BEA is already a distant echo at Javitz. Those boxes you shipped back to yourself won’t show up until July at least, if at all. Time to focus on the Winter 2008 list, and what you’re going to do with your summer half-day Fridays…while you’re contemplating, here are some reflections on the show from various BEA attendees/reporters. Each year as the number of exhibitors and attendees grows exponentially, the challenge to make meaningful connections and have meaningful conversations becomes greater. There are 357 days left before everyone takes the wagon train west and heads to L.A. for BEA 2008. The good reactions were balanced by the not-so-good…and we’re not just talking about the lack of A/C. Sounds like it might be time to make some changes…

“For four days, I’ve covered, convened and contemplated, looking for the elusive BEA story that’s never there. The simple truth I’ve come to is that BEA is like holding a mirror up to our business. It can bring you serendipity, get you drunk, put you in the company of amazing people and, as on Friday, leave you covered in sweat. It can exhilarate, exhaust, excite and ultimately exasperate. All the unfilled promise, contradictions, and frustrations of the venerable business in a modern world are on full display. Ultimately, we get the BEA that we deserve.”—M.Cader, Publishers Lunch (6/4)

“Estimated attendees: 36,000. Estimated book buyers: 9,000. Estimated Librarians: 4,000. Percentage increase in librarians from 2006: 100%.”—Lance Fensterman

“I thought it was the best BEA in a long time. Even with the heat on Friday everyone was in great spirits and extremely enthusiastic. Also, the fall books look fantastic.”—Anon.

“Sunday was a colossal waste. It was DEAD. If I were King of the World, I’d make BEA a two day show for next year and then I’d consider getting rid of it altogether after that. I just don’t think there’s much bang-for-the-buck anymore at BEA.”—Anon.

“I sweated throughout Friday, it was so fucking hot in that place.”—Doug Jones

“I don’t see a lot of changes. It feels a little bit like last year’s BEA.”—James Patterson

“This year’s BEA was very upbeat and productive, despite the heat. We at PW had many reasons to be pleased and excited, particularly because of our new relationship with AARP and our celebration of the tradition of bookselling by throwing a party at The Strand Bookstore on their 80^th birthday. All and all, this year’s show really energized everyone I talked to during and since. We are definitely looking forward to next year’s event.”—David Nudo, PW

“This year’s BEA had a much more exciting feel to it than in year’s past…. The general feeling from the retailers was good. Their business had picked up with the publication of the Thousand Splendid Suns and continued strong up until the show. Overall with the attendance being up from last year’s BEA, this show definitely had a good feel to it.”—Dick Heffernan

“I was pleased with the traffic at BEA this year, but the show wasn’t that much different from previous years. I’m hearing the same complaints, and the same enthusiasm as I have every year. For us, the show was good. We had a major announcement with Rhett Butler’s People by Donald McCaig, and I feel like we got the word out about this huge drop-in book to a wide audience. Our four in-booth signings each went an hour longer than expected due to the long lines, and we felt our authors had a great chance to connect with booksellers, librarians, and media as a result. Accounts were well represented and I had many productive meetings. At the end of the day, I could have had the same meetings in our office or at the account’s headquarters, but I think there IS positive benefit to getting the industry together for a weekend: issues are aired and discussed, ideas are exchanged.”–Matt Baldacci