Starting Wednesday, May 29 and going through Saturday, June 1, Book Expo America is the nation's largest celebration of books and reading. If you choose to have a booth, attend conference sessions, or simply walk the show floor at Javits to take in the enormity and diversity of our industry, here are some tips to help you make the most of BEA.
- The least-crowded rest rooms are downstairs, off the show floor; you may have to walk to avoid lines, but the resulting peace and quiet might be worth it.
- The food court is busiest from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Some visitors - particularly those who are starting up their own businesses - find it economical to bring a water bottle and fill it from water fountains rather than purchasing beverages on site - trade shows are dehydrating.
- Make sure to take the business card of whoever you talk with - but before following up with them on email, give them a few days after BEA to catch their breath. Attendees at BEA absorb a lot of information and make a lot of new contacts; they need some time to digest, and catch up work they missed by being out of the office.
- Pace yourself. The Javits Center is huge. There are not many places to sit down.
- Simply going into a booth and sitting at a table, unless you have some business to conduct with the vendor whose booth it is, is frowned upon - the tables inside the booths are reserved for meetings scheduled by the vendor.
- There is a power outlet behind the vending machines outside the food court.
- Don't forget the Digital Zone - lots of tools and partners to help you with creation and distribution of ebooks.
Bowker will be at booth DZ 2156. Stop by! We'll be happy to chat with you.