Conventions

[Eric]

In October I'm going to be a vendor at a horror convention called Rock and Shock, extremely excited and really looking forward to it.

This will be my first time selling my books in a public/convention setting. Has anyone else done this and what was your experience?

Honestly, I'll be happy to sell even one book, but the big thing for me is getting my name out there and meeting people. Maybe give them a business card/book mark if nothing else

[Tara Woods Turner]

Will you have your own table?

[Eric]

Tara wrote: "Will you have your own table?"

Yes, I will have my own little booth area. Even put down some cash to make a banner and business cards, etc

[Mehreen]

Eric wrote: "In October I'm going to be a vendor at a horror convention called Rock and Shock, extremely excited and really looking forward to it.

This will be my first time selling my books in a public/conve..."

Best of luck. I hope it is a success.

[Eric]

Mehreen wrote: "Eric wrote: "In October I'm going to be a vendor at a horror convention called Rock and Shock, extremely excited and really looking forward to it.

This will be my first time selling my books in a..."

I'll be sure to share my experience and what I learned worked and didn't work

[Mehreen]

Eric wrote: "Mehreen wrote: "Eric wrote: "In October I'm going to be a vendor at a horror convention called Rock and Shock, extremely excited and really looking forward to it.

This will be my first time selli..."
I look forward to it Erik. I'm sure there are lots of good blokes out there, who will buy a copy.

[Justin]

This is awesome congrats Eric and best of luck to you. I hope you sell some copies, gotta represent for us horror poets!

[J.D.]

Congrats!

I'll be at my first con next month, Hampton Comicon on Oct. 15. I'll have plenty of books on-hand, as well as flyers and business cards for me and other handouts for some of my favorite indie authors (because I'm a fan of supporting all indie authors, not just myself). It's a small, one-day con, but it's a start.

Oh, and I just got word today that I've been approved for an artist's table at Tidewater Comicon in May! It's a two-day event, much bigger than Hampton Comicon, and I plan on doing the same thing there. Really excited.

[Nik]

Googled it. Sounds like a cool event to be and whatever the number of sales, it should be an enjoayble experience.
Good luck with sales there! Assuming for lots of horror fans in one place, some will certainly want to check out stuff offered for sale

[Tara Woods Turner]

Eric
How do you plan to incentivize your table visits? What is your conversion/hour goal? Is your marketing branded? Is it connected through visual themes (identical colors, fonts, logos etc) on all platforms (flyers, bookmarks, banners, tabletoppers etc)? Will you have a chance to check out the venue space one day prior to check booth placement, visibility, foot traffic patterns etc? Do you have a name badge or lanyard? They're corny but people actually trust someone more if they know at least their first name. Havve you found ways to digitize the event for future social media or marketing pushes? For example, having a friend record a brief interview you have with readers asking them why they're there, why they love the genre etc. promise the people you interview that you will notify them when the clip is live on youtube or up on your blog etc. you not only have produced interesting content but you have gained an email address - author gold.

I have helped a lot of indies with highly detailed branding and public event marketing. I decided to give you a free consultation lol.

[Eric]

J.D. wrote: "Congrats!

I'll be at my first con next month, Hampton Comicon on Oct. 15. I'll have plenty of books on-hand, as well as flyers and business cards for me and other handouts for some of my favorite ..."

congrats! I hope you do well there, we should share experiences

[Eric]

Nik wrote: "Googled it. Sounds like a cool event to be and whatever the number of sales, it should be an enjoayble experience.
Good luck with sales there! Assuming for lots of horror fans in one place, some wi..."

Thanks Nik!

It is a really cool event, they started doing it back in 2008 and its amazing how much the event has grown

[Eric]

Tara wrote: "Eric
How do you plan to incentivize your table visits? What is your conversion/hour goal? Is your marketing branded? Is it connected through visual themes (identical colors, fonts, logos etc) on al..."

All very good points! I do have my business cards and banner with a similar theme and color. I plan on having horror-themed candy at my table as a way to draw people in (body part gummies, eyeball gum,) It may seem a bit silly but I figure with it being so close to Halloween, people will be in the mood for it. I also have printed posters advertising my next book, (trying to spread the word on that early).

Since I only have two books currently I'm offering a deal where if you buy both books you get a free skull shot glass.

For anyone who buys one or both books I plan on asking if I can take a picture of them holding my books to post on my social media pages.

Sadly I will not be able to be inside the convention center until the day of the event, However, they detailed in their vendor sign up form exactly what I will be getting.

The biggest thing I am worried about is actually talking to people. I am very shy person and when it comes to talking about my work it makes me nervous about excited at the same time. I am fully prepared to suck it up though.

[Tara Woods Turner]

Eric
Good stuff! Don't forget to capture email addresses - very important. As for being shy that is a tough one, isn't it? But no doubt you will get into a rhythm and start to have fun with it. We can't wait to hear how everything goes :)

[M.L.]

Good luck Eric! It sounds like fun. October is the perfect time with Halloween and everything. If you have a hard time talking to people, take an out-going friend or several with you. Will they have costumes? It may be easier behind a theme mask. Just as thought! :)

Good luck J. D.! Comicon is huge. There are a number of them in California, San Diego, and I think they had one around L. A.

[Marie Silk]

Wow Eric, this sounds so neat! I look forward to hearing how it all works out for you!

I LOVE the candy and shot glass ideas. That's brilliant and this thread has gotten me excited about doing a con someday! (I'm really shy too!)

[Quantum]

All excellent ideas!

Here's my advice: just talk--talk about anything: the weather, just say how big the crowd is, ask them questions, where are you from and so on. Focus on them, then you won't be so self-conscious. Stand in front of your table, not behind it. That way you're more approachable. Other people are shy too. Of course you're in your own milieu so it should be a little easier. I used to be really shy too. I still am. In college, I told myself that if I'm shy then I'm never going to meet girls so I told myself to just talk to the cashiers--kind of a captive audience, right? ;)

[Quantum]

Oh yea, it's a good thing that you have a lot of stuff. Always keep something in your hand. It's kind of like a security blanket. You could also practice some standard ice breakers like: what brings you here... Cool mask you're wearing (just make sure that it really is a mask) How do you like my mask? (Especially effective if in fact you're not wearing one.)

[Quantum]

You go, J.D.!! Work that crowd!

[Tara Woods Turner]

Alex G wrote: "All excellent ideas!

Here's my advice: just talk--talk about anything: the weather, just say how big the crowd is, ask them questions, where are you from and so on. Focus on them, then you won't b..."

This is actually true from my experience as well. Also remember that to these people you are an author. You wrote a book and that is amazing to them and rightfully so. They already think you're cooler than you realize. Charm them. Engage them. Connect with them!

[Quantum]

Marie wrote: "I LOVE the candy and shot glass ideas. That's brilliant and this thread has gotten me excited about doing a con someday! (I'm really shy too!) "

the internet is the great equalizer for shy people.

[Nik]

Alex G wrote: "the internet is the great equalizer for shy people..."

Alcoholic beverages too? -:)

[Eric]

Thanks everyone for the great comments and suggestions! I am glad to see I am not the only one with a shyness issue. I think the idea of simply just talking talking, and ,talking will help me. I would not dare try alcoholic beverages because I'm a sloppy drunk :) lol

[Nik]

Ok, Eric, we'll offer you a beer after the convention, in the hope you'll have enough reasons to celebrate -:)

[M.L.]

The fact you've *done* it is cause for celebration! :-)

[Eric]

M.L. wrote: "The fact you've *done* it is cause for celebration! :-)"

Thanks :)

[Matthew]

Eric wrote: "In October I'm going to be a vendor at a horror convention called Rock and Shock, extremely excited and really looking forward to it.

This will be my first time selling my books in a public/conve..."

Awesome! Were I able to attend, I would be offering you several beers, all hand-picked from the best craft breweries around!