Note the Eat, Sleep, Read bags - Thank YOU Simon & Schuster
First, I had someone from a very large publisher tell me at the end of the show on Sunday that he would “never again suggest that SIBA exhibits should go to one day”. I’d love it if he’d step forward and identify himself in the comments section of this blog. SIBA was rockin’ and rollin’ and whatnot all morning on Sunday. I watched sales reps surreptitously (and in some cases, not at all) try to pack up and booksellers were still there trying to place orders, learn about new books and programs and on and on. It was quite amazing, even to me.
Second, in our survey of booksellers who attended the trade show, among all of the things that happen at SIBA, the exhibits were far and away the most valuable and most well-attended by a margin of 45%. The next favorite events at SIBA are the various meal functions starting this year with the SIBA Supper and the Southern Writers Lunch tying for most popular.
Cowboy Mike and many others support SIBA year after year. Thank YOU!
The other high traffic popular events that competed for the top draws were the Baker & Taylor Bookseller Lounge, ABA’s Social Media and the Independent Bookseller, Writing the South Author Panel, both SignArounds, The Anatomy of Spectacular Author Events, The Taste of HarperCollins Breakfast, The Writer’s Block Auction, The Hyperion Breakfast, The All-STARS Autograph Area, and Ingram’s The Moveable Feast of Author. And one bookseller referenced “the cool Bookazine neckwear” as the item they found absolutely necessary to a successful SIBA.
The Storytelling Stage & Chefs Corner were new this year and a big hit with booksellers.
#1 by kat magendie on October 31, 2009 - 1:55 pm
I loved that it was more than one day. I recently attended, as an author/presenter, the Louisiana Book Festival, which is finely done and wonderful, but it is only one day and so much is packed into that one day, it is impossible to do it all….
I am hoping to be able to attend next year – a good job by all!