1) don't be afraid to call and ask for a manager and ask if they'd like you to do a book signing!
Here was my line on the first one "I'm a former Troy graduate and I wanted to do a book release party at your store"
Here's what I'm going to try on the next one "I'm a local author. I've already done one book signing in the area and it was very successful. I can deliver the books to you ahead of time if you'd like to set them up. My publishing company can invoice you afterward for the books that sell, and any more you would like to keep in the store. I have poster, flyers, and bookmarks prepared and I can drop them off ahead of time if you'd like. I would also love to do a reading of my book if you are interested."
2) YES do readings!! Here's why:
a) it increased my presence in the store and made it more like an "event"
b) recording the video gave me something to share the day of the signing
c) it brought people to my table
d) now that I have that footage I can add "readings" to author central, goodreads, youtube - and it sets those pages apart from books that just have trailers, in my honest opinion (so do it!: )
3) About the assistant - I'd say yes or no - it was great to have someone to take video and pictures but I think I may have been more approachable if I was at the table by myself. I had signs EVERYWHERE but people were still confused that it was a book signing - lots of people asked "what is this?" So if you want pics and videos maybe you could get someone to take it for you? It was nice to have the tripod there so the video wasn't shaky. My assistant was super helpful, especially because I was there all day. It might be helpful to have one for your first signing if you want to make more of an event of it, but I'm confident that I can do it on my own from now on.
4) YES YES YES have bookmarks, and here's why:
Many people passed by my table without even looking to see what it was (keep in mind I was there at homecoming and 90% of the costumers there that day were not there to buy books). I asked as many as many people as I could if they would like a signed bookmark. I'd say "Hi how are you? Would you like a signed bookmark? I am a local author doing a book signing here today" That would get about 90% of them to stop (and I signed a TON of bookmarks!) About 50% of those that stopped would then ask about my book, and I would tell them that it is a fantasy. I would ask if they read fantasy, and if they said yes then I would talk it up. (By the way, be prepared to tell what your book is about, that was the number one question I was asked!) About 10% of the people I told my book about actually then bought it. (And I'm proud of that number : )
5) give-a-way items can be so/so - I found they didn't attract people to my table (even the gift card give-a-way) but it did keep them for another minute if they were waiting for their bookmark. Personally I'll just be sticking with plain bookmarks in the future (by the way having a pretty pen to sign your bookmarks with is a plus - mine was a silver sharpie)
6) YES have a place for guests to sign a guest book (I just did four sheets with the event name and date on the top, then 3 columns Name, Hometown, and Email.) I have four pages of email addys - which I emailed this morning with a thank-you for attending, and links to where they can find me, leave a review on the book if they bought it, and where to watch footage of the signing on youtube.
7) Balloons, flyers, banners, posters, signs YES YES YES - and bring your own tape, scissors, ribbon - EVERYTHING so you don't have to ask the store for some. Also, ask the store if they have a table cloth. I wish I had brought a couple straight pins so I could have put the posters on the front of my table without having to tape them :)
8) Just a last bit of advice - and I know some of you won't want to hear this - but you can't go expecting a crowd of people to swamp you. At this point you are not a famous author. Most people coming to the store won't know ahead of time that you are having a signing - they are just coming to shop. YOU HAVE TO BE YOUR OWN SALESMAN. Talk to people, invite them to your table, be prepared to talk about your book. And don't feel bad if all they walk away with is a bookmark. If you were following my statistics, a small portion of the people I spoke to bought the book. That's why I'm very proud of the ones I did sell!
Best of luck and please ask me questions if you have some!!
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