Attending the New Voices New Rooms conference can be overwhelming, especially if you are attending as the sole representative of your bookstore. The 2024 NVNR program has as many as four concurrent education tracks, multiple bus tours, and programming that goes from before breakfast to late-night receptions. The exhibit hall has been expanded to hold over 100 vendors, with rep picks and “genre buzz” discussions in the morning. Here are some tips to help you navigate the conference.
BEFORE THE SHOW
Join the NVNR Discord Community
Our online Discord community is a great place to talk with other attending booksellers, share ideas and photos, and get information about that session you missed. It’s also a year-round way to stay in touch with your bookseller friends!
Attend Orientation
NVNR Orientation is a great way to get your bearings, ask questions, and gather the information you need to make a strategic plan for the conference. Orientation is via Zoom, and will take place on Wednesday, July 10 at 1PM ET. You can register for orientation here.
There will also be an onsite orientation on Thursday morning, August 8. Make time to check the schedule before you arrive for the exact time and location.
Bookmark the NVNR App (Goes live June 1)
The NVNR app is your best navigation tool for the conference. It allows you to stay on top of last-minute schedule changes, review the schedule and session descriptions, view attending bookstores, authors, publishers, and vendors, and more. Make sure you visit the NVNR app website ahead of time on your phone and follow the instructions to add the app to your device.
Update Your Store’s Listing On Bookstore Row
Bookstore Row is NVNR’s online directory of bookstores on site at the conference. Your enhanced online listing contains all your store information, including contact information for key staff, your store’s press kit, and a photo gallery. New in 2024, you can also add your store’s focus/identity, and we’ll have a special gallery for store-created products, swag, and sidelines. Publishers review this listing, so make sure yours is updated.
Ask for a Mentor/Buddy
If this is your first time at NVNR or if you’d like an industry veteran to introduce you to vendors and other booksellers, you may request a mentor/buddy at the registration desk or from your regional ahead of time.
AT THE SHOW
What to Wear
We at NVNR respect everyone’s individuality! Come dressed as you would at your own store, and be comfortable. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes for walking and bringing layers, as hotel meeting rooms can sometimes be cold. If you’re continuing to be COVID-conscious, feel free to bring your own masks to wear. Some folks prefer to dress up for the evening receptions, but that is not required. If you’re attending a publisher dinner, please check with the rep who invited you and the restaurant on dress code requirements.
Come With a Purpose and Goals
Your goals should be specific things you can do to achieve your overall purpose. For example, if your purpose is to increase profitability, you may have goals to attend workshops on financial management or come with cash flow questions for your colleagues at the Owners Retreat. You may look for vendors on the exhibit floor with higher discounts and more potential for markups. If you stay focused on your purpose for attending the conference and are diligent in pursuing your goals, then what you bring back from NVNR will contribute to the success of your store.
Plan to Divide and Conquer
If you’re bringing staff to the conference, you should split up instead of attending all the same sessions in order to get the most out of your time. Share the load by giving each person their own goals based on their role at your store.
Wear Your Badge
Your badge is the indicator to staff that you have registered for the event. Please wear it at all times.
Review Your Plans Each Day
Take some time in the evening to review your plans for the next day so you have an idea of where to go in the morning.
Galleys Are For the Taking
If you see galleys at a reception or event, they are for you! Feel free to grab any galleys that catch your eye. And don’t forget to review the virtual studio, which is an online directory of all NVNR publisher and vendor partners, as you can place galley requests there too.
Attend Genre Buzz and Pick of the Lists
NVNR aims to introduce booksellers to a variety of publishers, large and small, and titles for the upcoming season. Don’t miss our Genre Buzz and Pick of the Lists sessions, where you can discover new titles to bring into your store.
Fill Out Session Evaluations
Booksellers are highly encouraged to fill out the session evaluations found in the session rooms and turn them into registration. These evaluations are important to inform NVNR’s programming decisions.
Pace Yourself
It’s important to pace yourself during the conference so you don’t burn out too quickly. Take breaks when you need them, visit our on-site quiet room, and take advantage of the amazing afternoon movie theater snacks!
Drink Water and Make Sure You Eat
Bring your own water bottle and take advantage of the water stations around the conference to stay hydrated. NVNR also provides snacks throughout the day along with meals, and you can bring your own snacks like granola bars or your favorite candy in case you get peckish during a session.
Attend the Receptions
NVNR holds receptions at the end of each day, and these are excellent opportunities to network with other booksellers, authors, and publishers. Don’t skip these!
Take Advantage of the Exhibitor Hall
You have an entire afternoon, from 12 to 5PM, to walk around, introduce yourself to publishers, find new vendors, and discover new titles. NVNR does not schedule education during this day to give you the most opportunity to meet with our vendors. Contact your regional Membership Coordinator ahead of time if you’d like to be paired with a buddy to help with introductions.
If Plans Change, Inform Us
If you pre-registered and/or paid separately for a conference event or session, made an appointment with a vendor or NVNR staff, or otherwise made an obligation you cannot keep, please inform the appropriate party you won’t be attending. For publisher dinners, please inform the rep who invited you as soon as you know you cannot attend. When in doubt, please inform the registration desk, who can help get the information to the correct person.
Have Fun!
If you have questions about navigating NVNR, check out our Booksellers page and our Navigating to NVNR article series.