tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13002022.post114054634379771896..comments2023-10-05T06:28:29.938-07:00Comments on Bookseller Chick: Book TVBookseller Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16740546395821645741noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13002022.post-1141086005087444462006-02-27T16:20:00.000-08:002006-02-27T16:20:00.000-08:00garianne, I agree that many, many people over the ...garianne, I agree that many, many people over the age of 22 are influenced by television, but I think that the very reasons you pointed out in your second paragraph about not encouraging children to use their imagination is indicative of why I singled out the 22 and under age group. I'm not saying we should have continue to encourage this unfortunate trend, but recognize it and turn it into an advantage. Nor do I truly want TVs blasting away all over my store. I envision something more at the entrance, faced out at the people walking by, or perhaps with headsets so one could listen to what is going on. <BR/><BR/>Ms. Librarian, that's an example of exactly what I'm talking about. Would you have heard of Buffalo Bill's America without the television show? Probably, you work with books. But would your customer? Possibly not. As form of media, TV gets to a lot of people and books should use that to their best advantage. <BR/><BR/>Eileen, I think dressing up as a trampy figure skater will only help getting your number on the bathroom well--unless you book is about a trampy figure skater, of course. I think that author's have to be open to whatever is within their range to sell their books though. Oh, and link away. I definitely think we can move to that next level.<BR/><BR/>Jason, my King of Cliches. You're a knock-out. <BR/><BR/>Lady T, your Lost illustration is a great example. I saw the sales of Watership Down go up last year because Sawyer was reading it early on in the series. In fact, that's the kind of product placement that books need, people will stop and try to find out what the book is about. <BR/><BR/>Kaley, the QVC idea amuses the hell out of me, but I would much rather have customers come into my store and buy the book instead of calling in or going online. Not that I'm against shipping out if they call me, of course. <BR/><BR/>Lisa, I wouldn't want the Book TV to interfere with the bookstore experience either. It would have to be done in moderation (no TVs everywhere you look) and perhaps with subtitles and headsets (so people can listen to whatever actually is being said). <BR/><BR/>Anonymous, you have a very good point. Placement is everything, but I think if the whole viewing experience was strictly book-related the sequence of order could work out itself. <BR/><BR/>Book Nerd, thank you! I'm glad you see where I'm going with and it would definitely have to be a medium changed slightly for each store its in. Urban stores would be different than suburban, and the showings would be adjusted to store traffic. I'm not sure how it would work on a grandscale (not to mention someone would have to work out those TV rights), but I think that the idea has merit. <BR/><BR/>Michele, I think there is even room for the "seminar" book TV, but it would have to be showing in the right store. I imagine something small, independent, and near a college campus would be the right store for the seminar book TV, but I could be wrong. And I don't mind mixing mediums (the song in the Lolita Files music video has apparently gotten a bump because stores are playing it as a tie-in to the book) as long as a book is still involved (which now that I look back on your post is what you said, but let's ignore my dorkiness, shall we?).<BR/><BR/>Anne, I don't claim to be representative of all booksellers, or even most. My opinions have definitely been shaped by my experiences in the bookworld. I'm glad that I'm not the only one discussing this idea though, because I think that it is part of the bookselling future and we have to roll with the times.Bookseller Chickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16740546395821645741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13002022.post-1140993906456196062006-02-26T14:45:00.000-08:002006-02-26T14:45:00.000-08:00i'm glad to see this post. we've been talking abo...i'm glad to see this post. we've been talking about the same subject on my blog and a couple of people suggested televisions in bookstores. i seriously doubted any booksellers would want that. guess i was wrong. :Danne frasierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13044828332429421657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13002022.post-1140737363685285262006-02-23T15:29:00.000-08:002006-02-23T15:29:00.000-08:00I agree.Get it in there.Nothing but books though....I agree.<BR/>Get it in there.<BR/>Nothing but books though.<BR/>No music videos, unless it has direct relevency to the book.<BR/><BR/>It is the future.<BR/>The 30-60 second sell.<BR/>It's not just for direct in-home sales any more. <BR/>It's tech.<BR/><BR/>Book TV is OK, but that is like watching a seminar.<BR/>Unless you have viewing rooms for the intellectual searcher with time on their hands, <BR/>The quick visual bite will make the most impact.Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08573730655117969888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13002022.post-1140730126650683482006-02-23T13:28:00.000-08:002006-02-23T13:28:00.000-08:00I think this is a fascinating idea! You'd have to...I think this is a fascinating idea! You'd have to figure out how it would work in different stores -- maybe on mute with closed captioning in quieter stores, out loud in poppier, younger stores. Having it where people can watch it while they wait in line (or wait for friends to browse) couldn't hurt at all.<BR/><BR/>I love your fresh take on bookselling, and I'm totally flattered to be one of your links. Great to join your bookseller blog world!Book Nerdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02896226559142059293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13002022.post-1140665611542032892006-02-22T19:33:00.000-08:002006-02-22T19:33:00.000-08:00I've added your blog as a link on my site. If it f...I've added your blog as a link on my site. If it feels like our relationship isn't ready to go to that stage let me know and I'll delete. ThanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13002022.post-1140662042912507442006-02-22T18:34:00.000-08:002006-02-22T18:34:00.000-08:00I've seen the late Mediaplay's ads on overhead TVs...I've seen the late Mediaplay's ads on overhead TVs. As customers waited to pay , they could watch ads for lots of media including books. Unfortunately it hardly did justice to a book to follow the latest rapper's promo or some other music promo not to one's taste. A new title was brought to one's attention.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13002022.post-1140635056382890322006-02-22T11:04:00.000-08:002006-02-22T11:04:00.000-08:00Well, why not sell books on television? TV already...Well, why not sell books on television? TV already sells other forms of culture: theater tickets, music albums, and especially movies (which is why Thursday night is the biggest night on TV -- the ads for movies that open on Friday generate huge revenues).<BR/><BR/>I'm less enthusiastic about the idea of television right inside the bookstore, though. It's hard to read while a TV is going.Lisa Hunterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16273391238820872246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13002022.post-1140630174306955972006-02-22T09:42:00.000-08:002006-02-22T09:42:00.000-08:00Oooh I like the QVC idea! I can picture myself sit...Oooh I like the QVC idea! I can picture myself sitting on a sofa chatting away with the host. I could even toss in a salad spinner with every order.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13002022.post-1140628047166982412006-02-22T09:07:00.000-08:002006-02-22T09:07:00.000-08:00I'm watching QVC one day (not going to bother with...I'm watching QVC one day (not going to bother with excuses for that), and they're selling a package of children's picture books (Scholastic, I think?. As I watch, I fall into a daydream about something similar for adults, some publisher putting together a sampling of titles from their different lines, some biggies, of course, but also some newer ones or midlisters they want to break out/promote. Authors, right there on QVC talking about their books with the hosts. Readers, calling up with unsolicited testimonials. The ticker at the bottom, counting up the sales.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13002022.post-1140623085441652492006-02-22T07:44:00.000-08:002006-02-22T07:44:00.000-08:00I've seen the growth of Manga,too(not just at book...I've seen the growth of Manga,too(not just at bookstores-a good portion of many video retailers such as Suncoast have an ever expanding section devoted to anime and carry manga as well)and there's even a manga series that's putting classics like Dracula and the Wizard of Oz in that style. <BR/><BR/>Throwing tv into the bookstore mix can be a great way to make reading a higher priority for folks-just look at Lost(a show I don't watch)and how sales of the Third Policeman have gone up,due to just being a focal point of the series.lady thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16287907577241697874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13002022.post-1140621349234484122006-02-22T07:15:00.000-08:002006-02-22T07:15:00.000-08:00I wholeheartedly agree. (Is half a heart even fun...I wholeheartedly agree. (Is half a heart even functional?) Roll with the punches or get knocked out. It's just that simple. Climbing out of the ring isn't an option either. It's a cage match and the door is locked.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13002022.post-1140566261709792962006-02-21T15:57:00.000-08:002006-02-21T15:57:00.000-08:00As a writer who will having their first book come ...As a writer who will having their first book come out this year and who wants to make a living doing this- I am all for anything that sells books. I'll dress up like a trampy figure skater and glue glitter to my eyelids if it will help.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13002022.post-1140561001216487972006-02-21T14:30:00.000-08:002006-02-21T14:30:00.000-08:00I think that's a great idea, BC -- I don't always ...I think that's a great idea, BC -- I don't always watch the book review channel (can't remember which channel that is at the moment), but I've heard some very nice lectures by authors about their books on it. Usually it makes me go look up the book to see if our library has it. The latest book that caught my interest this way was the one about Buffalo Bill's America (I think that was the title). Unfortunately, the library doesn't have it and is going to have to buy it.Jean L. Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05820846337864043092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13002022.post-1140558995047006692006-02-21T13:56:00.000-08:002006-02-21T13:56:00.000-08:00I think you are on the right track. As much as I ...I think you are on the right track. As much as I hate the idea of TV's in a bookstore, the idea has it's merits. I also don't think it applies to just those younger than 22 - how many adults will go look for a book after they've seen the movie version? Also, look at Oprah's popularity. Granted, the books on Oprah aren't bought because of a commercial or movie, etc... but people see it on TV and it somehow "appeals" to them more than if they just browsed the shelves or read a blurb. <BR/><BR/>I think that part of the problem nowdays is that we've stopped encouraging our children to use their imagination. From hand-held video games to DVD players in the car the next generation is learning that they don't have to entertain themselves - someone will do it for them. Why read a book where you have to do all the thinking and imagining? I do think that the Harry Potter books have been a welcome change from this despite the movies. Most of the kids I know read the books before they were allowed to see the film.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com