Post by Dan Michaels on Feb 11, 2006 17:20:29 GMT -5
Hey Folks!
I hope that this finds you well and out of the snow! As was posted, Torrie Wilson and Booker T. appeared at the Motor Trend Int'l Auto Show last night (02/10) at the Baltimore Convention Center.
Dave and I arrived at the convention center at 12:00pm. to find about 4 people in line for Booker. He was scheduled to begin signing at 2:00pm. For some reason, Dave (while I was walking around and checking out the Classic Shelby Mustang display) decided to tell one of the guys in line that he and I are planning on going to No Way Out for the usual hotel/restaurant adventures as well as Poughkeepsie/Trenton. When I returned so that Dave could walk around, I was bombarded with questions about where the wrestlers stay, work out, etc...
This guy even flat-out asked me for my phone number so that he could give me a call. I don't know about you, but I get uncomfortable with that. Needless to say, I politely declined and also wanted to kill Dave for opening his yap. Sometimes he absolutely cannot help himself. Ironically, he gets like car buffs when they all get together and tell glory stories and such.
Here is something else that shouldn't have amazed me, but did. The same guy that asked me about my number had tote bags FULL of figures, photos, cards, etc. He actually had copies of his product lists with prices and every time a new person got in line, he would distribute his list in case anyone wanted anything to get signed. He obviously knew (from going to previous signings) that there would probably be nothing provided, aside from generic mats, to get signed. I thought that took some big time brass! Let's face it, the guy was going to sell what he got signed, did he REALLY need to get even more? I don't know, maybe that's just me.
Booker arrived right on time and people were immediately told "one item and one item only." I suppose that this was because Booker and his people saw the first few people in line with countless items. However, when I got up to Booker, I applied a little strategy. I asked Booker if he could personalize my photos and he gladly signed my two photos. When I do this, they realize that I have no intentions of selling the items and are more liberal with their signatures. He was also gracious enough to pose for two pictures with me.
Something funny..."Phone Number Boy" tried to get back in line several times and apparently the Rep. from the auto show found out that he was selling items in line and was tearing him a new one right in front of everyone. Good for him!! HERE HERE!!!
Booker's line was EXTREMELY short. Mostly, due to the day and time. Kids were still in school and everyone was mostly at work.
Torrie, however, was a different story. Her line was HUGE!!! I would say close to 250-300 people came out to see her. That may not sound like a lot, but for the Baltimore CC, that was GREAT!
I decided to go up front and watch the first few people to see what rules were being enforced (Torrie's people were different from Booker's). The first people in line were a mother and son. They were definitely "different" and she put EIGHT things in front of Torrie and she signed every one of them!! Next, her son got four! Well, I thought, by that that things looked pretty good. Torrie looked beautiful as always. I got up to her and she signed all of my photos. She posed for two pictures (at different times) and was EXTREMELY cordial. They cut the line off in quick fashion.
All-in-all, it was a GREAT experience meeting two VERY professional superstars.
Photos coming Tuesday (02/13).
Next report from an event (No Way Out/Poughkeepsie/Trenton) should come Tuesday (02/21).
GB,
Dan
I hope that this finds you well and out of the snow! As was posted, Torrie Wilson and Booker T. appeared at the Motor Trend Int'l Auto Show last night (02/10) at the Baltimore Convention Center.
Dave and I arrived at the convention center at 12:00pm. to find about 4 people in line for Booker. He was scheduled to begin signing at 2:00pm. For some reason, Dave (while I was walking around and checking out the Classic Shelby Mustang display) decided to tell one of the guys in line that he and I are planning on going to No Way Out for the usual hotel/restaurant adventures as well as Poughkeepsie/Trenton. When I returned so that Dave could walk around, I was bombarded with questions about where the wrestlers stay, work out, etc...
This guy even flat-out asked me for my phone number so that he could give me a call. I don't know about you, but I get uncomfortable with that. Needless to say, I politely declined and also wanted to kill Dave for opening his yap. Sometimes he absolutely cannot help himself. Ironically, he gets like car buffs when they all get together and tell glory stories and such.
Here is something else that shouldn't have amazed me, but did. The same guy that asked me about my number had tote bags FULL of figures, photos, cards, etc. He actually had copies of his product lists with prices and every time a new person got in line, he would distribute his list in case anyone wanted anything to get signed. He obviously knew (from going to previous signings) that there would probably be nothing provided, aside from generic mats, to get signed. I thought that took some big time brass! Let's face it, the guy was going to sell what he got signed, did he REALLY need to get even more? I don't know, maybe that's just me.
Booker arrived right on time and people were immediately told "one item and one item only." I suppose that this was because Booker and his people saw the first few people in line with countless items. However, when I got up to Booker, I applied a little strategy. I asked Booker if he could personalize my photos and he gladly signed my two photos. When I do this, they realize that I have no intentions of selling the items and are more liberal with their signatures. He was also gracious enough to pose for two pictures with me.
Something funny..."Phone Number Boy" tried to get back in line several times and apparently the Rep. from the auto show found out that he was selling items in line and was tearing him a new one right in front of everyone. Good for him!! HERE HERE!!!
Booker's line was EXTREMELY short. Mostly, due to the day and time. Kids were still in school and everyone was mostly at work.
Torrie, however, was a different story. Her line was HUGE!!! I would say close to 250-300 people came out to see her. That may not sound like a lot, but for the Baltimore CC, that was GREAT!
I decided to go up front and watch the first few people to see what rules were being enforced (Torrie's people were different from Booker's). The first people in line were a mother and son. They were definitely "different" and she put EIGHT things in front of Torrie and she signed every one of them!! Next, her son got four! Well, I thought, by that that things looked pretty good. Torrie looked beautiful as always. I got up to her and she signed all of my photos. She posed for two pictures (at different times) and was EXTREMELY cordial. They cut the line off in quick fashion.
All-in-all, it was a GREAT experience meeting two VERY professional superstars.
Photos coming Tuesday (02/13).
Next report from an event (No Way Out/Poughkeepsie/Trenton) should come Tuesday (02/21).
GB,
Dan