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Dream Big: Six Tips for BEA Newbies

For some reason, when I think of newcomers to Book Expo America, I flash back to the end of Pretty Woman. Not that I’m a big fan — I don’t feel strongly one way or the other about Julia Roberts’ streetwise Cinderella — but the film’s last line sums up all the hopes and fears that can get shoehorned into the BEA experience.

So here goes, updated for relevance:

“Welcome to Book Expo America! What’s your dream? Everybody comes here; this is BEA, land of dreams. Some dreams come true, some don’t; but keep on dreaming.”

As an author, I know something about those dreams. After all, BEA is the big kahuna of American publishing — thousands of authors, editors, and publicity people under one gigantic roof for one event-packed weekend. These past few years BEA has taken place in New York City which, as the center for the publishing industry, spins more than a few dreams of its own.

So, as a book blogger, what do you hope to get out of this BEA dream? That’s one question I can’t answer for you — everyone has different expectations. But, as a long-time New York City resident and Book Expo attendee, I can offer you some tips for making your trip better and, well, dreamier.

1. Take the bus. The Javits Center is not “real” New York City. Before you panic, let me amend this to say, yes, it is in Manhattan. But the Javits is located all the way on the West Side, far from most attractions, hotels, shopping and restaurants (unless you happen to have a special fondness for the Hudson River). If you’re like most BEA attendees, you won’t have a chauffeur at your call. And crosstown distances in Manhattan are longer than you think — it’s a far longer walk to the Javits from the Eighth Avenue subway than you’d expect.

Fortunately, the M34 bus goes crosstown along 34th Street, which is the major street nearest the Javits. Take it. Which brings me to my next tip….

2. Save your feet. The floor on the Javits is very hard on the feet — must be all that  concrete. Thankfully, some publishers will spring for extra padding under their carpeting, but you can’t count on this. Plus the conference is spread out over several display floors that can seem larger than some European principalities.

In other words, bring the comfy shoes; save the Jimmy Choos.

3. The MTA is your friend. Yes, big city mass transit can be intimidating. Yes, you can take a cab. But the line for them outside the Javits is often long. Who wants to wait on line for an hour after being on your feet all day? Be prepared and do what the New Yorkers do: Take the A (or Q or B) train. Or the bus, for that matter. Especially during the day, you’ll ofte get to your destination faster.

Download maps and other information at: http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/

Have an iPhone? I like the KickMap app, which offers localized mass transit info.

4. Get automated. To take the subway or a bus, you’ll need a MetroCard. You can buy them at any subway station from a machine. These machines are easy to use and accept cash and cards (but no coins, please). Single tickets are $2.25. Buy in bulk — you get a 15% bonus on purchase of $8 or more. Plus you’ll save precious time.

5. Take advantage. Make no mistake, BEA is amazing — all those publishers, people and authors joined together in one big industry kumbaya love fest. This makes it all too easy to get trapped within the Javits Center universe. But, as a New York City resident, I would be tremendously sad if you didn’t take advantage of our fair city’s other offerings.

Here are a few suggestions for things to do, especially if you’re on a budget:

~ Like performances and shows? Get same day steeply discounted tickets at the Times Square TKTS booth (www.tdf.org), located at Broadway and 47th Street. Offerings generally include Broadway shows, dance performances, Off-Broadway and much more.

~ New York City is famous for its restaurants. If you’re yearning for the Michelin star experience, it’s usually much cheaper to enjoy lunch than dinner. You’ll get the same food, same environment, but a less anxiety-inducing check.

~ To get to know a city, here’s no substitute for café society. Avoid the Starbucks rut — some of New York’s best coffee houses are down town in the Village. Have a cappuccino at Café Dante or Café Reggio. While you’re in the area, check out the justly famous Strand Books where new books mingle with used, often at astonishing prices. Or take in an art house film at the Angelica or Film Forum.

6. Ultimately, BEA is about the people. There’s no substitute for meeting other publishing professionals face-to-face; for honing relationships through real-time conversation instead of e-mail or tweets. Keep your BEA dream in mind. Whether it be meeting authors, getting an advance peek at new books, or just getting an intoxicating dose of the publishing industry, it can all happen here.

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Kris Waldherr is the author of DOOMED QUEENS (Broadway Books/Doubleday) and numerous other books. She also runs a studio-gallery devoted to book arts in Brooklyn, NY. Learn more at KrisWaldherr.com.

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