Last fall, BookExpo America formed its first-ever Conference Advisory Board and decided to increase the show’s focus on content and programming. “In the past, we had too many sessions that were all over the map and that were trying to be all things to all people,” says Courtney Muller, Group Vice President of BEA. In an attempt to create a “seamless package that promotes authors while delivering content,” the board decided to reduce the number of educational panels at this year’s show to 50, all targeted at specific communities: booksellers/retailers, librarians, publishers, and media.
“We also wanted to do something with consumers and young publishing professionals,” says Muller. Additionally, the board created three panels especially for consumers: Teens, Baby Boomers, and Book Club Facilitators. The panels will be led by board members Carol Fitzgerald of Bookreporter.com and Neil Strandberg of Tattered Cover.
BEA VP Lance Fensterman highlighted other new events and changes to expect at the show this year:
- The BEA New Media Zone, showcasing ebooks, podcasting, lit bloggers, and digital video.
- Author Stages on the show floor, with fifteen events planned. Along with Pat Conroy and John Irving, one of the featured authors will be Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, on his first trip back to New York City and standing “literally of hundreds of feet from where he settled his plane down so perfectly and safely in the Hudson River,” Fensterman notes. Along with author badges, there are new badge categories to “eliminate the less desirable attendees and better identify desirable attendees.” Are you a desirable attendee? Guess you’ll find out when you see your badge. . .
- A new Young Adult Buzz Forum on Friday, in addition to the Editor and Bookseller Buzz Forums on Thursday. ForeWord Magazine is also running an Indie Buzz panel.
- Perseus will kick off its book publishing project, a collaborative challenge inviting “book people everywhere” to help create, publish, and market a book in 32 hours. The project will take place on Friday and Saturday.
However, cost-cutting strategies will also be in effect:
- Fewer publishers on the floor. Macmillan, HoughtonMifflin Harcourt, Globe Pequot, Kensington, Rodale, DC Comics, National Geographic, Shambhala, Melville House, and Taschen won’t have booths, though Macmillan, HMH, and Rodale have meeting rooms. Random House has cut its space by over 50%.
- Fewer ARCs. “While the the move is being made to save costs this year,” says Fensterman, “it does open the door to electronic galleys, better tracking by exhibitors of who they spoke with at the show (thus following up with a paper ARC), and an emphasis on new strategies to engage attendees.”
