This is part one of three posts that i will dedicate to the signing-beginners and socially introverted bookwyms :)

PART ONE: How to Attend your First Book Signing
PART TWO: How To Camp During Book Signings
PART THREE: Who You'll Meet During Book Signings

So, there's a book signing that's gonna happen a month or two from now, your favorite author's gonna be there, your friends, you wanna go, but you don't quite know what to do. You don't know what to bring or when to go there. You've never attended a book signing before but judging from what your friends say, they're full of friends and fun and interactive.

Book signings are incredibly enjoyable events to meet people, where you can hang out with your friends and other bookwyrms who share a common passion or fandom as you, and not to mention that you'll be able to see, hug, talk to, get your books signed and take a picture with your favorite authors! :D

I could make another post about how to cosplay, but I'll just give that over to more experience cosplayers. If you want to learn how to cosplay during signings, check out This Is Not Your Blog's post about it.


Firstly, determine when it's going to be held and where:

Photo from: National Book Store Facebook page

This is a basic thing to plan when you're going on a book signing: figuring out if it's gonna be on a weekend or a weekday. If you have classes on the day of the signing, maybe you can work around it, maybe it's gonna happen in the afternoon, and you only have classes in the morning. Most book signings have registrations that start at around 11 Am, which is when the malls start to open. Most of the basic information needed can be found on pamphlets such as this one, a book signing by Kiera Cass this coming September:

And if he/she/they will be having multiple signings in your country, and if two or more of those dates and locations are near to you, determine which one is the nearest and most convenient to you in terms of location and of your schedule.

I highly advise you to study the signing posters most intently, or carry a copy with you when you go (Most book signing pamphlets come with the book/s the author/s will be signing on the back)

And then there's the location. If it's far from where you live, I suggest leaving your house a full hour or more, to make allowances for instances of heavy traffic or in the event that you get lost (Like i did, lol). If the bookstore that'll be hosting the said signing/s is unfamiliar with you, it's best to research ahead of time and look for a map or guide online concerning the location.

But getting there early is key, your goal is to be in the top 7 in the line. When I attended Stephanie Perkins's signing, I decided to camp there a full day before the event. But I got late by about 20 minutes and I became number 4, which is the story of How I Almost Made It Into the Top 3 ('Cuz usually the first three people get special stuff from the author, like an ARC to their next book). But the top 7 got ARCs of Isla and the Happily Ever After anyway, so there's that :D


Secondly, buy or ready the book/s she/he/they'll be signing:
So, now you know where and when the signing's going to take place, perfect! Now you need to buy the book/s and pack your bags for the event.

Most book signings are hosted by NBS or Powerbooks, seldom do they have one by FullyBooked. In the FAQ of NBS determining book signings, you must only bring books bought either by NBS or Powerbooks respectively. But I found that that isn't true, they don't check whether I bought it in a different store or not.
Usually, whenever a book signing is confirmed, the Facebook page of that signing releases an event page that gives you the necessary information regarding said signing (For Kiera Cass's, here's the link). Also, in those event pages, they post the prices of the books, so it's best to consult the event page first before buying the books, to plan how much your wallet will suffer!

For example:
The Selection (Hardcover – P625)
The Selection (Trade Paperback – P349)
The Elite (Hardcover – P625)
The Elite (Trade Paperback – P349)
The One (Hardcover – P649)
The One (Trade Paperback – P359)
The Heir (available on May 5)
The Selection Boxed Set (ISBN: 9780062318909 – P699)
The Selection Stories: The Prince & The Guard (Trade Paperback – P325)

As I've said before, most of the newer stocks of the books after the book signing is announced will have a pamphlet with information regarding the signing's location, time, and what book they'll be signing. I suggest saving up before the event, or if it's even possible, try to save up in general.


Thirdly, what to bring:
So now you know where to go, when to go, and what books to bring or buy. Next comes the preparatory stage.

As a rule, I carry the following items to most book signings. This is my Top 15 things to bring in a book signing:

1.) Signing books (Need I say more?)

2.) Mirror (To check if you're fit to take a picture with the author/s. Or when your vanity strikes you)

3.) Fan (Because it might get all Dante's Inferno there while waiting for the mall to open)

4.) Hygienic products (You don't want to smell terrible when meeting your favorite author, do you?)

5.) Cash (In case you need to buy snacks or books. Or for emergencies)

6.) A jumper or a jacket (In case it gets too cold. Or for style)

7.) Bag* (To carry your books with)

8.) Extra books (For when you're waiting and if you're bored. Or if you want to show it off to your friends/ author/s)

9.) Phone (For when you're gonna take a picture with the author/s, and for emergencies)

10.) Bottle of water (For when you get thirsty while waiting in line. Or, y'know, to sabotage your fellow cosplayer's outfit. But really, don't do that lol)

11.) Handkerchief (For when you sweat so hard the signing gets cancelled)

12.) Extra shirt (For when you sweat so hard they can already see your six-pack)

13.) Phone charger + charger wire

14.) Sharpies and pens (If ever you meet the author/s in advance in the line, you have to have these for them to sign your stuff)

15.) Snacks (You might get hungry while waiting, and you can't leave your spot in case that shifty fellow behind you decides to move up a number)

(*PROTIP: Please, for the love of the Old Gods, DONT cram your books into a tiny bag. I suggest a Jansport backpack, maybe put a hardcover book in the bottom so that the books won't bend)

My motto has never failed me yet. "Abundans Cautela Non Nocet (Abundant Caution does No Harm)", and this is applicable to many things in this post: It's better to be early than to be late, it's better to bring more snacks and water than to be thirsty and hungry, and it's better to bring money than to not have enough to buy a book lol.


Fourthly, Now that you're there . . . :
In registering for camping for the signings, nowadays, there'll be a guard there to make sure you write down your name and your place in the line in the logbook. In that way, people can't skip in front of you if you leave the line to go to the bathroom or to get lunch, which is nice. After you write your name down, you can still stay in the line or come back when the mall's about to open. Roughly around 11, the guard will do a roll call, those who aren't there in the line won't be accepted and will they'll probably think that you changed your mind (citation needed lol. Comment down below if I got it wrong). So I suggest you just stay put.

My pass during the Stephanie Perkins signing

When the mall opens and you guys are admitted into the mall, you just have to follow the NBS/PB personnel, who'll show you the way to NBS/PB/FullyBooked/the open area, or follow the line of people going there. When you get there, there'll be another registration table. Here, they'll count how many books of the author/s you'll be asking them to sign, You'll also need to type in your name, your phone number, and your email, and then they'll give you a signing pass, don't lose this! So apart from signing up for camping in line for the signing, there'll also be an "official" signing-up, where you get your signing pass.

After that, if you're lucky, there'll still be an empty seat for you. You can wait there, read a book, talk to people, or you can go out for lunch, but you need to come back before the signing, or before the author/s arrive! Part of the thrill of going to signings is the shouting and the general clamor once he or she approaches the stage, the sheer excitement of it!

So now the author/s are interviewed, usually the audience gets to ask a few questions, and if you're lucky, a news camera might be directed at you! And you might never know, they might include that in the version they'll show on TV!

And now comes the signing itself.

During the Tahereh Mafi, Ransom Riggs, and Veronica Rossi Signing

A word of advice once you're on top of the stage waiting for your turn: Don't try to look foolish XD Also, it doesn't help you look any cooler if your book tower topples and you have to scramble around to pick them up! (Happened to my first signing. O the shame!)
Once it's your turn for them to sign your books, shake their hand, maybe hug them, make small talk with them ("Hi! I just want to say that I love Four's character! His character really developed during . . .") and compliment them. And after they're finished signing your book/s, you get to take a picture with them! :D And if you want, after the picture you can hug them, they're really okay with fans hugging them, it seems. But i don't know if it's still a thing or not but NBS used to not allow fans to hug them or ask them to sign things other than books (Shirts, notebooks, posters, etc).


Also, don't forget to stay safe and play it safe! :) Meet new people, have your book/s signed, hang out with your friends, and have fun! Have the time of your life! :D

Source: Various sources