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A little help with the party?
Tuesday, Mar 13, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller * Several people were frustrated when tickets for my charity event sold out in just 13 minutes. As I’ve already told you, I’m turning 50 later this month, so I’m hosting a charity roast of myself to benefit Lutheran Social Services of Illinois on March 31st. After the tickets sold out so quickly, Maggiano’s Restaurant expanded the room so we could fit another 110 people, but those tickets sold out pretty fast as well. Tickets were only offered to subscribers, they weren’t cheap and the event is being held in Chicago, so some people just couldn’t go. * Therefore, we’ve decided to hold another party in Springfield. This one will be less expensive and, like the Chicago event, will benefit Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. The party date is Wednesday, March 28th. Boone’s Saloon is the location. It’ll start after session ends that day and will run until they kick us out. We’ll have a band and a DJ. Cash bar, of course, and some finger food. This event won’t be a roast. We’ve been kicking around a few ideas for the theme, decorations, etc., but we’re starting to run out of time, so I was wondering if you had any ideas. While the Chicago party is more exclusive and “upscale,” like the subscriber Fax, we’d like to make this party more “interactive,” like the blog. Any help would be appreciated. Your ideas, please.
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- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 8:18 am:
Oh, it’ll be a roast. Probably more of a traditional Springfield behind-your-back roast, but still a roast.
- 1776 - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 8:21 am:
Repost the details for Maggianos. Time and date. Thanks
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 8:23 am:
1776, it’s March 31st. Cocktails begin at 6. Dinner served at 7. Program starts at 7:30.
- gathersno - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 8:26 am:
Great news that there will be a Springpatch version! We assume details will be forthcoming.
- CircularFiringSquad - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 8:28 am:
How about we line up the “just friends” and crowd gets to vote….like a “Springfield’s Got Talent Nite”
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 8:34 am:
Nice idea Rich! I suggest for the first 48 attendees (4 dozen)a “gift” … cannoli
- transplant - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 8:35 am:
Luau. Then it’s still kind of a roast.
- Esquire - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 8:35 am:
Ask Sheila Simon to perform a lengthy banjo recital for the assembled guests when it is time to clear the room.
Happy Birthday!
- TCB - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 8:37 am:
Since Springfield is mostly country bumpkins & hill people, we should probably rent a mechanical bull & have a cow chip tossin contest in Boone’s big beer garden. That will surely attract a large crowd
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 8:37 am:
===How about we line up the “just friends” and crowd gets to vote===
How about we skip that one? lol
- amalia - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 8:39 am:
videotape the Chicago event!
- mark walker - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 8:44 am:
Talent contest? Oh, never mind.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 8:44 am:
Have a picture (poster-size) of you, and for $1, you get to write the “caption”. The winner gets the picture of you, signed.
All money dontated to write the capiton goes to Lutheran Social Services of Illinois.
- Bee - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 8:46 am:
You could have a Barnyard Bash at Boone’s! A pig roast with cole slaw and baked beans, finger foods could include meatballs and chicken wings. You could do your own version of a pig calling contest, but make it a legislator calling contest. Blue ribbons for winners of the Horseshoe Awards, red ribbons for caption contest winners. Pie eating contest between Dem staffers and GOP staffers. The possibility are endless!
- Dooley Dudright - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 8:48 am:
Have someone Scribble. Or Tweet. At both events.
And raise some extra bucks for charity via a donation-based “closed circuit” webcam….for those who cannot attend either — uhhhmmmm — soiree.
An early happy birthday to you, coach!
- unclesam - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 8:56 am:
Granted, there is only one Rich Miller…but I think it would be hilarious for a Rich Miller look-a-like theme for the Springfield bash. Goes great with beer, wine and spirits!
- OneMan - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 8:59 am:
Well instead of a roast, how about just some comedy or you could Springfield Session trivia such as
Which one of these is not an actual bill proposed this session…
Did this bill end up a member of the 100 club…
Have puppets re-create part of the Blago trial..
- OneMan - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 9:01 am:
Rod’s farewell address done as Rap/Opera/Country Music
- Irish - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 9:07 am:
Have name tags where one could put their blog name if they wanted. The4 name tags would have Rich one liners at the top, like “Bite Me”, “Your banned for life”, “Get a clue”. Then have an auction where the proceeds go to the charity. You could auction of a ” Speakers apple” a purple tie from the Gov., a banjo pick from the Lt Gov., a hairbrush shaped like a football, they sell them in some sports stores. etc.
- Colossus - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 9:17 am:
OneMan: how about we get Rod Blagojevich, Superstar performed by puppets? Impossible idea, but now that I’ve thought of it, I’m sad that this doesn’t exist in the world.
Yet.
- well.... - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 9:17 am:
My ideas:
“Rich Miller’s Beard” brown fabric strips lightly spritzed with sambuca curtain entrance to the patio area.
A password to get in. Sell it to 5 people and then wonder why 50 pop up.
Party Sub. Speaks for itself.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 9:20 am:
Gotta have Dan Burke sing “Danny Boy”
- Shore - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 9:47 am:
will wordslinger be doing play by play of the chicago event?
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 9:49 am:
Somebody really should live blog the roast in Chicago.
- Fantasma - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 10:09 am:
I agree with Amelia. Videotape the Chicago event and play it in Springfield. Or heck, try selling the DVDs!
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 10:34 am:
If the Chicago event is videotaped, or even on the record, more than half the content being prepared will be dumped.
- Ace Matson - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 10:50 am:
How about a Mike Madigan look-alike and a supply of studio cream pies. For a donation of $25 one gets to hit him in the face with a cream pie. The problem is that he has such total power that no one would want to incur his wrath by doing this. That’s a big part of the problem in Illinois.
- Responsa - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 10:59 am:
Are you at all concerned it could turn into an Occupy! Rich Miller situation? They’ve been looking for a cause and a new venue lately.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 11:01 am:
I hope the Chicago event will include a Silent Auction of Rich Miller memorabilia as well as other political collectibles to benefit Lutheran Social Services of Illinois.
Rep. Feigenholtz donates lunch with hers truly to charities.
I’m sure folks would pay a pretty penny to go jogging with Tom Cross.
- The Captain - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 11:11 am:
It’s the Boone’s beer garden, you don’t really need a gimmick.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 11:18 am:
Auction off the “Rich Miller Experience”
For a Day, with Rich’s perview …
The winner picks the “Question of the Day”,
Gets to post a picture of their choice for a “Caption Contest”,
The winner get to post 2 “Illinois” stories in the media to be on the website to let others respond about in comments, and…
A “music” post of their choosing, to end their day.
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 11:24 am:
Get a couple of giant post it pads, put them on easels, write a QOTD or put a photo for captioning above each, everyone writes their comments, as each sheet fills, it is posted on a nearby wall.
Best comment for each gets a prize; worst overall gets to drive Rich home.
- Gregor Samsa - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 11:25 am:
Bring a fog machine and make the bar a “smoke-filled room”.
Elvis Himselvis and/or a Blago impersonator to circulate.
Purple-striped-tie table runners.
Poes’ chicken and porkchop catering for the food.
Write a Quinn press release using a giant madlibs board.
Table-top turtle races, each turtle named for a reform bill.
Karaoke contest: bring your own CD and change the song lyrics to political topics. Or just pick ONE song for use by everyone: you each contribute just one verse. Best verse wins. It could become the new Alice’s Restaurant Massacree. You could find one person to sing them all for you, maybe Gus Gordon would do it.
Miller vs. media trivia contest: anyone who gets three wrong answers gets a bucket of water dumped on them.
- Kasich Walker, Jr. - Tuesday, Mar 13, 12 @ 11:42 am:
Have each guest read their prepared written statement — minimum 100 words — comparing and contrasting the synods of the Lutheran Church.
Rich picks the statement to which to adhere.