Another disappointment

I restricted event participation this year to local events, which proved to be a smart decision on my part. Of the four events I attended, the latest was on December 15 in my hometown, Springfield. To be perfectly candid, it didn't go well. Most of the 16 participating authors sold nothing.

I have no complaints with regard to the venue: that was satisfactory as far as accommodations go. Event planners can't control the weather, so the day's cold, dreary drizzle likely put the kibosh on any desire people may have had to attend. Higher Ground Books & Media were well-organized, so no gripes on that score. The timing--two weekends before Christmas--was good and should have inspired attendance, so I can't chew on sour grapes for a scheduling conflict.

Therefore, what do I have to complain about?

Truly, I have no complaints, just confirmation of my opinion that it's best to hold an event such as this where people already like to gather. A conference room tucked away in a hotel ain't that.

If you read this blog, then you'll know we're already gearing up for the Winter Book Fair in February. We have five registrations remaining, due to one cancellation. (She's moving to Florida in early February.)  The Winter Book Fair has some pros and cons for participating vendors to consider:

1. Popular venue. Our location at Mother Stewart's Brewing Company is a place where people like to gather. It's family-friendly, so it has that going for it, too.
2. Inclement weather. February in Ohio generally means bitter cold, snow, and even ice. That makes travel treacherous and deters people from going out. Cross your fingers and hope that Mother Nature smiles upon us to grant us a mild weekend clear of nasty winter weather.
3. No date conflict. The event date is set after the Super Bowl (no conflict there) and before Valentine's Day. We hope to generate some business from people looking for unique gifts for their sweethearts. The date, however, falls on a Sunday, which could be problematic. This falls under both the pro and con sides of the argument.
4. Limited parking. Let's face it, the parking lot at Mother Stewart's is small. There is, however, available parking nearby, both on Columbia and Center Streets.
5. Extended hours. Lots of people work on Sunday, such as retail salespersons, healthcare workers, and law enforcement. Both Mother Stewart's and the event open to the public at 12:00 PM on Sunday and the event will extend into the dinner hour (7:00 PM). It's a long day, but we hope to take advantage of those folks who stop at the brewery before heading off to supper. Hey, maybe we'll get lucky and get to enjoy some live music.

I think the pros outweigh the cons, especially considering the value authors get for their registration fees.

​Maybe we'll grow to the size where the brewery can no longer accommodate us. If that happens, we'll need to make a decision as to which is in participating authors' best interest and, perhaps, consider piggybacking on the crowd-drawing attraction of another event. I know of two organizations that already do that: Basement Health Association holds an annual membership meeting and workshop in conjunction with the World of Concrete in Las Vegas, NV, and the North American Power Sweepers Association holds their annual convention in conjunction with the National Pavement Expo. It works well for them.

Higher Grounds Books & Media is considering holding their third annual author fair in conjunction with another group, perhaps at a craft fair or some such type of event: preferably at a venue that draws a good crowd. I'll wait to see the promotional material before deciding whether to give it another try.

FYI to those who regularly read this blog: I will be on vacation--and unplugged--from December 22 through January 1. Go ahead and send me an email message or post a comment, just don't expect a response until after New Year's Day.

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