Thought on Artist/Writers charging for Autographs...

[hedrap]

The organizers of Comic-Con International, also informally known as San Diego Comic-Con, have gotten rid of the event's four-day badges, according to the official website.

Those who wish to attend all four days of the pop culture convention will have to buy individual tickets for each day. In order to be eligible to buy a ticket to the event's Preview Night, attendees will have to purchase tickets for all four days. Those who have bought tickets for all days of the event can have them consolidated at the event.

In addition to the elimination of the four-day badge, the cost of attendance has gone up from 2013. Single-day badges for adults cost $35 for Preview Night, $45 for Thursday-Saturday badges (up from $42) and $30 for Sunday (up from $24). The cost of attending all four days and Preview Night in 2014 is $200, up from last year's four-day badge plus Preview Night, which cost $175. U.S. military, seniors and minors pay a discounted price, and children under the age of 12 can get in free with a paying adult.

There is no way on god's green earth you can get through SDCC, in any way, shape or form, in one day. You would miss at minimum two-thirds of the unique offerings. And that's before the San Diego costs.

[Boy_Wonder_1978]

Personally I'm all for the lesser known and smaller part actors charging for a signature, but the bigger names that don't need the cash should be giving something back to the ones that put them where they are in the first place. The most I've ever paid for an autograph is $150 for Mark Hamill to sign a poster. I thought it was steep, but it was the only way I was going to add his signature to a multi signed item. Considering I paid Carrie Fisher and Anthony Daniels $50 each at the same show.
Some actors are quite reasonable for what they charge, but still, do they need the cash?

[monitor_ep]

In most cases yes they do. Most of the actors who go to these conventions are no longer acting and this is how they make there money to pay there bills.

[huedell]

...but that's not either here nor there in this discussion.

Apply the above sentiment to the issue overall.

Forget capitalism---it's just illogical from ANY angle to dictate when someone has made "enough" income.

Maybe Neal Adams has ten ex-wives----maybe he collects pricey Beatles memorabilia---to think he has (or doesn't have) enough money is an inherently baseless thought.

[Allie Fox]

Tom Wilson (although an comedian/actor) sings about this:

[Blue Meanie]

Apply the above sentiment to the issue overall.

Forget capitalism---it's just illogical from ANY angle to dictate when someone has made "enough" income.

Maybe Neal Adams has ten ex-wives----maybe he collects pricey Beatles memorabilia---to think he has (or doesn't have) enough money is an inherently baseless thought.

Nothing to see here...move along. BTW, great way to take that quote out of context. I think you just like to hear/read yourself sometimes. Your smarter than everyone here...blah blah blah.

[Random Axe]

People can charge whatever they want for whatever they want to sell. Artists are no different. I choose not to purchase autographs or sketches from 99.9 percent of them, so I speak with my wallet on that topic. I completely agree that ebay was the game changer for artists, and they are more than deserving of whatever supplemental income they can make. Berto stood in line for George Perez to do a Shazam sketch for me and probably paid a decent dollar for it. I cannot possibly thank him enough for that, but Perez is one of those masters who you don't have any reservations handing money over to for his work or signature. This is a man who truly appreciates his craft and his fans, so the thought of buying a small piece of him is an easy decision. I wouldn't pay for a Leifeld sketch with pocket lint. I am obviously rambling here but here' my shot list of those I'd pay good money for a commission piece or autograph:

George Perez
Alex Ross
Jose Luis Garcia Lopez
Kevin Macguire
Walt Simonson
Neal Adams
John Byrne
Bart Sears (yes, I know I'm his only fan)

There may be others, but those immediately come to mind. It's obvious I've left out most of the popular contemporary artists. The ones listed have a much deeper, personal meaning for me that the Image era crosshatch, no background pinup playboy pencillers of the 90's. At this point I'm not eve sure what my point is. I guess I'm saying I'd pay for the right person and wouldn't begrudge anyone making a few xtra bucks to take care of their families.

Oh, and Berto, that piece hangs in the center of my room and I stare at it daily. It is my most treasured piece of my Shazam shrine along with the Jackson Bostwock signed photo Chris and Tom got for me.

[monitor_ep]

I have a few Perez autographes myself (mostly TT) but this was before the internet so I got them rather cheap. I do have a great Alex Ross I got again pre-internet but that did cost me a little. I have so many stars autographs I have lost count. I have no problem paying for autographes, it is how the pay there bills.

[Random Axe]

I reserve autographs for those I consider truly outstanding talents and those who greatly entertained and influenced me. I have only four currently, but they are personally meaningful. I have the Geroge Perez signed sketch, an Alex Ross litho signed, Jackson Bostwick and a Chris reeve Superman. That's it. There are others out there I just have never had the opportunity, but given that and the funds I'd not hesitate to pay for one. And since I have no interest in resale I'd like to have them personalized, especially if I could get Arnold.

Oh yeah, I forgot I have some autographs somewhere from my youth. I sent letters to Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher in 1978 and they both sent autographed b and w photos. really classy too, real nice pics. I gotta go find those now...

[Brue]

Fine for them to charge. Fine for people to pay. However, I do not participate in the paying for autographs. If they sign for free, great. If I bought something I wanted and they offer to sign it -bonus. But paying for autographs is not for me.

[VintageMike]

It's half moot for me, since while it's a merger or two things I love (autographs and comics) that doesn't work me personally. Long story short I'd have to have two of any book I wanted signed because I can't bring myself to have a comic I only have one of signed. But on the larger topic of people charging since I do got to a LOT of different conventions it's all of the above. The charge deters people who have a crapload of books and yes resellers of autographs have driven up prices consistently.
The common thing now is regular photo ops with celebs cost less than an auto. Because photo ops only have value to the person getting them, without question. Want a certain piece of memorabilia signed as opposed to a photo? More$ in many cases. All because of re-sellers. I feel worse for parents taking a kid who may not able to afford it. In comparison to other things collect, the charges aren't much and I can deal with them.
In the end, to me it's all about is it worth it to YOU? I will use Adams as an example since he was at a show I went to a month or so ago. Were his prices high? Sure. Might he be a arrogant guy in many respects? No argument. But in my case Batman is one of my three favorite characters and he basically created the Batman look I grew up with. I looked over his Batman sketches and carefully picked out the one I liked best and had him personalize it to me. I had questions before buying the piece which he patiently answered. He seemed to appreciate my choosiness and the fact I wanted it personalized. So for me, I got a something unique that will now be a treasured piece in my collection.
Back to the autograph issue, I truly believe bad apples ruined it for everyone. It would be nice if there was a middle ground but there rarely is in situations like this.

[PNGwynne]

I paid Steranko $20 to autograph a Shadow paperback. Had a great 20-minute chat as well on pulps and Michael Chabon--worth every penny IMO.

[tllgn]

years ago i got Adam wests autogragh in the 90s and i think it was only $ 5 to $7 dollars or so .Then just almost two years ago at comic-con
here in portland i met him again and had to pay $80 for it to have the photo signed by him ,it was Batman & Robin together,which i also
paid to have Burt ward signed I love it framed ,but total cost was $140 ,i wouldnt do that for just anybody ,these guys were worth it to me .

[toys2cool]

I use to pay for auto's..haven't been to a convention in a while.. But all I remember was Adam West wanting $100+ Shatter and Nimoy $150+!! I just laughed and kept walking

[darkbros]

I wouldn't give that racist canadian waste of human flesh called John Byrne a dime,
after he disrespected me and my brother, on his birthday, while we waited half an hour for him
to draw my brother a batman sketch, and then as I'm handing him the agreed upon amount
for the sketch, turned around and sold it to a guy standing behind us who offered him double for it on the spot.

He never once offered to draw another, never once offered to stand by his word,
or our agreement.
There isn't a level or circle of hell made for John Byrne but I sure hope that
if there is a christian god, one day he will get his. The fact that he can't get
a job at DC or Marvel today certainly points that there is at least, some karmic
entity in the world.

Sorry, end of rant.

As for the topic, having been an artist ( with an art degree to go with it)
yes, in the Country of Capitalism, you should get paid for what you sell.
You should also stand by your word as a man.
'nuff said...