Event Name:
Sweetgrass Author Event
Date:
March 23, 2024
Time:
12:00-6:00 PM
Venue:
North Charleston Convention Center
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Event Space:
Exhibit Hall B & C
Event Schedule:
Registration | 10:00 AM
Volunteer Check-In | 10:30 AM
Event Begins | 12:00 PM
Event Ends | 6:00 PM
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More Info:
Event Name:
Rain City Author Event
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Date:
Sept 21, 2024
Time:
12:00-6:00 PM
Venue:
Seattle Center​
Event Space:
Exhibit Hall
Event Schedule:
Registration | 10:00 AM
Volunteer Check-In | 10:30 AM
Event Begins| 12:00 PM
Event Ends | 6:00 PM
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More Info:

Will tickets be available at the door?
If tickets show available online up to the day of the event, any remaining tickets for sale will be available at the door. If Eventbrite shows sold out, no tickets will be available.
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Are there any other events planned such as an after-party?
Please see each individual event website for information regarding additional on-site events.
Are masks required to enter the event?
At this time, no masks will be required to enter future Southern Belle Events.
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What COVID precautions will be in place?
Currently, no masks or test results will be required to enter our upcoming events. We don't foresee the need to add any extra precautions but will play it by ear based on the current news. We're moving forward with no major requirements in place at the current moment.
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What time should we get there?
We like to suggest that the line begin forming 2 hours prior to each event. Truth be told, we’re fangirls. We get it. We attend events, and we’re 200% guilty of getting in line way before the host suggests it. We’ll leave that decision entirely up to you but if you could hold off until approx. 2 hours beforehand, we would positively love that.
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Can we park on-site if we aren't staying at the host hotel?
Yes! Please reference each individual event page/website for info on discounted parking available.
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Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?
Photo ID will not be required to check in at the event. The only exception will be attendees who arrive without a ticket visible via print or phone. Any child 13 years old or younger will not require a ticket. Any attendee over the age of 14 will require a ticket to the event.
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Is my ticket transferrable?
Yes, tickets are transferrable. We do not require that the name shown on the ticket matches the attendee checking in.
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Will there be any models in attendance?
No models will be in attendance. It’s not that we don’t love them and adore the event hosts that choose to host models; we just prefer to keep the focus on the attending authors and vendors at our events.
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What can I bring to the event?
Attendees may bring any item into the event to be signed. We highly suggest paperback/hardback copies of your favorite books by the attending authors, although we commonly see canvas prints, apparel, e-reader cases, scrapbooks, and more.
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Are wagons allowed for carrying books at the event?
Yes, wagons and carts are allowed. We do ask that attendees please be respectful if bringing these items and don't "run over" other attendees. No one likes a bumped heel or flattened toe, right?
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What payment forms will be accepted at the event?
No tickets will be available for purchase at the event for entry into the signing unless otherwise noted. If tickets do appear to be available on event day, cash or card will be accepted at registration. Once you've entered the event, each author will have their own table and with that table comes their own policies, payment acceptance, etc. Most authors will accept cash or card. If bringing cash, we suggest bringing small bills ($1.00, $5.00, $10.00) as many books are priced between $10-20.
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Should I bring books from home or do I purchase them at the event?
Why not both? We suggest both. Do you have a specific title or cover you REALLY love and want to make sure you leave with it signed? Bring it with you. Many authors offer pre-orders for the event to also ensure that they have the title you're looking for but pre-orders do close approx. 1 month prior to the event. All authors will have many of their releases with them at their table, so don't feel like you can't purchase without a pre-order. Of course, we always recommend venturing around the room to meet new-to-you authors or titles. You can! We love, love, love that you've attended the event to meet your favorite authors but who knows, a brand new author might be your next obsession.
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Is there a limit to the number of books I can bring and/or have signed?
No and no. No restrictions will be placed on the number of books you're able to bring to the event. It's all about what you can carry (safely!) or roll. The closest you'll find to a restriction will be regarding ticketed tables. If you're approaching a table that has a ticketed line, we do ask that you request one wristband for each set of 10 books by that specific author. Not sure what that means? We've gotcha with a full explanation here.
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How can I contact the organizer with any questions?
All questions or concerns may be directed to Southern Belle Events via email at events@southernbellebookevents.com.
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What's the refund policy?
Tickets are not eligible for a refund. If you find yourself unable to attend, we highly suggest posting in the Facebook attendee group for your specific event to sell your ticket personally.
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Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
Tickets may be printed or visible on your smart device. We'll simply need to see the barcode on your ticket to scan.

Over the years and through a ton of trial and error, we've used a ticketing method that helps the movement in the room and ensures that each reader can use the time during the event wisely. We don't want a reader to come and stand in 1 line for 2 hours. So we do our best to resolve that issue by ticketing the lines that may have more than 10-15 readers consistently throughout the event. By ticketing, it gives the reader a placeholder of a sort to allow them to wander the room and visit other authors while waiting for their number to be called. Not all authors will be ticketed. In fact, most will not; however, we're always ready to ticket if needed.
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So how's it work? Well, let's talk it out.
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When entering the event space, the first 10-15 readers at a ticketed table will be allowed to stay put. Beyond those 15, you'll find a volunteer placed at the end of that specific line with color-coded and numbered bracelets. For example, red will be Cherry, baby blue will be Hart, etc. The bracelets will also show what number you are in that line, so it will read as "Cherry 12" or "Hart 46", etc. If you do not see a volunteer handing out bracelets for that line, there is no ticketing in place for that author currently and anyone can walk up.
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As you approach, the volunteer will hand you a bracelet. You don't have to necessarily put it on but pretty please don't lose it since that is your placeholder for that author. If you lose it, you'll have to get another and that's a bummer.
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Once the initial 10-15 readers have reduced to approx. 5 attendees, the volunteer will notify an event host or Lead Volunteer, who will then update accordingly (more on that below!) with the next set of 10-15 numbers in the sequence. When those 15 reduce to 5 once again, we'll call up another 15. From that point, it's rinse and repeat for the remainder of the event. If you're in another line when your number is called, don't stress. Your number is valid from any point up to the highest number currently called. Ideally, if the lines are flowing correctly, the numbers called should be pretty close to accurate. For example, though, let's say you've got a bracelet of Cherry 24. You get busy sorting books or talking to buddies and you don't realize that Brittainy Cherry's line is up to 40-50. You're 100% okay to get in line, as most numbers will have already been through. When you get to the line, the volunteer will check your number, and voila! Good to go.
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You’ll find postcards at registration, as well as signage down the line and in the event space. On these products, you’ll find a QR code. Scan that code with your phone and boom, the line status updates will appear in your hand. This QR code will lead you to a page on the event website with the ticketed lines shown and their current range i.e. “Cherry 1-60”, etc. As lines update throughout the day, simply refresh the page for the most up-to-date line status. Behind the scenes, we use a very simple Google Sheet to maintain lines. We know that weird things happen on the internet so you’ll also find a link on the postcard/signage that will take you directly to the viewable sheet in Google Drive. If you're familiar with our events and have attended in the past, you're probably thinking, "But what about the monitors?" The monitors have now been replaced with the digital-only format. It’s the same info as what you would have found on monitors throughout the room, just hopefully a bit handier for everyone. This ensures that if you want to run to your room, grab a bite to eat, or simply go rest in the lobby for a few minutes, you're never out of the loop.
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A ticketed author will have a limit of 10 books per number. If you have...say 30 books for Toni Aleo to sign, you'll need 3 bracelets. The bracelets will be handed out in breaks of 10, so you would receive #14, 24, and 34. This will allow the line to continue flowing as normally and easily as possible. Also, pre-orders are not counted in that limit since you will pick those up directly from the author. If you arrive at a table that is not ticketed, there's no book limit on that table at the current moment.
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The authors who will be ticketed at each event will be announced on the respective pages approx. one month prior to signing day. If an author you're really excited to meet is shown as a ticketed author, we would suggest entering the event space and going directly to their table in order to get the lowest possible bracelet number you can. Grabbing a bracelet ASAP once the doors open will ensure that you don't have to worry or stress about it for the remainder of the event. Some authors that are ticketed from the beginning may not need line control throughout the event. If they catch up with the numbers that have been handed out and stay caught up for a number of minutes, we'll open their table as a free for all like the other authors. If we find that their line begins to grow, we'll make the decision to add ticketing to their line once more. If an author that was not ticketed in the beginning has a consistently long line and we feel it's in the best interest of the readers to start ticketing, we'll absolutely do that. The biggest point of all of this crazy wordiness is that we want you guys to enjoy your time. We want you to walk away with a smile on your face because you met your favorite authors. Not 1-2. Not 5-10. We want you to meet as many as possible in the timeframe allowed, and we'll do what we need to do to make it flow seamlessly for you.
