13 August 2010 Last updated at 04:55 ET

Why book signings are becoming such a performance

By Mario Cacciottolo BBC News

Barack Obama held book signings before he became US President

People attending Tony Blair's book signing will be subject to a list of strict instructions as to what they can and cannot do. But why should a book signing be so controlled?

Roll up, roll up, come meet your favourite author and tell them how much you enjoy reading their work.

But if it's a big name in showbusiness, or a former politician with a controversial past, then you'll probably have to wear a wristband and leave your mobile phone at the door.

You also won't be able to ask for a personal dedication to be written in the book you've just bought, nor will a photograph with - or of - your hero be possible. In fact, the only proof you'll have of being in the same room as them is their autograph, scribbled down as you were hurried past their desk.

Not all book signings are like this, of course, but many events are now introducing such restrictions. This is particularly true for those attending former prime minister Tony Blair's appearance on 8 September at Waterstones' flagship store in Piccadilly, London.

Those planning to attend have been "strongly discouraged" from bringing any bags, backpacks or briefcases along.

All purses and mobile phones will also have to be handed in. Those who purchase Blair's memoirs, entitled A Journey, will receive a wristband which entitles them to queue to have their book autographed by the former prime minister.

Time is tight

A spokesman for Waterstones said the store was expecting "many hundreds of people to attend" and that it was "working to ensure as many people as possible get to meet Mr Blair and get a signed copy of A Journey on the day".

"This is why it sadly isn't possible to do dedications. All arrangements are standard practice for high profile books and public figures and are similar to those used at previous events, for example with Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton, both of whom have signed their respective autobiographies at the same store in recent years."

Graeme Neill, news editor of The Bookseller, says such restrictions are chiefly a matter of logistics.

"When Bill Clinton came to London in 2004 to do his book signing, there were 1,000 people who showed up. If 500 turned up for Blair, and he spent 30 seconds with each, then he could be there for four hours. From the store's perspective, it's about a need to get as many people through as possible.

"Handing your mobile in is also to cut down on people asking for photographs or stopping the queue moving while they take one."

Unwelcome attention

Unsavoury incidents at previous book signing events have also increased the need for tighter controls.

Tony Blair's wife, Cherie, held a signing session in 2005 for her book The Goldfish Bowl

X-Factor winner Leona Lewis was punched by a man while she signed books at an event last year, and Madeline Albright, former US secretary of state under Bill Clinton's administration, was carrying out a signing in Oxford in 2007 when a man approached her desk and spat fake blood over it.

In the film Borat, Sacha Baron Cohen famously tried to stuff Pamela Anderson into a bag. Although that was fiction, it was certainly an indication of the dangers of meeting the public - for some celebrities at least.

But Mr Neill says the rise of the internet and its effect on the world of book sales is driving up demand for signing events in general.

"Book market people are passionate about particular authors. No-one is going to turn down the opportunity to meet an author who wrote a book they adore. And that's the one thing websites selling books at cheaper prices can't ever offer."

Indeed, Jon Howells, of Waterstones, said the company holds hundreds of book signings every year.

"The interest in signings has certainly risen and risen over the past decade, with figures famous on the world stage joining more traditional authors in putting themselves in front of readers," he says.

"The amount of events in bookshops has probably remained at the same very high level for the last few years, but there has been a marked increase in the number of book festivals around the country."

Author antics

Plenty of authors have much less restrictive book signings, such as Conn Iggulden, author of Dangerous Book for Boys and the Emperor and Conqueror series.

He recently invited all the members of the online forum from his personal website to his publisher's offices, to meet him and get an early copy of his proofs for his latest work. They all went down the pub afterwards.

Stuart MacBride says the public should be entertained at book signings

Meanwhile, Janie Hampton, author of How the Girl Guides Won the War, recently did an unusual book signing - she sang to 900 Girl Guides, as well as signing and personalising copies.

Scottish-based crime author Stuart MacBride, best-known for his series of Logan McRae detective novels, draws cartoons in people's books and happily writes dedications.

He says people should be entertained when they attend a signing.

"I had never been to a book signing before I became an author. So I thought you had to stand up, tell stories that make you look like a twit and make people laugh.

"It's not about selling books, it's about meeting readers. It's our one opportunity to get out and meet people. And if you have dedicated a book to someone, then you know that person wants that book and loves that book."

And although book signings are primarily about the fans, spare a thought for the hazards endured by the authors, not least on their egos.

One popular author of a famous detective series tells the tale of how there was once a long queue to meet him. After quite a wait a particular woman got to the front.

She looked hard at the author, then at his picture on the back of the book and eventually said: "Crumbs, you take a good photograph, don't you?"

A selection of your comments appears below

I saw "The Fonz" at a book signing in W H Smith's in Manchester recently. His signing was in marked contrast to that in the report. He smiled, stood up to meet everybody, shook their hands and was happy tp pose for photographs with them. He actually seemed to be enjoying meeting the people who were buying his book. Obviously the likes of Tony Blair and other "celebrities" consider that sort of behaviour beneath them. The answer is simple; stop buying their meaningless pap and ignore their book signings.

Jim Chadwick, Manchester

I've been to book signings with other celebs and authors before where there have been similar restrictions imposed. These restrictions are imposed by their management or the stores concerned not at the request/suggestion of the author themselves. They are hugely frustrating for fans/readers but are obviously put in place purely to speed up the number of people who can get signed copies. When I failed to reach the front of the queue in the given time slot for signing, Sir Alex Ferguson actually apologised to me for the arrangements and actually signed a piece of paper I had - despite being told he was only allowed to sign books purchased in the store itself.

Mg, London

As an author, albeit a virtually unknown one, I think that meeting your readers and spending more than a few minutes with in is a major part of a signing. I worked at the bookstore where I signed and a was present at many. All the people who had the chance to talk to the authors enjoyed it much more than if they had grabbed a signed book from the author and been hustled off. I have some books signed and dedicated to me by their authors and they are proud possessions. I thank those writers for taking the time to chat and dedicate that copy.

Steve P, Whitehorse, YT Canada

How much of this is Blair's ego? I was at the Peter Mandelson signing a couple of weeks ago down the road from where the 'Blair Bonanza' is going to be held, and found that Lord Mandelson was very amiable and willing to spend a moment or two chatting with the person whose book he was signing.

Ben, London

I would take the view that if these so-called celebs and their minders want to impose petty restrictions then they can do without my presence. I would rather not pander to their vanity and feelings of self importance.

Ashley, Cumbria

I met Jeremy Kyle at his book signing, he was happy to chat with us for a few moments and let us get a photo taken with him. I'd have been diappointed if it had just been a case of "Hello", sign the book, "Goodbye".

M, Glasgow