Conference protocol...What to bring?

Have you read through the conference materials/website? Often registration includes a meeting with an agent or two. Sometimes, it costs extra.

There are whole books...well practically, on the art of the *elevator pitch.* That's the word(s) for what you're talking about. You should be able to explain your book in two minutes. Practice on family, friends, your cat...whoever will listen.

Agents do NOT expect to go home with your manuscript. Often, they are traveling by air, so it is terribly impractical. If they're interested, they'll tell you to send the first XX pages, or the manuscript, or the proposal or whatever it is they want.

My advice would be to just soak it all in. Remember that you will learn as much from your fellow attendees as you do from the professionals. Have business cards made up, not necessarily for the agents but for the other contacts you make. Go to learn, not just to sell. And above all, have fun. Writing is a lonely profession; being with other writers is priceless! ~Karen

The conference I attended was much how Lavina described. Have a blurb about your book ready--pretend a friend has just asked you what your book is about. If you can, have a few titles ready in your mind of what you could compare it to.

Also, have a few questions ready that you would like to ask the agent or editor--just general questions about the industry, advice, or something specific about this agent. You may as well use up all the time you're allotted, and sometimes the pitch goes very quickly. Use this as a chance to pick their brain a bit about trends, agent likes/dislikes, info on houses you think might be a good fit for you, etc. Agents never mind sharing, provided you stay in your time limit. Just something to think about. Have fun and good luck!

I went to a workshop, not a conference, the focus being on critique groups and time to revise, so the elevator pitch wasn't as big a deal. Most of us left the weekend aware we weren't ready to submit just yet! So I asked a LOT of questions, and listened to other people's conversations. You never know where the networking will take you.

Definitely work on the pitch. But DON'T bring pages. At all. Most editors/agents don't want them right there and then and not having them won't hurt you in the least.

Don't corner anyone in the ladies' room. Be friendly, but don't stalk anyone. And don't pitch something that isn't ready to go out in the mail when you get home.

Most of all, relax. If you need to write your pitch down, that's okay - most editors and agents don't fault you for it. I blanked out at an editor/agent pitch - so thank God for the notecards!

Smile! Even if you don't know anyone and it seems like everyone around you knows each other. A smile's a great ice-breaker!

Good luck!

I should also add that the BEA isn't really a conference for authors, as much as it is for agents, publishers and bookbuyers to do deals with each other. This isn't a conference where people give panel discussions on how to approach agents, and pitch sessions. This is an industry conference. Go for the experience, but don't expect to sell your work.

Jersey Chick said:

Don't corner anyone in the ladies' room. Be friendly, but don't stalk anyone. And don't pitch something that isn't ready to go out in the mail when you get home.

Smile! Even if you don't know anyone and it seems like everyone around you knows each other. A smile's a great ice-breaker!

Good luck!

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Such good advice! At the Big Sur workshop, I had a 20-minute one-on-one critique with an agent. Well, guess what. She liked my work, and only had a few suggestions to make. Very encouraging, yay me!

That took the first 5 minutes. So there I was, 15 more minutes to kill, and I couldn't spent it pitching because neither of my WIPS was anywhere ready to submit.

So we talked. About teaching, the market, query letters, how many books you have to sell to afford to live in Northern California....

If I'm lucky, I made a good impression. When I am ready to submit to her (by the end of June, if all goes well with the betas), maybe she will remember me as a friendly, intelligent non-stalker-type person she would enjoy working with.

Look for those kinds of opportunities. Network.