Setting up at a convention as an Author/Publisher

[OmahaRenegade]

I am starting up my own eBook site where I write the books and work with others to create comics, and then sell them on my site.

Eventually I want to take my ideas to market them at conventions (as one part of my marketing plan). This would include limited print runs of the book(s) and comic(s) to sell, plus posters (forthcoming) and, of course, business cards.

Does anyone, authors and publishers alike, who have set up at conventions, large and small, have any advice? How should the booth be set up? What are turn-ons and turn-offs for customers? What's better: sitting behind the booth or stepping out and engaging would-be customers?

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I think Mark Robson, a member here (although we seldom see him these days) who was very successful as a self-published author would say that stepping out and engaging with people would be the best way, if you have an excuse for doing so that doesn't look like you are accosting them in a weird or pushy way.

He used to go into bookstores early when he had a signing (still may do so, now that's gone on to success with a big publisher) and familiarize himself with the store. Then he'd offer to help people who looked lost find the book they were looking for. He'd get into a conversation that way, and the next thing they were buying his book! You can't quite do that at a convention, but there are other ways that you can be helpful and strike up conversations in a way that seems friendly and unforced. (This is something I learned from Mark. I am wretched at self-promotion myself.)

Whether you stay seated or go outside your booth, you need to find the perfect middle ground between over-eager and too reserved (which can look aloof when it may just be shyness), something between a hard-sell and looking like you are too busy doing something else to talk to them.

If you are talking about SFF conventions or comics conventions, see if you can contact the people in charge of programming and offer to take part in some of the panel discussions. Being a panelist is a good way to let people know who you are and what you do. Then they'll feel more comfortable talking to you at your booth. (They may also go looking for your booth, which is even better.)