Today I’m part of the blog tour that will give you suggestions, ideas, tips, and tricks about BEA. I’m sure everyone else will tell you to wear comfortable shoes, wear comfortable clothes, don’t be a book hoarder (because you will regret it), etc. And those are all FANTASTIC suggestions. I’m going to tell you what no one else will tell you.
Are you listening?
Are you really listening?
- Move heaven and earth to go to BEA (and the book blogger convention). I guarantee you will regret it if you don’t make every effort to go. I’m not encouraging you to put the expenses on your credit card, because goodness knows I’m working on paying those off myself. I’d rather poke my eye with a stick than put something on a credit card these days. But before you think you can’t afford it, make sure you check out where Amanda is staying (hint: she’s only paying $35 per night).
- Don’t overbook yourself. The hands-down best time I had last year at BEA was when everyone else was at some party, and me and Jenn and Nicole went our to dinner together, just the three of us. We talked for FOUR HOURS. Sure, you can hang with cool people at parties and stuff, and maybe that’s totally your thing. But me? I like to connect with people, to become friends with them, and (for me) that doesn’t happen at a party. Not overbooking yourself will give you the chance to be spontaneous.
- Along the lines of #2, don’t worry if you don’t get invited to something. I PROMISE that there will still be people to hang with. This is small stuff. Don’t sweat it.
- Those books you get at BEA? READ THEM. I know. I’m so smart to be making a suggestion like that. Next thing you know I’ll be telling you to turn your lights off to conserve energy. But seriously. I got THE UNNAMED by Joshua Ferris, which will be a favorite of 2010. It probably would have languished if I hadn’t had motivation to read it. I’m now wondering what other gems I picked up and didn’t even realize it.
- Map out your plan. There is so much going on at BEA between author signings and panels that you’ll need to have a plan. You might miss a few things due to conflicting times, but such is life. Figure things out ahead of time (i.e. as soon as BEA releases a schedule, which should be sometime in April) so that you have time to move things around, plot with other bloggers, and maximize the time.
- Plan on being sleep deprived. YOU CAN SLEEP WHEN YOU’RE DEAD. Attending BEA is not conducive to lots of sleep. Be forewarned.
- That blogger/publisher/author you’ve always wanted to meet in person? Reach out to them! They probably will be over the moon to grab coffee, lunch, or just take a few minutes out to meet you. I know I said to not overbook yourself, but I’m also telling you to not leave everything to chance.
- Create a landing page. You’ll be handing your business card to lots of people, but so will lots of other folks. On the off chance they check out your blog, make sure it’s worth their while. I think Heather did a really good landing page for when she moderated a panel at the Baltimore Book Festival.
I know, only 8 tips is SO UNSATISFYING. Sorry.
So, who’s going to BEA? Can I get a holla?
| Tags: book expo america 32 comments »
February 4th, 2010 at 2:40 am
I will move heaven and earth to be there, so I can sit next to you and steal your cookie.
February 4th, 2010 at 5:26 am
Great list! You know I’ll be there!
February 4th, 2010 at 6:14 am
Great tips!!
February 4th, 2010 at 6:24 am
Great tips, Trish! I should have known I could count on you to change things up a bit.
February 4th, 2010 at 6:43 am
Great tips! You know I’ll be there! I, too, enjoyed our night out with Nicole. We definitely need to do it again this year. Hopefully their margarita machine is working this time!
February 4th, 2010 at 6:53 am
I did it! (moved heaven and earth, that is …) I have no idea how I got this to work out BUT I DID – woohoo!
I’ve already decided not to do much (anything?) in the way of sightseeing – been there, done that. I want to spend as much time as possible getting to know my fellow bloggers and simply having a good time. CAN.NOT.WAIT.
(And thanks for the shout-out for my super-special landing page LOL)
February 4th, 2010 at 7:09 am
Ooh, thanks for the info on when the schedules come out. I’ve been overwhelmed just looking at the BEA site and had no idea where to go.
February 4th, 2010 at 7:28 am
Hi Trish great tips. Thanks so much. I have moved heaven and earth and I will be there along with another local blogger. I am sure I will see you around BEA or out and about.
February 4th, 2010 at 7:54 am
*sigh* I decided to skip BEA this year and just go to the blogger convention. I’m hoping I don’t regret it, but I don’t know if I can “afford” (not only money wise) to extend the trip longer (well add on to it at the front) Lol! We’ll see. Great list though!
February 4th, 2010 at 7:56 am
Great tips Trish!
I did a landing page when I went to BEA too and had the post at the top of the page for an entire week welcoming new visitors. I’ll do the same thing again.
February 4th, 2010 at 8:03 am
The landing page idea is a really good one, I hadn’t thought of that!
February 4th, 2010 at 8:20 am
Thanks for these great ‘outside the norm’ tips. The landing page is a great idea and Im going to do it!! Thanks again!!
February 4th, 2010 at 8:42 am
Well, you know I’m coming! Great tips, Trish (I really like the idea of a landing page too!!) Thanks for putting these together for those of us “newbies” to the BEA
February 4th, 2010 at 9:09 am
I noted Heather’s “landing page” (new term to me!) after the Baltimore Book Fest … great idea, thanks for all the tips and SEE YOU SOON!
February 4th, 2010 at 10:29 am
Those were great tips! I’m planning on being there! Yay!
February 4th, 2010 at 11:39 am
Um, you forgot the all-important Tip # 9: Pack extra panties for throwing at deserving authors whose brains you find irresistible.
Can’t wait!
February 4th, 2010 at 7:18 pm
Re: your first item – yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of. I’m afraid that not only will I regret it, I’ll totally lose the affection of my fellow book bloggers if I’m not in NYC during the last week in May. And the truth is that I’m mostly OK with not going to BEA – it’s missing the Book Blogger Convention that’s REALLY bothering me.
But I have a prior commitment to another blogging conference (also in NYC) in August. Between that, a family vacation in June, and another con in July, I just don’t see how BEA/BBCon can happen for me this year. Heaven and earth will have to stay where they are
.
But if there’s another Book Blogger Convention in 2011, BlogHer may just have to go on without me! This year, I’ll just have to experience it all through my friends
.
February 4th, 2010 at 7:47 pm
Can I just say that I love your list. I want to marry your list. The landing page is such a freaking good idea. Its already mapped out in my tiny little head and in a few minutes I will forget it existed.
February 4th, 2010 at 7:53 pm
This is motivating and encouraging!
I am near NYC, so I was planning on just commuting in, but I think that I might want a hotel to crash in.
February 4th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
I HATE that I will have to wait yet another year to attend both BEA and BBC. I hope you have the most amazing time again and will be there in 2011. I look forward to reading all your posts in May and June and as you get closer to flying to NYC. I like your tips and will totally go by them in 2011 (I hope!).
February 4th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
I’m listening! I want to go! Let’s try to meet up again if I do!
February 4th, 2010 at 8:45 pm
Hi, I noticed there are different categories for people to register under. What if you fall under any of the categories, can you still attend?
February 4th, 2010 at 8:58 pm
Oops I meant what if you “don’t fall under any of the categories”. And I’m referring to the book expo
February 5th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
I am going and I am so excited! I so appreciate all of these tips. Thank you thank you – I hope I get a chance to meet all of you!!!!
February 5th, 2010 at 9:27 pm
Great tips Trish – my favorite is you NOT recommending comfortable shoes – because in my opinion, you can wear comfortable shoes when you’re dead. And the landing page is a GREAT idea.
February 6th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
I’m going! I didn’t get to be part of the social part last year, and I am hoping to correct that this year. Would love to meet up with people this time!
February 9th, 2010 at 8:46 am
I’m catching up on the whole tour. So glad I am too. I attended BEA last year and already registered for this year and am loving all the tips. I am looking forward to meeting more people this year also.
February 9th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Quick question: When you sign up, what do you say you are? non-editorial media?
February 10th, 2010 at 8:55 am
I’m going for the first time this year, and I am so excited (but also very nervous). I am loving these great tips – many thanks!
Hope to meet you at BEA and BookBloggers Convention!!
February 11th, 2010 at 1:26 pm
Great list of tips. I love the tip about the landing page. Fantastic. I knew I could count on you for some gem of advice.
February 13th, 2010 at 6:13 pm
HOLLA!!
For both BEA and BBC. Thanks for the great tips. I know that the sleep thing will be a problem for me so I suspect #2 and that will go hand in hand!
February 16th, 2010 at 11:32 am
ME ME! I’m going to my first BEA and of course the first BBC! Thanks for your tips,