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| SFReader Forums > Book, Magazine, and eZine Publishers > Silver Leaf Books > SLB Upcoming Events | Forum Quick Jump
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Braksis
Warlord
      
Date Joined Mar 2007
Total Posts : 138
| Posted 4/5/2007 8:41 PM (GMT -4) |   | |
In this forum, any upcoming events for Silver Leaf Books and it's authors will be posted. The current ones listed on the site include.....
Visit Clifford B. Bowyer, author of The Imperium Saga and The Adventures of Kyria novels live at ConnectiCon, from July 13th - 15th, 2007, at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. Book signings and meet the author will be part of the event. New releases, such as The Siege of Zoldex and Quest for the Shard by Bowyer and all SLB authors will be available at the convention. For more information on the con, visit ConnectiCon.
Visit Stuart Clark, author of Project U.L.F. live at Necon 27, from July 20th - 22nd, 2007, at the Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island. Book signings and meet the author will be part of the event. For more information on the con, visit Necon.
Visit Clifford B. Bowyer, author of The Imperium Saga and The Adventures of Kyria novels live at 2Pi-Con, from August 10th - 12th, 2007, at the Best Western Sovereign Hotel in West Springfield. Book signings, meet the author, panel discussion, and the Imperium Saga d20 RPG testing gameplay will be part of the event. New releases, such as The Siege of Zoldex and Quest for the Shard by Bowyer and all SLB authors will be available at the convention. For more information on the con, visit Pi-Con.
Clifford B. Bowyer
Author of The Imperium Saga novels
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Mike Lynch
Acolyte
Date Joined Mar 2007
Total Posts : 319
| Posted 4/5/2007 9:33 PM (GMT -4) | | Hey Cliff,
How did you get signed up at those two conferences? Do you initiate that with them, or visa versa? I would love to set up something like that for myself after my novel comes out.
Mike | | Back to Top | | |
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Braksis
Warlord
Date Joined Mar 2007
Total Posts : 138
| Posted 4/5/2007 10:51 PM (GMT -4) | | Mike,
When my first book came out, I was clueless about the world of conventions. A classmate in my Masters program suggested it. The first event I signed up for, I had a full staff of volunteers. We had a room (called "Dealers Row") that was open as long as we wanted it to be open. I had at least two people volunteering to work the room at all times, plus additional people who were down on the main convention floor handing out brochures that introduced my book and what room we're in (I still have hundreds of them! I kind of overestimated my needs....with all things!).
I had all of the volunteers (who were mostly enthusiastic and helpful, but bored), I had a dozen cases of books that I got and brought with me (never can tell how much will sell!), the brochures, bookmarks, and a few signs I drafted up. In the end, we sold a dozen books (not even one case of books).
But, that was a tremendous learning experience, and my events have grown from there. When I do a convention, I look at it as exposure. Sure, it would be great if someone bought a book, but if they took a bookmark, then even if they don't get the book, maybe someone would see the artwork of the bookmark and ask about it (and maybe they get it). So, whether sales are good or bad, I always am optimistic about the events...it's all about the promotions.
From that event, I began doing 3-4 shows a year (originally it was the Sci-Fi / Fantasy conventions, but then I expanded into Anime Conventions and Fan-based conventions ~ cons that have celebrities in attendance like William Shatner). For the past two years, I haven't done a con where I haven't at least broken even (cost of the table, cost of transportation, parking, food, etc all accounted for and sales bring in more than that so that the event is profitable).
I am picky about the shows though. There was one that someone recommended to me for last year that was new to Boston. It sounded like it was going to have a fairly good sized attendance rate, but to get a table was $750. That's an awful lot of books that have to sell to make the profit. On the other hand, shows that are between $75 and $350, I always make money back at (maybe not much, I made only $6.00 pure profit at a con earlier this year, but sometimes I make $600+ as well).
I don't want you to think I'm trying to talk you out of conventions. I do great at them (those and more local festivals like "Celebrate Holliston Day" and the "Milford Fall Festival" ~ those are always tremendous sellers for me). I highly recommend doing cons. They usually run Friday - Sunday (though some are definitely longer). You should try to get a booth in the "Dealer's Room" (that bedroom I mentioned above: horrible idea for a single book. Yet, the same con being on the Dealer's floor, I sold over $1000 in books).
The big thing is judging your inventory. You don't want to bring so much that you're breaking your back bringing too many cases into the show. At the same time, you want enough so you don't run out. I typically bring 20 copies of every title with me for MA conventions (if I run out, I can get more). If I'm travelling, I have extra books with me but don't bring them in until I need them.
You'll also want some kind of handout (like a bookmark) so that even if people don't buy your book, they are still walking away with something.
I also printed HUGE posters of the first two covers (it cost me $300 per image for the giant-sized poster and the custom frames), and I found that the display really helps draw people in. Your not just there with a book, people see the art, are drawn to it, you discuss it a bit, and then try to hook them on the book.
At a con a little over a year ago, someone recommended a "Standee" of one of my characters as another alternative. I haven't tried that yet, but I'll mention it in passing.
So how do you find cons?
Check out: http://www.nesfa.org/necons.html. It provides a listing of certain conventions. If you don't find one (or two, or three, etc) that works for you, do a little web surfing (or ask for help on a group site like this one). Searches for "Science Fiction Conventions," "Fantasy Conventions," "Anime Conventions," or things like that could find you some that might be appealing.
Some things to consider....
1. What is the size of the Con?
The price you're paying for your booth should directly reflect the size of the Con. If there are only 3000 people anticipated for attendance, and they are charging you $500, then run away. At the same time, there may be a con that has only 300-500 people there, but they may charge under $100.
When first starting out, smaller cons can be a godsend. Not too many people walking around, not too many dealers as competitors. That gives people a real opportunity to talk to you, get to know you, and hopefully give you book a chance. One of my best cons to date had only 8 dealers and about 500 attendees. I probably talked to all 500 at least once, had a great time, and had tremendous sales.
On the other hand, a con with 10,000+ is very attractive, but you probably won't get to see everybody there (and you might be lost in a sea of Dealers). Even still, I've had cons like that where I had twenty or so sales with more than 100 books going out. Just be prepared to spend a bit more for the bigger cons.
2. Pricing is key. At Cons, people want a bargain. They don't want to pay full price. I tend to sell books at the cons at $20 for the hardcovers (normally $27.95), and $5.99 (cover price) for the young adult series, but with a "buy 3 get 1 free" promotion. I used to sell the young adults at $5 (keeps tax calculations and change easy), but a friend recommended the "free" promotion and sales under that deal blew away all previous cons with a $5 price tag.
I see other authors selling books at cover price, not getting much traffic, and then lowering the price on the last day. I, on the other hand, have it at a set price, and seem to have a fairly steady stream of traffic throughout the event (sure, some days are slow, but the times I see other people trying to introduce their books, I'm never as slow as they are).
Another thing about pricing: About half of the cons I go to have stores that are selling used books. On Sunday, they completely axe their prices (A buck a book!) so that they don't have as much inventory going home. For those people who were interested in your book and said they'll come back, it doesn't matter. But, suddenly if you're trying to attract new people the final day, you're the guy with the $20 book compared to other places where they could get 20 books for the same price!
3. Try to become a guest of the Con.
All Cons have guests. The smaller ones might jump at the opportunity of having you as a featured guest. Bigger ones tend to go with best-selling authors, award-winning artists, and celebrities. Regardless, if you can become involved with the con, it adds attention to you and helps you out (maybe you're a guest panelist, are doing a reading, or have a specified "author signing" time, or whatever). These are all promoted by the con, and help bring recognition to you (and credability...the con attendees go to and trust is pushing you, you must be good!).
I do have signings and discussions at the booth throughout the event though (it's an added selling point: they don't know I'm the author when they first get there, but the thought of having a personalized copy often pushes the sale over the top).
4. Be a merchant.
Make sure you have a cash box for change. If you can accept other forms of payments (checks, charges), you'll get people much more willing to buy (a lot of people bring a set amount of cash to the con, and you're competing with videos, toys, posters, t-shirts, etc. However, not everyone can take charge, so if you can, then buying your book doesn't detract from their ability to get their other things).
You can do this through SLB, but typically you own the books you bring with you, so if you can do it on your own, it makes things easier.
5. Don't look desperate or needy.
At one con, I was reviewing some development materials, and I never had so many people come over to my booth. Since then, I've made sure I always bring something to "keep me busy." Not a book (like the book you're reading, because then you just look bored or uninterested), but something like a manuscript or report.
I've watched other authors, and how they look at every person coming by with high hopes, and then crushed hearts as people try to avoid eye contact. If they want to stop, they'll stop. If you look desperate and needy, they seem to avoid you more than not.
Do you need a manuscript to do this? Absolutely not. The words of wisdom are to be pleasant and presentable, but keep the puppy-dog eyes to a minimum.
6. Network.
I just has an interview on Alien Almanac. I got it because an artist stopped by my booth at a con last September to talk about the art. I went down to his booth later on to see what he did, and he gave me the card of a friend of his who ran the site. A few months later, there's an interview.
I also always stroll through the art gallery and take the cards (business cards or post cards) of the artists who interest me. You never can tell when you may have an art project that one of them may be perfect for.
7. And above all else, have a good time. Cons are supposed to be fun. For those three days, it's your job to promote, present, and sell your book, but if you genuinely enjoy yourself while doing it, that attitude will come across to the people you're talking to and sharing with. If they never heard of your book, odds are they don't have a burning desire to buy it. But a smile, a pleasant demeanor, and enthusiasm can go a long way.
Lastly, I believe you are in California, right? Check out the San Diego Comicon. I personally haven't been, but a few people who I've met through Cons have said that it is the single-best Con to go to, period. You can find some information at: http://www.comic-con.org/.
Also (I know, I said lastly), it's important to reserve space as early as possible. There were three events that I was planning on going to that I didn't get into this year. The first is Arisia, which I do typically do every year (admittedly, I registered late this year, AND, they changed venue and had a smaller dealer's room), the second is Anime Boston, which I found out about during a Hartford Con last year. Every day I checked and it said "Dealer's Room Information coming soon, check back closer to the con." Last week, that instantly changed to "full." The final one is Readercon, which Stuart and I were both planning on attending if we got in. They get more requests than there is space available, and we didn't get in.
So target the one's you're interested in, and make your reservations early. Once you've done a show once, if you intend to go back, make sure you monitor their website for when space is available. Early registration often gets discounted (some Cons will even try to get you to sign up for the following year at the Con itself).
Oh, and never go to a Con alone. When you get a table, you typically get 2 badges (and if you're a guest, you're free!). Make sure someone goes with you. The companionship is great for those lulls, plus, another person there is vital for bathroom breaks and lunch breaks.
Hope this helps!
Clifford B. Bowyer
Author of The Imperium Saga novels
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Mike Lynch
Acolyte
Date Joined Mar 2007
Total Posts : 319
| Posted 4/6/2007 8:16 PM (GMT -4) | | Clifford,
This was far more than I could have hoped for. You are giving me some really good suggestions when it comes to Cons. I think I'll need to read your last post a couple of more times just to take it all in. I'm sure I'll have a few more questions for you as time goes on. Actually, I just thought of one. You say you bring copies of your books to the conventions. I assume these are books you have purchased from SLB at a discount. Do those sales count as overall sales from SLB's point of view? Also, do you claim those sales on your taxes? If yes, do you need a business license, or is that unnecessary? I guess I was wrong. Those were 3 questions.
Mike | | Back to Top | | |
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Mike Lynch
Acolyte
Date Joined Mar 2007
Total Posts : 319
| Posted 4/7/2007 10:31 PM (GMT -4) | | | | |
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Braksis
Warlord
Date Joined Mar 2007
Total Posts : 138
| Posted 4/8/2007 11:22 AM (GMT -4) | | I do use 1-800 postcards. On the good side, they are cheap and a good quality. On the down side, I get 5000 of them (which the postcard for Book 2 is pretty useless now that Book 3 is out!).
I do put those out there though, fanning out the bookmarks in two piles and stacking the postcards. People can grab either for free, and I also have stacks on my end so that if someone bought just book 1, I put in the postcard on the page I sign (promoting book 2), and if they buy more than that, I put a bookmark in. At the last con, I had some of Stuart Clark's bookmarks and put his into every book that went out whether they got my bookmark or not (maybe my fans see something they might be interested in and grab his).
As for the food, I always feel that it's unprofessional to have food out there, but my mother has been in sales all her life and goes to all Cons with me. Every one, she pulls out some kind of candy bowl or something for people to stop by and grab. So it sounds like you two are on the same page!
Clifford B. Bowyer
Author of The Imperium Saga novels
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Mike Lynch
Acolyte
Date Joined Mar 2007
Total Posts : 319
| Posted 4/9/2007 8:16 PM (GMT -4) | | | | |
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Braksis
Warlord
Date Joined Mar 2007
Total Posts : 138
| Posted 7/12/2007 9:01 PM (GMT -4) | | This time of year is a great time to really get in touch with the fans, readers, and even find some new people who have never experienced the Imperium Saga novels. Starting tomorrow at 12:00 (High Noon!), my convention season begins.
As a quick glance at what is coming up, here are the events I'm planning on being at:
ConnectiCon (Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford, CT), July 13th - 15th:
This will be my 2nd year at ConnectiCon. It's really more of an Anime show than the normal Sci-Fi / Fantasy conventions I used to attend, but we had a fantastic year last time around (so much so I instantly signed up for this year and also tried to get into Anime Boston).
The event itself is quite large. We're in the Dealer's Room, but there is actually an entire hallway with artists lined up along both sides of the wall. You can check out artwork, commission work on the spot, or maybe even find an artist for an upcoming project. Next to the Dealer's Room was a game room (video games) that was always quite popular. Beside that was another long hallway with rooms full of RPG games, miniature games, Magic games, etc (next year, maybe we'll have the Imperium Saga d20 RPG game there!).
Pi-Con (Best Western Sovereign Hotel, West Springfield, MA), August 10th - 12th:
This will be my first Pi-Con, but at Boskone this year, we were offered....
- Dealer's Booth
- Book Reading
- Forum Speaker
- Imperium Saga d20 RPG Demo (3-day demo!)
Well, the demo doesn't look like it will be happening, but the rest will be! One of the forum's I'm chairing is Developing RPG games, with a focus on the new magic system created for the Imperium Saga. Should be good (and next year the stars should be aligned and that 3-day demo may just happen!).
United FanCon (Springfield Marriott, Springfield, MA), November 2nd - 5th:
This will also be my 2nd United FanCon. This convention is great for celebrity brushes. William Shatner, Jewel Staite, and Grace Park were a trio that caught my eye (and Grace Park even signed something for me after her booth was closed and she was running to be a guest speaker! Alas, I was having too many people asking for the good old John Hancock on my books to make it to her booth on time....what a FABULOUS dilemma! Special thanks to Grace for still doing the signing!).
Celebrate Holliston Day (Stoddard Park, Holliston, MA), Dates TBD:
Always my biggest and best event of the summer. Can't beat the home town crowd. A great day full of Holliston residents, family, and friends. Face painting, dancing, chili eating competitions, balloon rides, and even some jousting competitions for the kids! A great time to be had by all.
Milford Fall Festival (TJ's Collectibles, Milford, MA), Dates TBD:
A big thank you to Tom Shea, owner of TJ's Collectibles for letting me put up a table in front of his store for the past four years for the Festival. Dunking booths, plenty of food, dancing, and more! A special thanks also to Jillian and Robb for helping out a couple of years ago when the Fall Festival and Celebrate Holliston Day fell on the same day!
More information is posted in the Upcoming Events section of my site. Feel free to check it out if you'll be in the area and want to stop by.
Author of The Imperium Saga novels
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