This weekend, I had a table at the Twin Cities Book Festival, which was the first big book event I’ve done. It was a great experience, and I am already looking forward to next year’s festival. Being at such an event as a vendor is, of course, much different from going to the festival. I’ve been to different conventions as an attendee and have loved going to the various speakers/presenters and looking at all the vendors, and I hope that everyone who attended TCBF took full advantage of the different authors speaking and reading as well as the vendor hall. I hung out at my all day, and it was great to meet so many people—some very avid young readers!—and see some of my friends as well.
We were positioned by the Used Book Sale, which meant a bunch of traffic all day long, and we were interviewed and I got to dance with my book. I am really looking forward to that interview, and I will certainly share it when I get it.
My cousin, Gabby, kindly agreed to spend the day with me. It is so nice to have another person at your table, so you can at least use the restroom and find some food. Gabby and I enjoyed catching up in between talking to the attendees who stopped by. As we were talking, she asked about preparing for such events, and I realized I have done a lot of learning on the fly. So what is helpful when preparing for book events?
First, be looking well in advance. Some festivals and events have registration dates for authors/vendors that are 6-9 months out. If you are setting up your own visits to libraries, book stores, or other places, many of these (especially libraries, I have found) are scheduling well in advance, so it doesn’t hurt to reach out to them early.
Next, payment. What kinds of payment will you accept? Accepting as many as possible is my suggestion. You have to have a way to accept cards for sure—which perhaps seems like obvious advice, but it is easy to forget the little things when you are doing all the things. I have a Square reader, which accepts cards and Apple Pay. I also have PayPal and Venmo (although Venmo gets used more), and I still accept checks and, of course, cash.
Advertisement—you have to do some advertising ahead of time, so people know you will be there. Utilizing your social media and mailing list are a must.
Another thing to consider is extras. Are you going to have any book marks, stickers, charms, or cookies or . . .? I would suggest having at least one thing that can be given away, preferably with your contact info or website on it so they can find you later. There are lots of places online where you can create your own swag for very reasonable prices and still get a good product. I have used StickerMule, 360Online Print, and Moo for stickers, bookmarks, and business cards, respectively. You might also consider doing a book giveaway (something I wish I would have thought of this time). Also consider any sale deals that you might do for book events.
Next, table display. What signage are you going to have on your table? You can pick up clear photo holders at Walmart or Target that can hold printed information. I have one that has price and payment info and another that has the book basics—setting, main character, age range for readers. You probably want some sort of table covering as well. Book stands or some kind of display shelves are also necessary. Last, but not least, you want something eye-catching that will draw people in. I saw lots of fun things at TCBF—candlesticks, spin-the-wheel game . . . I had tricorn hats that Gabby and I wore, which got a lot of compliments and drew people in, and I also had some extra hats that people could put on for pictures.
Have your pitch ready. When you are talking to people, you probably only have a minute to get them interested in your book. So, you really want to have your pitch down prior to events with multiple authors. Know your age range and why you would recommend those ages, and be prepared for random questions.
Last, you have to get your things to and from your vehicle to wherever you are setting up. I have been debating about getting a cart of some kind, and this weekend sold me on the idea. Collapsable cart is now on my must-get list!
This may seem like a lot of work, but it was definitely worth it. Not only did I sell books, but I made connections with readers, other authors, and educators. Getting your name out there is sometimes half the battle.
Hopefully you find this information helpful—or maybe just confirmation of what you have already been considering!