Paying for your favorite celeb's autograph ....

[Mikey]

When you stand back and look at the big picture from afar ... what's more demeaning ?

1. Paying for an autograph from your favorite celeb ?

or

2. Your favorite celeb charging money for an autograph ?

or

3. Nothing demeaning about it


Just wondering what peoples thoughts are on this.

[HardyGirl]

I appreciate the fact that most of the celebs that appear at conventions need the money generated from autograph sales, as some of them are no longer acting or singing. However, I don't appreciate the amount of money they charge.

[Hector]

I appreciate signatures from famous people who are not known to give them out frequently...or a deceased celebrity from an era where siggy's were not a money-maker like it is today.

I'd love to have a Neal Armstrong autographed photo for example...or Freddie Mercury's.

[Gorn Captain]

I understand that some people now make a living off autographs, and they usually charge reasonable amounts.
What I do find offensive is people like Mark Hammill who charge $150.
Star Wars is his only claim to fame, it made him rich, we made him rich, he could at least give everybody a fair shot at an autograph.
I ran a convention for years. There's nothing as heartbreaking as seeing a six year old proudly walk up to Anthony Daniels with his drawing of C3PO, and Daniels saying "if you want that signed, that'll be $35".
I was the organisor and still, after that, I didn't want his autograph anymore and I would have got one for free.

[Bruce Banner]

I remember sending a drawing of C-3PO to Anthony Daniels via his agent back in 1978, and he sent me a personalized signed photo in return for free.
In an envelope embossed with the 20th Century Fox logo, with a Star Wars rubber stamp seal and everything.

Can't imagine any celebs doing that kind of thing these days.


I really wanted Mark Hamill's autograph at Celebration Europe, but the price he was asking just made it prohibitive.

[Mikey]

Does any popular celebs (sci fi or fantasy celebs) refuse to sell autographs ?

All I want is one name to give me some hope

[fallensaviour]

I find it disgusting,don't they charge for appearances?
If that's not enough charge more for the appearance!
Most of them charge more than the cost of owning their entire dvd collection.

[Brue]

Mikey - on the refuse to sell -I don't know but I wonder are there some that do it for charity only?
I think about an Adam West who's prime income became bat nostagia so charging for autographs seems reasonable.
But consider actors like Patrick Stewart who is pretty well off and still acting. He absolutely doesn't need money form autographs. celebs are paid to appear at cons and often comped hotel and meals. the only point i see in charging for autos is to slow the sheer volume of people that may otherwise become unmanageable.

i think BUrt Ward uses auto money for his dog rescue. I went to an event with anthony daniels where he signed stuff for free but he was teh key note speaker for a HIGH dollar fundraiser for a children's science museum.

i paid for a lou ferigno autograph once. sorry i bothered but now a days if i have something autographed, it was free.

antony daniels, rbert plant, kate mulgrew come to mind. there are prob a few others.

is autograph selling demeaning. i many cases - yes. often, not. i suppose as long as it is fair market or good reason and the buyer has made reasonable choices with their money, it is OK.

charging above needs, spending above means = bad

[kingdom warrior]

I met Anthony Daniels and He charged me for only one Autograph, he was a charming man and signed everything my son presented him and had a wonderful conversation with him. He often got up and walked down the long line to say hello to people and apologize for the long wait......I thought he was great.


I don't find anything Demeaning about it. sadly too many people get the autographs and quickly sell them on line. I can see why they charge might as well get some money for sitting on their hemorrhoids all day....lol

I don't mind paying some money as long as it's someone I really like.....BUT i won't pay a lot of money for your autograph

[Brown Bear]

I was at a wrestling show where a poor guy like Leaping Lanny Poffo refused to charge fans for an autograph and a rich Bret Hart only gave $25 autographs to the folks who paid for VIP tickets.

It ticked me off, but I see why he is doing it if ppl are crazy enuf to pay for it.

[Sideshow Spock]

The only "celeb" autograph I've ever got was Chase Masterson, "Leeta" from DS9. This was in the late '90s, and she was making an appearance at a dying (soon to be dead) mall that was close to me. Her Playmates 5" figure had come out recently, so I brought that with me for her to sign the cardback. Funny thing is I don't even recall paying for it, and if it was more than $5, I wouldn't have!

[Chris]

During the early "Creation Convention" days celebs didn't charge for autographs but I think you had to buy a picture. Kevin Smith said he would never charge for his autograph.

I can't believe Mark Hamill charging $150. I was irked at Adam West charging close to $100. I think Patrick Stewart and Bruce Campbell were charging around $100 too. This was a couple years back at the Wizard convention in Philly. Frak them and frak Wizard. No offense to you great MEGO folk.

[HardyGirl]

I don't like that they'll charge you to take a photo w/ your own camera. That's ridiculous. But David Hedison didn't. He told his PR person to let me take a photo of him if I wanted to. There are some celebs who will go out of their way for you a little. Since Butch Patrick is known for the Munsters, he has a lot of that stuff out, but I wanted something from Lidsville. When I returned the next day, he had Lidsvile lunchboxes photographed. He said he knew I'd be back. Pamelyn Ferdin had Space Academy shots out, but I wanted Curiosity Shop. She searched through a couple of boxes and found a shot of the coloring book from that show.That was really nice.

[Gorn Captain]

Over here, you have to pay an extra $20 for a photo, on top of your autograph fee.
That kind of kills it for me...

[Gorn Captain]

I had a German dealer offer me a Bruce Lee autograph for $140, about 20 years ago.
Would have loved it, but I didn't trust it to be the real thing.

The only autographs that are holy grails to me are Bruce Lee, Boris Karloff, stuff like that...