This week, I saw something that I never knew existed before: You have to pay to meet an author (or several authors).
I’ve never seen that before. In fact, I didn’t know that some authors (or their publishers) charge you a fee in order to meet them. All the book signings I’ve attended so far were 100% completely free. (I’m not counting BEA in this category because hey, you get to meet tons of authors in BEA, get galleys, and it’s totally worth it.)
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind giving out $5 to $10 to meet an author, as long as I really, really, really love their book(s), but to pay more than $20 just to meet them? That’s more expensive than a hardcover book! I don’t really care if the author is well-known (not J.K. Rowling well-known mind you), it’s just not worth it in my eyes. It’s not like you can spend ten minutes talking with the author (especially without angering the other people on line, waiting for their turn).
I’ll personally rather buy one of their hardcover books and support them that way.
What are your thoughts on this?
That’s a bit ridiculous. I mean, I suppose I would pay $25 to meet an author that I’m DYING to meet, but if it was someone that I just enjoyed their books, hell to the no. I’m already spending that much to buy their book(s) to get signed for the event. It’s not fair to charge entrance when hardcovers are so expensive. And we’re already supporting the authors by buying their books. If I’m paying for the event, they’d better be giving out free books!
Jessi @ Auntie Spinelli Reads recently posted…ARC August Challenge
You pretty much wrote EXACTLY what I’m thinking Jessi. It’s just ridiculous – all of it is!
Kelly recently posted…Top Ten Favorite Beginnings/Endings In Books
I know sometimes the author(s) charge whoever is hosting the event, but charging people more than $20 to go is crazy. It’s like they are charging you to buy 2 signed books, but you only get one.
Emz @ Icy Cold Reads recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday – The Boy on the Bridge
Mhm! This just makes me sad. ):
Kelly recently posted…Top Ten Favorite Beginnings/Endings In Books
Actually, until really recently, I thought paying for author events was standard – I think I’ve paid for all of the ones I’ve been to. It’s always cost me less than £10 (about $15, I think) and I think it’s more to pay for the venue. Sometimes the event’s in a theatre and has to be hired, sometimes it’s in a book store and you’re paying for the staff to stay extra hours I guess. It doesn’t bother me having to pay a small fee, but there is definitely a line I would draw, especially since I make it a point to always buy a book for the author to sign if they’re signing.
What bothered me recently was I went to an event for the Mortal Instruments books/films, with Cassandra Clare and Jamie Campbell Bower. We were told that Jamie would only be signing the movie tie-in edition, which I thought was a real slap in the face to fans who’d already purchased the entire series. Expecting them to shell out £8 for another book – one which they technically already owned – is disgraceful.
WOW. WHAT. WOW. That’s disgraceful!
Are they really THAT desperate, trying to force you guys to pay extra money just so Jaime will sign your book? And I take it as you also have to pay to attend the event since you get to meet celebrities? Wow, just WOW. How money hungry are they?
Kelly recently posted…Top Ten Favorite Beginnings/Endings In Books
I’m willing to pay as well, but only if I really really want to meet the author and the price isn’t too high. I don’t think it’s really fair to ask for more than £/$ 20 to meet someone – especially if you don’t even get a proper chat. I think a free copy of their book should be included in the ticket price if they want to charge you more than 20 pounds/dollars.
This is a really interesting topic, as it’s pretty current for me as well. :) I live in Edinburgh and the international book festival is coming up. Most of the the tickets cost around £10 which is about $15, which is way too much for me as I’m a student and so on a budget. This is a shame because authors like Neil Gaiman are coming here to keep lectures. :/
Exactly! I highly doubt that there would be a free book included with the ticket price though. :l
Wait, so your international book festival is around $15 to meet only ONE author? Wow, that’s expensive. Some people will pay $30 just to meet Neil Gaiman though.
Kelly recently posted…Top Ten Favorite Beginnings/Endings In Books
Every convention I’ve been to is free to meet the author because it costs money to buy books to get signed, and I think that’s the difference between something like that and a TV convention where you meet stars. BUT at television conventions (like EyeCon in Atlanta for The Vampire Diaries), it costs money to even take pictures with the stars of the show. So…I can see how a publisher would charge for a signing, but maybe have a discount on the books if the admission costs a lot. I’d still go if the author was someone I love.
Becca @ Nawanda Files recently posted…Our Reaction to the New Hunger Games: Catching Fire Trailer
Sadly, I don’t think there will be a discount on the books in this case. ):
I do enjoy the authors’ books, but not so much that I will pay more than $20 just to see them, then use another $20 to buy a book of there’s.
Kelly recently posted…Top Ten Favorite Beginnings/Endings In Books
Wow, I’ve never even heard of that, really. I mean, to be honest I feel like I’m already being charged to meet the author when I’m required to purchase a book in order to go through the signing line. And that’s really a win anyway because then I get a book AND it’ll get signed AND I get to meet the author. But I don’t know if I would pay like an entry fee for an event like that. Maybe for a bigger book conference where they have a whole bunch of authors and panels going on (like BEA).
Kelley (Another Novel Read) recently posted…June Mini Reviews (2013)
That’s how I feel too Kelley! However, I personally think that paying for BEA is worth it.
Kelly recently posted…Top Ten Favorite Beginnings/Endings In Books
Wow… I don’t think I’d want to pay exorbitant entry fees to meet an author, unless I really liked them or there was a speech and meet-greet thing. Even then, I feel like there should be a discount or free book included, as previous commentators said.
alicejane011 recently posted…Review: Rush by Eve Silver
Yep, but I highly doubt that there will ever be a free book included. A discount, however, is very possible.
Kelly recently posted…Top Ten Favorite Beginnings/Endings In Books
I love meeting authors (Patrick Ness was so friendly and approachable!) so I guess I don’t mind paying if it’s someone I really like. I see it as the equivalent of gigs for writers; I’ll pay for the songs/albums and if I really like it then I’ll pay to see them live kinda thing. I understand why charging people just for a book signing can be off putting. I saw JK Rowling that way and even though it was amazing and don’t regret going at all, I did feel a bit cheated if that makes any sense?
Feli @ two girls, one suitcase recently posted…Our Summer Reads: Feli
It definitely makes sense Feli. After all, we already support them by spreading the word and buying their books, so paying to see them feels a bit like a betrayal in a way, if I make any sense. :P
Kelly recently posted…Top Ten Favorite Beginnings/Endings In Books
I don’t mind paying if it’s part of a convention / book festival since those usually charge a fee and you pay a flat fee once. I know that some authors are pretty popular and they charge but usually those come with a signed book so it equals the price of admission and it’s a way of knowing how many people are attending. I know Niel Gaiman charges something like $30 and you get one book signed, but in the past he’s had to sign for 7 hours so it makes sense to for charge to control the crowd.
I’m not sure I could pay to meet a beloved author unless it was a book convention or festival and I’m going to go for the day. I know recently for ALA, one of my fave authors was giving a talk and he invited his readers to attend despite it being a paid event for ALA attendees, but he said if he any fan got turned away at the door to have someone get him and he’d pay for their fee if need be.
Jess @ Literary, etc recently posted…Book Review: Joanne Fluke’s Cinnamon Roll Murder
For the event I’m talking about, there isn’t a signed book included with the event sadly. ):
OMG, who is the author who did that? He’s so nice and just, wow.
Kelly recently posted…Top Ten Favorite Beginnings/Endings In Books
If it’s J.K. Rowling, I’d definitely pay even up to 40$, Kelly. I know that’s exaggerated but for me, she’s that great. I’d definitely make her sign all of my books written by her. And I wouldn’t say no to getting a picture of her with me. But for the other authors, I don’t think so. I know I sound mad but there you are.
Charlotte recently posted…Keepin’ up with the Joneses Part 1 {Let’s Discuss 2}
Nah, it’s not exaggerated, it’s understandable. :P
And you definitely don’t sound mad Charlotte.
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [43]
Neil Gaiman was recently in Pittsburgh and I bought tickets to see him. I really didn’t give it a second thought – hello, it’s GAIMAN! Your typical author signings however, shouldn’t cost anything. Especially if you’re buying a book to get signed.
Leah @ The Pretty Good Gatsby recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday: upcoming contemporaries!
Agreed! I mean, if it’s a famous, famous, FAMOUS author like Neil Gaiman or J.K. Rowling, then I can understand about you being charged for it. But if it’s a smaller author, like you said, it shouldn’t cost anything. :l
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [43]
Yeah, I can’t imagine paying money for it, no matter who it is. Honestly, it seems sort of greedy! I mean, I get that authors can use all the love and help they can get but don’t they know us readers are usually poor because we waste all our money on books?! That seems a bit intense!
Asti (A Bookish Heart) recently posted…Bookish Review: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Agreed! I mean, I can fish out $5 to $10 to meet them, but $20+?! We’re not rich; I already spend too much money on books. ):
Over here, we don’t get a lot of authors coming to visit at all – let alone known authors but I definitely wouldn’t be surprised if we’re expected to pay just to see an author as a ‘registration fee’. That’s just how things work over here unfortunately, we even have to pay to reserve a book at the library. In a way I can understand why they would charge so much if it was like an event where the authors talks a little too and you get to ask questions but if it’s solely a signing, that is quite ridiculous.
Charlotte @ Gypsy Reviews recently posted…Hiatus – Be Back on 17th August!
Wait, what?! You guys have to PAY to reserve a book at the library? Wow, just wow. If the US was like that, I’ll have over $300 just for library fees.
Kelly recently posted…Series Overview: The Unraveling Duology – Elizabeth Norris
For me, it all depends on the type of event the author is hosting. If it’s just a signing in a bookstore, where the author just signs your book, you maybe have a quick chat and a photo snapped, then I wouldn’t pay for events like that. I guess it just doesn’t require that much effort from the author? They sit in a chair and sign books, that’s it.
If the author was hosting an event where you got something out of it — whether that’s free swag, or ‘insider information’, I suppose, like an in-depth Q&A session or a reading or something where you can meet the author personally for a fair while — then I would be willing to pay a fee, but for me I wouldn’t be willing to pay anything more than £10, I guess. I already support the author by paying £7+ for their books.
Nikki @ The Paper Sea recently posted…Marketing Technique or Annoyance: Cross-posting to Goodreads
The event I’m talking about is a signing where the author probably chats a little, answers some questions, and just signs ONE book. Yes, that’s right, ONE book. AND you have to buy the book. :l
I don’t know if that’s worth it.
Kelly recently posted…Series Overview: The Unraveling Duology – Elizabeth Norris
I live in Indonesia so there are no book events which my favorite authors go but if they did come here. but not my city, then I would’t go there cause I would need plane tickets and my parents wouldn’t let me to go out of town for the sake of meeting favorite authors/concert. If they came to my city… then I’d be willing to spend money, as long as it’s still reasonable and not too expensive :) However, I doubt any of them would come here. Like, ever. :( Well, for now I can only support them by buying their books :) I guess that’s also a good thing, right?
Kezia D recently posted…Tracing the Trend: Kissing Couples on YA Covers
Aww, that sucks that no author would visit Indonesia. D:
And yeah, I totally get you. When one of my favorite authors are visiting another state, I want to go there, but I’ll have to pay for a plane ticket, PLUS my parents will completely freak out.
At least you’re supporting the authors by buying their books! ;D
Kelly recently posted…Series Overview: The Unraveling Duology – Elizabeth Norris
I’ve heard of some bookstores requiring that you purchase the author’s books from them in order to enter the event/signing, or pay a small fee if you already own the book ($5ish), but charging $20 admission seems crazy steep. What is the author going to do? Attach fireworks to her limbs and cartwheel around the venue?
LOL, you’re hilarious Abria! :D
I’ve went to signings where they don’t exactly charge you. They only request that for every one book you bring from home to sign, you buy one at the store. I understand that, but the $20+ scenario, I don’t understand.
Kelly recently posted…Series Overview: The Unraveling Duology – Elizabeth Norris
I’ve only been to signings where the bookstore requires that you purchase one of the author’s books to participate in the signing (but you can listen and talk for free), which is totally understandable because the bookstore needs to make money. For the authors that I’m hardcore in love with, I will most certainly pay $20 to see, especially if there’s some extra one on one face time. Course, that’s a short list: Anne Rice, George R.R. Martin, and J.K. Rowling.
There’s some other authors I’d pay a lot of money to meet, but I think they’re dead…which means that I’d easily pay $100 to meet them. Come on, zombie author would be AWESOME!
Lizzy recently posted…When the facts are wrong — 5 steps to correct a reviewer
Yeah, I understand those bookstores. They’re independent bookstores and I’ll love to support them anyway I can, as long as they don’t force you to buy tickets to see the author.
LOL, but won’t zombie authors reek and maybe their fingers may even break off while signing. :P
Kelly recently posted…Series Overview: The Unraveling Duology – Elizabeth Norris
No, I won’t do that, even when I really would love to meet them. It’s not like.. they are so special that meeting them is worth my money. I’d rather buy some more of their books :p
Mel@thedailyprophecy recently posted…Review 181. Marie Lu – Prodigy.
I personally will buy more of their books too besides spending that much to meet the author. I mean, the book is forever (I hope). o:
Kelly recently posted…Top Ten Books I Wish Could Have Had Sequels
As far as paying a reserved book fee in the UK, authors in the UK, Canada and Australia get paid everytime their books are borriwed from the library, so I suppose that is what the fee goes toward. We don’t do this in the US. I don’t think it is a very big fee, though. As far as paying to see an author, if it included a talk, photo op, and book signing of your own copy, sure, but not more than $20. Unless, as you said it was someone like JKR.