I spent almost the entire weekend at the Seattle Conference center, which was abuzz with ALA-related activity. I've had narrow experience with industry conferences and this was the first I've been to that's aimed at libraries. I have nothing but good things to say about the slew of events and sessions and I was truly, truly impressed by the quantity and quality of vendors on the exhibition floor.
I guess comparing ALA to SES is like apples and oranges, especially because I've only been to one of each-- but from my limited observations, I have to give mad props to the library folks for putting on a good show. ALA midwinter is eye-poppingly huge and I was repeatedly told by other vendors and attendees that the annual summer conference is much, much bigger. At SES San Jose, which is supposedly the most vibrant SES show, the agenda was full but the exhibition hall surprisingly lacking. I did hear commentary to confirm that it was abnormal AND the show is a heckuva lot "younger," but it wasn't nearly as impressive.
I'm partially geeked because I had an amazing time. It wasn't party-party-party-- the only truly "social" event I attended was my company's reception on Friday and then I was playing hostess-- but it was crazy in other, more subtle ways. First, I had no idea I'd see so many publishers there... from big names like Random House and Penguin, to small local presses like Sasquatch. There was even a small section of one of the floors dedicated to comic presses desperately trying to get libraries interested in passing on their goods to patrons. Dark Horse, Viz Media, and DC Comics had booths, as well as several smaller niche presses with whom I wasn't familiar. Then, in the middle of it all, was Terry Moore, author and artist of my favorite graphic novel growing up, Strangers in Paradise!
I started reading SiP at the tender age of 12 (yeah, the content was a bit mature) when my best friend Lesley and I swiped it from her dad. I'd just found several old comics and graphic novel installments of it in boxes from my parents' house. And on Sunday there was Terry, drawing a panel! I looked like such a fangirl, wringing my hands with glee. He signed all my books, including the full set I bought from him (what can I say? 50% off is a good incentive!) and even drew me a little doodle, which is gorgeous, in the inside cover of book one. I haven't read the series for years, and now I have five of what will be six total books. I've got catching up to do. What a totally unexpected treat!
So, as I said, Friday was the reception at our company's office. Saturday morning we hosted a breakfast at the Hotel Monaco... prior to which I rose at 5:30 AM and spent half an hour waiting for a bus that never came. Then I worked at the booth for a couple hours before going home to crash. Seriously, what a draining week. Work stress, personal drama, hormonal... stuff, etc. I passed out for five hours straight and then went to bed at 1 AM not to get up 'till 10 the next morning.
Justin and ran a refreshed 10-miler for marathon training and maintained a pace consistent to what we've been setting down: 1:41 for him and 1:43 for me. If I can keep this up (again, that's a big *IF*) I'll PR by about an hour. But in the more likely event that I've got to slow down, relax, and take a breather, I still expect to PR by about half an hour. Exciting!
Both Justin and my mom joined me at ALA on Sunday. I managed to procure Justin an exhibits-only pass, and my mom works in a Bellevue library, so she was there on business. We walked around a bit and ogled some people's setups (like ProQuest's 2-story booth with a barista bar serving free coffee on top). Librarians are apparently more excited about collecting swag than the average exhibition-goer, because we saw people wandering about dragging SACKS and rolling carts FULL of it. Thankfully, though, most booths refrained from giving out truly useless things like T-shirts and stuck to goodies that librarians find useful... lots and lots and lots of pens.
The best part of the exhibition for those in search of books is the publisher booths because they sell books at 50%+ off. Then on Monday many of them discount the prices even further or simply give them away. Before we were scheduled to work at the booth, Jeff and I visited several book vendors and got some teen-lit and manga for my younger sister, a few free pre-released copies of chick-lit for me (which will probably make me laugh, gag, or both), a kickass cookbook, and an ARMLOAD of graphic novels from DC Comics.
I'd poked around the DC booth with Justin when he was on the floor, but they were neither selling nor giving out their stock. The girl at the booth seemed somewhat surly about it but told me to come back on Monday and she'd be giving out one to each who asked. When we did come back on Monday, surly girl had been replaced by another booth babe who was happy to give us over $150 in books for free in exchange for a few of our logo'ed umbrellas. Holy crap, Batman! I swear, all I wanted was Kingdom Come for Justin, but she kept laying them on me. I guess they decided they didn't want to take any boxes back to New York after all. Whoo!
All in all, it was most excellent. I met a ton of people from a diversity of companies, including several higher-ups at competitors. Jeff graciously introduced me to many folks he knew. I think that our reception, breakfast, and booth were really well received. What I hope most of all is that the new collateral (product catalogs and brochures) we've spent the last few weeks and all our energy designing is really as exciting as people say it is.
Now that the conference is over, work has taken on a much more relaxed pace, as I suppose it will remain for the next few days. Then it's onward and upward... getting ready for the next conference, the next RFP, whatever. Hurray for working life. >_<
Posted on January 23, 2007 @ 4:07 PM | 2 comments
I guess comparing ALA to SES is like apples and oranges, especially because I've only been to one of each-- but from my limited observations, I have to give mad props to the library folks for putting on a good show. ALA midwinter is eye-poppingly huge and I was repeatedly told by other vendors and attendees that the annual summer conference is much, much bigger. At SES San Jose, which is supposedly the most vibrant SES show, the agenda was full but the exhibition hall surprisingly lacking. I did hear commentary to confirm that it was abnormal AND the show is a heckuva lot "younger," but it wasn't nearly as impressive.
I'm partially geeked because I had an amazing time. It wasn't party-party-party-- the only truly "social" event I attended was my company's reception on Friday and then I was playing hostess-- but it was crazy in other, more subtle ways. First, I had no idea I'd see so many publishers there... from big names like Random House and Penguin, to small local presses like Sasquatch. There was even a small section of one of the floors dedicated to comic presses desperately trying to get libraries interested in passing on their goods to patrons. Dark Horse, Viz Media, and DC Comics had booths, as well as several smaller niche presses with whom I wasn't familiar. Then, in the middle of it all, was Terry Moore, author and artist of my favorite graphic novel growing up, Strangers in Paradise!
I started reading SiP at the tender age of 12 (yeah, the content was a bit mature) when my best friend Lesley and I swiped it from her dad. I'd just found several old comics and graphic novel installments of it in boxes from my parents' house. And on Sunday there was Terry, drawing a panel! I looked like such a fangirl, wringing my hands with glee. He signed all my books, including the full set I bought from him (what can I say? 50% off is a good incentive!) and even drew me a little doodle, which is gorgeous, in the inside cover of book one. I haven't read the series for years, and now I have five of what will be six total books. I've got catching up to do. What a totally unexpected treat!
So, as I said, Friday was the reception at our company's office. Saturday morning we hosted a breakfast at the Hotel Monaco... prior to which I rose at 5:30 AM and spent half an hour waiting for a bus that never came. Then I worked at the booth for a couple hours before going home to crash. Seriously, what a draining week. Work stress, personal drama, hormonal... stuff, etc. I passed out for five hours straight and then went to bed at 1 AM not to get up 'till 10 the next morning.
Justin and ran a refreshed 10-miler for marathon training and maintained a pace consistent to what we've been setting down: 1:41 for him and 1:43 for me. If I can keep this up (again, that's a big *IF*) I'll PR by about an hour. But in the more likely event that I've got to slow down, relax, and take a breather, I still expect to PR by about half an hour. Exciting!
Both Justin and my mom joined me at ALA on Sunday. I managed to procure Justin an exhibits-only pass, and my mom works in a Bellevue library, so she was there on business. We walked around a bit and ogled some people's setups (like ProQuest's 2-story booth with a barista bar serving free coffee on top). Librarians are apparently more excited about collecting swag than the average exhibition-goer, because we saw people wandering about dragging SACKS and rolling carts FULL of it. Thankfully, though, most booths refrained from giving out truly useless things like T-shirts and stuck to goodies that librarians find useful... lots and lots and lots of pens.
The best part of the exhibition for those in search of books is the publisher booths because they sell books at 50%+ off. Then on Monday many of them discount the prices even further or simply give them away. Before we were scheduled to work at the booth, Jeff and I visited several book vendors and got some teen-lit and manga for my younger sister, a few free pre-released copies of chick-lit for me (which will probably make me laugh, gag, or both), a kickass cookbook, and an ARMLOAD of graphic novels from DC Comics.
I'd poked around the DC booth with Justin when he was on the floor, but they were neither selling nor giving out their stock. The girl at the booth seemed somewhat surly about it but told me to come back on Monday and she'd be giving out one to each who asked. When we did come back on Monday, surly girl had been replaced by another booth babe who was happy to give us over $150 in books for free in exchange for a few of our logo'ed umbrellas. Holy crap, Batman! I swear, all I wanted was Kingdom Come for Justin, but she kept laying them on me. I guess they decided they didn't want to take any boxes back to New York after all. Whoo!
All in all, it was most excellent. I met a ton of people from a diversity of companies, including several higher-ups at competitors. Jeff graciously introduced me to many folks he knew. I think that our reception, breakfast, and booth were really well received. What I hope most of all is that the new collateral (product catalogs and brochures) we've spent the last few weeks and all our energy designing is really as exciting as people say it is.
Now that the conference is over, work has taken on a much more relaxed pace, as I suppose it will remain for the next few days. Then it's onward and upward... getting ready for the next conference, the next RFP, whatever. Hurray for working life. >_<
Posted on January 23, 2007 @ 4:07 PM | 2 comments
Comments:
Count me VERY JEALOUS of your free comix. Sounds like a great conference!
By 
inkandpen, at
7:47 AM, January 24, 2007
Yay books and conferences!
By 
Rachel, at
6:04 PM, January 24, 2007
