After 15 years at UCLA, the LA TIMES BOOK FAIR, moved to University of Southern California (USC) campus this past weekend, and as I waited in line to attend Panel Discussions by book authors (memoirists) and Publishing Industry Professionals (The Book as a form is not dead but new innovative Reader forms may be the future), I talked with other attendees who told me the Bloggers were posting scathing reviews. My review is scathing ... before I heap praise.
LOGISTICS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
The LA TIMES itself seems to have kept a mystery as to why the fair was moved to the USC campus from UCLA. I imagined the it was budgetary as so many decisions in this terrible economy seem to be.
Speculation in line was that USC is all flat ie easy walking. However, THE FAIR WAS TOO SPREAD OUT TO WALK, made more difficult by getting lost and wasting time going through the Children's area and Cooking, which was the area where the SHUTTLES PROVIDED BY TARGET dropped you off. I got tired quickly. I'd gone to Union Station and from there took the shuttle, but coming and going the trip seemed to be tedious and too long. The shuttles had only one drop off and pick up point, so that made me cross the campus again in order to go.
THE MAPS PRINTED BY THE PAPER WERE LOUSY; Buildings were unnamed if there was no panel discussion held there which did not help, and buildings were not even colored the same on all maps, so you could not orient easily with two people looking at the maps at the same time! There seemed to be few volunteers identifiable to ask for directions, and I got confusing directions from some of the Festival-T shirted employees that I saw. I walked around talking to myself, hoping someone would pick up on my confusion and direct me with ease.
So attending Panel Discussions became fraught with anxiety because I didn't have the confidence that I could make it from one point to the next. I even wondered if the festival was spread out to make it difficult to attend one panel discussion after another. Was it intended to make me waste time or entrap me to buy food? I NEVER DID FIND THE GREEN/ECO EXHIBITORS which I wanted very much to see.
That I got there at Sunday after 10 and there were still tickets - Telling!
I attended two panel discussions and THEY WERE TERRIFIC. The audiences (mostly writers I swear!) were also terrific. I don't know when last I experiences such an exhibit of intelligence in both authors and publishers and audience members and moderators. The questions were insightful and interesting and so were the responses!
Other things I noticed: Many radio stations broadcasting, Ben and Jerry's ice cream did the most extravagant, energetic, and generous marketing, with the cutest young men and women with the biggest smiles handing out little containers of new flavors of ice cream. Cliff Bars gave out too - but so oriented to children that I felt sneaky taking one, sans children.
Also noticed, the USC stage, which featured genuine USC students performing, singing unaccompanied, playing the Stand Up Base. A home grown touch, which fairly advertised the most expensive and prestigious university in Los Angeles County.
C Christine Trzyna 2011 All Rights Including Internet and International Rights Reserved
