Barnes and Nobles performances and signings

[THEATRICAL100]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 10:18am

So, obviously you have to purchase the album/whatever merch they are selling in order to have them sign it. Does anyone know if they do photos or anything like that? Thanks.

[hanabana]

Posted: 6/7/13 at 1:28am

Bumping this! I'm thinking of going to the Cinderella event at Barnes and Noble next week, but I won't be able to get there until at least 3:30 pm. I saw on Barnes and Noble's website that they start handing out passes for the event at 9 am, does that mean I won't be able to get in at 4 pm? For these Barnes and Noble events, how early do people usually show up? It would be disappointing if I went and could not get in.

On another note, I just found out Kinky Boots had an event last Friday too, I'm so bummed I missed it! Stark Sands is one of my favorite male singers on Broadway, and I was sitting home doing nothing on that day too... Out of curiosity, since these kind of events are usually on weekdays, are most people who attend, students? I just imagine it would be hard for people who work till 6 or 7 pm.

[NicoleMWright2]

Posted: 6/7/13 at 2:05am

I've gone for the Peter and the Starcatcher, Merrily We Roll Along, and Carrie events. For ...Starcatcher, there was a discussion/Q&A with the leads and Rick Elice (so pictures were welcome there) and Carrie there was a performance (and again, pictures allowed). Merrily was a listening party and then they introduced the cast and Mr. Sondheim and Mr. Tunick one-by-one to go onto their little stage/platform for press photo ops before they sat at the tables to sign.

So, to my knowledge, you can take pictures of what's happening, but when you go to the tables to get your items signed, then it might be tricky as they're trying to get the most amount of people through the line as quickly as they can. But all three of my experiences have been pleasant.

As for timing, each of those events were different. Some had a line out the door, some had a row or two of empty seats. There has been a variety of people attending from my observations.

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 6/7/13 at 7:53am

I have attended several Barnes & Noble events. There is a direct correlation to 1. what time you should arrive 2. how important the event is to you personally and most importantly 3. WHO is the feature of the event.

I attended the Follies signing which Stephen Sondheim attended and signed with the entire cast. For that I got there early in the morning for the late afternoon event. The line was crazy long and not everyone was admitted. Then I've attended smaller lesser known events and you could almost walk in the room after it already started and hope it would still be going 20 minutes into the event.

The bigger the guest or performance/show...the longer the line. Higher profile...get there earlier.

BTW - they are usually strict about the need to purchase at the store. For higher profile events they even want the receipt present however if the store is out of the CD/DVD/book (yes stupidly they don't plan well) then they have allowed outside merchandise brought in. However rarely will they allow anything but the specifically promoted item to be signed. No additional memorabilia, etc

[hanabana]

Posted: 6/13/13 at 8:59pm

Thanks for your responses~ I decided not to go to the Cinderella event, since it was supposed to pour this afternoon. I didn't think that traveling for 1.5 hours into the city would be ideal in this weather, and I wouldn't have been on time for the event either. Sometimes I wish that I lived in Manhattan! But I'm just happy to be in NY and so close to Broadway~ (And it is so cool that Stephen Sondheim attended the Follies event! I could just imagine the enthusiasm of the crowd.)

Thanks again!

[ArtMan]

Posted: 6/13/13 at 9:44pm

Went to Mathew Morrison at B & N Tribeca. Got there at 5:30, Starting at 6:00. There were only about twenty people in line before me. You had to buy the cd there in order to get the wristband to enter the line.

[KH****]

Posted: 7/1/18 at 6:18pm

Hello! I know this is an old post but I am interested in going to a Barnes and Noble event later this month and was wondering what it entails from anyone who has been to one. I know that to get in you have to buy a CD that day from 9 am on, but do you have to stay once you have bought the CD or can you leave and come back? Would someone be willing to give me the run around?

[Danielle49]

Posted: 7/2/18 at 12:51am

KH**** said: "Hello! I know this is an old post but I am interested in going to a Barnes and Noble event later this month and was wondering what it entails from anyone who has been to one. I know that to get in you have to buy a CD that day from 9 am on, but do you have to stay once you have bought the CD or can you leave and come back? Would someone be willing to give me the run around?"

I've gone to a couple of book signings, but only one CD signing. Basically, if the artist/show is really popular, you'll want to get there earlier than 9 a.m. to grab a spot in line. For a Tom Hanks book signing, I got there over three hours early and the line was wrapped around the block. For The Band's Visit, I got there an hour before and there were only a few people there. Once they let you in, you can grab the CD/book/whatever and buy it. Usually they have them at the register for that day's event, but just follow everyone else. Most events are wristbanded, so once you buy the CD, they'll wristband you and you're free to come back right before the event. However, if there's a talk or performance happening, you'll want to get there early to stake out a spot, especially if the CD isn't presigned. For The Band's Visit, you bought the CD then after the performance, they handed out signed pamphlets that you'd replace your own with. Some artists will take photos, some will personalize autographs. Just depends on how much time the artist has.

[KH****]

Posted: 7/2/18 at 3:10am

I've gone to a couple of book signings, but only one CD signing. Basically, if the artist/show is really popular, you'll want to get there earlier than 9 a.m. to grab a spot in line. For a Tom Hanks book signing, I got there over three hours early and the line was wrapped around the block. For The Band's Visit, I got there an hour before and there were only a few people there. Once they let you in, you can grab the CD/book/whatever and buy it. Usually they have them at the register for that day's event, but just follow everyone else. Most events are wristbanded, so once you buy the CD, they'll wristband you and you're free to come back right before the event. However, if there's a talk or performance happening, you'll want to get there early to stake out a spot, especially if the CD isn't presigned. For The Band's Visit, you bought the CD then after the performance, they handed out signed pamphlets that you'd replace your own with. Some artists will take photos, some will personalize autographs. Just depends on how much time the artist has."

Thank you! The event I am interested in is in the afternoon. Do you think it would be smartest to go in the morning to buy the cd and get wristbanded and then come back before the event? or to stay in line the whole time? I am not expecting it to be crowded.

[Danielle49]

Posted: 7/2/18 at 3:37am

KH**** said: "Thank you! The event I am interested in is in the afternoon. Do you think it would be smartest to go in the morning to buy the cd and get wristbanded and then come back before the event? or to stay in line the whole time? I am not expecting it to be crowded."

Yeah, there's really no need to stay in line the whole time, unless it's a megastar. I think for Tom Hanks they made us stay in line the whole time, so I was there for a total of like 5 hours. You can probably scope it out after you grab your wristband though and see if people are jumping back in line right after buying the CD.

[KH****]

Posted: 7/2/18 at 4:06am

Yeah, there's really no need to stay in line the whole time, unless it's a megastar. I think for Tom Hanks they made us stay in line the whole time, so I was there for a total of like 5 hours. You can probably scope it out after you grab your wristband though and see if people are jumping back in line right after buying the CD."

Thank you for the help again!