Before I explain, this will be as last minute to you as it was to me. On Tuesday, September 25, the Saturday morning WRAL program Smart Start Kids will most likely be filming a segment at Sluggers, introducing kids to a batting cage. I say most likely because I have to find the kids that will appear on the show in the next, oh, two days. So, if you're interested in seeing your baby on TV, here's what I'm looking for. 1. The show features children between the ages of 3-5, though I feel I can't include three year olds in this. They need to be able to swing a bat. That said, if you've got a three year old that would stand a chance of hitting a slow-pitch softball pitch, let me know. 2. I have some stipulations on diversity that are requirements of the show. I can't simply have five white boys out there, of which I could find plenty. In other words, I need a girl or two and a minority or two. I need a total of five kids. As of 9:30 on Wednesday night, I have two white boys who are maybes, pending the time it is filmed. 3. Here's another tricky part I just referenced. The show will film at either 11:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday the 25th. I will know an exact time by the end of the week. 4. Probably obvious in all this is that the parent would have to pull their child out of either daycare or kindergarten if they attend either of these and bring them to Sluggers. The actual segment that will air will probably be no more than 7-10 minutes. It will show the kids hitting in the batting cage and seeing how the machines work. If there is time, they may also film some footage on the playground or showing the kids playing catch or fielding ground balls. If you don't mind, email me at the address below or call if you are interested in having your child participate. I truly apologize for the time constraints, both in the time of day it will film and in giving you two whole days to let me know. As I said, it is last minute for me too. Thanks again, Denton Lee III Sluggers dlee3@nc.rr.com (919) 989-3000
Hey i think thats great for Sluggers and hope it goes really well for you. Am wondering..and maybe its because i havent had much sleep in the last month but what does the Smart Start Kids have to do with Sluggers? Is it like an introduction to a physical activity, getting kids out of the house and doing things and the like? I guess ive just always referenced the Smart Start to schools and education so thats why im wondering.
I've never seen the show, but in talking with the producer of the show, they typically go to a business of some kind and have a short segment introducing kids to different things. Recently they've gone to a bowling alley and a bakery, for instance. I think the majority of the show will be filmed at a local school or preschool. As for how this all happened, I could tell you I had nothing to do with it, but it absolutely appears that I did. The producer, a lady named Phyllis Parish, is good friends with my wife's mother, who is the director of programming at WRAL. Apparently they were chatting one day and the topic of my business came up. Phyllis simply thought it would make an interesting place to film, and she called me up this week. So even though I didn't pursue it, it falls under the category of "not what you know, but who you know."
