tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4982013421663058277.post5100202406497796855..comments2023-04-13T05:58:55.491-07:00Comments on Karen the Small Press Librarian: Some Thoughts on Small Press ReadingsKaren Lillishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04624398526912042847noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4982013421663058277.post-62273207861094409272011-06-03T01:40:55.591-07:002011-06-03T01:40:55.591-07:00Very good post. It's amazing how many readings...Very good post. It's amazing how many readings forget that people can go elsewhere (and do). Literature shouldn't be a test of endurance. For our show, <a href="http://thespecialrelationship.net/" rel="nofollow">The Special Relationship</a>, we focus on getting people who would not normally come to a reading. We invite a mix of people other than poets and writers like film makers, illustrators and comedian. It's all about getting new souls.Jarred McGinnishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05217107042294228352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4982013421663058277.post-59369958658967022182011-06-01T14:32:21.723-07:002011-06-01T14:32:21.723-07:00Great post. Another great way to get people to att...Great post. Another great way to get people to attend your reading series is to offer food. Potlucks are great. It feels very community oriented that way. <br /><br />I love the thoughts about supporting out of town readers. I hadn't thought of those things! Will refer back to this post in the future :)Laura the Poethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06661063308918439389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4982013421663058277.post-81574049009371614332011-06-01T11:34:18.048-07:002011-06-01T11:34:18.048-07:00Great post, Karen! You're the consummate host ...Great post, Karen! You're the consummate host whenever I've read in Pittsburgh, and you've been the consummate reader when you've come to Baltimore for the 510 Readings (your family packed the reading to the gills)! I would add that, even if you don't have a book out yet, it's good to network online with other folks in different cities, ie, offer to review books, do interviews, etc. I've seen (and continue to see) people who suddenly have a book published and nowhere to go (and no one to come out and see them) because they spent all their energy promoting their writing and not even just a little time building connections in the community. <br /><br />Also, if you are a reader, please make every effort to make the reading date we've set up. Nothing burns out goodwill faster when a reader is constantly rescheduling (sort of illness or family emergencies), especially when often there is limited space in the schedule (the 510 Readings is often booked half a year in advance). <br /><br />Finally, go to other readings of a committed reading series, not just your own reading date (obviously, if you live in the same city, this is much easier). There's nothing we like less than people who read and then never come again. A series is only as successful as its audience, and a good proportion of our audiences are former or future readers.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04163728540160219294noreply@blogger.com