Another update.
Next week, I’m going to be Stand E19 at the Christian Resources Exhibition in Milton Keynes. These are the preparations I think I needed to make, and I believe they’re complete.
The exhibition organiser helped me get the art-work done for the half-page advertisement in the exhibition hand-book.
Accommodation for three nights, of course. Reservation number (and hotel address) written down. Rail tickets bought this week. I have downloaded and printed off a copy of my Exhibitor’s badge.
It’s only a small space, so it was easy to work out that I didn’t need much furnishing. I’ve booked one set of shelving to go on a side-wall. The exhibition organiser has been urging us not to let our staff sit down looking bored, and recommends “bar-stool” type seating. But the aggressive selling approach won’t work with books or with me, so I’ve hired a table to display books and to sit behind, and two chairs in case somebody wants to sit and chat.
Not owning a car, I went out and bought an “exhibition equipment” luggage case that I can take on the railways. Though I would not take it on the Cornishman in August. So “I packed my bag” (the title, just remembered, of a TV panel show from the Sixties), “and in it I put…”
Multiple copies of all three of my published books, viz “Prophets, Priests and Politics”, “Silence in Heaven” and “The Unseen Husband”. I’m not going to be set up to sell them on the spot, so my target has to be “brand recognition”, and I may end up giving away complimentary copies. I contacted a Christian bookstore among the exhibitors but haven’t persuaded them to stock the books.
The publishers of PPP sent me some posters, and I had posters of the same size printed for the other two, so those can go on the back wall. I need to check on setting-up day what kind of fixing won’t damage the stand wall, but I’m hoping that Blu-tak will do.
I am rather proud of the table-cloth I had printed off, displaying all three book-covers, large size, along the top of the table and again on the front overhang, against a white background. I will be displaying all three books on the plastic book-stands I bought online.
A number of plastic folders containing material I devised and printed off at home. Four sets of one-page leaflets, one for each book and one giving information about myself and probable future books, especially “Christ died for the Ungodly”. A couple of folders with more details about “Christ died for the Ungodly”, in case a publisher or literary agent turns up and takes an interest. A copy of the manuscript of “Moses for Christians”, which needs re-drafting, to give me a more professional-looking way of occupying my time during the slack periods.
The publishers of PPP supplied me with other marketing materials which can fill up the table, bookmarks and order forms and post-cards.
I’ve also packed a neat little notebook (with “Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust printed on the cover, part of the stock of stationary inherited from my mother), which can be used to record any contact details I might be given.
Plus, of course, extra clothing and toiletries for the hotel stay.
If there’s anything I’ve forgotten, then I will know for the next time.
Next week, I’m going to be Stand E19 at the Christian Resources Exhibition in Milton Keynes. These are the preparations I think I needed to make, and I believe they’re complete.
The exhibition organiser helped me get the art-work done for the half-page advertisement in the exhibition hand-book.
Accommodation for three nights, of course. Reservation number (and hotel address) written down. Rail tickets bought this week. I have downloaded and printed off a copy of my Exhibitor’s badge.
It’s only a small space, so it was easy to work out that I didn’t need much furnishing. I’ve booked one set of shelving to go on a side-wall. The exhibition organiser has been urging us not to let our staff sit down looking bored, and recommends “bar-stool” type seating. But the aggressive selling approach won’t work with books or with me, so I’ve hired a table to display books and to sit behind, and two chairs in case somebody wants to sit and chat.
Not owning a car, I went out and bought an “exhibition equipment” luggage case that I can take on the railways. Though I would not take it on the Cornishman in August. So “I packed my bag” (the title, just remembered, of a TV panel show from the Sixties), “and in it I put…”
Multiple copies of all three of my published books, viz “Prophets, Priests and Politics”, “Silence in Heaven” and “The Unseen Husband”. I’m not going to be set up to sell them on the spot, so my target has to be “brand recognition”, and I may end up giving away complimentary copies. I contacted a Christian bookstore among the exhibitors but haven’t persuaded them to stock the books.
The publishers of PPP sent me some posters, and I had posters of the same size printed for the other two, so those can go on the back wall. I need to check on setting-up day what kind of fixing won’t damage the stand wall, but I’m hoping that Blu-tak will do.
I am rather proud of the table-cloth I had printed off, displaying all three book-covers, large size, along the top of the table and again on the front overhang, against a white background. I will be displaying all three books on the plastic book-stands I bought online.
A number of plastic folders containing material I devised and printed off at home. Four sets of one-page leaflets, one for each book and one giving information about myself and probable future books, especially “Christ died for the Ungodly”. A couple of folders with more details about “Christ died for the Ungodly”, in case a publisher or literary agent turns up and takes an interest. A copy of the manuscript of “Moses for Christians”, which needs re-drafting, to give me a more professional-looking way of occupying my time during the slack periods.
The publishers of PPP supplied me with other marketing materials which can fill up the table, bookmarks and order forms and post-cards.
I’ve also packed a neat little notebook (with “Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust printed on the cover, part of the stock of stationary inherited from my mother), which can be used to record any contact details I might be given.
Plus, of course, extra clothing and toiletries for the hotel stay.
If there’s anything I’ve forgotten, then I will know for the next time.
