Monday Morning Announcements: Let’s Get Happy!

Posted on May 11th, 2009 9:35am by Evan Grant
Filed under Contests and Promotions, Self-promotion, Texas Rangers

DISCLAIMER: If you are here for the information and analysis and get weary of self promotion, I must apologize for the following post. It is about our happy hour event at Pappadeaux’s in Dallas this evening and it’s part of trying to create a complete community for Rangers fans to feel engaged and welcomed. So, with that in mind. …

pappas21Technically, the Rangers are off today, except for the half-dozen who will be working the room at Pappadeaux in Dallas (3520 Oak Lawn) from 5:30  to 7:30.  This will serve as your final reminder of our event, which we’ve dubbed a “Home Run Happy Hour.” And it’s actually two – Two! – happy hours. Michael Young, Ian Kinsler and Marlon Byrd are scheduled to headline our little party. Scott Feldman has agreed to represent the pitching staff, which is due some applause after a huge turnaround since the first two weeks of the seasoan. Taylor Teagarden and Chris Davis will stop by, as well. And we may have another guest or two.

There is no real format for tonight. It was designed to be an opportunity for you to meet and mingle with the players and ask them your own questions in a low-key environment. That was the design. That was before the Rangers went out and stole away first place by going 5-2 on the road trip. It was also designed as a chance for you to meet the folks behind InsideCorner and the folks who have come to very quickly make this a great little baseball community. There is no admission to the event. We are simply hoping folks will stop by, have a beverage or an appetizer (or two) and maybe stick around to have dinner afterward. The format will consist of a couple of periodic short Q&As that I’ll conduct with the players, but in the perfect world, you’ll get to ask the questions you want on your own face-to-face. We’re not discouraging autograph requests, but we will try to limit them to one per player.

That said, I’ve been so tickled with the number of folks who have said they would be showing up, but we’re still trying to get a handle on what kind of party we’ve got on our hands. A number of people sent in informal RSVP’s when I touted this event last week. If you’ve done that already, great. If you havent and are thinking you might be showing up tonight, it would be great for us to know how big you expect  your party to be. All you’ve got to do in the comment section here is let us know how big your party might be. And if you think there is something you’d like me to ask the players in the Q&A, send it along as well. If you think you might want to have dinner after the event and talk some more baseball with me, the RSVP section would be a great place to let me know what size our group party will be.

Also, you will be able to get more info and buy some tickets to the Rangers Triple Play charity event this weekend at The Anatole. You won’t just get a half-dozen players there; you”ll get the whole team. We will have another post shortly about Triple Play. Quite frankly, most charity events I’ve been to are boring. THIS ONE ISN’T. The players get into the game show theme. They have fun. And the  auction items are pretty amazing. … I believe the Rangers will also have a ticket rep on hand just in case the desire to see the team overwhelms you.

kyleIn addition, we’ll have a few goodies for you. Among those is your chance to painlessly enter the Dr Pepper SportsSnaps Promotion that is part of the backbone of our sight. And for one night only, you can pose with our Dr Pepper SportsSnaps cover girl, Kyle Kearbey, for your entry photo.

For those who haven’t read up on the SportsSnaps promotion, you submit a photo of yourself enjoying a Dr Pepper, preferably at a sporting event, upload it to the site and you are registered to win a Family Four Pack of tickets to see a Rangers game, watch BP from the field, perhaps meet a few more Rangers and then cover the game with me.

If you need a sporting event as your backdrop, we’ll come up with an official shrimp-eating contest or something along those lines.

In any case, we are really looking forward to meeting you tonight. We hope you are excited, too.

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62 Comments to “Monday Morning Announcements: Let’s Get Happy!”
  • Greg @ May 11th, 2009 at 10:03 am

    If I wasn’t heading down to Austin right after work today I’d be there. Hope the turnout is good and everyone has a blast!

  • Jack Daddy @ May 11th, 2009 at 10:07 am

    Evan,

    I’ll be there. I think my nephew is coming too (who actually happens to be an outside sales rep in the Dallas ticket office, if anybody gets caught up in the first place fever), so it looks like 2 here.

  • David @ May 11th, 2009 at 10:18 am

    I will be there with 3 friends!

    Table for 4 please!

  • eddy andre @ May 11th, 2009 at 10:46 am

    table of 6 will be there

  • eddy andre @ May 11th, 2009 at 10:47 am

    does Young still want to be traded? what about the rumors to Boston?

  • Ehren @ May 11th, 2009 at 11:02 am

    @Evan: I will be there with my wife. We’ll also be there for dinner. (I know you’ve gotten plenty of RXVPs from me by now)

  • Ehren @ May 11th, 2009 at 11:02 am

    meant RSVPs…geez.

  • idiotbox @ May 11th, 2009 at 11:02 am

    I would love to attend, and to bring my 2 sons, however I wasn’t able to RSVP earlier because one of my kids has little league practice scheduled for tonight. Not sure that is going to happen since it is so wet outside, so assuming his practice is rained out, I’ll be there with my 2 kids.

  • eddy andre @ May 11th, 2009 at 11:06 am

    Evan
    how is this working? will the players be walking around? WIll you ask them to sign a ball when they walk by> Or will they be a t a table? Thanks

  • LC @ May 11th, 2009 at 11:07 am

    I’ve got 6 coming:)

  • Evan Grant @ May 11th, 2009 at 11:35 am

    @eddy: The plan is for a ****tail party type atmosphere. Folks can roam from one guy to the next. The idea was for players to be able to roam the room and folks to do the same. If it looks like the crowd is going to be huge, maybe we will station them in chairs around the room. … You are free to ask for an autograph at any point. But let’s not abuse this for the sake of collectibles.

  • eddy andre @ May 11th, 2009 at 11:43 am

    Oh I wasn’t going to do that I just wanted to know the process The crowd will be huge because Young is not out often. plus I want Michael to answer the rumors that Nick Cardofa wrote about Sox wanting Young, also can U ask why Jones a gold glover has not been playing center with Marlon in left
    looking to get my stadiumpicture signed not a dealer just something for my son

  • gordosan @ May 11th, 2009 at 11:44 am

    Sounds like a great evening. I would love to be there, but it is a long drive from Santa Fe.

  • Justin @ May 11th, 2009 at 11:53 am

    Me and a Friend for sure!!!

  • JJ @ May 11th, 2009 at 12:15 pm

    Evan, will this get together be taking place in a special room/area at Pappadeaux’s or is just gonna be spread out through the resturant?

  • Ryan s @ May 11th, 2009 at 12:34 pm

    2 people

  • jb @ May 11th, 2009 at 12:46 pm

    si, dos

  • cody @ May 11th, 2009 at 12:47 pm

    I will be there with 2 others

  • scooper @ May 11th, 2009 at 1:00 pm

    i’ll be there for dinner, too.

  • becca @ May 11th, 2009 at 1:11 pm

    i think about 5 will be joining me. but it’s ok, they are all baseabll fans.

    softball game cancelled from rain, so i’m sure i’ll stick around for dinner.

  • Wes @ May 11th, 2009 at 2:01 pm

    2 people

  • Dave S @ May 11th, 2009 at 2:15 pm

    Evan,
    eddy is right. The crowd is likely going to be huge with Young and Kinsler in attendance. There are a couple of local autograph club forums with hundreds of members that have been discussing this event. I doubt any of them that show up have sent an RSVP. This could be chaos without some sort of organization to the autograph aspect.

  • Todd @ May 11th, 2009 at 2:16 pm

    1 for the mingling

  • idiotbox @ May 11th, 2009 at 2:20 pm

    Well now that EG has announced the event on the Ticket (he’s on the radio right now), this could turn into something that is quite chaotic. I wanted to bring the kids, and hope they got something signed, but am thinking it might be too much of a beating now, finding parking, and all that. But I’m thinking it’ll be quite a nice event for Inside Corner, which is a good thing.

  • Kyle @ May 11th, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    2 people.

  • JJ @ May 11th, 2009 at 2:45 pm

    ya its been posted on Newberg and LSB and now the Ticket….this is going to be crazy

  • Ehren @ May 11th, 2009 at 2:55 pm

    Newberg, LSB and the Ticket???? so much for low key.

  • Tom B @ May 11th, 2009 at 3:13 pm

    I better stsy home and watch a ballgame.

  • CJ @ May 11th, 2009 at 3:47 pm

    @ Dave S
    Which forums are you talking about?

  • MA Gunter @ May 11th, 2009 at 4:16 pm

    I was a sad panda when I heard Evan announce it on the ticket. That said, I’m going to head up there in a bit and see how big of a circus it is.

    Oh, and I’ll be there alone.

  • Mick @ May 11th, 2009 at 5:12 pm

    Line is out the door.

  • MB Schultz @ May 11th, 2009 at 5:13 pm

    I will be there, just one.

  • idiotbox @ May 11th, 2009 at 5:32 pm

    turns out my kids’ ball practice wasnt rained out, so we wouldnt have made it anyways, but hope the inside corner regulars get in and enjoy themselves, as i have a feeling there will be many random people showing up who have never been by the inside corner blog.

  • JB @ May 11th, 2009 at 5:52 pm

    whats up with youngs derby hat?

  • The Ghost of John Rheinecker @ May 11th, 2009 at 6:14 pm

    a likely situation is that evan grant will be colossally embarrassed when one ranger fan asks him “do you write for baseball” and he responds “yes i am the famous evan grant”

    then the fan cries, echoing the sentiment of all mankind

  • Terry @ May 11th, 2009 at 7:56 pm

    Evan, Thanks for trying. There was no parking, so I had to park my car all the way over at Lee Park. Then walked up to a long line of autograph seekers waiting outside the restaurant. I was able to sneak up the back steps to at least see our heroes, but I must say I was pretty bummed. I was hoping for a chance to meet the players. Turned out to be another autograph party. Guess you are just too popular! Maybe we could try another event that lends itself more to meeting the players or at least hearing them talk in the future. You’re still the best. This one just went a little haywire.

  • JB @ May 11th, 2009 at 8:13 pm

    awesome night evan. thanks for putting this together. meant to thank you personally, but you were almist as popular as the players!

  • PlanoPete @ May 11th, 2009 at 8:14 pm

    I have to differ with Terry I got there with the kids about 5:15 we hung out about 20 minutes until Kins and MY got there and once the signing started then the line moved very quick. I think some kids went through multiple times It was great to meet the players in a casual atmosphere and talk to guys like Evan, E. Nadel, John Blake and others. Awesome event let’s do it again soon! I was sorry I had to leave but the squids were beating me down….Love me some Kyle Kearby…PlanoPete out

  • JB @ May 11th, 2009 at 8:16 pm

    @terry: there was plenty of parking in the garage right behind pappadeux… and this was much more than just an autograph session… many of the players were open to meet

  • eddy andre @ May 11th, 2009 at 8:43 pm

    There will never be a meet and greet, this is not the 60′s where the players always meet the fans, With hardly any access to the modern players, all events are usually like this. The meet and greet is a thing of the past. There is no such thing as meet the players even when u pay 350.00 a table so that is how it is now

  • eddy andre @ May 11th, 2009 at 8:46 pm

    Evan

    it was a great time
    thank you
    it was perfect

  • becca @ May 11th, 2009 at 9:09 pm

    i have to say, it was great. i met players, fellow commenters, d mag folks, the voice of the rangers…i am so happy this happened. it was great. the players were gracious. especially when young made the rookie sing happy birthday. all in all, great times. i hope more things like this can happen.

  • Little O @ May 11th, 2009 at 9:29 pm

    Couldn’t make it, the trip back from Round Rock took longer than expected. Hope to make the next one!

  • Dave S @ May 11th, 2009 at 9:38 pm

    I got there early, so parking wasn’t an issue and I really over estimated the crowd size. You made the right decision to have the players sit down for the autograph session before hand and it all flowed really well. As far as access to the players; it was the most access I’ve ever had. It was nice to have them just sort of mingle with the fans and take pictures and such. Everyone was very considerate and it wasn’t a constant mob around the players. Well done, Evan. I would love to be apart of the next one.

  • Julie @ May 11th, 2009 at 9:57 pm

    Thanks for having this event, we had a great time getting to see the players up close. Lucy (the infant in the carrier with the Rangers hat on) even got to shake hands with Chris Davis!

  • Fred @ May 11th, 2009 at 9:59 pm

    Evan–
    You’re already slipping. I’m going to Durrett before you. You were vey late on Hamilton’s 1st rehab.
    DMN site is a little fresher.
    Rise to the challnge!

  • becca @ May 11th, 2009 at 10:04 pm

    @fred: he’s been busy tonight!

  • Fred @ May 11th, 2009 at 10:14 pm

    The Hamilton 1st rehab was yesterday.
    No problem with his meet and greet tonight.

  • Spencer @ May 11th, 2009 at 10:24 pm

    Great job tonight…it was a blast and was very accessible and get to all the players for autos and pics. Got there about 5:00 and had no issues with parking and line was long as i thought it would be.

    Must do this again!!!!

  • becca @ May 11th, 2009 at 10:34 pm

    @fred: oops. well, i still blame the busy! have a happy first place texas rangers night!

  • scooper @ May 11th, 2009 at 10:46 pm

    I had a great time! Good job, Evan!

  • Little O @ May 11th, 2009 at 10:46 pm

    @Fred- Do you mean the first DMN post on Sunday at 3:04 p.m.?

    See you should have been reading the live blog here yesterday when I posted an update on his first AB at 2:22 p.m. :)

  • Fred @ May 11th, 2009 at 10:58 pm

    Little–I was talking to Evan, who posted much later. He’s my man, and I need him to be there. Don’t read many of the comments.

  • Mick @ May 11th, 2009 at 11:10 pm

    Evan, this was awesome! It was far more intimate than I thought it would be. The autograph line moved pretty fast, then we got a great Q-and-A with each player. I look forward to the next one.

  • Little O @ May 11th, 2009 at 11:15 pm

    @Fred- Just ribbing you a bit. I went down there today to watch him. He looked fine to me and other than bobbling that one ball to center seemed comfortable.

  • Terry @ May 11th, 2009 at 11:17 pm

    Guess I was at a different event than you guys were. I was there around 6:00 and there was no way to mingle with the players. They were in a huge autograph line. Guess they eventually got up from the tables? I should have showed up later, it sounds like? In any event, I am glad folks had a good time. But what I saw was nothing like what is described here. Good for them–bad for me.

  • Fred @ May 11th, 2009 at 11:17 pm

    Little-Good to hear.
    Thanks.

  • Jack Daddy @ May 11th, 2009 at 11:42 pm

    Was a cool event. Why is it that it’s so easy to get imtimidated by our heroes? I had a great talk with Eric Nadel (who I have been listening to since I was 7 and admire greatly – a true radio legend), chatted up Evan when he wasn’t going 100 mph (great job Evan) and felt completely at ease with him, spent 15 minutes having a chat with Jamey Newberg like he was somebody I’ve known all my life and again, somebody that I also greatly admire. But when I talked to Kinsler, all I could muster was “it’s an honor to meet you”. Huh? What the hell’s wrong with me? My wife couldn’t stop laughing when I got home. I would have given anything to get Byrd on video for 10 seconds saying hi to my boy (that would be Jack), since he’s his favorite player, but was too nervous to approach him (and I didn’t want to a$$ whip those guys by making them wait any longer in the line).

    We worship these players as heroes because they represent all our greatest aspirations and dreams and bring us so much happiness, but I enjoyed meeting the Grants, Nadels, and Newbergs just as much as the players. I think I like to keep the idea of my heroes preserved in my imagination the way that I have preserved it, and not peek behind the curtain. Does that make any sense?

  • Little O @ May 12th, 2009 at 12:08 am

    @Jack Daddy- Yep makes total sense. It’s a one way street, they don’t know any of us from Adam and we think we know all about them. Just turn the tables and imagine if someone came up to you and said how much they’ve enjoyed following you every day of your working life. Granted we don’t go to work in front of the public every day but the idea is the same.

    Just wait until you’re at least twice their age and see how much weirder it gets ;)

  • Ehren @ May 12th, 2009 at 6:52 am

    It was a great time. Unfortunately I didn’t meet any other bloggers.

  • eddy andre @ May 12th, 2009 at 8:33 am

    Terry nothing personal but this meet and greet is a thing of the past Like I stated I have paid 350.00 for a table and never met the players. If players are around it is going to be an autograph session. I was there at 3 becauase I knew what to expect. Evan stated autoraphs for the first 90 minutes, then q and a then a little mingle. I dont know how many u have been to but htis is how they usually work. Your statements about mingling are a bit unrealistic. I am not trying to offend you but they sound a little childish. It would have been better if the idiot woman Taunee Taylor from the Rangers had no put her two sense in. If they would have stood in the back room, people could have walked thru, satg and had dinner and asked questions. Anytime that woman gets involved she makes things worse. So you get htis at every event sorry

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