Event Planning Book Events

As an event planner, you have to decide what social networking tools you will use to gain readers and people to come to the event. What are some tactics used to gain an audience? Most event planners are relying on the Internet and other social media networks like MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Ning, and Goodreads. However, we are losing about 40% of an audience that read the newspaper, flyers, brochures, and mailings. These people do not use the Internet at all. There are still people who read the current events that are happening in the community. Radio can be a major expense, unless you have someone you know what works as a radio personality or DJ on the radio station to play your commercial or to speak live on a radio segment to speak about your event. Do you also rely on Book Clubs to get the word-of-mouth to the public? Book Clubs will speak to their readership, and the members will alert other friends and family members they know. Do not be afraid to use your local library as a way to support your event to post your flyers, to speak the librarian manager or director to see if they can post it on their websites or talk to the public for you, or rent a room in the library to speak to those in your community about the upcoming event.

Since I am an author, article writer, and book reviewer, I am focusing on attending events related to the literary market. Therefore, I am looking at who is throwing the book event, whether it is a book club, literary award event, or book signing; I have to make sure there is a following audience who will be there.

If there are too many authors or star-authors at the event, will you be able to sell your books? Do you have a sales pitch or synopsis about your book prepared to speak within thirty seconds or less? When you are a new author and there are well-known authors at the event, there are people who will focus on purchasing one or two books with the star authors and ignore some of the new authors. However, if you are a go-getter and great pitch, your table is welcoming and inviting, they are willing to stop at your table and meet you. You can pass out your bookmarks, business cards, or other promotional tools to purchase your book(s) at a later time. In some instances, they are willing to spend their last few bucks to get your book based on your overall presentation. Overall presentation is not limited to, it is your smiling and calming personality, or bubbly attitude when greeting a potential customer, your table presentation, your book cover, and title are some elements to encourage the person to buy a copy of your book(s).

On the other hand, there are panhandlers. These are people who will come to the event, without paying registration fees, and are onlookers that will try to speak about their book projects and sometimes showcase their products to sell, while you are at your table trying to sell your books. Sometimes, they distract you with a customer to speak about their aspiring writing projects or books. They may also ask questions about publishing, authorship, and how to promote/market their upcoming books. How do you handle this? Most new authors accept this behavior, even if they spent $100-$300 on a table at these Book Expos, Book Events and Signings. Do you speak to the event planner, host, or someone else to inform them of these panhandlers? Or tell them to leave your table?

For the costs of some of the tables, do you share your table with another author? Does this help or hinder your sales? You also have to know your target audience and how to meet their needs.

The event planner is not responsible for the readership, how some authors may respond or act at the event, and how well your sales will do. You have to cut your losses and plan better as an author. You can post and alert your fans that you will be in certain cities and events to meet the author at this location. We have to also put some effort to tell people that we will be hosting, speaking, or at a book signing. However, the event planner and guest speakers or authors hope the event will be successful for everyone.

Authors should be welcoming, and sharing knowledge or networking. Authors are also avid readers in most cases, and we also support you, and give the support back. Let us make this experience universal and collaborate ideas to create better stories, or a story to share for decades to come.