This past Sunday, I attended my first-ever BookCon—an annual three-day-long event in New York City's Javits Convention Center dedicated to celebrating the greatness of books. During my time there, I learned a few tricks to getting the most out of BookCon, so listed below are some tips to ensuring you get all that this unique literacy event has to offer.
1. Bring a large carrying item.
Whether it be a purse, a backpack or even a piece of luggage, you'll for sure need an ample amount of space to carry all your new books. Even if you're going in to the event under the belief that you won't buy many books, trust me, even if you remain economical during your time at BookCon, the number of free reads you'll amass will make you regret not sporting a "book nerd" look. After all, there's no shame in liking to read!
2. Get to the event early.
While BookCon goers aren't your typical crowd of diehard fans that start queuing days before an event, this also isn't to write that they lack passion in what they love to do (read!), either. In this sense, it's still best to arrive an hour or so before the convention's allotted opening time. They let people onto the convention floor in waves according to whichever section they queue in. At any given point, there are four sections' worth of people, so the crowd that queues first, enters first. Plus, going earlier provides you a better likelihood of obtaining free swag even beyond just books (tote bags, novelty pins, lanyards, posters...hey, free is free, so don't miss out)!
3. Have cash on hand.
Most places in the city take credit cards nowadays, but BookCon is one of the few exceptions of which cash can still be a suggested form of payment. There are ATM machines in Javits Convention Center, but if you want to skip the line, definitely consider obtaining cash prior to BookCon.
4. Take any and all book giveaways.
Even if it's a subject you have no interest in—for instance, I picked up a copy of a fantastical tale about mermaids, a topic of which doesn't personally intrigue me—still take that book. Those books, while unwanted by you, can very well make a well-suited gift for a well-deserving friend, or even a gracious donation to your local Little Free Library or someone in need of a literacy pick-me-up.
5. Go with a friend.
Jessica Shih
Life's always better when there's a buddy by your side! Tickets are reasonably priced given all the awesome swag you can receive during BookCon, so why not share the experience with others? My friend and I attended, and had a wonderful time scouting out the best reads and debating which keepsakes to purchase—a themed phone case showcasing the greatest work of The Great Gatsby, or a copy of the longtime-praised novel, The Joy Luck Club. And if nothing else, going with a friend makes waiting in that half-hour line to get that free, fresh-off-the-press hand-printed tote bag a bit easier to manage.
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