Little Old Bag Lady, Me
Okay, I'm not very little, and I'm not that old. But I've got the bag thing covered.
My presentations have become more varied as time passes. Libraries and groups that liked the Mystery Talk want me to return, but I can't keep doing the same speech over and over. I expand my topics periodically, but new libraries and groups may still want the original speech. In order to deal with the "which speech am I getting ready for" problem, I have developed the Bag System. For each new topic I offer, I buy a tote bag. In that bag I keep the basics of the speech: the outline, the giveaways, and the display items. I also put in pencils and pens, business cards and bookmarks. I then make a checklist of what that presentation requires and put that in the bag. too.
When it's time to give a particular speech, I take the appropriate tote out of the closet, consult the checklist, and add the rest of the items: a cashbag, books and bookstands, prizes, handouts, etc. BTW, at the top of every checklist is "address and directions." I hate it when I leave home and then remember I never printed off the specific location.
Sometimes the bags are utilitarian; some fit nicely with the theme, like the one I found for my Romance Novel talk that has hundreds of little hearts on it. Obviously my writers' workshop bag is more businesslike black leather, or something like leather.
This system works pretty well for me. Last February as I was touring Florida, it was helpful to have the basic stuff already loaded, so that for each different talk I only had to add books and the cashbag. Next year I've already got one date with two appointments in one day for different talks. I know the "bag lady" will appreciate knowing that at each stop, it's in the bag.
My presentations have become more varied as time passes. Libraries and groups that liked the Mystery Talk want me to return, but I can't keep doing the same speech over and over. I expand my topics periodically, but new libraries and groups may still want the original speech. In order to deal with the "which speech am I getting ready for" problem, I have developed the Bag System. For each new topic I offer, I buy a tote bag. In that bag I keep the basics of the speech: the outline, the giveaways, and the display items. I also put in pencils and pens, business cards and bookmarks. I then make a checklist of what that presentation requires and put that in the bag. too.
When it's time to give a particular speech, I take the appropriate tote out of the closet, consult the checklist, and add the rest of the items: a cashbag, books and bookstands, prizes, handouts, etc. BTW, at the top of every checklist is "address and directions." I hate it when I leave home and then remember I never printed off the specific location.
Sometimes the bags are utilitarian; some fit nicely with the theme, like the one I found for my Romance Novel talk that has hundreds of little hearts on it. Obviously my writers' workshop bag is more businesslike black leather, or something like leather.
This system works pretty well for me. Last February as I was touring Florida, it was helpful to have the basic stuff already loaded, so that for each different talk I only had to add books and the cashbag. Next year I've already got one date with two appointments in one day for different talks. I know the "bag lady" will appreciate knowing that at each stop, it's in the bag.
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