TITO SANTANA BOOK SIGNING IN PA.
- 08/24/2008 (5:50:37 pm)
- Georgiann Makropoulos
WITH PHOTOS….
Tito Santana Wilkes Barre, PA Barnes and Noble Book Signing Friday 8/22/08
It was a low turn out, 20-30 fans showed to meet Tito Santana. He signed the books, still photos (many taken from the old Scanton CYC days), a DVD and Tito Santana packaged figures. Barnes and Noble management hoped they would see at least 100 fans which would purchase the books the management ended up having to buy from Tito himself. (Due to apparent financial problems, Sports Publishing LLC was apparently sold and employees let go. Due to no communication from the publisher to Barnes and Noble and Tito Santana the store could not be supplied in time or resupply Tito himself.) Tito recieved an initial shipment of almost 300 books which did sell quickly at autograph shows, other book signings and phone orders. The worst part was Sports Publishing said they would begin promoting in the local areas where Tito Santana would make appearences. This was not the case. But Sports Publishing was not entirely to blame for the low turn out in Wilkes Barre. The management of the WB Arena Hub Plaza Barnes and Noble and myself at www.titosantana.net contacted local media (tv news, radio, newspapers) to promote the event weeks before, but our calls were apparently ignored. So the cause was "poor promoting" although Barnes and Noble in store, and extensive internet promoting were apprently not enough.
Though local Luzerne County newspaper the Times Leader did place a small add the day of and a reporter from Citizen's Voice did show to take photos of Tito with his fans. All and All the event turned out very nice. The store management was absolutely ready and courteous to Tito and myself. I entered the store a day before to meet with management, to explain I would represent Tito Santana and discuss his signing area.
I arrived at 6:30PM with my family to meet Tito, management was finishing setting up his area. Tito arrived at about 6:50. At first it seemed only one young fan arrived that kinda worried me since he was traveling 90 minutes to 2 hours for this event. But after he arrived and sat down in his signing area (the book store announced his arrival over their ceiling speakers). His fans appeared out of the wood work. A line started with about a dozen. I immeditely had photos taken with my relatives then he met with his fans. One fan said to me concerned if Tito would charge for signing other items than his book. We would find out but I doubted he would. I know other wrestlers charge for more than one item and photos.
Tito Santana is the nicest down to earth class individual you can imagine. Every autograph report from fans and wrestlers themselves always say he is the coolest/nicest wrestler there is. He did not take one cent though fans had to take their autographed book "Tales From The Ring" to the store registers to buy for $20. He thorougly talked with fans about his wrestler career, local Scranton CYC days from the WWF years, called him El Matador many times. He talked extensively about his football career as well.
I even pulled out a dvd (on my portable dvd player) I put together of his early years and everyone, including Tito watched with definite viewing interest. Local wrestlers from a Scranton promotion classic professional wrestling stopped by to hire him for a few show, purchase his book and photos taken with. I was glad it was not entirely a poor turn out, not a sell out but enough to satisfy his trip back to Wilkes Barre for the first time in 15 years. The last time Tito Santana appeared in Wilkes Barre was July 1993, his last WWF TV taping at the Wilkes Barre University Marts Center.
David Frederick
www.titosantana.net
The three photos I included in this report:
- (Promo Photo) Tito Santana puts a double headlock on the management of Wilkes Barre Barnes and Noble
- (CPW_Tito) Tito Santana talks to CPW "Classic Professional Wrestling" wrestlers The Rage(big guy) & Mr. Saturday Night about appearing for them at Scranton CYC in September.
- (Tito_Youngfan) Tito Santana puts a sleeper on a young fan
David Frederick
www.titosantana.net
The three photos I included in this report:
- (Promo Photo) Tito Santana puts a double headlock on the management of Wilkes Barre Barnes and Noble
- (CPW_Tito) Tito Santana talks to CPW "Classic Professional Wrestling" wrestlers The Rage(big guy) & Mr. Saturday Night about appearing for them at Scranton CYC in September.
- (Tito_Youngfan) Tito Santana puts a sleeper on a young fan
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