At the Rochester Spotlight on the Arts show, I saw something I’d never seen before: Authors, sitting in a booth with their books stacked in front of them on a table. There was a 
Michigan mystery writer, a young adult writer, and a children’s writer.
Children’s author, Dana Lehman had a large, professionally printed banner hanging behind her: “Award Winning Children’s Author,” stacks of her three books in front of her on the table, and a big smile on her face. She also had large, full color postcards with photos and descriptions of each of her books. She told me she does about six arts/crafts shows a year, and said it pays off in sales as well as bookings, where she gives presentations in elementary schools. I found that impressive, because the entry fee for Spotlights is pricey, around $300, and I’m not sure if they provide artists with the actual booth (it rained in the afternoon), which would be another expense. I bought a book for my granddaughter, something I hadn’t planned on doing!
The mystery writer, who had three novels, had a large banner in his booth advertising him as a Michigan Author. He sat on a stool behind the table, which made him seem more accessible and, at the same time, “authoritarian.” We chatted a bit, and then he asked me, “May I tell you about my latest book?” which he followed with his pitch. I liked that approach. His hook was good, but not enough to compel me to buy a copy (not a fan of mystery).
People were crowded around the young adult author’s booth, so I didn’t get a chance to talk to him.
I can see how this approach would be a good way to market yourself, maybe even better than doing book signings at bookstores. Craft show people are more apt to stop and chat, since they typically plan on spending a few hours browsing anyway, and they’re often shopping for gifts as well as for themselves. What do you think? Have you ever seen an author in a similar venue?
Interesting post! We have a huge arts & crafts fair in my town over Labor Day weekend. It’s a juried show, so not one you can just buy booth space in. However, I was chatting with one of the artists that I’d met last year & was telling him about my book deal. His girlfriend spoke up and said she thought it would be a great idea to have a table at art fairs. She said she had seen them at other fairs and they did garner a lot of attention. I am about to put this on my list of possible venues after my book is released. Of course, I would need to team up with a bookstore to do the actual selling of the book. Hmmm…. have to figure out how to work it all out! Thanks for the post!
I’d definitely consider it! This show was juried, too. Congratulations on having a book soon-to-be-released! Let me know how it goes. Best of luck to you.