More About Speed Dating
SPEED DATING WITH AGENTS and ASK A PRO events at the San Francisco Writers Conference
One of the things that makes our conference attendees most anxious–and one of the things they end up having the most fun with–is the Speed Dating with Agents event. On Sunday morning during breakfast in the Peacock Room, each of the agents will stand up, in alphabetical order, and tell the attendees who they are and what they’re looking for. In ONE minute! After that, each agent will take a seat at a table in the ROOM OF THE DONS next door. The tables will be arranged alphabetically, around the circumference of the room.
RULES
Each attendee who has signed up for Speed Dating with Agents will have a color-coded dot on their badge holder. RED dots can Speed Date during the first hour (9:00-9:51 a.m.), BLUE dots can Speed Date the second hour (10:00-10:51 a.m.), GREEN dots can Speed Date the third hour (11:00-11:51 a.m.) and YELLOW dots can Speed Date the final hour (Noon-12:51 p.m.). Due to hotel safety regulations, you will NOT be allowed to line up prior to your hour time slot. There will be no advantage, since all Speed Daters for that time slot will be let into the room at the same time. When you are not Speed Dating, you are encouraged to attend all the wonderful workshops that will be happening Sunday morning or visit the onsite conference bookstore: Bookshop West Portal.
During your THREE MINUTE PITCH you will be trying to convey the essence of your book and why you’re the best person to write it, quickly, allowing a response from the agent within your three allotted minutes. When the first bell rings, stop talking and let the agent speak. When the second bell rings, move on to the next agent’s line.
Please remember to speak quietly while you are waiting in line, as the agents must be able to hear each pitch. You may also wish to practice your pitch on your fellow attendees–quietly–while you wait.
Bring the first page of your novel to show, if you wish, or a one-page description of your nonfiction book. Bring business cards. You may wish to share these things with the agents, but do respect the agent if he or she chooses not to accept anything from you. If anyone wants to see something, you’ll be told what to send, and how.
We frequently tell writers to imagine what would happen if their book was turned into a movie. And if that movie was on TV, what would TV Guide write about it? That’s your “perfect pitch.”
You may go from one agent to your next choice to your next choice during your hour. When the hour is up you will leave the Room of the Dons out the front door.
Remember, manners count.
The ASK A PRO event on Saturday afternoon is open to all attendees. (Read that: No additional cost!) For the first 30 minutes, each publishing professional will introduce himself or herself for 2 minutes. Then each editor or agent will sit at a 10 person table. The nine attendees at the table each will have one minute to ask a question and then receive one minute of feedback. Then all nine attendees will move to another table and meet another Publishing Pro. Attendees can move to new tables every l8 minutes until 6:30 pm.
If you still have not spoken to an editor or agent during or after this session, try to meet them on Sunday or write to them after the conference.
This event will continue until the book signings have started in the front right corner of the room and the no-host bar has been set up.
Always remember that all of the agents, editors and presenters are there to talk to you at breakfast, lunch, and during breaks. You don’t have to wait for a “Speed Dating” or “Ask a Pro” event to talk to them. If they have their badge on, they’re “on” and approachable! If they do not have a badge on, then please respect their privacy. Thanks so much.
LIST OF AGENTS AT THE FEBRUARY 2013 SAN FRANCISCO WRITERS CONFERENCE:
MARILYN ATLAS, Personal Manager/Producer at Atlas Management
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