Mountains & Plains Booksellers Association
Trade show meets Thurs., Sept. 16—Sun., Sept. 19, at the Marriott Denver Tech Center, Denver, Colo.
You will see something new at this year's show—a focus on doing "real" business during the three-and-half days of educational programming and exhibits. Gone are the daytime author readings and signings on Saturday and Sunday, including the after-breakfast slot. Instead, formal autographing sessions are planned on Friday and Saturday nights at the author receptions, and pre-signed books are available for each ticket holder at designated tables at the breakfasts. Booksellers are encouraged to plan ahead—review show specials, bring backlist orders, place additional orders at the show. Take up the challenge, and make the show work for you!
Registration starts on Wednesday (2—5 p.m., convention lobby), and continues throughout the show. Avoid the rush, pick up your badge and program early. Be ready to participate fully in the all-day, free seminars, panels and workshops slated for Thursday and Friday. on the action starts Thursday morning at 9 a.m., when colleagues share marketing ideas in hour-long roundtable discussions hosted by MPBA board members. Catch the spirit, then move on to the meeting next door, where reps and booksellers talk about the "care and feeding" of their unique relationship—the goal is to better their working methods via the MPBA winter catalogue. This session runs from 10:30—11:30 a.m. At noon, fetch some lunch from the deli café and head for the author chat room. Sandra Dallas, author of The Chili Queen, is there along with a handful of other regional writers. To guarantee a seat, please pre-register. After lunch, Carolyn Harrington of Great Horned Owl Bookstore holds a class on school and library sales. Between sessions, grab a bottle of water, can of soda or cup of coffee, compliments of Pearl Street Publishing. Energized? Time for QBQ! The Question Behind the Question, Practicing Personal Accountability in Business and in Life—that's the name of the book by motivational speaker John G. Miller, and the subject of his seminar.
Remember your personal mantra—make the show work for you! Leslie Ryan of Off the Beaten Path explains how in a late-afternoon workshop aimed at rookie booksellers, with colleagues sharing tips and techniques. At day's end, 5 p.m., booksellers and authors gather for drinks and casual conversation at a popular Denver watering hole.
Exhibitors' set-up runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. Doors to the hall open at 7:30 a.m. for a breakfast of coffee and croissants. Food, murder and mayhem blend when Diane Mott Davidson, creator of the culinary sleuth Goldy Schulz (Double Shot), steps up to the podium for a bit of miss-chef. At 9:30 a.m., ABA's Avin Domnitz offers his own double dose of reality in a two-hour seminar for bookstore owners, managers and marketing personnel.
Sandwiches, salads and reps' "picks of the lists" are on the lunch menu. Reps will chat about books in the MPBA winter catalogue. Soda, coffee and cookies available, compliments of Johnson Books. Another lunch special: representatives from Baker & Taylor will be around to pitch the profitability and advantages of including DVDs and music in the bookstore product mix. After lunch, Domnitz returns with the results of the 2003 ABACUS Study, giving seminar participants his own version of the 2% Solution and "roadmap to success." The seminar runs from 1:45 to 3:45 p.m. The general membership meeting is in the Aspen Amphitheater, 4—5 p.m. Members' ideas and opinions are encouraged. Friday evening's author reception gets underway at 5 p.m. More than 20 authors will be present to sign their new books. There's lots of food and a cash bar.
Saturday morning's 7:30 a.m. Author Breakfast for Literacy features authors Francisco Goldman (The Divine Husband), Esmeralda Santiago (The Turkish Lover), Jeff Shaara (To the Last Man), and Jim Wooten (We Are All the Same). "Civilians" are welcome to purchase tickets for the Saturday and Sunday breakfasts, even though both events will go unadvertised this year. You can support MPBA's literacy programs by reserving a seat today. Exhibit halls open at 9:30 a.m., with staggered closings for lunch: Columbine Center Exhibit Hall (12 noon—1 p.m.), Evergreen Ballroom Exhibit Hall (1—2 p.m.). No educational programming. No autographing sessions. No distractions. Go straight to the show floor and do business. For lunch, inexpensive take-out is available in the atrium area from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Doors close at 5 p.m. The Saturday Night Author Reception is sponsored by Baker & Taylor. Eat, drink and—well, you know! Evening highlights include the presentation of the Gordon Saull Bookseller of the Year and Sales Rep of the Year Awards, followed by author autographings.
Sunday is an "abridged" day, with only four short hours to wrap up business. Time for breakfast? You bet—with award-winners D.B. Johnson (Henry Works) and Mark Teague (Detective LaRue, Letters from the Investigation). Exhibit halls open at 9 a.m.—1 p.m.
A postscript: Paz & Associates will present "Opening a Bookstore: The Business Essentials" from September 13 through September 19 in Denver. This week-long intensive workshop is co-sponsored by the ABA and is intended for those with a bookstore in their future. Not to be missed.
Contact:Lisa D. Knudsen, 19 Old Town Square, Ste. 238, Ft. Collins, Colo. 80524; (800) 752-0249 or (970) 484-5856;info@mountainsplains.org; www.mountainsplains.org.
