What to take when selling books at a festival

Earlier this month, Grace and I were book vendors at the Oz-stravaganza (new name for the OzFest) in Chittenango, New York. We were fairly well prepared to spend two days out in the elements with our books. I am a chronic list maker; my list of "stuff to take" follows:

To support the sale activities:

• card tables - 2 tables are required: one for the sale items and one for the give-away flyers
• pens, pencils
• calculator
• a few envelopes
• paperweights (I brought a bag of rocks)
• shopping bags (I brought a bunch of plastic grocery bags and gave them to customers who asked for one)
• paper towels (to wipe off tables)
• a cloth towel or two (to deal with rain water, and because that's what we learned to take with us everywhere from the The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy)
• hand sanitizer / wipes
• large garbage bags to throw over items if it rains
• duct tape - you just never know
• shade / rain shelter - beach umbrella at a minimum if you don't have a tent canopy
• some eye-catching items to call attention to your table / area
  

A tent canopy is really an essential piece of equipment if you are going to be selling books outdoors. Rain is always a possibility.

For the seller's comfort:

• chairs
• sunscreen
• bug spray (especially if you are setting up in a grassy area)
• a bag to put trash in
• a cooler with water
• umbrellas, sweaters, hats