BookExpo America discussion

Allie Harrison here...And I'm just wondering who might be attending BEA in New York 2017 this May. Can I have a show of hands -- or a list of names! Thank you.

I'll be there! Ann Marie@ http://litwitwinedine.com/

Hi Ann Marie,
Do you go as an author or blogger or what? Are you signing? What are your plans? I just applied for my badge yesterday.

Allie wrote: "Hi Ann Marie,
Do you go as an author or blogger or what? Are you signing? What are your plans? I just applied for my badge yesterday."
I'm going as a blogger. I applied the first week registration opened. It only took a few days for the application to be processed. I live within a commutable distance to the city (my husband does it every day) but I'm going to stay in the city so I don't have to wake up so early. :)

I'm going! Andrea from The Overstuffed Bookcase (theoverstuffedbookcase.com). I'm registered as a blogger. I'll be co-hosting the BEA Blogger Picnic and BEA Blogger Meet and Drink again this year (we started in 2013 but haven't done it the past couple of years). I'm probably going to have to find a roommate this year.

I'm going! I'm registered as a teacher :)

It looks like so far I'm the only one applied for registration as an author. Should I be worried?

Maybe we could all meet up! That would be wonderful! Andrea from what I understand it's good to stay in NJ and take the Lincoln Tunnel. So I have a room at a hotel in NJ just on the other side of the tunnel.

Allie wrote: "Maybe we could all meet up! That would be wonderful! Andrea from what I understand it's good to stay in NJ and take the Lincoln Tunnel. So I have a room at a hotel in NJ just on the other side of t..."
Are you planning on driving in from NJ?

Allie wrote: "It looks like so far I'm the only one applied for registration as an author. Should I be worried?"
I'm sure you'll be fine. :) How long ago did you apply?

Allie wrote: "Maybe we could all meet up! That would be wonderful! Andrea from what I understand it's good to stay in NJ and take the Lincoln Tunnel. So I have a room at a hotel in NJ just on the other side of t..."

My husband and I usually stay in Manhattan, but he's not coming this year. We usually find a hotel on the list on the BEA website; they've arranged cheaper rates and most, if not all, of the hotels on the list are on the shuttle bus route, so you have an easy way to get to and from Javitz.

I feel like there are going to be MUCH fewer people there this year, especially when it comes to bloggers and booktubers.

What is a booktuber?

Allie wrote: "What is a booktuber?"

A YouTuber who makes videos primarily about books. I have a booktube channel (The Overstuffed Bookcase), but I only started in like September. I've had my book blog for 5 years. :)

::waves hello:: Hi everyone! I will be there too. You can find me on social media :
Marci @MarciliaLoubach
My Book blog: www.theplotbunny.com

This will be my 4th time attending. I also applied the first week and got my answer within about a week and a half.

I think there will definitely be fewer bloggers and booktubers/Instagrammers this year, between the application process and the price tag on blogger tickets.

Well, last year I purchased my ticket through RWA. They are not offering this year, only offering tickets and signing at BookCon. So I had to apply for a badge. The author ticket is the most expensive!

Marcilia wrote: "::waves hello:: Hi everyone! I will be there too. You can find me on social media :
Marci @MarciliaLoubach
My Book blog: www.theplotbunny.com

This will be my 4th time attending. I also applied th..."

Hey, Marcilia, we follow each other on Twitter and I wanted to let you know that it looks like your Twitter account may have been hacked. I didn't know how else to get in touch with you, other than Twitter, and messaging you on there might not have gotten to you. (I'm @OverstuffedBook)

Andrea! Thank you so much for letting me know. I figured it was about 40 minutes after it happened. Not sure how it got hacked (I'm super careful) but it is all fixed now. Thanks again...and I added you on here too.

I'm going. I'm going to apply as press but if that doesn't work I'll register as a teacher.

I got my approval yesterday so I'll be there! I can't wait. I sent them an email however because I can't see where or how if I want to sign a number of my books...

I'm going - teacher librarian! Can't wait!

I am going! School librarian here. I went in 2014 and 2015. Super excited about 2017!

I know that many people being business cards to hand out at BEA. Is that a necessary thing for teachers? In one way, I can see it being useful, but it also feels a bit weird since I'm not running a blog or book tube. Any suggestions?

Cristin wrote: "I know that many people being business cards to hand out at BEA. Is that a necessary thing for teachers? In one way, I can see it being useful, but it also feels a bit weird since I'm not running a..."

Cristin, if you want people to know you or about you and you're comfortable, by all means, hand out business cards. I want people to know about me and my books so I will hand out cards or bookmarks.

I'm a public librarian and I am going. This will be my third time. I went in 2014 and 2016.

Nice to meet you Jennifer!

I'm going! I'm Kate of Midnight Book Girl, but I also work part time at Fountain Bookstore, so I get to go under my boss's ABA membership. I've been every year except last year since 2012, but this will be my first time as a Bookseller! The Hubs is coming to NYC with me, and we are doing airbnb this time around.

On twitter I'm @midnghtbookgirl, but I'm mostly on Litsy these days as MidnightBookGirl.

Hi everyone. I'm Sandie of Teen Lit Rocks and am going as press, but not because of my blog. I write professional reviews for Kirkus, Common Sense Media and a few other outlets. I only say that, because I know BEA is being much tougher about book blogger press approvals this year. This will be my 6th BEA.

AmberBug & Arianna from ShelfNotes going as media this year. Can't wait. :)

I'll be going again this year. This is the first year I'm not registered under my blog, bookish devices, I recently started working at a bookshop so I was able to register that way :)

I'll be going- I'm an editor with a publishing entity, so registration wasn't a problem.

I'm going as an educator but I also blog at nicolesnovelreads.blogspot.com. My friend, who is also an educator, and I are planning to stay at an airbnb. This will be my third time attending BEA.

I'm planning to go to Bookcon this year. If anyone else is, please contact me cause I'll be going alone and would like to know a few people that I could meet up with beforehand. Thanks!

Finally registered! Going as part of my library (trustee working with our Director and Childrens librarian closely) and attending bookcon as well. So excited!

I'm attending - not sure which days, but I'll be attending as a Bookseller :) Its my...I don't even know. 10th time attending...sweet shiny stars its my 10 year anniversary attending BEA. o.o

For those of you who have gone before... does anyone else feel 'meh' this year? With the changes, and the uncertainty, I feel less excited to go than in the past. Between the drama, and the changes, and everything being announced seemingly late or delayed, I'm feeling not as excited as I have been in the past around this time.

I sure hope not MUCH changes.

In the past, there was an awesome member here who had an inside scoop and had a spreadsheet of what books/authors were being dropped or at the author area. I didn't attend last year, so I don't know if she still will have that insight or not. Does anyone know or remember who I'm talking about? I work in a school, and our state testing is in April. I remember proctoring the exams and starting my bea ARC plan! haha!

Tell me what is so different about this year please?

I decided to not go so I wasn't involved in the process.

THANK YOU.

Elizabeth

Well, they are restricting how many people are let in, especially under bloggers and press. This doesn't affect me, since I am a librarian, but I noticed too that they seem to be wanting to make BEA more about connections for book sellers than book buzz. I was given a VIP Librarian pass last year, and was not able to go. I sent an e-mail asking if it was possible to have it bumped to this year. Before they would accept, I had to fill out a form about what my intentions were this year, why I attend, and what should BEA be about.

They have been delayed in announcing things, such as tickets going on sale. They said Early November (I think it was) and then they were SILENT until a month had passed. I don't recall seeing a "hey, sorry for the delay!" Even now, I feel like the announcements of authors and events are later than usual.

(I wish the previous threads hadn't been deleted, there was good info in them about the changes underfoot.)

It also sounds like, according to PW, that Book Con will be even more showy, and where they want the non-publishers and mass book buyers. They want to pull the big names and celebrities for BookCon. not BEA. (Sounds like trying to bring in more $$) Many people were concerned with possible less arcs than before, because of that and having less interactions with desired authors, if you aren't actually meeting with the publisher during BEA to discuss book buying. Also pointed out “BookExpo will be scaled to focus on what booksellers want most — to discover new titles and authors, to maximize the opportunities to network with publishers and peers, and to continue learning best practices for running their businesses.”

Even though I am not a blogger, I do feel a little push back from BEA. And part of the blogging world, the hype, the fangirl/boy moments, meeting people I feel like I kinda already knew, etc. Those were some of my favorite moments at BEA. I feel like they are trying to make it seem like a more "professional" (More widely accepted/structured) type of conference.

Of course, no one will know for certain until BEA comes, but it does feel different. And I know many bloggers do not feel as welcome anymore. I understand changes need to be done, and evolving is important, but it just feels like there isn't as much of a hype/buzz/excitement at all for it this year.

And of course, they are changing the name to just BookExpo. Although I find it difficult to adjust to that simple change. ;-)

Jenni wrote: "Well, they are restricting how many people are let in, especially under bloggers and press. This doesn't affect me, since I am a librarian, but I noticed too that they seem to be wanting to make BE..."

I feel the same way! I don't know if I would have attended this year if I hadn't started working at a bookstore and was able to go under my boss's ABA membership. But I had planned to go before all the changes under my usual blogger title. I was so excited when they announced early registration, but then nothing happened. Then the bump up to $300, the complete dismantle of Book Blogger Conference, the hoops my blogger friends had to jump through when applying... yeah, BEA does not feel as friendly and warm like it did in the past. I feel like I missed something last year by not attending Chicago.

And I hate that they changed it to BookExpo... maybe I'll just call it BEX instead of BEA. I need three letters!

To be honest BookExpo has done its best to limit bloggers for a number of years now (at least 4 or 5). First by making arbitrary but not transparent "rules" as to who could go as editorial and who could go as non-editorial, then by co-opting Bloggers Conference and mishandling that (I know several bloggers involved tried their best to make it a worthwhile resource, but were stymied by what they could and could not do), uping the price several times for bloggers to attend, and now this...

I think they view Bloggers (or Youtubers, Bookstagrammers, etc) as consumers first. The Publishing World can't exactly pinpoint how influential a Blogger can be or is - not like bookstores where you can point to sales numbers or librarians with circulation/request numbers. They can't quantify our contribution enough to justify the expense.

They tried out Power Reader Day, got anemic results (largely due to bad/very late promotion and marketing to the wrong demographics). They started BookCon to exist alongside BEA and stumbled a number of times (offering BEA goers the ability to go between the shows created confusion, forcing publishers to rent TWO spaces in order to be present on both sides of the floor, lack of real intel for how it would be handled, space management) and saw just enough return on that to say "This could be something!"

I think on paper they hoped bloggers would flock to BookCon - bigger names! celebrities! book giveaways! - and the people focused on the professional aspects would flock to BEA. That isn't what happened at all (you paid what? $150 or so to attend BEA and ALL the books/autographs were free or you paid $60+ or so for BookCon where you still had to pay for books for the most part?) so they decided to up the anty - $300 to go to BEA if you are a blogger, limited number acceptance and oh hey we have MOST of the "big names" going to BookCon instead.

As far as I've always heard though BookCon barely meets minimum expectations for attendance (unfortunately after that first year they stopped publishing the numbers for public consumption and finding the "true" facts is difficult) and the bloggers I know who can't afford to attend BEA they aren't going to BookCon either so I'm hoping this new showrunner, Brien?, offers the numbers on how this all pans out...

Lexie wrote: "To be honest BookExpo has done its best to limit bloggers for a number of years now (at least 4 or 5). First by making arbitrary but not transparent "rules" as to who could go as editorial and who ..."

Thank you for the info.

Kate wrote: "Jenni wrote: "Well, they are restricting how many people are let in, especially under bloggers and press. This doesn't affect me, since I am a librarian, but I noticed too that they seem to be want..."

Too bad about the Blogger Conference. That's where I saw all my blogger friends and met some new bloggers. :(

Jenni wrote: "Well, they are restricting how many people are let in, especially under bloggers and press. This doesn't affect me, since I am a librarian, but I noticed too that they seem to be wanting to make BE..."

Thank you. Will be looking forward to hearing how it goes for everyone.

Lexie wrote: "To be honest BookExpo has done its best to limit bloggers for a number of years now (at least 4 or 5). First by making arbitrary but not transparent "rules" as to who could go as editorial and who ..."

ALL OF THIS.

I went to BEA three times and BookCon twice. I will never ever attend BookCon again. While the second year was better organized than the fiasco of that first year, I still felt like cattle being led to a slaughter. Lines to see authors were two- and three-hours long. As a blogger, I missed the ability to connect with both them and their publishers - it just wasn't possible in the small spaces and large crowds.

BEA was always very beneficial for me as a blogger. I got to meet so many people that are important to the book world, and they all made my job as a blogger more easy and enjoyable. And it was just plain fun.

I won't be going this year. I can't afford $300 for a ticket. And they denied my press pass. I think the whole thing stinks.

Krista wrote: "Lexie wrote: "To be honest BookExpo has done its best to limit bloggers for a number of years now (at least 4 or 5). First by making arbitrary but not transparent "rules" as to who could go as edit..."

I LOVED going to the BEA. I just don't feel like it this year. Loved meeting my blogger friends in person. Such fun.

This is my first year attending (as a distributor)! I'm traveling from Toronto, Canada. Has anyone attended the author breakfasts? I have tickets for the adult one this year (STEPHEN KING!), and I'm wondering if they do signings

Hey Kristyn!

As far as the Breakfasts go one of two things have happened in the past when I've attended the Children's Breakfast - you're given the books pre-signed or you are given a ticket to go to the author's signing later on that day. It largely depends on if the author is just there for the Breakfast or if they have another something planned that's open to the wider show audience.

Awesome! Thank you Lexi!

I've gone to BEA three times now. I also went to the first bookcon, because that year BEA passes got us in to that as well. I was a little culture shocked. I missed being able to go last year, so my views on BEA and Book Con is a tad outdated.

I personally feel the changes have taken away the excitement. Yes, there have been issues with bloggers in the past. Yes, I understand it's difficult to ascertain how helpful they will be influencing purchasing. I totally get that. I understand evolving to make it better, and not being fully sure how to go about it.

For me, it now goes beyond that. Having to delay the early registration? Annoyance. It happens, I get it. But there was no 'Hey! Sorry this is coming out later than we said it would.' I felt like BEA (again, hard habit to break) is becoming an afterthought to Bookcon. Not only is the push being to bloggers, I fear it is becoming a general push over all to bookcon.

I am a school librarian, and most of our books come from scholastic. I have pretty much ZERO funding. I go mostly to keep up with what is current, who is the hottest new authors for this age group, what should I know about, and where should I invest our limited funds. (I pay out of pocket to attend. I pay more to attend that we get annually in funds.) I know I am not what booksellers are looking for, to talk to. At past BEA's, I never felt less-than-wanted. I felt that publishers still talked to me, gave me recommendations and insight, and met several wonderful people. I'm now wondering if that is going to change. When I went to that first book con, I was shocked at how unapproachable many booths became. They were trying to sell books in lines for signings, not talk about what new series was in the works for middle school reluctant readers. As someone mentioned above, it felt like cattle. "Here, go here, pay here, heres your book, bye."

I haven't even heard much from publishers themselves, or even authors yet on who is attending. I am just feeling a tad bit let-down this year. That might change. It might wind up being the best when it all is said and done. But right now, I feel disappointed. If you like Bookcon and BookExpo on facebook, you will see there is A LOT more advertising going on for BC. They post more often, they post more info on authors who will be attending, etc. And if the shift is going to change, where authors attend mostly BookCon and not BEA, then I probably will no longer attend. BEA for me was the best of both worlds. I would not be able to afford to attend both. I would need to choose one or the other, and I'm not sure either would be worth it, for me.

So here's hoping it's just starting off rough. BEA was the highlight of year, and I really wish for it to stay, at least a little while longer.

I've gone to BEA for the last 3 years, and I thought I would always go as long as I was blogging. Welp, I thought wrong. I was so excited about it being back in New York because I LOVE NYC!! So much to do!! But...

Yeah, I won't be going this year. It's not even the money aspect (although $300 is absolutely ridiculous), it's the way they've made it completely obvious that they don't want bloggers there. I'm not paying $300 dollars to someone who acts like they're doing me a favor by letting me pay it. The application they want us to fill out is outrageous and obviously meant to dissuade people from bothering with it.

It's really sad because other industries embrace their bloggers and the book industry seems to think what we do isn't important. I get that it's a trade show, but bloggers in other industries are welcomed at their trade shows-- and there's a difference between wanting to limit the chaos and actively trying to make us feel unwelcome.

All I have to say is "Gretchen!! Stop trying to make BookCon happen, it's NOT going to happen" Okay, clearly it is happening, but I don't think they're ever going to get bloggers in large numbers to go to it. I didn't go the first year, but I walked down to Javits and was SICK to look at those crazy lines and mass hysteria. If anyone is on the fence about going to BookCon, my advice is PASS. 2 years ago, they made people line up in the basement for a John Green signing. It really did look like cattle lining up to the slaughter.

Also, me and every single other blogger that I'm friends with got denied for press passes. I'd love to know if they're approving any bloggers or if it's just "pay $300".