February 2025 Coming to NRB? Wear Comfortable Shoes.

Since we are working on our participation and that of our clients, from where I sit it seems like everyone is going to NRB, that trade show that starts in 10 days in Dallas for Christian media.

If you are an author going to NRB for the first time, and getting ready to pack, about now you might have some questions.

So, let’s talk about a few things.

A recent chat with one of my clients who was packing early reminded me that others of you reading this might also have similar questions. In her case, she will be returning from a missions trip less than 24 hours before leaving for NRB, so she had two separate bags to pack.

My best advice to her and everyone else: comfortable shoes.

Whatever else you decide about what you want to wear, and some of us want to be a bit dressed up, nevertheless, you need comfortable, well-broken in shoes. It’s a lot of walking, and you have many more important things to think about than your feet.

But many people there will also have with them a second pair of shoes.

Just put them in the good-sized bag you will also be sporting.

If you are an author, you will have a lot of stuff to carry around with you. You need books, and press materials, plus food, in that bag.

Consider putting a second, more presentable pair of shoes in it too and then changing before an interview.

Most of the interviews my clients do are for radio, though some are video. But photos are often taken, sometimes full length.

Typically, there are many restrooms in convention centers, so when you find the media center, locate the restroom also and make your plans for freshening up and possibly also changing shoes.

And plan your good-sized bag as well. You not only need to carry a lot of things with you, but I also always recommend healthy high protein snack bars to keep your energy up and not waste a lot of time standing in lines for food.

Backpacks work well for many people, but be aware to also have materials about you even more readily to hand than that.

If you happen to meet a media person and they are kind enough to say sure, give me some of your material, that needs to take just a second. You don’t want to make them wait while you take off a backpack and rummage through it. Might be memorable, but not a good look.

I am a bit old school and use one of those briefcase bags on wheels and also have a small crossbody bag. But then I’m often carrying materials for multiple authors.

And then there’s what to wear.

It’s well worth thinking about for a moment.

At NRB as well as at CPE, the Christian retail show in which we participate in August, you can pretty much wear whatever you want.

The businesspeople there to seal deals will be in suits, men in ties and women in high heels. At the other end of the spectrum you’ll see the uber casually dressed folk who look to me not hip but like they overslept and opted for punctuality over hair combing. But that might be the same as hip.

Mainly you’ll see people in some kind of business casual.

My advice is to think about it, because sometimes it does help people remember you or their interaction with you.

Plus, you will likely be photographed.

Not counting the people who come in some type of actual costume, like the ones inside furry characters from a kids’ video series, or the guy a few years ago who was a George W. Bush impersonator so showed up in his George get up, some authors do adopt a persona and dress accordingly.

For the extremely uncomfortable introvert, the persona marked by a signature something provides a character to hide inside. I think it’s a brilliant strategy for some.

There was one woman I saw at a book tradeshow who I assumed was an historical fiction or romance writer, who wore a velvet cape everywhere. I assumed she needed it for courage.

And less dramatically but even more effectively, I had a client who always wore a large hat and dressed in green. It suited her, and you could spot her across a room.

Last summer at a business conference I met an older, short-statured woman wearing distinctive, bright lipstick-red glasses. When I complimented her on them, she said she always wore red glasses now as it helped people notice her. She was a publisher and wanted prospective clients to find her.

Other people have small tchotchkes they give to everyone they meet, perhaps an item that fits something to do with their book or book title, or a type of mint or candy.

You can use what you wear and how you present yourself to help people remember you.

And my advice is, just look like you took some time with your decision about what to wear.

Whatever that decision is.

For my part, I wear businessy-business casual, as I want to look professional but feel comfortable and it’s more about my needs for pockets and a place to put my business cards and phone than many other things. To that end, I closed down a Dillard’s store the other night when I was surprised to learn how early they closed.

These tips on what to wear are mostly to make sure you feel you are you at your best to get your message across with confidence and joy, not be distracted by other concerns.

And the thoughts work as well for NRB as they do for CPE, that show coming up in August. We are already making our plans for how to serve authors there in a smaller, more intimate venue and requiring a less significant investment. Right after NRB, be watching for our thoughts on that August show, coming up August 10-12 in the greater Atlanta area.