Freedom Concert Day
In a lot of ways, the entire summer had been leading up to yesterday.
Sean Hannity's Freedom Concert is probably his biggest event of the year. The idea started four years ago when they held the concert for the first time to raise money for the children of soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The day started out at 5:30AM when I woke up to catch a train to midtown. I joined the rest of the interns and workers at a parking garage where they keep the station's cars.
I hopped in a car with Ramsey, Lindsey, and Andrea. Ramsey and Lindsey are promotions interns, and Andrea works for the Curtis and Kuby show. We headed down the Jersey Turnpike, and started making our way to Jackson, NJ. The event was held at the Six Flags there, so a lot of people showed up to make an entire day of it.
Once we arrived, we started setting up the place up. We placed station banners, sponsor signing, and helping the engineers prepare the broadcast tent. We were given "All Access" passes to the park, which I'll talk about more later.
After a few hours of work preparing the park, people started to show up for the day, so we packed things up, and started setting up the t-shirt tent.
Yeah, we took a break, too.
Left to right is Jeff, Hannity's other intern. Ethan, who works in the newsroom, and Andrea.
Andrea demanded a picture of the guys as well...
After a morning of signing, sales, and a pretty danged good lunch sponsored by Ruth's Chris, the radio broadcast began. If you were able to hear the show Friday, there was a pretty long list of people to see. Sean is joined in this picture by former congressman Tom DeLay, and "The Great One" Mark Levin.
In between commercial breaks, those broadcasting would come to the fence, and talk to the 3,000 people who showed up in the bandstands.
In the next picture, you can get an idea of the people I work with. On the left with the blue shirt is "Sweet Baby James", Sean's producer. I've referenced him a few times in my blog. When the show is being run from 2 Penn, we assemble Sean's media packet.
Behind him in the cowboy hat is Elisha, the call screener.
Mark Levin, signing a book for a fan...
In the middle of the day, we had a couple days to ride some rides. Here was the pass we got:
It was great. Not only could we go anywhere in the park that we wanted to, but the rides were.... expediated. We got to skip all lines, and go on any ride we wanted, as often as we wanted. Here's someone we saw who REALLY enjoyed roller coasters.
VIDEO:
Before the concert began, I had a shift working the t-shirt booth. The promotions staff was sitting at the table, and were waiting for buyers. It was going pretty well, but wasn't really my thing. I grabbed Andrea, and told her that we were going to sell them on the road. A line had assembled, waiting to get into the show to see Sean Hannity, and their favorite country stars. What did our t-shirt have on it? Sean Hannity, and their favorite country stars. A captive line of conservative concert-goers who are star-struck, and brought cash with them in $20 incriments.
Yeah, we did $1,000 in sales. Win.
Finally, the concert started. I couldn't stand a bit of it, but Sara Evans' show was actually pretty good. Eh, country music wasn't my thing. I had my priorities set elsewhere... on the political guests.
VIDEO:
Yep, meeting Ann Coulter. You should have seen the crowd around this person. This was the best I could do for a picture. I met her later, and shook her hand, but she was the most in-demand person here.
I had a little more time to talk with Tom DeLay. He told me that it must be pretty amazing to intern for Sean Hannity. I told him that speaker of the house was way better, but thanks.
Meeting Mark Levin was pretty cool, too.
Finally, some fireworks to "end" the night. I say that loosely, because I still had 2 more hours to clean up, and another two hours to drive home... Long day, but a great day.
VIDEO:
Sean Hannity's Freedom Concert is probably his biggest event of the year. The idea started four years ago when they held the concert for the first time to raise money for the children of soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The day started out at 5:30AM when I woke up to catch a train to midtown. I joined the rest of the interns and workers at a parking garage where they keep the station's cars.
I hopped in a car with Ramsey, Lindsey, and Andrea. Ramsey and Lindsey are promotions interns, and Andrea works for the Curtis and Kuby show. We headed down the Jersey Turnpike, and started making our way to Jackson, NJ. The event was held at the Six Flags there, so a lot of people showed up to make an entire day of it.
Once we arrived, we started setting up the place up. We placed station banners, sponsor signing, and helping the engineers prepare the broadcast tent. We were given "All Access" passes to the park, which I'll talk about more later.
After a few hours of work preparing the park, people started to show up for the day, so we packed things up, and started setting up the t-shirt tent.
Yeah, we took a break, too.
Left to right is Jeff, Hannity's other intern. Ethan, who works in the newsroom, and Andrea.
Andrea demanded a picture of the guys as well...
After a morning of signing, sales, and a pretty danged good lunch sponsored by Ruth's Chris, the radio broadcast began. If you were able to hear the show Friday, there was a pretty long list of people to see. Sean is joined in this picture by former congressman Tom DeLay, and "The Great One" Mark Levin.
In between commercial breaks, those broadcasting would come to the fence, and talk to the 3,000 people who showed up in the bandstands.
In the next picture, you can get an idea of the people I work with. On the left with the blue shirt is "Sweet Baby James", Sean's producer. I've referenced him a few times in my blog. When the show is being run from 2 Penn, we assemble Sean's media packet.Behind him in the cowboy hat is Elisha, the call screener.
Mark Levin, signing a book for a fan...
In the middle of the day, we had a couple days to ride some rides. Here was the pass we got:
It was great. Not only could we go anywhere in the park that we wanted to, but the rides were.... expediated. We got to skip all lines, and go on any ride we wanted, as often as we wanted. Here's someone we saw who REALLY enjoyed roller coasters.VIDEO:
Before the concert began, I had a shift working the t-shirt booth. The promotions staff was sitting at the table, and were waiting for buyers. It was going pretty well, but wasn't really my thing. I grabbed Andrea, and told her that we were going to sell them on the road. A line had assembled, waiting to get into the show to see Sean Hannity, and their favorite country stars. What did our t-shirt have on it? Sean Hannity, and their favorite country stars. A captive line of conservative concert-goers who are star-struck, and brought cash with them in $20 incriments.
Yeah, we did $1,000 in sales. Win.
Finally, the concert started. I couldn't stand a bit of it, but Sara Evans' show was actually pretty good. Eh, country music wasn't my thing. I had my priorities set elsewhere... on the political guests.
VIDEO:
Yep, meeting Ann Coulter. You should have seen the crowd around this person. This was the best I could do for a picture. I met her later, and shook her hand, but she was the most in-demand person here.
I had a little more time to talk with Tom DeLay. He told me that it must be pretty amazing to intern for Sean Hannity. I told him that speaker of the house was way better, but thanks.
Meeting Mark Levin was pretty cool, too.
Finally, some fireworks to "end" the night. I say that loosely, because I still had 2 more hours to clean up, and another two hours to drive home... Long day, but a great day.
VIDEO:
posted by Brett at 2:56 PM
<< Home