other odds and ends that I make blanks out of to show people what I start with. Also I bring a few props that I take my photos with to break up the display like the coffins and my mouse. Try to keep your pens in order. Wood, Acrylic, Polymar, Lasor cuts, Stone, and Customs. I do not price all of my pens, because if people just look at the price and don't know the amount of time or money that went into it, they just walk by. If they stop and ask the price, you can explain how it is made and why it sells for that price. On the plastic tubes, I will put a price and discription on the back facing down. That way they have to pick up the pen in their hand. A lot of people will come to a show to get ideas, information, and take photos. It's up to you how much you want to inform them of your process or where you get your supplies from. Our show is not that large, but I must of had 30 people that told me they also turn pens, or wanted to start making that easy money. When I go to do an invitation only art show in Madison, I will only take about 20 or 30 high end pens depending on the space given me. This is a show not a sale !! I use better lighting and unique displays of the pens to better show then off. No judging is done or ribbons given. Keep your display neat and clean, and smile even when your feet and butt are killing you. Jim S
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