This is part two 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

Now you know where to go, what to bring, and what to do when you're going to a signing, you've packed your bags full of snacks and books but what if you want to be the first one there? Simply going a mere 3 or 4 hours early of the registration just won't do it, there will always be people who's earlier than you, that's because they camped in.

People usually camp out a day or more before an event, especially if it's by a noteworthy person or company. You can camp out for album releases in your nearby music-store, the opening of the first Starbucks (Other coffee shops are available) in your city, or to buy a newly-released pair of sneakers. The main reason why people do this is because they want to be a step up from the others, to be the first one there, because usually the first five or so persons in line are acknowledged more by their peers and by the authors or the famous people, they can also get freebies such as free merchandise and ARCs (Advance Readers Copies) of their upcoming books.

When Stephanie Perkins went to Manila last July, NBS (who hosted the event) gave away an awesome tote bag and an ARC of her soon-to-be-released Isla and the Happily Ever After to the first 11 people in line (and by Jove, I was fourth!). I have also heard that some other authors who went here handed out freebies and even some ARC to the first couple of people in line.

But apart from getting freebies, being the first to get your book signed, and the first to leave, camping is an incredibly fun and social thing! I mean, you have the whole night to spend talking to your friends, chatting about events and news about your circle of friends, what's their opinion on this book and that, reading with the quiet, uplifting atmosphere that comes with sitting on the sidewalk with people you like hanging out with, or just sleeping the night away!

WARNING/ACHTUNG: If you have a history of respiratory illness or any other illnesses triggered or affected by the sterns of camping, do not go. I claim no responsibility. It is not required of you to stay awake the whole time. Holding in of your bodily fluids and such is not advised.

Althouuuugh, saying that, camping's not really that dangerous/health-endagering.

Firstly, find out for how long you'll be camping:
Before you go and bring a sleeping bag and tell an unbelievable alibi to your parents for why you're "going to a sleepover with your friend, and then in the morning go to the signing", you gotta know when you're going to camp. This is very important, because if you go too early (Say, 1.5 days in advance), you'll just be sat there reading a book with a bag, probably looking like a newly-made hobo, waiting there for much too long, and if you start too late (Say, 6 hours before the registration), chances are that they are already a tonne of people before you. So you need to know when to start your camping.

For me, I went there a full day ahead (and even then, I was only fourth in line!), meaning I spent an evening, a night, and a morning just sat there in the line, talking with friends, eating, and looking at the sky (Ha, that was when night set in and all my friends were either asleep or reading), and the signing ended at about 3 or 4, that means I spent a literal day in the mall, I didn't sleep (I napped, though), and i didn't  use Facebook or text a lot of people (because my battery was already half, and I still needed to take a picture with the author), and by the time my friends and I were going home, I was very cranky indeed!

So, as I've explained in my earlier post, book signing registrations usually start at around 11Am, since that's the time the mall opens. So we might be looking at around 12+ hours of camping, if we're determined to be first.

Always plan ahead. Scout on Facebook if your friends are going camping as well, sneakily ask them "Hey, mate, are you gonna camp to-morrow? Really? What time?" and then go earlier than that. And if someone asks you that question, best to tell them a wrong answer, deception is advised:

Friend: "Hey, you going camping to-morrow for John Green's signing?"

You: "Naaah, I can't camp, my I gotta, uh, go to the uhm *Looks around the bookstore* Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's signing! Yeah, that's the one!"

Friend: ". . . . That guy's been dead for over 70 years . . . "

And if you're planning on bringing another friend to camp with and you can't both go there together, tell 'em a slightly later time, instead of meeting there at 12, tell 'em you guys are gonna meet up at 1.
Or just don't post what time you'll be going on any social medias.

Secondly, what to bring:
Apart from the usual stuff that I usually bring, (See prev. post for list of essential things to bring)
some of my friends brought power banks (VERY important!), chargers, some blankets, a sort of rug, and a bucket of chicken (Kudos Machinations of my Muddled Mind). These are all important, the power bank because you'll most likely be bored and you'll need to update your Twitter and Instagram of pictures of you guys camped out, and maybe NBS or the author might even retweet it or something!

I suggest bringing a blanket, since you'd want to keep the cold away, some power banks, chargers, bottles of water, food, a fan, money (for emergencies and for food), books, some earphones, your phone, and maybe some hygienic products (since you aren't going to not take a shower for a night or day!).

Bring an umbrella or a poncho, in the event of rain. (But usually if it has rained the for the past two days or something like that before the signing, they usually cancel it or postpone the signing)

If you have a small pillow (like one of those deco pillows your mum has that's literally taking up all the space on your couch) bring that, maybe a foldable chair if you can get one, because if the signing's gonna happen much later in the day, you shouldn't sit on the sidewalk, it's gonna toast 'yer bum off once the sun rises.

Source: Machinations of My Muddled Mind

Because I camped a full day before Stephanie Perkins's signing, at around midnight-ish as we were groggily talking to each other and slowly drifting off to sleep, guess who rounded the corner? None other than Mr. and Mrs. Perkins themselves, come to greet and meet their early-bird readers!
We shook hands with them, hugged them, asked them to sign some of our stuff, took group pics with them and had some small talk with them! This is one of the best case scenarios when camping, meeting a cool and kind author before the signing!

I also heard that from another signing, the author came by and gave out free donuts to the campers! Maybe bring some tissues as well, and obviously the camera/phone! Don't forget it! You could also bring your signature notebook for them to sign, I think NBS allows that now.

Therefore, I don't suggest this but kinda do(?), bring something to resist the effects of sleepiness, not coffee (because you might spill it on your books and because it makes you go to the loo a lot), maybe some energy drinks? But really, I don't suggest staying up all night (-To get lucky, hehehe).

Thirdly, "Now what do I do?":
First of all, you want to go out into your desired camping area (which is usually right beside the door of Glorietta 1's NBS, which is on the sidewalk), put down your stuff and settle in, maybe get a book out while you wait for your friends to arrive. Try not to use your phone too much, you want to have enough juice for the signing. Funny thing actually, when I camped for Stephanie Perkins I was still that awkward guy who uses his phone a lot because he doesn't know anyone, and so I used my phone, made a draft of my review of that signing, texted some friends, and before you know it, BAM! It's not even nighttime and it's almost half. When my turn to have my picture taken came-up with her husband (because he signed my books too, lol) my phone died. So a friend of mine had to take my picture.

Now, you can do things differently depending on what your goal is:

A: You want to stay up all night to chat with friends and maybe get a glimpse of the author before the signing.

OR

B: You want to sleep the night away so that the signing's sooner.

Although basically there are things here that are in common to both A and B, but the approach and general plan is different.

A:
Assuming you have already brought some food and some drinks, try to make those last, since eating and drinking will help you stay awake (almost typed in "Will help you stay alive" LOL, although it is true). Next you'd want to just sit around and talk to your friends, conversations won't usually make you want to hibernate into the next season of Sherlock! It also helps to keep walking, doesn't matter if you just pace back and forth or if you keep going to the Familymart, being active will make you alert and awake, which is vital. If by any chance you do notice that you're slowly being grabbed into the realm of sleep, try making a circular motion with your foot and your ankles, this is a good strategy to both get blood pumping and to help you last the night, since if your fellow campers are beside you shoulder to shoulder and you only have so much space, this won't bother them much, rather than you getting up and walking all over the place

If you brought energy drinks like Monster Energy Drink or Red Bull (Other energy drinks are available), just be aware that yes, it will give you energy for a few hours (and it'll help keep your "conscious levels" up), after the effect wears off you will be sleepy. Since the logic behind it is that the drink will make your heart beat faster, thus making you feel more energetic, but after that your heart will get tired and therefore you'll feel the urge to nap.

Probably what would happen 1 month before J.K. Rowling's signing, if she goes here!

B:
The reason why I put this here is because sometimes it's difficult sleeping while you camp, because you're with friends, it's outside, you guys are on the sidewalk, so you might experience some difficulties in falling asleep.The ideal position to camp if you've chosen this way is to just sit against the wall, all chill, talk to some friends (because this might be boring if you can't relate to their conversations!), put out your blankets and if you brought one, your pillow. Bring out your book, just read and relax and you might get sleepy. I don't suggest playing music, since the sound might leak out and your friends might not like your awesome taste in German Nu Metal and they might get annoyed, also it'll drain your battery pretty fast.

Or you could get your friend to reserve your spot or just leave your place (after you registered on the logbook) while you sleep in your house or a hotel nearby, and then come back again in the morning, that could also work, I know some friends who do this method, since it's easier.

I really suggest you get a lot of sleep before the signing, whether before you camp or during, since you wouldn't want to be sluggish and drunk-like in front of John Green or Rainbow Rowell, do you?

Extras:
Just a bunch of extra tips and hints, some of them I came up with myself, some of them from my friends.

Anon: "Plan in advance kasi you will never know what will happen there so I guess just be ready. Get enough sleep since hindi ka naman basta basta makakatulog doon hanggang kinabukasan. So yun get enough sleep."

Anette the Wicked: "Have your parent's or guardian's or the police department number on your speed dial. Bring extra clothing! (And) Arm yourself with lots and lots of patience." -Since you'll be spending quite a lot of time on the sidewalk and in line, muster up as much patience as you have.

Sayyeda: "Haha well it's best to be in a group.
So there will be people who can watch over your stuff for bathroom breaks or if you wanna stay some place else for a couple of hours.

During mall hours you can stay inside NBS but after that, nakapila na outside e.

I guess bring powerbanks and chargers.
A clean set of clothes. Kaso sila na bahala dumiskarte where they bathe. Some check in sa nearby inns/hotels. Some naman do the punas-punas thing sa cafe restrooms haha

You won't really get any sleep during the camp out unless you can sleep sa concrete with a bag. Pag ganun bring something you can use as a mat so you won't sleep in the dirt naman XD

Well if there's a bigger chance of making friends if they go the day or the night before since peeps are friendlier there. Especially for huge groups. Like us sinclairs and hobnobbers we go around socializing with people. It's hard na kasi to do it in the morning since there are a lot of people and we're gonna be occupied either preparing for the signing or we're with our respective groups na.

Bring baon if they don't want to spend much. And slippers too. Since shoes get uncomfortable at some point :) "

Niaowie: "Bring a blanket. That's for sure. They're so handy especially at night. If possible they should also bring in some snacks. Camping out is no fun if you're hungry. Haha And if no one's camping out with them, they should use it as an opportunity to make friends and bond :) "

Mark Luigi / Perseus Stark: "- Bring only the necessary things. As much as possible only those things that are light and compact.
- Bring an extra shirt
- Bring a means of entertainment.
- Be ready for a night without sleep.
- Never be aloft, befriend other bookworms that are also in the line.
- Bring your books (obviously)
- A bag of patience is a must. There are times of misunderstanding during campouts so just be rational about a thing or two."

1.) If my experiences can attest to this, it's that no two book signings and or camp-outs are the same, it's all a big surprise party with books and authors, in the mall and on the sidewalk!

2.) I very much suggest that you keep your stuff near you at all times, even though these are your friends and new-friends, you can't take any chances. You just can't. I'd like to thank George R.R. Martin for making me mistrust friends and family and everyone else, and for his lesson that everything will turn to shit.

3.) Most signings are held in Glorietta 1 by NBS, their branch has three entrances/exits, two of them are inside, the third is outside. All campers camp outside the third entrance, on the sidewalk. It's beside a coffee/donut shop, a little ways from it there is a 24/7 FamilyMart,  and a Mercury Drugstore, KEEP THIS IN MIND. The FamilyMart has restrooms and drinks and snacks. Also chairs and tables. In front of this side of the Glorietta 1 building is the Raffles Hotel, where most authors stay for their duration of the signings in the area.

And that's it! That's (probably) all you need to know on going camping in line for a book signing, I hope you guys learned something and that you'll be having fun the next time an author comes 'round!

I'd like to thank my friends who made this all possible, mainly my anonymous friend, Anette from Anette the Wicked,  Sayedda, Niaowie, and Mark Luigi, Odracir, Godwin from Machinations of My Muddled Mind, Maria Anne, May and most especially you for actually reading this long post! LOL You guys are awesome!

If you have any questions or suggestions regarding this post, please don't hesitate to comment down below or message my FB! (Or consult a more experienced camper! hahahaha)

Source: Various