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maisfeekaI just had the coolest night! I worked as a volunteer at the Harry Potter "Midnight Magic" night at my local Barnes and Nobles. (Did you read my heading? There are NO Harry Potter spoilers in this. NONE! So don't get nervous - I'm just writing about the night.
I got there a little after 6 and there were already a couple hundred people lined up outside the store to get wristbands so they could buy the book at midnight. I went in to get into a robe and witch's hat and by 7 PM was out reading selections from the first book in the children's section. Then from 8-9:30 I wandered the store as Professor Umbridge, handing out detention and taking points away from the various houses. It was particularly fun because one of the women who works in the children's section is a good friend and does theatre with me in the area. So she recruited a whole bunch of really good area actors to play the various parts. One of them said it was like being a rock star. We were swamped with kids wanting autographs and people taking our pictures, etc. I went out and walked the line a few times - we all tried to get out there for the people still standing out in the heat - and it was just a kick!
Took a brief break from about 9:30-9:40, then back to reading till just after 11 when they started sending people out of the store so they could line them up for the actual selling. We wandered the store for a while, talking to stragglers and chatting among ourselves. Then my friend caught me and asked if I would be interested in staying a little later. And when she explained I agreed eagerly.
So on the stroke of midnight they cut into the first box of books, pulled the very first one out, ran it over to me, and I began reading it into the mic. I'd found it kind of silly that so many people were waiting 6 hours before they could get the book, but when I got that very first one in my hands and opened it I almost got a little teary. It just seemed to be such a BIG THING.
So, I read for another hour - the first two chapters (STILL I ASSURE YOU I AM NOT WRITING DOWN ANY SPOILERS HERE!!!) - while they ran the most incredibly efficient line system I have ever seen. (And they had actually made it through all the people by 1!! Everyone was shocked.) I finished the second chapter and just sat there for a couple of minutes as the last few went through the lines, then reluctantly returned my copy to the counter and headed home. My very *own* copy will be delivered to my house tomorrow morning, though I have to admit, after having that taste of it I briefly considered buying the copy I had been reading and bringing it home to continue reading into the night! It's so easy to get caught up in!
Anyway, very, very cool night! :)
I got there a little after 6 and there were already a couple hundred people lined up outside the store to get wristbands so they could buy the book at midnight. I went in to get into a robe and witch's hat and by 7 PM was out reading selections from the first book in the children's section. Then from 8-9:30 I wandered the store as Professor Umbridge, handing out detention and taking points away from the various houses. It was particularly fun because one of the women who works in the children's section is a good friend and does theatre with me in the area. So she recruited a whole bunch of really good area actors to play the various parts. One of them said it was like being a rock star. We were swamped with kids wanting autographs and people taking our pictures, etc. I went out and walked the line a few times - we all tried to get out there for the people still standing out in the heat - and it was just a kick!
Took a brief break from about 9:30-9:40, then back to reading till just after 11 when they started sending people out of the store so they could line them up for the actual selling. We wandered the store for a while, talking to stragglers and chatting among ourselves. Then my friend caught me and asked if I would be interested in staying a little later. And when she explained I agreed eagerly.
So on the stroke of midnight they cut into the first box of books, pulled the very first one out, ran it over to me, and I began reading it into the mic. I'd found it kind of silly that so many people were waiting 6 hours before they could get the book, but when I got that very first one in my hands and opened it I almost got a little teary. It just seemed to be such a BIG THING.
So, I read for another hour - the first two chapters (STILL I ASSURE YOU I AM NOT WRITING DOWN ANY SPOILERS HERE!!!) - while they ran the most incredibly efficient line system I have ever seen. (And they had actually made it through all the people by 1!! Everyone was shocked.) I finished the second chapter and just sat there for a couple of minutes as the last few went through the lines, then reluctantly returned my copy to the counter and headed home. My very *own* copy will be delivered to my house tomorrow morning, though I have to admit, after having that taste of it I briefly considered buying the copy I had been reading and bringing it home to continue reading into the night! It's so easy to get caught up in!
Anyway, very, very cool night! :)
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Date: 2005-07-16 08:59 pm (UTC)When I read I used a microphone - both back in the little "stage" area in the children's section and up front as peeople started buying the books. It was very cool though!