Things to Know When Setting Up a Book Tour
Finding Venues and Obtaining Funding to Tour Poetry Books
Aug 12, 2009
Poets, if they're fortunate enough to get published in Canada by a recognizable trade press, are usually still required to do a lot of work to promote their book. Poetry doesn't sell well in a nation where few people read for intellectual and aural pleasure, or from any text not advertised on television or Oprah's Book Club. Poetry is also an oral art and thus is best appreciated when it's heard aloud.
However, this means that poets need to set time and funds aside in order to tour their country. Although setting up a tour is a challenge, it's worth it in the end when it comes to selling and distributing one's book and disseminating one's name as a writer.
How Does One Find Venues?
The press that publishes the poet's book will be of assistance in locating some venues, though the poet may have to do the calling, emailing and mailing out of catalogues in order to book the events. Being a member of The League of Canadian Poets helps one to get in contact with other members in towns across Canada and even into the States. Being on Facebook or other social networking sites also assists the poet to connect to other writers and venue organizers. Such sites enable one to promote one's tour as one goes too.
What are the Best Venues?
The most ideal venue for a poetry reading in terms of having a ready-made audience tends to be college and university classrooms. There, the poet is almost guaranteed a crowd of thirty or more eager students who tend to be more prepared to hear her work, listen attentively and ask questions. Students rarely buy books however. In terms of book sales, reading at book stores or libraries tends to be the best bet, though the audience can be slim.
For fun, lively readings, book a cafe or pub, if noise from patrons or coffee machines isn't an issue. The crowd is often bigger and sometimes the book sales aren't bad either, depending on the patrons' level of inebriation! Mixing up the venues in a tour allows for a varied texture of event experiences.
Who Funds Book Tours for Poets?
If one is publishing with a trade press and has published several books already, then one is eligible for a tour grant from the Canada Council. The publisher applies for this grant. This amount frequently covers a large percentage of travel, especially if one only tours several provinces, but no accommodation or food. Eat cheaply. Stay with friends. The poet must book the travel, present receipts and be reimbursed later.
Some readings can also be funded by The League of Canadian Poets. The poet may also have his own grant from a foundation. Reading series, especially those in universities, regularly offer the poet a certain amount of remuneration. Book sales can enable one to afford meals along the way. Of course, the tour always costs more than expected, especially if one must take time off work to go on tour, as such events are frequently planned for the Spring and Fall season. Thus, the poet should expect to contribute additional funds of their own. In the end, the effort will be worth it!
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