Interesting thread... I'm one of those that will try to answer any question asked of me... this ain't rocket science.
That said I was as a local show a few years back... there were 3 pen turners there, me with mostly pepper mills, bowls and about a dozen or so pens, another older gentlemen that had about a dozen and half pens, all of the same general style... don't remember the exact style, but think it was the Americana from CSUSA... the third guy had a vast array of pens in varying kits and finishes.... in circulating the show, I stopped and talked to both the other turners.... the elderly gentleman was most gracious, showed me his pens and talked about them.... the guy with the most pens wasn't as friendly or forthcoming.... in our conversation I asked him his finish technique... some were well done, some not so well done.... his response was a very blunt, "I figured out how to do my finish, you can figure out your own"...... his prices were also the lowest of the three of us.... at the end of the show, he made a comment that it was a poor show and that he had not sold much... the elderly gentleman was almost sold out and I may have sold a half dozen, but had concentrated on the pepper mills and not the pens.
My point is that sometimes attitude towards friendliness and helpfulness can go a long way... this ain't rocket science.