If you’re a book lover like me, the chance to meet a bunch of your favorite authors all at one big convention like the Love N. Vegas Author Event sounds like an amazing opportunity, right? You get to mingle with the people who write the stories you love, pick up their latest paperbacks and fun swag, collect autographs, take pictures with your idols…and of course party with them as well! If you think this sounds like a fantastic time, you’d be right—so today we’re going to take a look at what to expect for those of you who are first time book convention attendees. Let’s look at some do’s and don’ts, and what you should bring:
DO
- Do plan ahead! Many author events have a large number of authors attending—Love N. Vegas has 75 authors (check out the list here), and while it would be amazing to see every author at a convention, it’s not always feasible in the time allotted. Before you go, make sure you check the author list and break it down into your “must-see”, “would love to see”, “would like to see”, and “if there’s time” categories. Most events will have a seating chart available for the signing portion or the event; you can use the chart to plan your route through the signing to make the best use of your time, and maximize the time you get to spend at your favorite authors’ tables.
- Do check author websites and/or Facebook pages to see if they are offering pre-orders. A lot of authors offer the opportunity to pre-order the books you want before the event. This benefits the author since it gives them a good idea of how many books they need to bring, and it benefits you since you can usually pre-pay for your order and just pick them up at the author’s table where they normally sign the books right there with you.
- Do try to attend as many of the scheduled activities at the event as you are able. Each activity is another chance to not only meet the authors, but also to meet other readers, bloggers, and even publishers. This is your chance to not only be a fan, but also to connect with other fans and people in the book industry. Meet & Greet type activities let you have extra time to chat with the authors, the Author Signing is where you can pick up new releases and old favorites and get them signed by your favorite authors, and an After Party is where everyone can have fun together in a relaxed party setting that might include games, food, music, dancing, and more!
DON’T
- Don't monopolize an author’s time. Depending on the size of the event you’re attending, there can be anywhere from hundreds to even thousands of attendees—and they all want time with their favorite authors too. Everyone’s excited to chat and find out what’s coming next in a series, how the authors get their ideas, or just talk about life in general…but remember to be fair to others just like you expect them to be fair to you. This is where the “do’s” above really help—the more organized you are and doing pre-orders will definitely cut down your wait time and give you more time to talk, and the more activities you attend, the more chances you’ll have as well.
- Don't be shy. I know, it can be overwhelming for some of you to attend an event like this—especially when there will be so many people, most of whom you probably have never met before. When I went to my first event, I was so flustered when I would walk up to an author’s table that I didn’t know what to say and wound up hardly saying anything at all. It may help you when you’re organizing your lists of who you want to see to make notes with their names of questions you might have, or books you just want to tell them you loved. Remember, authors are people just like you and love to chat with their fans, especially when you tell them what your favorite books are.
- Don't forget to take pictures. Most authors are happy to take a picture with you, and it’s a great souvenir of the event for you! I try to get pictures with every author I visit (when I’m not so excited that I forget), even if I’ve seen them at previous events. Always ask if it’s okay to take a picture with them first—some authors don’t take pictures for personal or professional reasons (depending on the genre in which they write), so please respect their wishes if they decline a photo.
Now that you have some of the basics—what should you bring with you to the event? This will depend on the activities that are scheduled, but here’s a general list:
- Your own paperbacks to be signed…though check the event’s website first to see if there is a restriction on how many you can bring.
- Sticky notes…if you’re bringing books to be signed, put a sticky note or flag on the page of the book you’d like the author to sign, and write your name on it so they know how to spell your name. Some events will give attendees name tags to wear, but it never hurts to be prepared just in case—particularly if your name has an unusual spelling!
- Anything else you would like to use to collect author signatures. I’ve seen readers bring tote bags, t-shirts, picture frames, and even small painting canvasses to get them signed by the authors at an event. Authors usually have pens or markers at their table to use to sign, but if the item you bring is a special surface, you may want to also bring a suitable writing instrument with you as well (like a medium tip permanent marker for painting canvasses).
- A sturdy tote bag to carry all the books you’ll be getting at the signing. Okay, maybe more than one bag. Some events even let you bring a rolling bag with you—but be sure to check the event’s website before bringing one, depending on the size of the venue they may not be allowed due to space constraints.
- If you’re a blogger, you may want to bring business cards with you with your blog’s information on them to give to the authors you visit. Once I finally untied my tongue and started chatting with authors and mentioned I have a blog, I kept getting asked if I had a card so they could check it out after the event. Author events are not only great for getting your fangirl—or fanboy—on, but they are also a chance to network.
Okay, so you’re at the event and you’re ready to meet everyone—what should you wear? Some of the activities may have a dress code, for example an after party might be costume-optional, cocktail attire or even formal. But when it comes to the author signing, be sure to dress in lightweight clothes with very comfortable shoes. There’s going to be a lot of people in the signing room, and at times you may be queued up shoulder to shoulder which can get quite warm. I used to bring a light jacket with me just in case, and I have never needed to use it. In fact, almost every event I’ve attended I’ve broken a sweat being among so many people at once and walking as quickly as I could from author to author so I could make sure I was able to see everyone I wanted. Also, you’re going to be on your feet, probably for several hours standing in line and walking from table to table. Wear shoes that are supportive and comfortable—sneakers are usually a good choice.
The most important tip? HAVE FUN. You may not be able to fit everything in that you want to do or meet every author you want to meet, but remember there are always author events going on all around the world—even if you can’t do all the things you planned, you can always try again at a future event. Chances are, you’ll make some new friends—both readers and authors alike—and that makes planning to attend upcoming events even more fun.
Have some tips of your own? Feel free to add them to the comments below! And don’t forget to check out the Love N. Vegas site for their event information, tickets and that all-important author list, and the Las Vegas travel deals page for a great resource for flight and hotel packages!
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