NKOTBHouston
A quick recap for our followers, our new followers, and any other interested parties:
I realized the Houston show was definitely going to be the last of the year and thought we should do something to thank the guys for all that they’ve been doing for us for the last two years.
Thank You signs seemed simple enough. Everyone could make one, people could be as creative or as simple as they’d like, and it would be easy to bring extras for those who don’t follow the NKOTB happenings online as closely as the rest of us. We also wanted to challenge people to bring extra books to help finish Joe’s book drive with the most books donated, so we found deals on where to get the most books for your buck! I started the Twitter account and within a few days had followers in the triple digits. Shortly thereafter, with people pitching in, we had nearly 4,000 signs printed & ready to go! People were sending messages about how they were bringing 20, 30, 40 books each! We did our best to keep this off of websites & Twitter until the show, so there would be an element of surprise. Well, surprise! Jon found out about us about a week before the show.
We knew we had to do something different and I enlisted a couple of followers to help come up with a new plan. After several different suggestions (you should have seen some of our brainstorming!) and exploring other options, we decided that candlelights would be our best bet, but we’d only have a few days to get the plan together. Knowing that Twitter was no longer ‘secure’ ;) we started an undercover Twitter account, @ThisIsTwar. It was there that we spread the candle idea to as many as possible in the days leading up to the show. All communication was via DM and hopefully kept under wraps!
Leading up to the show, it was hard to gauge how many people were going to participate. We asked people not to talk about it, so we didn’t get a huge response as to what people were going to do. The signs were planned for the end of the show, but during Joe’s ‘5 Brothers and a Million Sisters’, they were popping up all over. It seemed fitting. By the end of the song, signs were up around the entire venue.
As soon as Jordan started his speech for “I’ll Be Loving You Forever”, I saw the candles slowly popping up in the air. Looking out and seeing all of it come together, I was extremly proud that everyone had understood and took the time to make it happen. We ultimately accomplished our goal, to thank NKOTB for all that they have done for us. It was a small gesture, but one coming from so many made it huge…and I thank you.
I would once again like to thank those that helped - @hersheybear, @wizbiff, @jessicaca - for working the blogs and heading up the stealth account, @nkotbpinkangels for providing a spot to distribute the signs! To everyone who RTed and DMed and printing extra signs, picking up extra candles & donating extra books!
And to NKOTB for coming back and doing so much for your fans. I got to talk/meet with a lot of them who felt the same way I did, making this project especially rewarding.
P.S. Joe’s message said that Houston did put him over the 25,000 mark - I have no way of counting how many books you all donated, but if we increased that number by even a little, than we did what we set out to do! :)
P.S.S. - Twar is over! ;)
If anyone has any other questions, please feel to post or DM me. I’ll leave the account active…to remember the night & maybe plan a sequel? Who knows?! Hope you’ll keep following, as well. Thank you!
Additional Ideas
So we have to finish the final show of the Full Service Tour with a bang, right?
We’ve got Thank You signs…please continue to make those. We won’t be the first, but we will be the last! :)
We’re picking up extra books - can Houston finish the drive out on top?
So what else can we do? Here are your suggestions - Please put in your vote at the bottom and add any comments:
1. Crowd Singalong - this would require a little help, but we get the entire crowd to sing a song to the guys. Some have suggested:
- Please Don’t Go Guys
- Sweet Caroline - a favorite from Fenway Park
- I’ll Be There
2. Flowers - thrown onstage at the end of the show. This one might not work in the logistics of Texas heat and general proximity to the stage, but a nice thought!
3. A different message on the back of the signs. We already have a lot of Thank You signs created - could we add another special message to the back? Ideas so far:
- We GOT This!
- The Letters N, K, O, T, B in different sections to spell out the group name across the amphitheater.
- Let’s Continue This!
4. Arm bands/Bracelets of a certain color
5. Large, thick paper sign that could be rolled out at end, possibly with signatures or list of names - or just a note to send to @NKOTBHouston Followers’ page to show who it’s from.
6. Balloons - handed out at the beginning and at a designated point when the guys are offstage, everyone blow up the color-coordinated balloons and have some signs that say something like “Let’s Keep This Block Party Going!” or “Don’t Let The Block Party End!”
Let’s Carpool This!!!
Are you looking to hitch a ride with some Blockheads to Houston after the Dallas show?
Post your ride requests or offers here.. But always remember.. this is the internets.. and you’re doing so at your own risk. The @NKOTBHouston team cannot be held responsible for rides gone bad.. :-/
If looking for a ride - post your twitter name and your request..
If you’re offering a ride - post your twitter name and how much room you have in your car..
From there people can contact each other on twitter.. or simply reply below in the comments section.
It’s all about Blockheads helping other Blockheads.. :-)
The Book Drive - Ideas
- Amazon is having a buy 3 get 1 free sale on books starting as low as $2.99! Buy through this link —-> click here to get to Amazon <—— and the affilliate proceeds will all be donated to LetsGetThis.org
- Dollar Tree Stores also have brand new childrens books for $1 and there appears to be TEN stores in the Houston Area.
- JoAnn’s Craft Stores also have brand new books for $1. Check the website for locations near you! (Thanks Kristina!)
THANK YOU TEMPLATES →
Feel free to use the Thank You templates on this link.. Or send in your own to nkotbhouston@yahoo.com !
Our Mission (should you choose to accept..)
Words could never express just exactly how much gratitude we as fans feel for the guys.. But maybe a sea of the same words on signs.. at their last show could give them idea..
WHAT? So.. we are trying to get as many attendees to the July 18th, Houston concert to hold simple THANK YOU signs.. all at the same time. The signs should be on a small 8.5” x 11” of posterboard (or regular paper) to assure that security won’t take them away. Or as someone suggested you could even do it on a pillowcase so it can be folded up and stuffed in your bag til the end.
WHEN? We do not want to inturrupt the show.. so please hold up the signs immediately after the “WE WILL ROCK YOU” portion of Hangin’ Tough.
WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO? If you can bring extra signs to hand out to people at the show that would be AWESOME. Also - if you could pick up extra books for Joe’s LETS GET THIS FOUNDATION BOOK DRIVE that’d be great too. We’d love for Houston to go out with a bang! More ideas will be posted soon.
