Books Bloom Seminars
First of all, THANKS for considering hosting a seminar!
WHAT IS A BOOKSBLOOM SEMINAR?
Most of the time, BooksBloom is at state or regional homeschool conferences, where our mini-bookstore of over 5,000 carefully selected books is a favorite booth. A BooksBloom seminar is an opportunity for booklovers to gather for a more informal time with Gary and Jan and their wonderful books. We enjoy these smaller, more intimate settings as an opportunity to teach and interact with book lovers and homeschoolers in a less busy atmosphere than that of a homeschool conference.
At a BooksBloom Seminar you will receive:
- Winning arguments that flaunt the modern ideology which esteems only electronic media
- Affirmation for your own love of books through interaction with other bibliophiles
- Instruction on how to develop your own cost-saving resources for procuring good books
- Encouragement to cultivate a dynamic home library that meets the needs of your family
- Determination to rescue as many books as possible and boldness to proclaim, "any book worth reading is a book worth keeping!"
- Honorary membership in the Book Rescue and Adoption Society, which legitimizes any and all booking!
HOW MUCH TIME IS NEEDED?
Our preferred time frame is a Friday evening through Saturday mid-afternoon or another weekday evening and next-day morning. However an afternoon and evening is an option. It takes us 2-3 hours to set up and 2-3 hours to tear down, so it is most comfortable to have a two day span of time, but we have condensed it into one day enough to know it is possible: Incredibly fatiguing, but possible.!
HOW MUCH SPACE IS NEEDED?
We need at least 3 10' x 10' spaces, which translates into many different configurations - a double car garage, a long, wide hallway, a classroom, or the back of a church. We are flexible... though our book cases are not! Since we bring in the 42 book cases with a two-wheeled dolly, we also need access to the space WITHOUT using an elevator or stairs.
WHAT IS THE COST?
Though we would love to offer a free seminar so folks would be able to spend their hard-earned dollars on books, we have learned that we must charge a fee. It seems that if something is free, people think it has no value!
We have determined that a charge of $25 per family, with a portion of that being a credit on book sales ($15 off a purchase of $50+) is a great bargain, yet it is enough to keep a commitment. This is the only fee we charge. There is no additional speaking fee.
HOW MANY ATTENDEES ARE REQUIRED?
Pre-registration makes life easier, because we really do need at least 25 attendees to make this a workable deal. Special incentives, like early shopping and a 20% discount on all books (in addition to the $15 off a $50 purchase), are offered for those having a paid pre-registration. Of course, same day registrations are fine, but we do need those first 25.
NOTE: each family counts as ONE pre-registration, regardless of how many of the family members attend the seminar.
HOST BENEFITS
Host families receive free registration with all the benefits PLUS a $5 book credit on EACH pre-registration.
SAMPLE SCHEDULE
See "Conference Speaking" page for workshop descriptions
Two Day Seminar
Day 1
Noon-2 Set up
3 - 6 Preview shopping
6 -10 Shopping
6:30 - 7:30 workshop
"Sailing on Living Light" (Jan)
7:45-9:00 workshop
"Keepers of the Books" (Jan)
"Gather 'Round, Children" (Gary)
10 PM Close
Day 2
8:30 - 9 Open for shopping
8:30 - 1 Shopping
9 -10 workshop
"Cradle to Grade: Giving your Child a Love for Books" (Jan)
"The Idiot's Guide to Building Bookcases" (Gary)
10:30-11:30 workshop
"HELP! I'm Failing!" (Jan)
"How to REALLY Love Your Homeschooling Wife" (Gary)
1 PM Close
One-Day Seminar
Noon - 2 Set up
3- 9:30 Shopping
3- 4:30 workshop
"Sailing on Living Light" (Jan)
5 - 6 workshop
"Books for Boys" (Jan)
"Gather 'Round, Children" (Gary)
6 - 7 Dinner break and book shopping
7 - 8:30 workshop
"Help! I'm a Failure! (Jan)
"How to REALLY Love Your Homeschooling Wife" (Gary)
9:30 Close
HOUSING
Gone are the days when Gary and Jan slept in their van in someone's driveway or in a church parking lot. These days our son, JJ, and his son, Spencer, travel with us, so we need space for four if a family hosts us in their home. Some groups have opted to rent a hotel room for the four of us.
CONTACT US
Email Jan