About a month until BEA (the Book Expo of America aka HEAVEN ON EARTH for those of you who aren’t familiar). The autographing schedules are going up. Everyone is flailing about meeting each other. Those who aren’t going are stabbing their computer screen (or are laughing at the rest of us..who knows?). And some of you are sitting there going OMG THIS IS SO OVERWHELMING. HOW? WHAT? AM I GOING TO SURVIVE MY SURVIVE MY FIRST TIME??
You got this! And I’m here to help! Basically, if you have a BEA question please ask in the comments (or email me) and I will answer to the best of my abilities with my experience going into year 4 here! I didn’t want to do a series of tips posts because there are a lot of them out there but I just want to open myself up to any and all questions BEA related. Hit me with them…I’ll be honest! And I’m sure other veterans will jump in too! I already asked on social media and got some great questions so you might want to stalk that all here! Seriously, you can give me a huge laundry list of questions and I really don’t mind asking them so we can have a convo about it and maybe it will help others who are reading the comments?
So, yes, I will be attending again this year for the 4th time (CRAZY!) and I’m so excited. Please let me know if you are going in the comments because I would LOVE to meet you!! Last year I put together a crazy post about the Many Faces of Jamie so you can recognize me. Seriously…I put pictures like this of me on the internet.
I look like that still but I will probably be wearing my hair naturally curly this time around because in the past year I’ve gotten lazier. Easy hair is easy. Also, it helps me not to have to wake up so early especially at BEA because a night of cocktails + 5:30am alarm clock = ZOMBIE FACE JAMIE.
So if you see this head of hair coming at you…say hi! (If it’s before the doors actually open at BEA..approach slowly. I may be in a trance like state that looks like I’m awake but I’m not).
If you have no idea what I’m talking about, bloggers, here is the info for BEA. It’s a good time. SEE:
You get to nerd out with fellow bookworms and friends! And meet authors! And get books!
YEAH THAT IS FREAKING RL STINE. Only at BEA, friends, only at BEA can you meet your childhood IDOL. (Okay, that probably isn’t true but I’m just trying to persuade you into coming. Also, I hear Judy Blume is coming this year sooooo year 2 of Kid Jamie being veryy happy??)
If you are NOT a blogger, you are in luck! There is a book con day on Saturday, May 31st, that is open to all readers — not just industry professionals. SO if you are in the NYC area and are interested, check this out!
If you are interested in my write-up from last year to see what the experience was like, check here!
If you are a blogger and are so, so overwhelmed by the autographing list — Jenna made a REALLY awesome spreadsheet for all the YA authors that could be helpful!
Want a list of tips to start with? These ladies have compiled some BEA tips posts!
SO:
#1: If you are going to BEA, please leave a comment so I can know you will be there/so we can make sure we meet up or say hi or whatever! I might even hug you..don’t be scared!
#2: If you are veteran, leave the tip that you wish you would have heard before going to BEA! And just for funsies, you should tell me a fave BEA moment because I like getting even more excited about BEA!
#3: If you are a first timer (or anyone really) and have questions…ask away! Seriously, anything. A billion questions. Don’t feel bad. I’m asking for it.
Nadia @ Nadia Reads says
I would really love to go, but I live far far away… Have fun!
Jamie says
SADS. I would love to meet you!!
Bekka @ Pretty Deadly Reviews says
Yayyyyy I’m so excited to finally meet you!
Jamie says
FINALLY!!!! I am really amused still that we lived in the same area and finally “met” when you moved! Hope we get some good hangout time! 🙂
Jennifer @ Live to Read, Love to Read says
I’m a huge fan of your blog and would love to meet you while I’m there! Be warned there may be some serious fangirling going on!
Jamie says
EEEEE beware I might hug you! I seriously hope to meet you! Tweet me or message me or comment here or ANYTHING and let me know where you will be at points during the week so we can meet up! 🙂
Mel@thedailyprophecy says
I WANT TO GO SO BADLY. But this year it’s not a possibility 🙁 perhaps one day!
Jamie says
You have no idea how much I want to meet you so you have to make it happen eventually!!
Mary @ BookSwarm says
YAY!! I can’t believe it’s almost BEA time again! *happy dance* *Muppet flail* And I’ll be right there with you with the 5:30am zombie face. This is why God created caffeine in grande cups.
Jamie says
Zombie face for the win!! Haha. Can’t wait!!!
Cynthia says
Hi Jamie! First timer here, totally excited! My Q was this; there are TICKETED autograph sessions happening, and when I went to see how to get my hands on one (for the fabulous Maggie Stiefvater) I saw that they were SOLD OUT!!! Wha??? I am not a blogger and only attending the Saturday session, so what’s a girl to do? Are ticketed sessions new? Also….how do the freebies work?
I’m dragging my husband along (our very first time in New York!) and hoping to meet you, love your blog! Thanks for doing this btw 😉
Jamie says
Is it the readers pass you were looking at that is sold out? Because I know another way you can get tickets is by getting to BEA super early that day to line up for tickets. I haven’t done it but I had friends there at like 6am. So I’m curious if it was the readers pass or can you link me to where it says Maggie is specifically sold out just so I can better help? I know those tickets that are given out there are based on who gets there first. Get that hubby’s butt up early! The ticketed signings aren’t new. I always have one I want to go to but I never can get my butt up that early! Can’t wait to meet you!!
Cynthia says
It was a round-about way on the BEA website, but under the Show/Author >Authors and Autographing>Autographs, it states that you may need tickets for certain authors and to look at the Readers Pass Programs to purchase. That’s stamped with a big ol= SOLD OUT (in red no less, so you don’t misunderstand!) But I did see after checking out a few more tabs, that you could so the 6AM line thing and OMG, the dread! I don’t know if I could do that. So not a morning person. I do love Maggie though…
http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/Show-Info/Authors-and-Books/#page=page-3
Andi says
This post is great! And I LOVE the faces of Jamie. HA. As you know I’m going and it is my first time. I was super overwhelmed with all the author listed yesterday so that spreadsheet is heavenly. THANK YOU Jenna! Can’t wait to meet you.
Jamie says
Yes!! That spreadsheet is so very helpful bc it’s overwhelming to go through everything! I still have to wade through it to see which adult authors will be there but at least I can quickly have an idea of the YA and prioritize! I cannot waaaaait to meet you and then you can see the many faces of Jamie 😉
Sandra @ Sandra's World of Books says
Living in Europe, it makes it pretty hard to go travel all the way to the USA for this awesome event. I’m looking forward to reading the re-caps and all though!
Jamie says
They need an event like this in Europe! I’ve had friends from Europe come to it but it was a big trip for sure!
S.Huston says
Gaahhh! I’m sooo jealous! Unfortunately the midwest is a loong way away from NY, I would love to be able to go to BEA. 🙁 Hope you have a geat time!!
Jamie says
I think in a year or two they are having it in Chicago? I thought I read that! Then I will be crying bc it’s not a train ride away from me anymore haha
Nicole Hewitt says
Yes, it’s going to be in Chicago in 2016. Is it sad that I’m already excited about that fact? I’ll be heading to NY this year, though, and I can’t wait!!
Cassie Conant says
I’m so excited that I get to go this year! We’ve met before, but I would definitely like to hang out again! 🙂 I’m a little worried that I don’t really know any other book bloggers. I’ve only met a few through April. Is it hard to find people to hang out with if you are going into it without many friends? I’m nervous!
Jamie says
I’m so happy you are going!! Everyone I met was super nice! I think sometimes it can be hard not knowing many people but if you recognize a blogger and say hi and say who you are mostly everyone is friendly and you will find yourself chatting! For you it will be nice because lots of people know April and know GBGW! I would make a post about how you are going and include a pic of your face! As silly as my faces post is from last year I can’t tell you how many people came up to me bc they recognized me from the post! It will be a good way to find out who that you interact with on GBGW is going! You are going to have so much fuuuun!!
Cassie Conant says
Okay I have another question for you! 🙂 Do you think the author breakfasts are worth the extra money? Are the round tables that much better than theatre seating? Are you going to any of them this year? Thanks!
Miss Print says
I will be there!
Tip: You always end up with more books than you think–bring a tote, take totes from the booths, drop some kind of luggage in the shipping area for frequent drops.
Moment: Meeting Elizabeth Wein after being friends with her on Twitter!!!
Jamie says
Can’t wait to meet you!! And I totallyyyy agree with that tip. Books get heavy fast. Paying that two bucks or whatever it was to drop my books off was well worth it!
Brandyn says
I can’t go this year (I live far away and have a wedding to attend), but I started saving so I can definitely go next year. I may have to hide from the internet those day to avoid dying of jealousy.
Jamie says
Yay for next year!! Two years ago I had to leave early bc I couldn’t get all the days off because my wedding was in August of that year and I totally had to take an Internet break so I didn’t cry lol. Have you signed up to do Armchair BEA? Lots of fun, good prizes from pubs and way to meet people who also aren’t going!
Cassi says
Thank you so much for the tips Jamie! I am going to BEA for the first time this year. I am so excited to meet you and some other bloggers going. I saw the list for autographing and it sort of freaked me out a little bit. I know it’s key to get in line early for signings but how early are we talking? If you want to go to an 11AM signing is it essential that you get in line at 9AM right when you get in?
Jamie says
I hope to meet you!! The autographing schedule is sooo overwhelming even as a veteran haha. So much on there!! So for some of them (all depends on the popularity of the author or the buzz if it is a debut) the line really will start forming 2 hours before. I typically to anywhere from 45 min to 2 hours before depending on the line/who it is/how high they are on my priority list. The lines aren’t so bad bc typically you will see other bloggers and can chat with them! The first year I went back in 2011 the lines weren’t nearly as long…I’m guess they will still be crazy like last year but we shall see. I personally thought maybe more people waited in line bc there weren’t as many books being dropped at booths but that was just a guess. Let me know if you have any other q’s!
Cassi says
I have a million questions! Kidding… kind of! Thanks for offering to answer them. This is very helpful!
I’m definitely going to have to prioritize. So many happening around the same time and if lines start 45 minutes beforehand it seems hard to go from one to another. How many signings would you say you do in a day? Is it closer to ten or closer to five? Is it normal to go from one to the next throughout the entire day or would it be more worthwhile to choose a few key ones and go to more panels and galley drops?
Jamie says
Oh also…if you have a buddy you can text/tweet sometimes you can have someone tell you what the line looks like. Like I had a friend text me and say heyyy I’m near this line and it’s already starting so get your butt over here!
Amy M. says
It’s so kind of you to volunteer to answer questions! I don’t have any questions at the moment, but I’ll be sure to keep you in mind if I come up with any. This will be my first time at BEA. I’m super excited! 🙂
Jamie says
Yes definitely! I get emails for all comments so even if it is a week or 2 from know…ask away!
Ashley says
Hopefully I’ll see you there again this year! 😀
Jamie says
Yes I hope so!! I want to hear all about things going on with you bc I feel like I am behind. Are you and coding god engaged or married or something?? And you had stuff going on with staying in the country? So we need to catch up!!
Anya says
I’m going, first time! 😀 I’ll only be able to make Thursday and Friday since I’m compromising with the boy, but I’m pumped. I think the thing I’m most confused about still is this whole idea of a schedule, but Jenna’s post looks helpful, so thanks for linking that!!
Jamie says
Oh yay!! In so happy you are coming… We need to meet!! Honesty Thursday and Friday are the better days. I am ever rarely there for the full day Saturday…last day is always kind of light. Though there has been more going on with power readers/book con so we shall see! But honestly if I had to miss a day it would be Saturday always ! Do you have specific concerns or questions with the schedule? Basically your day is going to be this: walking around and going to the various booths and talking to pubs/getting galleys when they have drops ( they will have their drop schedule available there). Then there is an area for signings where they will give you a copy when you get to the front is the line. That area is where lines form pretty early and you really have to prioritize bc sometime lines are long and will cut into other things. So make a schedule filled with all the authors you would ideally like to meet but know which ones are your top and that you cannot miss! Sometimes there are also in booth signings but we typically don’t see those until closer to I think. Those are a pain. They cause such a jam in the middle of the booths haha. Buuuut that’s how I got Fangirl last year so it was worth it 😉
Alex @ Life in the Pages says
So sad that I cannot make it to the actual BEA, but I will be doing ArmchairBEA…so hopefully that’ll be fun! Someday I will make it to the actual conference! 🙂
Jamie says
Yes armchair BEA has really evolved to be a fun event for those who can’t go! Good prizes, good way to meet people and fun things going on!
Rachel says
I can’t make it either, and I’m super jealous (live in the UK, would need to save and plan like crazy!), but what is ArmchairBEA????
Jamie says
Here’s the link! http://www.armchairbea.com/2014/04/armchair-bea-2014-registration-is-open.html?m=1 it’s basically a free online concurrent event with daily chats and giveaways and challenges and stuff! I’ve never participated bc I am always at BEA but all my friends who did it said they had a good time and it helped distract from all the BEA envy they had!
Jenna says
Thank you for sharing the author list, Jamie! I SWEAR – When I see you in person, be prepared for squealing and hugging and flailing and book shimmies of glee! This year is going to be fabulous!!!
Jamie says
It’s a very helpful list !! And OMG I know!! Expect a tackle hug!!!
Brittany @ The Book Addict's Guide says
Yayyyyyyy Jamie we must spend more time together this year, capice? (Is that how you spell it? I think? kah-peesh, just in case – And I should have just deleted the word 5 minutes ago instead of wondering and being a weirdo BUT this is way more fun)
Ummmm *goes and deletes sad little Facebook post about BEA questions* hahaha. I literally just put this up but you are a VET, man. You have way more knowledge than I do! And sorry for the insanely weird timing that I just posted that and then literally saw this post five minutes later!! I am so far behind on checking blog posts BUT I did see this on Twitter and of course had to comment!
I’m just excited to tell you that I’m going and I’m pumped and I can’t wait to say hello again! 😀 Hope to see you around at the conference and maybe even a few other events too! Can’t wait!!
Jamie says
You have no idea…we better spend lots of quality time together this year !! I was happy to meet you guys but def want to prioritize some hang out time!! And don’t delete it!! There may be people who don’t follow me that have questions or people who didn’t see my post/FB may be easier for them! Plus I think everyone has different tips and experiences so it is good to hear it all!
CeCe says
I’ll be there this year! Can’t wait to see that gorgeous face of yours!
Jamie says
I am so excited to meet you!! BEA = perpetual bags under my eyes but I will try to make this face of mine look less scary 😉
Jenn @ Lost in a Great Book says
Yay! So happy your shining face will be there again – a smaller Toronto group this year as one is getting married later in June, and another is heading on vacation (how dare they! ha!) but Jen & I will be there again. Looking forward to sharing the Canadian love with you (and once again trying to convince you and Will to move north … ahem) 🙂
As for a tip … everyone mentions the comfy shoes thing, but honestly: COMFY SHOES. Seriously. The Javitt’s is a cement block. Come prepared.
Jamie says
YAY happy to see you again!! Whaaaaat?! They aren’t as hardcore as I thought they were 😛 JUST KIDDING. I had to only come for a couple days the year I got married so I understand and obvi I am WAY closer to NYC than you guys! Can’t wait to see my favorite Canadians!! 🙂
That tip is SO true. It’s the most common but the truest of true. Though I am the person that year after year still picks cuteness over comfort. And oh do I pay but I still do it every time hahah.
Sarah Clare says
You met R L Stine? Geeeee! That’s so cool!
Why is the UK so not down with this type of thing? I know there’s a great push for a YA con at the London Film and Comic con this year which is great.. but kinda looks a little pale in comparison.
London book fair too.. but it’s less YAY EPIC more.. ‘whas goin on?’
Anyway! I look forward to reading about your adventures there!
Jamie says
I was SO excited to meet RL Stine. He was just standing there at the Macmillan booth and one of the girls I know that works there introduced me to him and I was like OH EM GEE. And he’s all “Call me Bob”. I couldn’t even handle it.
You UK bloggers need to start something like this!! Demand it!! I really wish you all could just be teleported here!!
Heather Anne says
Going for the first time and sooooo excited and overwhelmed and excited to meet so many authors and bloggers and I am rambling because I am just so excited!!!!
Jamie says
EEEE. I can’t wait to tackle hug you!! 🙂
Sash from Sash and Em says
Yeees! I can’t wait to see you again!! 🙂
Jamie says
I KNOW!! Please more hang out time this time around? I feel like I barely saw you!!
Kimmy says
I’ll be going to BEA this year for the first time!! I’m super excited but also worried about being overwhelmed! How do you keep yourself organized?
Jamie says
YAY I’m so happy you will be there! 🙂
You will be overwhelmed while you plan right now (I was a hot mess) and when you initially walk in but you get the hang of everything quickly + you really find yourself adapting to whatever the day throws at you. It’s good to plan but honestly? Half your plans go out the window! And that’s okay!
At this point I don’t plan too much because I never get to do all the things I want but I still do make a general game plan of what I want to do/accomplish. So think on what is important for you to accomplish…do you want to get a lot of the galleys you want? Do you want to meet authors? Do you want to network? Do a little of all of that?
So my first piece of advice for staying organized?
PRIORITIZE. In everything. You will not get to everything. Sometimes lines get really long and you miss things. Sometimes time gets away from you. So the most important thing to do is pick those once in a lifetime, OMG I CANNOT MISS this things (fave authors, authors you’ve never met and probably won’t get a chance to, books you HAVE to have) and know that those are your MUSTS.
What I did was use the BEA planner online to get everything I was even remotely interested in and then I went through and prioritized and put all the autographing times in order for each day. I put it in my phone and I hand wrote it on a piece a paper (because your phone WILL die). But then there’s the galley drops..some scheduled and some not. We don’t get that schedule until later so you kind of just have to cobble that together in your schedule. That’s the best time to have you and a blogger friend split up or do you a favor…if you are in a line and there is a galley drop (if the pubs are fine with them taking two because you are in line…which most of them are if it’s only 2 and one isn’t shoving or anything like that lol).
So that’s the gist of how I stay organized. But the best tip is…be okay with changing things around. As long as you prioritize what is important to you and what you would be devastated if you missed..you will walk away feeling good. It sucks to not get an ARC you want at a drop but I always figure that a) tons of bloggers are there getting that ARC and you KNOW someone will share and b) I can always buy it as much as I might be cranky about not snagging it. Sometimes for me it is WORTH waiting in line for an author and a book but other times, as much as I WANT the book, I might not really be OMG I HAVE TO MEET THAT AUTHOR..so I become okay if I have to opt out of that for something else.
Let me know if you are curious about any other sort of the organization process! Or anything else!
Kimmy says
Thank you!! I really appreciate the info! I can’t believe it’s only a month away!
Jamie says
ME EITHER. This month will FLY by too. Suddenly you will be like CRAP omg it’s next weeeek!!
Kaina says
AHHHH!! Just reading posts on BEA gets me all excited. This is actually my first time going! And you don’t know how much I appreciate these types of posts, anything that will calm down my nerves xD I even have a countdown on my phone and everything 😀
Jamie says
I remember feeling like that my first year!! It’s so exciting and scary all at the same time. Let me know if you have any questions…even if it’s like the day before! Always available to answer on Twitter too!
Rachel says
So my favorite BEA moment was in 2009, Dawn Metcalf dragged me to meet some woman she was squealing over …some editor whose name I didn’t recognize. The three of us stood around while I looked at this woman confused and after about 10 minutes, politely said it was nice to meet her and see Dawn and walked away. Later, I googled the editor’s name and it turned out SHE’D EDITED HARRY POTTER IN AMERICA. O_O Sooo pretty much that was a fail. But still, I met one of the HP American editors. Always a fun story to tell 😛
Jamie says
OMG THAT IS CRAZY! hahah
Jen says
This will be my 2nd year attending BEA! I have two pieces of advice and one super awkward (and funny) experience to share.
Advice #1: Decide ahead of time who you CAN NOT GO HOME WITHOUT MEETING and get in their line early. Really early. The Autographing Area is Crazytown and many people start lines before the official lines even start. *I’m looking at you Hannah from the Irish Banana.* 😉
Advice #2: Make nice with the people around you whether it’s in a line, at the Starbucks kiosk in the Javitz, or a NYC rooftop, because you never know who you might be talking to. I had a lovely conversation with a lady at a rooftop party about hair– my pink and her blue. It wasn’t until someone snapped a picture, tweeted it and my phone blew up that I discovered it was Holly Black. (Good going, Jen. You meet a famous author, don’t recognize her even though you’re at a bookish party, and you talk about hair. HAIR.)
Awkward: I waited in line to meet James Dashner for an hour. I loved the Maze Runner trilogy and to this day, Minho still tops my list of favorite sidekick characters. My intention when I finally made it to the booth was to tell James I loved Minho. That isn’t what happened…
Publicist: Okay, you can go up now. *hands my book to Jame Dashner (JD) with post-it note on it*
JD: Hi, Jen.
Me: I love you. (Wait. I did NOT just say that out loud to a total stranger.)
JD: *pen hovers over title page*
Me: And that is not what I meant to say at all. What I meant to say was, I love your books. I love Minho, but not you. Not—that you aren’t worthy of love or anything and ohmygod I’m going to stop talking now.
Publicist: *wide eyed* Um…
JD: *SMILES* I’m really glad you stopped by today, Jen. This was fun.
Me: Thanks for signing my book?
Random Guy to My Left: *laughing* That was the best thing I have ever seen!
Me: Awesome, I’m just going to go die of embarrassment now.
BEA is such a good time and I hope that everyone who goes this year has a blast!
Jamie says
Excellent advice that I often give people as well!! You have to have your HIGH PRIORITY authors that you will do anything for and make sure you do what it takes to get in that line!
SO TRUE. You really do never know who you will end up chatting with! This past ALA one of my book club buddies ended up talking to Gayle Forman’s former editor and she had NO idea and I was like OMG YOU WERE TALKING TO HER. DO YOU KNOW WHO THAT IS?? haha.
Still dying at your story. STILL. lolol
Rachael says
I am a first timer! I’m actually coming up by myself from Canada, I have no idea what to expect but i’m super excited (and so incredibly nervous!).
Jamie says
How exciting!! Let me know if you have any q’s! even if it’s like the day before! What area of Canada are you from? Are you plugged in with any of the Canadian bloggers? I know a bunch all come together!
Rachael says
I definitely will, thank you so much! and i’m from Edmonton, Alberta. I don’t actually know any Canadian bloggers, i’m not a blogger myself I just work in the book industry so it’s really amazing that you are so willing to answer questions! Definitely makes me feel like it won’t be so scary 😛
Rachael says
Oh! Thought of a question! I see for author signings it says Table 4, or 13 or whatever but is this on the same floor as the publishers booths or is it elsewhere? I’m trying my best to get my bearings so I don’t run around like a chicken with it’s head cut off!
Jamie says
Ah gotcha! I don’t know why I assumed you were a blogger *headdesk*
Yes it’s all on the same floor! It’s like all the way in the back of the big room from the doors that you enter. I tried to study that damn layout map forever my first year and it did NOT help at all when you get in there and go all bug eyed from how big it is. The good thing is you get oriented pretty quickly..by your first day really. And also the bigger pubs have REALLY BIG SIGNS above where they are so they are like landmarks really.
Rachael says
hahah it’s okay, I probably would have assumed the same thing!
Oh good! That sounds easy enough 🙂
Also, do you know of anyone who is staying at Barnard college? I quickly reserved it since it was cheap and now am regretting it since the shuttle apparently doesn’t go there and was hoping to find people to share a cab with!
Meghann says
I’ll be there as a rookie BEA goer/blogger, yay! I don’t really have any questions but I am hoping to connect with other people so I don’t become a BEA zombie-lurker :/
Jamie says
YAY hope to see you there! Do you follow Hannah at the Irish Banana? She created a list of bloggers who are going to BEA on her Twitter! Could be nice to see who else is going? And honestly my advice: If you recognize someone from their name tag…say hi esp if you talk to them/read their blog! I have only ever encountered a couple of rude bloggers who were not super friendly..everyone else is happy to chat especially if you are in line together!
Wendy @ Book Scents says
I will be a first timer!! Ummm. I will tweet you when I think of questions – i obviously already asked you a lot yesterday so THANK YOU. Just looking at the floor map of Javits has me SO confused so I’m sure I’m going to be lost wandering in htere! haha. I’m so excited though!!! Of course since I’m kind of OCD about planning, it just makes me cringe a little that the drops schedules come out day of, hahha! I’m SO excited to meet people and really hope I meet you!!!
Jamie says
Ask away when they come up!! Even when we are there!
Honestly…I tried to study that damn floor plan SOOO much before the first time I went and it did not help. You walk in there and you are like WTF omg soooo big. The good thing is that most of the BIG pubs have big banners up high so you can be walking and you can see where Penguin is or Harper so that helps to be able to find landmarks. And for smaller booths you can be like “oh yeah..this one was near harper” and then just wander to find it. After your first day you will pretty much know where EVERYTHING is like the back of your hand. Take a few minutes to get the lay of the land! And when it doubt ASK!
The drop schedules! I hate not knowing either! Honestly the first year I went Idk even KNOW if they had drop schedules. The books were just kind of there/you got lucky that you walked by/someone tweets or texts to telll you they are out. I remember I happened to walk by the Scholastic booth right when it opened up and there was a huge stack of Scorpio Races out! I was like HOLY GOOD FIND.
I cannot wait to hang out with you!!
Tiff @ Mostly YA Lit says
So glad you decided to go – I can’t wait to meet you, Jamie! =)
I’m not staying that close by – I wish I was, but staying with friends to save money. But I’ve learned my lesson about eARCs, so I’m hoping that I will be able to restrain myself with the ARCs there…
My question is…how do you get invited to these parties that publishers throw?
Jamie says
YAY finally we shall meet!!
And good plan..my first year I took WAYYYY too many and I felt major guilt bc I never read half of them. Take the ones you KNOW you want. It’s hard though haha but everyone has to learn. Last year I think I brought 20 books home?? and some of those were from parties honestly. I was a good girl last year haha. Took things I know probably wouldn’t be sent to me or things that I HAD to have above all else.
The parties! Honestly it’s about who you know…like if you have contacts..if you work with them a lot…if they know you/know you are going. If you have contacts you work with just shoot them an email and say “hey I’m going…will you be around during BEA?” and that could illicit an invite…or it could not. But at least they know you are going and then you could meet them and further build your relationship. The parties are great but they are such a double edged sword in ways: 1) People’s feelings always get hurt/people get left out. This is why I actually am super hush hush about invites I get because I would never want to make anyone feel bad because in an ideal world EVERYONE WOULD GET INVITED! haha and 2) I got invited to a couple parties my first year and it was fun because we had a good blend of free nights and more structured nights with parties. Last year to be honest? (and I have never said this outloud except to Anna because I don’t want it to sound ungrateful/whiny because that is NOT the case) but I had WAY more scheduled party things and that was so much fun but honestly? I missed some of the random hang out times with friends..some of the crazy nights we had just doing what we wanted. SO they are fun but I promise you will have fun no matter what you do!
Tiff @ Mostly YA Lit says
Yeah, I guess I should contact publishers about them…I’m so shy about it, though. And it’s hard because I’m in Canada so I usually work with Canadian arms of publishing houses…
If I make it to one or two parties, I’ll be happy – I still want to go see a musical and hang out with people! =)
Braiden @ Book Probe says
This Aussie is going and it’d be great to put a tangible face to a name (rather, blog)!
Jamie says
Awesome! And that will be a fun trip for you!! I hope to meet you! That is one of the best parts…putting faces to blogs! I mean, we see pictures and MAYBE videos but it’s just so different to see people IRL. SO FUN!
Ashley Mullins says
Jamie,
I did ArmchairBEA last year, will be doing it again this May but 2015 I will be NYC.
My 1st question is: IS there a site for people looking for roommates for this? I read about it somewhere but cant find it again
2nd question: Do you give out business cards? I got a great deal 500 for $12 just want to make sure they werent a waste
3rd question: How hard is signing up for a Press Pass?
4th question: How do you get invited to the parties (BEA @ NIght)
5th Question: How much would you say it costs to go to BEA? like shipping books, train (plane), food, etc.
6th Question: How did you create your schedule?
7th question: How did you dress professionally? (I`m wearing my cowboy boots-comfy shoes-and see people post about dressing nice)
8th Question: Will you be there in 2015?????
Thank you for opening to questions.
Ashley
@Bookz4Nerdz
Jamie says
1. I have never seen a site for people looking for a website! Most people find others they know are going or people will tweet out and others will RT. I’ve seen lots of “we didn’t know each other before but Twitter brought us together to be roomies” stories! 🙂 You could even put a post on our blog saying HEY I am planning on going…anyone need a roomie! I’m curious to know if you figure out what that site is!
2. I do give out business cards! I think I did it way more than when I first started blogging and going to BEA than I do now but I still make sure I have them because you never know who you will meet! I always recommend having them! I will say that 500 is WAY more than you will ever need. I bought a shit ton of them and then never used half of them! I would cut that in half unless you plan on going to more things to hand them out + send out a lot of packages to people and slip them in there (unless the deal for less is NOT good). I found that I got bored of my business cards easily so I don’t like ordering as many haha but if you plan on using them for like forever…go with the 500 😛 I also recommend, when you go to BEA, always slipping a few in your badge that you will get for easy access so you don’t have to dig in your bag.
3. It’s not hard to sign up for a press pass! Like the process of it. you just need to provide your numbers and show that you post consistently and have decent follower numbers. I think typically you need to be blogging longer than a year. And it’s always good to show them coverage of other events you’ve done so show you will do a write up of it. So if you’ve ever gone to an event or ALA or something…they ask you to link to your “work” and so I linked to my past BEA posts, an ALA recap and just a post that was popular or something.
4. PARTIES! The illusive parties! Pretty much it all depends on who you know and what contacts you have. Obviously I’ve been doing this for a while so I have a lot of contacts at a lot of different places but they tend to invite bloggers they work with/know are coming with. Sometimes it’s so random though honestly haha.
5. Ooh cost. I’m the worst person to ask for this hahah. #1 because I DON’T keep track/do a budget really and also #2 because each time has been so random. Like the first year I went I probably spent way more money but last year I was pretty damn cheap ( I don’t think I bought dinner once because I just survived on party food like those little hot dogs haha and I brought a huge bag of homemade trail mix and a granola bar for breakfast/lunch and I didn’t get as many books so shipping was less and I stayed in Times Square so my transport costs were less). Hotel probably will be between 300-500 depending on your situation. I live in Philly so my train only costs me like 40 both ways. Food, it all depends on what you have going on. It CAN get expensive. That first year we ate at Chipotle like EVERY day/night so it was pretty cheap and then splurged on a few meals. And like I said, last year I brought my own stuff so I didn’t have to live on expensive Javits food (plus with all the adrenaline I don’t get too hungry haha) but the first year I bought stuff. Shipping books..DO NOT SHIP FROM THE JAVITS. It’s crazy prices. They jack them up so bad. The first year I probs spent like 70 on shipping because I had a lot. Last year I think I shipped to boxes media mail bc I didn’t take as much? So it all depends. Some people had issues with media mail and not getting their packages but I’ve never had probs. There is a post office a couple blocks away and we always opt to lug our stuff there.
6. Like how I operate with my blog, I am NOT a planner. I’m a very go with the flow kind of person BUT I do prioritize. I can give you tips for what helped my first time though bc that’s the only year I super super planned. Before you plan, just know that you can’t do everything even if it LOOKS like it works out on your schedule. Be okay with that. What I did is went through all the autographing schedules and then prioritized. What ones could i NOT miss (if they conflicted..could I share with a friend or have them grab me one?)? Those will be the foundation of your schedule. And then fill in your next set of REALLY WOULD LIKE TO DO. Try fo those. If you find yourself with time for the “would ideally like to/am interested in” then YAY but if not at least you got to the ones you REALLY wanted. I put it on my phone (my schedule) but also kept a piece of paper tucked in my badge for easy access and a code I made up so I could look at a glance. Like author last name, time, and booth #. You don’t get the in booth signing stuff until later so you will have to juggle your schedule based on that closer to.
7. HA I didn’t dress professionally. Some people totally do! But I just wear what I normally wear in my real life if I’m going somewhere…a cute dress because I always wear dresses in the summer or like black skinny jeans and a nice top with maybe a blazer or maybe not). I have a friend who wears business casual and she looks nice but I just would prefer to wear what I want so your plan sounds good!
8. As long as I’m still doing this in 2015 YES! And provided any huge life changes happening (like getting pregnant or moving far away or buying a house).
Jamie says
1. I have never seen a site for people looking for a website! Most people find others they know are going or people will tweet out and others will RT. I’ve seen lots of “we didn’t know each other before but Twitter brought us together to be roomies” stories! 🙂 You could even put a post on our blog saying HEY I am planning on going…anyone need a roomie! I’m curious to know if you figure out what that site is!
2. I do give out business cards! I think I did it way more than when I first started blogging and going to BEA than I do now but I still make sure I have them because you never know who you will meet! I always recommend having them! I will say that 500 is WAY more than you will ever need. I bought a shit ton of them and then never used half of them! I would cut that in half unless you plan on going to more things to hand them out + send out a lot of packages to people and slip them in there (unless the deal for less is NOT good). I found that I got bored of my business cards easily so I don’t like ordering as many haha but if you plan on using them for like forever…go with the 500 😛 I also recommend, when you go to BEA, always slipping a few in your badge that you will get for easy access so you don’t have to dig in your bag.
3. It’s not hard to sign up for a press pass! Like the process of it. you just need to provide your numbers and show that you post consistently and have decent follower numbers. I think typically you need to be blogging longer than a year. And it’s always good to show them coverage of other events you’ve done so show you will do a write up of it. So if you’ve ever gone to an event or ALA or something…they ask you to link to your “work” and so I linked to my past BEA posts, an ALA recap and just a post that was popular or something.
4. PARTIES! The illusive parties! Pretty much it all depends on who you know and what contacts you have. Obviously I’ve been doing this for a while so I have a lot of contacts at a lot of different places but they tend to invite bloggers they work with/know are coming with. Sometimes it’s so random though honestly haha.
5. Ooh cost. I’m the worst person to ask for this hahah. #1 because I DON’T keep track/do a budget really and also #2 because each time has been so random. Like the first year I went I probably spent way more money but last year I was pretty damn cheap ( I don’t think I bought dinner once because I just survived on party food like those little hot dogs haha and I brought a huge bag of homemade trail mix and a granola bar for breakfast/lunch and I didn’t get as many books so shipping was less and I stayed in Times Square so my transport costs were less). Hotel probably will be between 300-500 depending on your situation. I live in Philly so my train only costs me like 40 both ways. Food, it all depends on what you have going on. It CAN get expensive. That first year we ate at Chipotle like EVERY day/night so it was pretty cheap and then splurged on a few meals. And like I said, last year I brought my own stuff so I didn’t have to live on expensive Javits food (plus with all the adrenaline I don’t get too hungry haha) but the first year I bought stuff. Shipping books..DO NOT SHIP FROM THE JAVITS. It’s crazy prices. They jack them up so bad. The first year I probs spent like 70 on shipping because I had a lot. Last year I think I shipped to boxes media mail bc I didn’t take as much? So it all depends. Some people had issues with media mail and not getting their packages but I’ve never had probs. There is a post office a couple blocks away and we always opt to lug our stuff there.
6. Like how I operate with my blog, I am NOT a planner. I’m a very go with the flow kind of person BUT I do prioritize. I can give you tips for what helped my first time though bc that’s the only year I super super planned. Before you plan, just know that you can’t do everything even if it LOOKS like it works out on your schedule. Be okay with that. What I did is went through all the autographing schedules and then prioritized. What ones could i NOT miss (if they conflicted..could I share with a friend or have them grab me one?)? Those will be the foundation of your schedule. And then fill in your next set of REALLY WOULD LIKE TO DO. Try fo those. If you find yourself with time for the “would ideally like to/am interested in” then YAY but if not at least you got to the ones you REALLY wanted. I put it on my phone (my schedule) but also kept a piece of paper tucked in my badge for easy access and a code I made up so I could look at a glance. Like author last name, time, and booth #. You don’t get the in booth signing stuff until later so you will have to juggle your schedule based on that closer to.
7. HA I didn’t dress professionally. Some people totally do! But I just wear what I normally wear in my real life if I’m going somewhere…a cute dress because I always wear dresses in the summer or like black skinny jeans and a nice top with maybe a blazer or maybe not). I have a friend who wears business casual and she looks nice but I just would prefer to wear what I want so your plan sounds good!
8. As long as I’m still doing this in 2015 YES! And provided any huge life changes happening (like getting pregnant or moving far away or buying a house).
Adele says
I am coming to BEA for the first time after experiencing it vicariously for so many years. While free books sounds great, I admit to being more excited to meet people I have ‘known’ from blogging for many years.
Thanks for all the advice!
Michelle (Pink Polka Dot Book Blog) says
I’m going for the first time!! Hope to see you there! Thanks so much for giving everyone the opportunity to give advice to people like me who have no idea what we’re in for 🙂
Jamie says
Ummm I better get to meet you!!!!
Brianna says
Going for the second time but this year I will be way more prepared!
Lisa @ Lost in Literature says
Ahhh!! I’m so sad that I won’t be going again this year. And I live in CT too – total bummer since I’m so close to NY!! My co-blogger and I had planned to go this year, but then I got ill at the end of last year and it really set us back, both financially as well as with available time off from work, etc. So we are going to plan for next year. It’s sill so upsetting though… we’ve never gone, and we both want to so badly!!!
I hope you have a fantastic time!! Hopefully we’ll see you next year! 🙂
Jessica @ The Midnight Bookworm says
CANNOT WAIT FOR BEA!!!! This will be my second (non-consecutive) year. I went in 2012 and loved it. I couldn’t swing it last summer because I had a new job, but this year (and all other future years), I’m ALL over this thing. Meeting new people was definitely the best part about BEA. I actually went with my parents last time, met a million people, and am staying with a group of the girls I met there when I went (my parents are glad they don’t have to come along with me to schlep books around since that’s all they were there for). We should definitely meet up or say hi at least 🙂
Tip for newbies: Be prepared for OVERWHELMING amounts of people & more importantly: SO MANY BOOKS.
Karina @ Watcha Reading says
I’ve never been to BEA but I went to ALA Midwinter this year and I had loads of fun!! I will be going to BEA in 2016 since I live in Chicago and I don’t have to waste money on shipping books or a hotel. And I’m trying to plan BEA early and do my research since I’m not really familiar with it. And I know that because I was overwhelmed with ALA, BEA will be much worse lol.
1. How different is BEA from ALA?
2. Are the tickets for ticketed authors free? And how early should I get there?
3. Do they hand out schedules for galley drops because in ALA they didn’t do that?
4. If the lines for autographing authors are too long, how do you know where it stars?
5. Do the autographing lines get jumbled up or crowded?
6. Is BookCon the same day as BEA? Also if you buy a ticket to BEA, are you allowed to also attend BookCon?
7. What is BEA Bloggers Conference?