"Mingling" is the only party game I know.
June 2, 2010 8:39 AM Subscribe
I need some great activities and advice for a "book swap."
I am hosting a book swap later this month. The main event is, of course the swap itself, but I'd like to have a few activities planned to avoid folks just putting down their offerings, grabbing up what looks interesting and skedaddling off. We have no theme--the idea is simply to bring your old books of any topic to trade with others.
Details: I have 50 members in the group, but anticipate anywhere from 5 to 25 people to show up, so activities that flex in number of participants needed would be great. Looking for casual, somewhat literary games, but am open to any ideas. The venue is a local pub, so there will be alcohol and only participants that are over 21. Most of these folks are relatively well-read and adventurous.
I have a few prizes to give to any "winners," or I can just use them as door prizes. I am bringing Apples to Apples, and am willing to buy some other materials if I can keep it under 25 dollars or so.
Has anyone had one of these? What worked for you, or what were some things that did not work?
I am hosting a book swap later this month. The main event is, of course the swap itself, but I'd like to have a few activities planned to avoid folks just putting down their offerings, grabbing up what looks interesting and skedaddling off. We have no theme--the idea is simply to bring your old books of any topic to trade with others.
Details: I have 50 members in the group, but anticipate anywhere from 5 to 25 people to show up, so activities that flex in number of participants needed would be great. Looking for casual, somewhat literary games, but am open to any ideas. The venue is a local pub, so there will be alcohol and only participants that are over 21. Most of these folks are relatively well-read and adventurous.
I have a few prizes to give to any "winners," or I can just use them as door prizes. I am bringing Apples to Apples, and am willing to buy some other materials if I can keep it under 25 dollars or so.
Has anyone had one of these? What worked for you, or what were some things that did not work?
Best answer: Second time in two days I've posted this: Bananagrams? All the wordy nerdy fabulousness of Scrabble, without being player-limited or taking ages.
I think I would just use your prizes as something like door prizes. Apples to Apples is something where playing the game is much more important than winning, and I think Bananagrams is the same thing. Maybe see if you can bring a dry-erase or somesuch board and play a big game of hangman?
posted by Night_owl at 8:49 AM on June 2, 2010
I think I would just use your prizes as something like door prizes. Apples to Apples is something where playing the game is much more important than winning, and I think Bananagrams is the same thing. Maybe see if you can bring a dry-erase or somesuch board and play a big game of hangman?
posted by Night_owl at 8:49 AM on June 2, 2010
The key is to keep any games short, casual and easy to learn. In my experience, people show up to books swaps in waves and stay for widely varying periods of time, so there may be a lot of churn in the size and makeup of your group. Games that people can join midway through (or is friendly to late-arrival spectators) would probably be best.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 8:50 AM on June 2, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Narrative Priorities at 8:50 AM on June 2, 2010 [1 favorite]
Select an assortment of famous literary names, write them on slips of paper, and pin one to the back of everyone who comes to your gathering. The object is to guess who you "are" by asking questions of others. You are not allowed to ask "What did I write?" Questions are more along the lines of "Am I an English author?" or "Am I a woman or a man?" or "Did I write fiction?" It's a lot of fun and even those who may protest participating will enjoy it. You can adjust your selection of names to fit the interests or sophistication of the people who attend. Enjoy!
posted by Jenna Brown at 9:06 AM on June 2, 2010
posted by Jenna Brown at 9:06 AM on June 2, 2010
I've been running a book swap and board games event in Beijing for a while now--we celebrate our two year anniversary this Saturday!--and we have both longish games like Settlers of Catan, Monopoly and short ones like Apples and Apples and Carcassone. Scrabble is always popular, too!
posted by so much modern time at 9:07 AM on June 2, 2010
posted by so much modern time at 9:07 AM on June 2, 2010
Best answer: My friend hosts an "Anarchists' Book Club" which is essentially a book swap, tipsy book report, and at least a couple rounds of Celebrity. The game sometimes uses only literary figures--fictional, authors, subjects of biographies, what have you.
The "tipsy book report" part: Instead of just throwing books down on a table and grabbing, each person takes a turn and describes--favorably or unfavorably--the books they've brought to swap. Anyone else who's read it is free to join in to either sell or warn against the book.
The Anarchists' Book Club has been meeting monthly for about 10 years, I think.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 9:41 AM on June 2, 2010
The "tipsy book report" part: Instead of just throwing books down on a table and grabbing, each person takes a turn and describes--favorably or unfavorably--the books they've brought to swap. Anyone else who's read it is free to join in to either sell or warn against the book.
The Anarchists' Book Club has been meeting monthly for about 10 years, I think.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 9:41 AM on June 2, 2010
Costume contest -- dress as your favorite author. Sylvia Plath ftw!
posted by Madamina at 10:13 AM on June 2, 2010
posted by Madamina at 10:13 AM on June 2, 2010
Response by poster: Just ducking back in to this dead thread to thank you all for the great suggestions. The swap went off well, if not terribly well-attended. (20 folks--I would have liked 30.) Banangrams was terrific, and I plan on incorporating a few more of the ideas in our next one. Thanks!
posted by thebrokedown at 11:14 AM on June 25, 2010
posted by thebrokedown at 11:14 AM on June 25, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 8:48 AM on June 2, 2010