I thought the Georgetown Book Fair was going to be all about celebrity-themed cocktails, diletantish swells, and dolled-up swellettes swanning about, sipping bubbly.
Instead, it turned out to be a well-organized and well-publicized event attended by a surprisingly eager crowd whose median age was well below the usual range of doddering book fair visitors. They saw, they asked, they bought.
John Townsend writes up another sale
And, contrary to the usual book fair chatter, conversations tended to be book-related. Definitely a well-educated crowd, with a few bucks to throw around.
Yes, the event was spread among a mere 30 – odd dealers crammed into six spaces occupying 2 ½ floors, but somehow this only contributed to a sense of discovery, as if the venerable Tavern Club had turned into a book-themed amusement park for the weekend. A few dealers and I have been having speculative conversations with Marvin Getman, thinking about new ways to stage traditional book fairs, and this event is worth studying in some detail because, against all apparent odds, it worked.
I think it was the clubbish aspect that gave me the wrong idea. I’d done book talks in similar-seeming clubs in Boston and New York, and had formed the opinion that these clubs existed to service old men who wanted to get out of the house for a drink… or six. In fact, the clubbish aspect of this particular club was due to the staff, who were exceptionally well trained in the art of making people feel comfortable, and did a splendid job of it. They fed us lunch and dinner, poured drinks for us all afternoon, and catered (as best they could) to our every whim.
After the first evening I happened to mention to Eve Lemon, the genius who’d conceived of and promoted this event,
Eve buys a few from Ron Cozzi
that it was rather dark in my booth.
I came in the next morning to find that a lamp was brightening things up. Try getting that level of service at a show in New York, London, or Los Angeles.
I’ll stop right here. I don’t want to talk this event up too much. They’re planning on doing it again next year and I don’t want too many people trying to get in.
Georgetown traffic was horrible. Don’t come.
Eve Lemon organized and executed superbly!
Great to see you Greg. Thanks for making the trip.
We had a great time. Incredible food, stringed quartet, and a younger interested crowd. We were well taken care of.
Greg, please give Eve my number. I’d like to chat with her.
Great Show with museum directors from DC to lots of interested young people.
Eve and her husband worked with us all weekend to make it great for the dealers. Eve has the drive “to Herd Cats”. And she has ideas for future events and is open to listening to other ideas.
Thanks for your experience and thoughts of the Georgetown Fair. One thought came to my mind as I read your articles — sponsored book fairs. I know many fairs are sponsored by trade groups and trade organizations and publications. But what I’m seeing from your articles is fairs sponsored by nontraditional sponsors, which the Georgetown Fair is more or less even though apparently it’s been around for awhile. Book fairs would be like an event rather than a visit. And types of books being offered mainly could be ones related to the interest of the sponsor. What excites me especially is the idea that books would move out of their typical venues, with likely a change in image. Much to think about…but the idea is moving books, manuscripts, ephemera, etc., into the public instead of trying to get the public to come into books, so to speak. It sounds to me such “events” as the Georgetown fair offer opportunities for education, fund-raising, conviviality, entertainment, good food…. what’s not to like. And most importantly, a freshened image for books. It may be a moment for a quantum leap for the book trade for outstanding dealers with notable and exceptional inventory. Why I even read somewhere over the past couple of days that archives — archives! — are currently sexy among younger, educated persons. It sounds to me that the Georgetown fair was a reflection of this in some way.
Greg,
Thank you for the nice write up of the Georgetown event. An experiment will be happening in Palm Springs this week, let’s hope for the same level of success.
Jeff