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

[MIB41]

^^^ Oh don't even get me started on the outrageous cost of Meet & Greets. Omigod. Fans are so foolish to pay that kind of money to meet these musicians. But, there's a market and there's a sucker born every minute. KISS enjoys exploiting that point. Oh if people could see how simple it was to meet those guys back in the 80's and 90's for nothing. It was the other way back then. KISS were so thrilled to have anyone recognize them back then.

[Donkey Hoatie]

I've never paid for an autograph at a show. Then again, I'm not sure there are any celebrities I'd be willing to travel to go see and then wait in line to pay for an autograph. I have however, bought signed copies of books (but only from authors who have passed away), which I guess is sort of comparing apples and pineapples.

I've had a bunch of CDs signed by artists at shows. And, I've had some books signed as well. So, I guess, technically I paid for autographs since I paid for tickets and/or CDs and books. A number of years ago Chuck Palahniuk (author of Fight Club) gave a talk at a local Barnes and Noble. I'll never forget how awesome that guy was. He read a story of his, then had a Q&A session that lasted well over an hour, and then signed books for a couple of hundred people and let us get our picture taken with him. No charge for any of it. He was probably there 3 hours total of face time. Since that day, I've made it a point to buy all of his books as soon as they're published. I cannot express how nice, gracious, and incredibly personable this guy was, especially given the counter-culture element in a number of his books. If he's ever in your area, go check him out.

[rykerw1701]

I’ve got quite a few autographs over the years, but I wouldn’t say it’s a collecting focus. I go to maybe one convention every two years, and if the person signing is of interest, and if the line isn’t long, and if it’s not too expensive, I’ll get the autograph.
At Wizard World Philly this year, the lines were ridiculous for all but the more obscure actors. I refuse to wait in line all day to pay $75-$100 for a scribble that I take home and throw in a folder and forget about.
But the best memories I have are with the B-level celebs, like Jonathan Frakes , George Takai, or Erin Gray. When they aren’t busy, you see some of the person. Some will chat a bit, some just look bored. I was never nuts about Jonathan Frakes as an actor, but he was so personable and approachable the one time I saw him I became much more of a fan. I think he’s a really nice guy, unlike say John de Lancie (“Q”) who I understand is every bit the ****y little SOB he played on TV 20 years ago.

[mego73]

I met John De Lancie a couple times and he was cool with me.

I’ve got quite a few autographs over the years, but I wouldn’t say it’s a collecting focus. I go to maybe one convention every two years, and if the person signing is of interest, and if the line isn’t long, and if it’s not too expensive, I’ll get the autograph.
At Wizard World Philly this year, the lines were ridiculous for all but the more obscure actors. I refuse to wait in line all day to pay $75-$100 for a scribble that I take home and throw in a folder and forget about.
But the best memories I have are with the B-level celebs, like Jonathan Frakes , George Takai, or Erin Gray. When they aren’t busy, you see some of the person. Some will chat a bit, some just look bored. I was never nuts about Jonathan Frakes as an actor, but he was so personable and approachable the one time I saw him I became much more of a fan. I think he’s a really nice guy, unlike say John de Lancie (“Q”) who I understand is every bit the ****y little SOB he played on TV 20 years ago.

[Mikey]

One advange of how it is today rather than the old days.

In the old days washed up celebs didn't have the convention crutch.

Imagine how many people would have loved to see Bela at a convention and even paid him for an autograph --- and how much Bela would have love doing it .... telling stories etc.

Same with Lon Chaney Jr

[VintageMike]

Didn't read every post but as a frequent convention attendee (though more wrestling than celebs these days) I want to point a few things. One, if people want to pay for an auto and enjoy it/collect that's their business. Considering the numbers most of us have paid for pieces for toy collections I don't think we should look down of anyone does autos as a hobby.
There have been plenty of times I've scoffed at the price and passed. In the $20-$30 range I'm not going to cry because like it or nor a signed photo is considered a collectible, just like that boxed Mego that was 2.99 when it came out and is $150 and up now. I also don't mind paying a small fee because I can see the person signing right in front on me. Go through the mail and there's always a chance the actual celeb did not sign it.
If you only get them at conventions there's also a anticipation aspect hoping certain people will appear much like getting a great addition to your collection. Great example several years ago I got a "Dukes of Hazzard" photo signed by Catherine Bach and John Schneider at Chiller in NJ. Now after a several year wait, Tom Wopat is doing the next one and will
cool to have that photo signed by him and completed. My only real complaint is when people like Mark Hamill charge high rates because they assume everything will be resold. To me
that's garbage. There are plenty of auto collectors who want the stuff just for themselves and are being unfairly penalized if that's the rationale for the rate.

[Gorn Captain]

Some actors ask high prices to even attend a convention.
Maybe it's peanuts for them, but not for more modest conventions. We're not all SDCC, right?
Last time I asked for DeLancie's rates it was $15,000 to attend plus all expenses. Kind of killed the mood...

The convention I ran ( fan attendance 20,000 in 2011), gets nothing from autograph sessions. The actors take it all home. Our rules became: "no more than $25 per autograph, no matter who you are". That way, the fans are happy and that is what matters.

[Allie Fox]

I don't collect movie/tv celebrity autographs. I don't see the appeal of having Gil Gerard sign a Buck Rogers figure for 30 clams.
At the few Cons I have attended I've always thought some of the folks looked sad sitting there whoring the one last thing they have to offer (a photo and signature) especially when there is another popular (for the moment) celeb signing just around the corner. I liken it to a zoo where everyone walks past the zebras, gorillas and elephants just to catch a glimpse of the panda on loan from another zoo; except I'm not paying 25 bucks to see them.

In 2003 at Dragon*Con in Atlanta the big names were "Spike" from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Ray Park from Star Wars. While everyone was lining up to see those two, the others were sitting there almost completely ignored. I did have a nice experience with Tom Wilson though. He was really nice and we talked for a good twenty minutes about his art, BTTF and Freaks and Geeks. He actually asked me if I wanted a picture with him and motioned me around his table to take it.

Nowadays I stick to baseball players. My son and I go to alot of ball games. We arrive very early and hang near the dugout during batting practice. He has about 40 baseballs with various signatures from scrubs to Hall of Famers.

[rykerw1701]

Speaking of sad at the conventions, the saddest of all is seeing the Playmate of the Month from March of 1977 or sometime long ago signing naked pictures of herself and smiling weakly at whatever bloated, balding, sticky fingered 55 year old fan boy that wanders by. It's so sad that it almost makes me embarrassed to be that bloated, balding, sicky fingered fan boy sometimes...

Actually, I find it awkward to see whoever sitting there by themselves waiting for some love. It's like "don't make eye contact...whatever you do, don't make eye contact..."

[Mikey]

Me too,

I get embarrassed FOR THEM.

I feel like being there isn't helping the matter.

A few years ago I went to a convention with one of my nephews (he's like 30 years old) ....... Pete Best was sitting there unloved with nobody by him (not even a handler) .......... My nephew said, "watch this" ............ He went over to Best and asked if he would sign the autograph "Ringo"........ Pete gave a sad smile but I knew he was dying inside because people probably do that to him all the time.

[nobody]

Nikki Thomas Rocked!!.......How'd she look? She must be in her early 50's now?

Speaking of sad at the conventions, the saddest of all is seeing the Playmate of the Month from March of 1977 or sometime long ago signing naked pictures of herself and smiling weakly at whatever bloated, balding, sticky fingered 55 year old fan boy that wanders by. It's so sad that it almost makes me embarrassed to be that bloated, balding, sicky fingered fan boy sometimes...

Actually, I find it awkward to see whoever sitting there by themselves waiting for some love. It's like "don't make eye contact...whatever you do, don't make eye contact..."

[Gorn Captain]

I've talked to guests at conventions who ended up selling one autograph.
To me.
"How has your day been?"
"Well, you're my first sale of the day!"
(this was at 5pm)

I think it was the guy who played Morn on ST DS9...

[Splitty]

I've talked to guests at conventions who ended up selling one autograph.
To me.
"How has your day been?"
"Well, you're my first sale of the day!"
(this was at 5pm)

I think it was the guy who played Morn on ST DS9...

Oh man, I loved the Morn!
I woulda chatted him up!

I've never payed for an autograph, it's just not my thing, but I can totally understand why people would love collecting them. I've gotten some free autographs, which is cool, but more than anything I just like meeting, chatting (although I don't talk much so I leave that to whatever company I'm with), and maybe a photo (although I can't stand how I look in them, so that's rare).
Okay, more than anything I just like staring at them and making them uncomfortable.

Hey, Sid Haig and I had some awesome psycho stares going back and forth, and the next year I think he recognized me and we had some awesome psycho stares and head nods in the crowd going.
That was awhile ago. We'd probably have to start over from scratch now...

[Den82]

I've done it twice in my life and I'll never do it again. Once with Tom Savini (much to my eternal shame) and once with Linda Blair. I didn't mind Linda. She was pretty nice.

I'd like to share my feelings about Savini, but I know profanity is off-limits here and I cannot do so without using it.

The idea of paying anyone for their signature is degrading to me now. I wouldn't even ask for a signature if it was free...with few exceptions. Lita Ford is going to be at Chiller. I'm not going, but I'd love to have the first Runaways album signed by all the surviving members. For that, I'd probably pay.

[Splitty]

I...I'd like to share my feelings about Savini, but I know profanity is off-limits here and I cannot do so without using it...

I have never heard anything about his personality as a person. But NOW I'm inferring something about it.