We are now in the middle of a quiet signing week. Traditionally a short week after a holiday weekend tends to be stagnant as far as signings go (especially with the Yankees on the road). While there isn't much action I am spending much of my time prepping product and coming up with ideas for what will surely be a crazy two weeks (starting Friday). I know the above seems like a cakewalk but surprising to most..it isn't. As you know from reading this forum there are always time constraints and often piece count restrictions on the signings (especially the public appearances) With that in mind I spend much of my day monitoring sales as to know what we absolutely need and also brainstorming ideas about what we should have... and what we need on certain athletes to hold us over until the next signing. Then when it comes to the public appearances it is necessary to monitor the store's sales as well...which is far from an exact science since we have been getting huge walk-up sales of late. Those of you who have been to some of our publics know that we generally get the athlete there early to try to knock out some of our private items. Ideally this is the best scenario for everyone involved since usually once the public is over the appearee is ready to yabba dabba doo. This usually becomes more difficult with our "after the game" signings. A lot of times we have current players sign after a day game...just like the Nick Swisher signing from last week. We put down a tentative time of 5:30, 6:00 but it generally begins somewhere between 6:30 and 7:30. Those days it is virtually impossible to get any private pieces done before the public and even more difficult to get it done when you are approaching 9:00 at night. It is a fine line to walk and not as easy as it seems... somehow though we have been doing it for years and all usually gets resolved by hook or by crook within a day or so (for example after we finished the Swish appearance he ended up coming up to our office the next day to sign the private items).
With all of the above in mind here is a quick rundown of the next few signings.
Friday night we have Davey Johnson appearing at Last Licks Scarsdale at 6:30. I am expecting this to be just as great as the Doc Gooden signing there last month. I grew up not far from that location and am really trying to keep the Met thing going there. Davey is an awesome guy and a must-have autograph for any avid Mets collector.
Then on Saturday, after the game, we have K-Rod: Francisco Rodriguez signing at the Steiner Store (Roosevelt Field Mall). On the whole K-Rod thing- I had no idea the guy was this nasty. He has one of the sickest curves I have ever seen. He has an unblemished save record thus far donning the Mets uniform and has already become a fan favorite (when was the last time a Met reliever was this popular?) I do not get very excited for these signings anymore but I am incredibly pumped for this one.
As of now Sunday seems like an off day as the Yankees return Monday for a seven game homestand. I have a gut feeling (and some knowledge) that next week will be the busiest in recent memory (with a ton of Yankee signings and appearances)...but that is a story for another post.
Enjoy your day! Great effort Livan! Let's Go Mets! Go Lakers!

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