BEA Restores 3 Day Format for 2011

I have to admit that I could not have hoped, planned or imagined for a better event this week than what has unfolded for BEA 2010.   The focus on quality over quantity delivered one fantastic event after another.  I ran up to our show office to peck out this post after Jon Stewart's wonderful opening of the Adult Author Breakfast - I had a hard time pulling my self away from Condoleezza Rice's inspiring talk on her book that is about her upbringing and her parents.  I am typing fast so I can get back to hear Mary Roach and John Grisham speak.

BEA this year was about change and making a good event great that served the publishing industry in a meaningful way.  Moving to mid-week was absolutely the right decision.  We also felt strongly that the 2 day format was the right thing to do because the value of BEA is in the audience we deliver.  We executed a strong plan that we knew would deliver that audience for BEA 2010 and that the quality would prove that was the right choice as well.  A lot of people genuinely like the 2 day format and it did work for them.  However - I have to acknowledge while people liked the 2 day format - a lot of people genuinely need 3 days to meet their objectives at BEA.  While our mantra has been quality of quantity - there is a reality of what people can  accomplish in 2 full days.  We will always do what will make BEA the best event possible for the people we serve. 

In the end while many people liked BEA as a 2 day show - more people need BEA to be a 3 day show.  We will remain mid week with the show days being Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday.  My plan right now is to keep the conference program on Monday because the impact of the conference this year running on Tuesday without competing with the show floor was tremendous.  There were great sessions that had overflowing audiences.  I look forward to getting the CEO Panel that was the Plenary session with the ABA and the Editor's Buzz Panel video posted later today. 

P.S.  Lance - you were missed and talked about often.

BEA opens with a bang!

The BEA conference opened along with the ABA Day of Education, IDPF Digitial Book 2010 program welcomed more than 700+ conferees and Library Journal & School Library Journal Day of Dialogue was packed with more than 500 librarians.  The CIROBE Remainders Pavilion is enjoyed brisk business with busy aisles all day.   Everything has been stellar across the board - starting with the opening plenary session on the Value of the Book.  Moderated by Jonathan Galassi the panelwill included: 

• Bob Miller, Group Publisher, Workman
• Esther Newberg, Executive Vice President, International Creative Management (ICM)
• Skip Prichard, Chief Executive Officer, Ingram
• David Shanks, Chief Executive Officer, Penguin Group (USA)
• Oren Teicher, Chief Executive Officer, American Booksellers Association (ABA)
• Scott Turow, Author, Incoming President, Authors Guild

It was a terrific conversation with 1,100 people watching throughout.   I look forward to the 7x20x21 panel in a bit, followed by the Editors Buzz and fittingly ending the day with Barbra Streisand's much anticipated appearance.  There are still seats available - but people have started to line up!!!

Day 1 at Javits

As the sound of forklifts fill the air here at Javits, I am eager for what I am confident will be a resoundingly successful BEA.  I recognize I am not the one who gets to be the judge of BEA's success - that will be for BEA's exhibitors and attendees who have invested their time and resources who make that evaluation. 

My expectation is that BEA's focus on quality over quantity, content over consumption and relevance over redundancy will have exhibitors and attendees sharing my enthusiasm for the transformation of BEA to match that of the industry BEA serves.

On my new quote - no apologies for the homage to Lost.  As far the finale goes I have to sit with it for few days before I get a better sense of my thoughts.  I know with the Sopranos - the more I thought about that ending the more brilliant I realized it was from my knee jerk reaction of - HUH???  The quote from Lost - I thought it was perfect for this week.

If I don't personally get to say Hi or Thank You for participating in BEA this week - please know I am grateful and humbled by the chance to lead this event.  There are so many wonderful and brilliant people in this inudustry (you know who you are) - it is a priviledge that I don't take lightly.  Also - to the wonderful team that makes BEA happen - with a smile - THANK YOU ALL.

BookExpo America 2010: A Pivotal Moment in Show History

Publishing Perspectives gave me the opportuity to submit an editorial for today previewing my expectations for BEA 2010.  I consistently enjoy their coverage and thank them for the platform. The link below will take you to that article.
   

Publishing Perspectives BEA Article

As people are readying themselves for 3 jammed days of BEA events - let me offer 3 tips that will make your time at BEA more comfortable and productive:

• Baby Powder/Talc - this is the most important thing I pack when I travel - particularly for my feet.  12-14 hours on your feet and walking miles of aisles, follow this and you will thank me at the end of every trade show you ever work again. 
• Make appointments.   Make appointments.  Make appointments.  Whether you are exhibiting or attending, trade shows provide the greatest concentration of people in an industry that are important to your business - make sure you see the 10 most important people to your interests, otherwise you are leaving your success to chance encounters. 
• Notes/Follow Up:  After any meeting, take a few short notes on what was promised by you or who you met with.  You will end up talking with hundreds of people over 3 days, don't let a great opportunity end up lost in a sea meetings. 

Make Plans to Attend the BEA 2010 Tweet Up Today!

Meet your book and publishing friends that you've only known with an "@" sign in front of them.  Come hang at the BEA 2010 Tweet Up!  It will be fun, funky and it is free.

Drinks, Food and DJs Dana Trombley (aka DJ danaSkully) + Russ Marshalek (aka DJ RussComm ) playing the fun party jams of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010  - 7:00pm - 10:00pm

Powerhouse Books  37 Main St Brooklyn, NY

BEA 2010 Tweet Up

Party Hosts:    #BEA10, #beatweetup, @katmeyer, @powerhousebooks, @bsandusky, @russmarshalek

Hashtag::  #BEA10, #beatweetup

Brace yourself for a packed day on Tuesday May 25th - plan well my friends!

BEA opens its doors in 2 very short weeks on what will be a very busy Tuesday May 25th with the Opening Plenary session from 8:30am – 10:00am.  Both the BEA and ABA conference tracks commence following the CEO Panel, a discussion on the “Value of a Book”.    The CIROBE Remainders Pavilion as well as the IRC and Exhibitor Meeting Rooms will also be open on Tuesday May 25th from 10:00-5:00.   The Library Journal/School Library Journal Day of Dialogue will be a packed program and the co-located IDPF Digital Book 2010 is on track to sell out.  I am sure that Tuesday evening will see loads of events throughout New York for booksellers and librarians with publishers and authors!


Here is the BEA slate that Tuesday morning - chock full of fantastic programming:

- TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010 -
conference	New Digital Technologies in Spain and EuropeTuesday, May 25, 2010 @ 9:00AM - 10:00AM Location: Room 1E17
conference	Bringing Your Authors to the Social Media Party...and Getting Them to StayTuesday, May 25, 2010 @ 9:30AM - 10:30AM Location: Room 1E02
conference	Building Online Reader Communities with an Eye on ROITuesday, May 25, 2010 @ 10:30AM - 11:30AM Location: Room 1E13
conference	Publishing in Spain: An OverviewTuesday, May 25, 2010 @ 10:30AM - 10:45AM Location: Room 1E17
conference	Spanish Children�s BooksTuesday, May 25, 2010 @ 10:45AM - 11:30AM Location: Room 1E17
conference	Copyright in MotionTuesday, May 25, 2010 @ 11:00AM - 12:00PM Location: Room 1E02
conference	Spanish FictionTuesday, May 25, 2010 @ 11:30AM - 12:15PM Location: Room 1E17
conference	When Gutenberg Meets ZuckerbergTuesday, May 25, 2010 @ 12:00PM - 1:00PM Location: Room 1E13
conference	Spanish Publishing: Distribution of Spanish Books in the USATuesday, May 25, 2010 @ 12:15PM - 1:00PM Location: Room 1E17
conference	"I'll Never Pay Over $9.99 For E-Books!" and Similar LiesTuesday, May 25, 2010 @ 12:30PM - 1:30PM Location: Room 1E02
conference	Mobile Apps: A Publisher Roadmap for Creation and UseTuesday, May 25, 2010 @ 1:30PM - 2:30PM Location: Room 1E13
conference	20 Simple Ways to Reach LatinosTuesday, May 25, 2010 @ 2:00PM - 3:00PM Location: Room 1B01
conference	Growing Up Digital: Kids and the eReading Experience - CANCELED!!Tuesday, May 25, 2010 @ 2:00PM - 3:00PM Location: 1E02
conference	Translations from Spanish into English: Overview, Potentials, and HurdlesTuesday, May 25, 2010 @ 2:00PM - 3:00PM Location: Room 1E17
conference	Selling Rights into Spanish Language MarketsTuesday, May 25, 2010 @ 3:00PM - 4:00PM Location: Room 1E17
conference	Leading Latino Authors Are Representative of a Vibrant MarketTuesday, May 25, 2010 @ 3:15PM - 4:15PM Location: Room 1B01
special event	BEA Editors BuzzTuesday, May 25, 2010 @ 4:30PM - 5:30PM Location: Room 1E13
special event	Opening Night Keynote: Barbra StreisandTuesday, May 25, 2010 @ 6:00PM - 7:00PM Location: Special Events Hall