May 6, 2024
Do you attend book selling events? (Can be local events such as craft shows and festivals.) What is your best tip to sell books at one?
I love book signing events! Or any event where I can meet people and talk to them about books. My books, specifically. Just yesterday, I took part in a craft fair at the firehall a few blocks away.
It wasn’t a big event. If more than 400 people came, I’d be surprised. I heard several of the exhibitors lamenting their poor or non-existent sales. But in 6 hours, I sold a dozen books. While that isn’t a huge number, it was enough to meet expenses and make a small profit.
But the highlight of the day was talking to several people who’d bought a book at a previous event, or borrowed a book from a friend to read, and told me how much they’d enjoyed it. Then there was a fellow vender who bought three of my books first thing in the morning and mentioned that she was up to Chapter 7 in The Marquesa’s Necklace by the end of the event. (Sadly, that meant she didn’t sell much herself.)
I’ve participated in big events, too.
The first time I did a book signing was at a comic con in Cheyenne, WY, back in 2016. I had no idea what I was getting into. I overspent and overbought, but learned a lot and had fun. I’m still using the banner I had created for the event. (Official records say 12,000 people attended. It was the biggest event I’ve taken part in.)
Things I’ve learned over the years and many events:
Even if you have a chair, be prepared to stand. A lot. It’s harder to talk to people if they are towering over you. (Standing is easier on your neck, too!) I often move out from behind the table to have a conversation, and cut down on the noise in a busy room.
Make sure your books are easy to touch, and don’t be afraid to pick up one and hand it to a person showing an interest. Last year, I moved to a display rack to hold my books, and my sales went down. Coincidence? At the last event last year, and the first one this year, I still used the rack, but I also placed copies of my books directly on the tables. My sales returned to standard levels at both events.
Top tip? Be prepared to smile and say hello. Don’t wait for them to approach you. (If they are avoiding eye contact, it’s OK not to bother them.) Have something they can walk away with. Your business card is a necessity, in my opinion. I’ve tried the trick of having candy on the table, first to attract people, and second to keep them hanging out for a few minutes, but it doesn’t work for me. On the other hand, people like taking the postcards I have featuring my books. They can be used as bookmarks, and are a heck of a lot cheaper than having commercially produced ones.
What else?
On a personal level, if you can, enlist a buddy to help. It’ll make it easier to take breaks. Otherwise, make friends with the venders next to you. I haven’t run into one yet that didn’t mind keeping an eye on things while you run to the restroom. You’ll want to keep your throat wet, so bring plenty of water or your beverage of choice.
That’s more than one tip, I know, I couldn’t help myself from oversharing. Still, I’m sure that other authors will pick up on something I didn’t know or forgot. Check out their posts in the links below. Or add your suggestions to the comments.
And, as always, please stay safe until the next time!
(FYI, my next signing event is the 3 Rivers ComicCon in Pittsburgh, PA, June 1-2nd. Quite the switch from the Pleasantville PA spring craft show! https://3riverscomicon.com/
May 6, 2024
Do you attend book selling events? (Can be local events such as craft shows and festivals.) What is your best tip to sell books at one?
