Whether it's live-streamed or in real life, there is an art to being a good attendee, writes Ruth Spencer
How to stand out without asking a cringeworthy question
There are two ways to quietly
stand out at an author talk. One is to be a superfan: if the author has merch, wear it prominently. If the author doesn't have merch, make your own. A T-shirt of the latest book cover is good, and you can sell them in the car park later; a tattoo of the author riding a dolphin is even better. Tweet a pic of the tattoo in advance, tagging not the author but the host of the talk. Hosts love to put authors in positions both flattering and awkward and they may even ask you to come to the stage. All it will cost is $300 for the tattoo. And your dignity.
The second is in the negative-attention-is-still-attention category: lean intently forward for the first 10 minutes, brow furrowed, hand poised over your lips. Then loudly sigh as you recline back in a despair of disappointed ennui. Your beloved author won't like you, but they'll be forced to notice you and may even nastily put you in a future book, which is a kind of triumph.
How to ask a question
If you already know the answer from seven printed interviews and a Reddit thread and just wanted to hear them speak to you, don't. If you don't know the answer but revealing that would make you look a bit thick, don't. If your question is funny but relies on perfect delivery and everyone hearing properly the first time, don't. If there's someone handing around a microphone, do calmly wait for it to arrive, but remember you'll then be very loud, so don't. Otherwise go for it (don't).