Mr. King's publicist should be aware....

[KProc]

This past Sunday, June 12th I was thrilled to be able to see Stephen King in person at the Iroquois Amphitheater in Louisville, KY. The event was hosted by Carmichael's Bookstore. At the end of Mr. King's talk everyone was invited to get their copy of End of Watch, 400 copies of which were randomly signed by Mr. King. I sat and watched from the 3rd row as two of the people handing out books checked the books for signed copies and sat them aside, cheating the paying customers out of their chance to get a signed copy. I don't know if these were employees of Carmichael's or employees of the venue or what but I was disgusted at the lack of professionalism and would like to find a way to inform Stephen King and/or his publicist of what occurred.

I don't know whether the people doing this were setting the signed copies aside to give to their friends coming through the line or hoping to save them for themselves or what but everyone who bought a ticket should have had an equal opportunity to get a signed book.

 

[Moderator]

Thank you for letting us know. Obviously not something we can do anything about now but I've passed this along to the publicist from Scribner who is traveling with Stephen to make sure it is reinforced at other events that this not happen again. We had been very clear about this up-front in our discussions with all of the venues when planning the tour that this sort of thing not happen. Stephen leaves immediately after the event is done and the publicist leaves with him so she was not there when the books were distributed or I'm sure she would have done something to stop it.

 

[KProc]

Thank you for letting us know. Obviously not something we can do anything about now but I've passed this along to the publicist from Scribner who is traveling with Stephen to make sure it is reinforced at other events that this not happen again. We had been very clear about this up-front in our discussions with all of the venues when planning the tour that this sort of thing not happen. Stephen leaves immediately after the event is done and the publicist leaves with him so she was not there when the books were distributed or I'm sure she would have done something to stop it.

Thank you. I contacted Carmichael's Bookstore and they insist that their employees didn't do any such thing but I saw them and so did several people around me. Very frustrating but we didn't let it ruin our night and the fun we had listening to Mr. King.

 

[Moderator]

Thank you. I contacted Carmichael's Bookstore and they insist that their employees didn't do any such thing but I saw them and so did several people around me. Very frustrating but we didn't let it ruin our night and the fun we had listening to Mr. King.

Classic "he said, she said" but I'm glad your experience wasn't totally ruined.

 

[KProc]

Classic "he said, she said" but I'm glad your experience wasn't totally ruined.

Yep. Sure would have been nice to get one of those signed ones though! My husband kept me from punching the girl I saw setting them aside and taking one! :-D

 

[Moderator]

Yep. Sure would have been nice to get one of those signed ones though! My husband kept me from punching the girl I saw setting them aside and taking one! :-D

Well, that surely would have made it an even more memorable night.

 

[Spideyman]

Classic "he said, she said" but I'm glad your experience wasn't totally ruined.

Moderator -- hopefully it is an isolated incident. I did see , via posted pictures, one venue had the books wrapped in brown paper. Would that be a consideration in the future-- Again not sure of the procedure- are books signed before each venue, or all books signed at one time, and shipped to each venue with the unsigned. Maybe all the books can be wrapped so that even the staff/ owner/ helpers have no idea which are signed. Much more work for Steve's people, but a possible solution?

 

[KProc]

Moderator -- hopefully it is an isolated incident. I did see , via posted pictures, one venue had the books wrapped in brown paper. Would that be a consideration in the future-- Again not sure of the procedure- are books signed before each venue, or all books signed at one time, and shipped to each venue with the unsigned. Maybe all the books can be wrapped so that even the staff/ owner/ helpers have no idea which are signed. Much more work for Steve's people, but a possible solution?

That would probably solve it but how silly that all of that trouble would need to be taken because of a couple of people's unprofessionalism. Too bad they couldn't just act like adults.

 

[Machine's Way]

Unfortunately in these situations it is completely unavoidable unless like stated above they all come shipped to the venue pre-signed and shrink-wrapped / sealed where an obvious break in the seal would indicate something was wrong. I would guarantee this happened to some extent at EVERY event where the books are randomly inserted, probably not as obvious as the incident we are talking about here but I would say it happens at every one of them. The knowledge of the worth of a signed SK book is to tempting to some. I felt the same thing occurred at the Revival event in DC. But nothing you can do about it really. You can complain, it will still happen, maybe getting caught red handed might result in some backlash, but as it seems in this instance it was witnessed by many and it still occurred. I am the type of person that would of made a scene about it. I would of been furious and not let that slide and called the people out about it for everyone to know including the honest staff there and had it remedied immediately. But from attending these events several times and at many different locations the end when you get the books is always chaos, some better handled than others but never even at the best locations is there any real order to it.
I personally wish that the time would be taken, WELL before hand to sign enough books for all attendees. Make the venues max out at like 500, and maybe add a few more dates and spread it out more, have the books signed well before hand so Stephen isn't overwhelmed the day of signing so much. But I understand there is a lot more to it than that, and its not all about the book. It truly is about the man himself and getting the chance to hear him speak. There is no way to make everyone happy that's for sure. But it really can make a honest person mad when they pay their hard earned money, take time off work, travel, wait in line enjoy the night and have the high hopes and anticipation of getting that book at the end with the chance of a signature and to see people stealing that opportunity from you who could careless.

 

[KProc]

I am the type of person that would of made a scene about it. I would of been furious and not let that slide and called the people out about it for everyone to know including the honest staff there and had it remedied immediately. But from attending these events several times and at many different locations the end when you get the books is always chaos, some better handled than others but never even at the best locations is there any real order to it.

You have no idea how much I wanted to! From where I was sitting, I would have had to 1) Jump over a barrier onto the stage or 2) Fight my way through the line of 2,000+ people. By the time I got up there to get my book, everything had changed and I had no idea where the pile of signed books had gone to so I had no proof.

If I had been thinking, I would have gotten my phone out and recorded the two who were doing it. Then I wouldn't be being called a liar by the owner of Carmichael's Bookstore.

 

[Spideyman]

You have no idea how much I wanted to! From where I was sitting, I would have had to 1) Jump over a barrier onto the stage or 2) Fight my way through the line of 2,000+ people. By the time I got up there to get my book, everything had changed and I had no idea where the pile of signed books had gone to so I had no proof.

If I had been thinking, I would have gotten my phone out and recorded the two who were doing it. Then I wouldn't be being called a liar by the owner of Carmichael's Bookstore.

You know what you saw and others did too. Glad you reported the incident and it might help prevent it from happening again. Trust Karma!

 

[AnnaMarie]

I had been thinking, I would have gotten my phone out and recorded the two who were doing it. Then I wouldn't be being called a liar by the owner of Carmichael's Bookstore.

That's what I do. After the fact I realize I should have recorded it. (whatever "it" happens to be)

 

[Dana Jean]

Aw hell no. I would have very loudly asked them why they were separating out those books. And I would have kept talking loudly and asked for the store manager!

 

[KProc]

Aw hell no. I would have very loudly asked them why they were separating out those books. And I would have kept talking loudly and asked for the store manager!

It didn't take place at a store. It took place at an amphitheater that sat 2400 people. Nobody was going to hear me.

 

[Machine's Way]

You have no idea how much I wanted to! From where I was sitting, I would have had to 1) Jump over a barrier onto the stage or 2) Fight my way through the line of 2,000+ people. By the time I got up there to get my book, everything had changed and I had no idea where the pile of signed books had gone to so I had no proof.

If I had been thinking, I would have gotten my phone out and recorded the two who were doing it. Then I wouldn't be being called a liar by the owner of Carmichael's Bookstore.

Its a shame really, and that's just what you SEEN. If it was happening that blatantly I can only imagine how many people got shorted out on a chance of a signed book. But Like I stated before, I truly believe this happens at all the events where books are randomly inserted, but done with a bit more caution than the people handing them out at this event.

 

[RichardX]

I liked the George Mason "golden ticket" event a couple years ago. They randomly put signing tickets in with your regular tickets. People knew in advance whether they would get a signed book or not. It is a factor for a lot of people given the time, expense, and aggravation of travel. Everyone attending with a hope of getting a signed book and then most not getting one can result in a lot of disappointment. If you know in advance whether you are getting a signed copy, then you have all the information beforehand and can decide whether it is worth the effort. I would sort of expect the book store to pull a few signed copies for the employees or local customers. They probably don't get paid a whole lot and it is a nice perk for the time and effort of these events. There are pictures of King signing copies at the PA event. So I wonder if the book store gets a few extras for that very purpose?

 

[Moderator]

Or perhaps the solution is to not sign any. Then only the people who are truly going to these events to hear him speak would be attending and they'd still get a book even if it is unsigned.

 

[king family fan]

Or perhaps the solution is to not sign any. Then only the people who are truly going to these events to hear him speak would be attending and they'd still get a book even if it is unsigned.

After hearing him,I must say it would still be worth it.

 

[Moderator]

I liked the George Mason "golden ticket" event a couple years ago. They randomly put signing tickets in with your regular tickets. People knew in advance whether they would get a signed book or not. It is a factor for a lot of people given the time, expense, and aggravation of travel. Everyone attending with a hope of getting a signed book and then most not getting one can result in a lot of disappointment. If you know in advance whether you are getting a signed copy, then you have all the information beforehand and can decide whether it is worth the effort. I would sort of expect the book store to pull a few signed copies for the employees or local customers. They probably don't get paid a whole lot and it is a nice perk for the time and effort of these events. There are pictures of King signing copies at the PA event. So I wonder if the book store gets a few extras for that very purpose?

Yes, copies signed for staff who are helping are over and above the 400 he signed to be distributed at the event. He doesn't do a set number--it varies with each store.

 

[Spideyman]

Or perhaps the solution is to not sign any. Then only the people who are truly going to these events to hear him speak would be attending and they'd still get a book even if it is unsigned.

If it is the journey in reading a book, then it is the experience of hearing SK in person at an event. The book is an added factor. Signed, unsigned, no book at all. Just the factor of seeing him and hearing his thoughts and insights is enough.