Sparks Agency

08/14/2024

Nominations are now open for the Texas Commission on the Arts 2025 and 2026 Texas State Artists in the following categories: Texas Poet Laureate, Texas State Musician-Nonclassical, Texas State Musician-Classical, Texas State Two-Dimensional Artist (visual arts), and Texas State Three-Dimensional Artist (visual arts). Any Texas citizen is able to nominate a living artist in any of the five categories and self-nominations are welcome. Y'all go nominate somone (or yourself!). https://www.arts.texas.gov/initiatives/texas-state-artist/

Our August newsletter is out, with news you can use, including:
✨ Nominations are open for Texas Poet Laureates, State Musicians, and State Artists
📝 TCA grant report forms are due soon, part of closing out the 2024 fiscal year (reports are online, no paper or pencil required)
📋 Take our short survey about the Texas Touring Roster
🎤 We're taking Poetry Out Loud signups
🎯 Our October Speaker Series on fundraising boards
🤸‍♀ And more!

See it all at: https://conta.cc/3yyToTu

Pictured: Top row, left to right: Gary Clark, Jr., 2023 Texas State Musician (photo: Frank Maddocks); ire'ne lara silva, 2023 Texas Poet Laureate; Gaspar Enriquez, 2023 Texas State Artist 2D; James C. Watkins, 2023 Texas State Artist 3D (photo: Bonni Oakes). Bottom row, left to right: Kelly Clarkson, 2024 Texas State Musician; Amanda Johnston, 2024 Texas Poet Laureate (photo: Cindy Elizabeth); Michael Ray Charles, 2024 Texas State Artist 2D (photo: Aarik Charles); Diana Kersey, 2024 Texas State Artist 3D (photo: Clara Lewis-Valero)

08/07/2024

We've been waiting for this all year, and it's finally here! The list of finalists for the Big Tex Choice Awards at the Great State Fair of Texas!

~ Whic ones do YOU think will be the will win Best Taste Sweet and Best Taste Savory?

https://bigtex.com/big-tex-choice-awards/

07/30/2024

Today is National Paperback Book Day. Here are a few of our TEXperts' favorite books about or by Texans!

~ what are your favorite Texas books?

07/23/2024

Our TEXperts have been working trend number FIVE for a while, providing fun, unique TEXpert Interactive Take-away Stations like a Lone Star Lids Cowboy Hats, a Lone Star Branding, a Texas Leathercraft Station, and our Texas Dry Rub Station. Let us know when we can help share a little bit of Texas with YOUR guests.

07/23/2024

Our little dillo boys are all grown up and are off to college. We are so proud of Speed Bump's son and cousin, Shelldon Bump and Dilly Nelson, as they are now enrolled at Yale University. Yes, THE Yale University! Their studies will be focused on Impregnation of Female Armadillos and Delayed Embryonic Implantation. As most college freshmen, I'm sure Shelldon and Dilly will get into their share of shenanigans, and we're looking forward to hearing from them soon.

07/18/2024

Any friends in Pflugerville/Austin who live at Park at Blackhawk, Lakeside Retreat, or Ridge...

Y'all go see some Armadillo Racing with Speed Bump & Crew and some fine Trick Roping with Doug Whitaker at the Blackhawk Roundup this Saturday, from 10:00am - 12:00pm!

07/02/2024

If you're looking for a great place in Austin to grab a cold one and listen to live music (for yourself, you and your friends, or your convention group), here are some options that Visit Austin, Texas recommends and our TEXperts support!

Participate in one of Austin's most popular pastimes - sipping on a cold local brew while enjoying live music. Grab a drink and watch the local talent at one of these Austin breweries or beer gardens.

06/27/2024

Speed Bump makes the news again! If y'all are at Q2 Stadium for an Austin FC game, be sure and say hi.

When he’s not being cheered on by thousands of soccer fans, you can find this lovable critter digging holes and swimming.

06/20/2024

Thankful Thursday! A sweet note from a fun event in Austin. Big thanks to TEXperts, Swift, Homer, Alex, and Khalid, for helping make this wedding weekend one to remember.

06/18/2024

06/18/2024

Looks like we made the news! Big thank you to Visit Austin, Texas and Meetings Today for highlighting us in their article about Group Offsites and Activities in Austin! Let us know how we can help YOU in Austin (or Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, or Houston!).

The “Keep Austin Weird” mentality of Texas’ capital city makes Austin a city unlike any other, with authentic local experiences as unique to the destination as its motto. Here are a few ways groups can experience Austin’s beloved “weirdness” themselves.

05/04/2024

Our TEXperts are normally sharing Texas with guests from around the world, but occasionally we get to share a little Shakespeare. Here is A Midsummer Night’s Dream that we put together for an 8th grade formal dance last night.

Shout out to Quest Events (drape), One Stop Party Shop (balloons), Sugar Kissed Balloons (greenery walls and 28 marquee numbers), The Green House, Inc, and 2 Hot Chics Custom Sign Shop (sun)!

04/10/2024

Just a few TEXperts handing out some cowboy hats in Cowtown.

02/14/2024

We’re here at Catersource + The Special Event today and tomorrow. If you’re here, too, come by and see us at booth 1443!

10/19/2023

At one of five TEXpert events tonight, Sparky and M.E. are handing out cowboy hats with a great view of downtown Cowtown to the right and the Stockyards to the left. Howdy, y’all!

07/18/2023

Hey Y'all! Check out the most recent TxACOM: Texas Alliance of Convention, Meeting & Event Operations Managers blog post by our very own TEXpert, MaryEllen Miller.

07/14/2023

We don't have a Threads account yet, but this article from Texas Monthly makes us want to get one just so we can follow McNay Art Museum! Our TEXperts are looking forward to a visit to the museum soon.

The San Antonio museum is delighting Texans (and finding new fans nationwide) on the new social media platform.

07/01/2023

Y’all come see us at Longhorn Harley-Davidson’s Freedom Ride, Rally & Bikini Contest. Speed Bump and his Armadillo Racing crew are here with EJ the Beer B***o and Chicken S**t Bingo.

04/25/2023

We celebrated our newest TEXpert, Skyler, and her 6 months with The Sparks Agency! A half-anniversary gets her half a cake with half a candle. And FULL gratitude from the rest of us.

04/15/2023

Howdy Y’all!

03/28/2023

We’re ready! If you’re at Catersource + The Special Event Conference and Tradeshow come see us in room 332! Thanks, Visit Austin, Texas, for the fun decor and can coolers!

03/27/2023

All set up and ready to go. Come see us in the Event Escape Room. We’ll be there all day, starting Tuesday at 8:30am. Visit Austin, Texas Catersource + The Special Event Conference and Tradeshow

03/26/2023

The Sparks Agency will be at Catersource + The Special Event Conference and Tradeshow this week in the Event Escape Room from Tuesday through Thursday. Y’all come by and see us.

Will we see YOU there?

03/25/2023

NASCAR has finally figured out that Armadillo Racing is the Sport of Kings! If y’all are at race weekend at Circuit of The Americas, go by and see Speed Bump, Swift, and Homer.

03/17/2023

Fun Fact Friday

Did you know that Shamrock, Texas, hosts the official St. Patrick's Day Celebration for the State of Texas?

Shamrock, a Texas panhandle community, has been hosting a St. Patrick's Day celebration since 1937. Read more about it through the Texas Historical Commission...

Sláinte, y'all!

In 1937, a Shamrock bandmaster named Glenn Truax had a grand idea to host a Shamrock St. Patrick's Day Celebration. By capitalizing on the town's Irish name,

03/02/2023

Join your favorite TEXperts and some of our best friends at the 2023 STEP Conference & Showcase this Sunday and Monday.
The two-day Conference will be filled with compelling education. The Showcase will feature 15 bands on two stages.

Don't miss LanceBattalion, Kristen Gibbs and The Watters at the STEP Showcase Sunday!! You still have time to join us for the action packed night of entertainment. Just visit www.steptexas.com/events for the full lineup and to register!

02/24/2023

Fun Fact Friday - Did you know our very own TEXpert, Sparky Sparks, was once a DQ Kid? True story.

Did you also know that all Dairy Queens across the country do not have the same menus? The Texas Dairy Queen Operators Council (TDQOC) has been on a constant mission since 1973 to help Texas Dairy Queens keep such delicacies as the Hungr-Buster, the Dude, and those ever delicious DQ Tacos on their menu. Texas Monthly explains further...

A stubborn and savvy group of franchisees turned the Midwest-based dessert chain into a Lone Star institution beloved for its steak fingers and Hungr-Busters.

01/27/2023

Celebrating National Fun at Work Day is easy (and every day) with these TEXperts!

01/23/2023

While Canadian Club is not a Texas whiskey, with a Drinkin' Texas Station at your event, our Tasting TEXperts can give your guests a side-by-side comparison with TX Whiskey, Garrison Brothers, or another spirit from the Lone Star State. Contact our office to book Drinkin' Texas at your next event.

DID YOU KNOW? - The legendary Merle Haggard once held the Guinness World Record for buying the largest round of drinks ever bought by one person – and it’s a record that stood for more than three decades.

The Hag set the record at Billy Bob’s Texas back in 1983 when he ordered 5,095 “C.C. Waterbacks,” a shot of Canadian Club whiskey with a water chaser, for patrons at the bar. Merle bought the shots in honor of his 28th hit song, “C.C. Waterback,” from his 1982 duets album with George Jones, A Taste Of Yesterday’s Wine.

The bar used around 40 gallons of whiskey for the round of drinks, and the bar tab for Merle’s massive order came out to $12,737.50 – or $2.50 each. (If he had bought the same round of drinks today it would have cost him over $40k).

But when the bar owner, Billy Bob Barnett, presented Merle with the check, he offered to buy the Hag a drink on the house – and Merle took him up on it.

Merle’s record stood in the Guinness Book of World Records until 2016, when a U.K. brewery bought 412 beers at a pub to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday.

A RIFF on what country is really about.

01/09/2023

You know you've had a TEXpert Event when all your guests' suitcases are lined up with cowboy hats!

Let us help you send your guests home with a brand new hat and a ten-gallon smile!