Have you tried handling the Paint event, and if the grid is empty, explcit draw your string there?
private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
this.gridDataBoundGrid1.SmoothControlResize = false;
}
private void gridDataBoundGrid1_Paint(object sender, PaintEventArgs e)
{
// test for empty somehow...
//if(empty)
{
RectangleF rect = this.gridDataBoundGrid1.Bounds;
rect = new RectangleF(rect.Left + 100, rect.Top + 100, rect.Width - 100, rect.Height - 100);
e.Graphics.DrawString("Choose from above...", this.gridDataBoundGrid1.Font, Brushes.Blue, rect );
}
}