7 Tips for a Better Bookish Turnout to Events

You may have published your first book and wonder about book events. Or maybe you've published a bunch of books and are struggling with book events. Or maybe you've come under the task of hosting an event. This post is for you. 

​Tired of attending book events where the crowd turnout equates to another author’s sister or brother? Authors don’t tend to converse about dismal results. Why? Because the results can often feel defeating. However, if it's not talked about, then the event won't improve next time.
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The person who planned the bookish event usually tried their best and did everything they could think of to make the event successful. 

So who’s fault is it when a book event fails? 

In my opinion, nobody’s really. Most people who plan book events don’t have a background in event planning and honestly try their best.

What makes attendance worth it? 

The last thing an author wants is to spend time and money and energy preparing for a book event unless it’s worth it. Writing is a passion, but marketing and promoting your books should be treated as a business decision.

​What makes attendance worth it? I’ve boiled it down to two things: reader connections and/or author connections. Reader connections could mean sales, newsletter subscribers, new book fans, etc. If you attend an event with little to no customers but make new connections with other authors (networking), then it’s not a bust. But if you believe the event will lack both, then it's better to save the money and spend it on other marketing resources. 

Wordy Woman

What makes or breaks an event?

​I used to be a fundraiser and event planner for a national organization. From the time I spent working there, I’ve come to realize why many bookish events fail these days. One word: "vendors." 

​​Events that seem to do well are ones that include delicious-smelling food and free entertainment. Now, I’m not referring to platters of food that authors bring, or music in the background played from an iPod, or a crafting table tucked in a corner. All those ideas are good for your own table, but what I’m referring to is the overall atmosphere that attracts the community and makes people tell friends about their future plans to attend. 

7 Tips for a Better Turnout to Your Bookish Event

1. ​Location. Hold the event at a location where there’s foot traffic on a regular basis.  Places such as parks, downtown locales, outside a business visible to potential customers, etc.  Think big, don't limit your event!
2. Local or non-local bands. Paying for a band can be costly, but you may find a DJ or new band willing to donate their time for tips and/or exposure.
3. Local dance teams. Call around to different studios to see if their teams would like to perform. If they have an impending competition, they may welcome the practice. When kids perform, their parents and friends come too.
4. Food trucks. Everyone loves the smell and taste of different foods.
5. Crafts organized by local school teams or other affiliations. Call the area’s high school and see if they have any extracurricular organizations, such as cheerleaders, dancers, or art students that want to paint faces etc.
6. Games. Any games, big or small, something that gets the kids involved and active is good.
7. Petting zoo. Animals always attract customers. 

The more variety of entertaining options, the better the turnout. Without it, the event is less likely to attract any customers at all—no matter how many Facebook and radio ads are scheduled. You may think this is too much for a small event, but you don’t have to commit to all 7 tips.

The more you plan in advance, the happier customers will be. And happy customers equate to better sales and happier authors. If you’re an author who doesn’t want to plan events, you could always purchase tables at local town festivals instead. They normally have entertainment, food, etc. already planned.

I hope this post helps you. 
Take your writing further and create a fantastic plot with colorful characters by using my book, 
​A Wordy Woman's Guide for Writing a Book. 

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About the author:

Dawn Husted

Dawn wrote her first book in 2008. Now, she’s the author of 5 books, owner of Yaupon Berry Press, and a member of Texas Association of Authors. She's passionate about the Oxford comma and loves a well-structured plot.
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A Wordy Woman's Guide was created with a tenacious spirit and an enormous vision to offer resources that empower aspiring authors.

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