Paying for autographs at conventions

[GulBahana]

I went to a couple Star Trek conventions in the 90's and as long as you had a picture, you didn't have to pay for the autograph. These days, you may need to pay as much as 30-100 for an autograph at conventions. When did this start? Did the conventions stop paying as much after the 90's?

 

[cultcross]

Someone realised they were missing a trick. These days even fourth stormtrooper from the back in a deleted scene will net you £15/signature for life.

 

[Amaris]

That's why when I went to the Trek convention in Chicago back in 2010, I got the Gold pass. For $300, I got 12 autographs included in the price. Considering those individual prices were anywhere from $20-$80, I felt it was a bargain. I still had to buy the pictures, though.

 

[cultcross]

I have mostly just started seeing fewer and fewer guests per con which is sad. Although for minor guests with no queue, I've hit on the tactic of having a lovely conversation, selfie, then wander off.

 

[Amaris]

I have mostly just started seeing fewer and fewer guests per con which is sad. Although for minor guests with no queue, I've hit on the tactic of having a lovely conversation, selfie, then wander off.

Armin Shimerman was a gem when I was in Chicago in 2010. He let my friend take a snapshot of him, even though his agent was griping that if my friend wanted a picture he should pay the $80 to get it. Mr. Shimerman looks over to him and says that my friend just wants a picture, and that there's nothing wrong with as long as (Armin) doesn't look at the camera (kind of like getting an action shot). Mr. Shimerman and myself had a conversation about Ohio (where I live), and he was just the most delightful person. I'd love to meet him again.

 

[Clym]

because for washed-up actors like Brent Spiner who can no longer get any decent work, it's a way of suckering their fans into paying for their tawdry Hollywood lifestyles

what use is an autograph anyway? it's not like it's going to significantly increase in value

 

[Amaris]

because for washed-up actors like Brent Spiner who can no longer get any decent work, it's a way of suckering their fans into paying for their tawdry Hollywood lifestyles

what use is an autograph anyway? it's not like it's going to significantly increase in value

Firstly, Brent gets plenty of work: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000653/
Secondly, what he does with his lifestyle is really none of your concern as long as he's not harming anyone.
Thirdly, people get autographs because they are treasured mementos of meeting that person. I have autographs from Leonard Nimoy, Christopher Lloyd, Armin Shimerman, Casey Biggs, Jeffrey Combs, Marc Alaimo, and more, and I treasure them. There's no way I would sell them.

 

[Spot261]

Would they pay for my signature?
Then again, would I pay to meet someone in the first place?
There you go, in my view they're a human being and unless it's on equal terms I have no interest in meeting them at all, much less humiliating myself by paying for them to pretend to be interested in talking to me and spend two seconds scribbling their name.
Just because I'm a fan of a show they were in as paid employment doesn't make me in anyway more interested in being in the same room as them, much less demeaning myself by putting them on a pedestal

 

[cultcross]

Would they pay for my signature?
Then again, would I pay to meet someone in the first place?
There you go, in my view they're a human being and unless it's on equal terms I have no interest in meeting them at all, much less humiliating myself by paying for them to pretend to be interested in talking to me and spend two seconds scribbling their name.
Just because I'm a fan of a show they were in as paid employment doesn't make me in anyway more interested in being in the same room as them, much less demeaning myself by putting them on a pedestal

My aren't we superior?

 

[Spot261]

Probably does come across that way and if it offends I apologise, but on the other hand I don't pay complete strangers to talk to me or sign photos of them in any other walk of life. So why would I do it with someone who just happens to have been in a TV show?

What is it about an actor that makes their signature worth paying for? I appreciate their work but I also appreciate my binman. Doesn't mean I would spend a weekend paying to meet him and consider it a compliment when he smiled at me and was polite. He is a man who is employed to do a job and deserves respect, not reverence.

 

[cultcross]

Which is a much more reasonable way of making your point. Some people don't get autographs or meeting celebrities, that's fine. I don't get watching sport, why do you want to watch other people doing exercise? I find that weird.
But lots of people do enjoy meeting actors and getting a signature as a memento of doing so, and for me, it's a little bit of hero worship combined with feeling a tiny part of something you've enjoyed at a distance for so long. I find it fun.

 

[Spot261]

I agree on watching sports, I'd much sooner do them, if admittedly not as well. I suppose the difference is that I don't hero worship actors, merely appreciate the product they help create. In fact I'd be hard pressed to think of ANYONE to whom I would pay that level of deference, be it celebrities, politicians, royalty.

I have (sort of) met the Queen of England. I was part of the medical detail for a visit to Liverpool. The only time I spoke to her or her entourage was to say excuse me whilst (politely) pushing past on the way to an emergency, which is exactly the way I would have treated any member of the public.

I was informed later that security were bewildered, but the lady who had collapsed 20 feet away seemed more important at that point. Had I not been in uniform with a clear reason for acting the way I did, they might have been less forgiving. Crucially to the point though, I have no strong feelings about the royal family, but nor do I see them as more important than any other human being.

I've been part of ambulance crews at quite a few public events, with all areas access. I've even treated a few celebrities, not one of whom I acted any differently towards than I would a nameless member of the public. Had they expected otherwise and took offence they would have got the same treatment any other rude person would get. That is, be told to behave themselves or leave my bus.

 

[Paradise City]

I wouldn't put down a hundred smackeroonies for a few scribbles, that's for darn sure. A small sum or better still if there is a book they can earn royalties on, I'm well disposed to buy a couple to hand out as gifts and get them to sign those. A signature on its own? Other people can work away on that but it's not something I'm bothered with. .

 

[Six of Twelve]

I don't care about getting autographs. After all, they're just writing their names. *Yawn*. Big deal. And, even then, they've done this so many times that their signatures have almost always degenerated into illegible heiroglyphic scrawls anyway.

I'd much rather have my photo snapped with the person than get an autograph.

 

[cultcross]

I'd much rather have my photo snapped with the person than get an autograph

True I do tend to go for photos these days rather than signatures. And when I do get them to sign I usually go for something with a little personal value rather than a stock photo. My old childhood copy of the TNG Companion is signed by several of the cast and is of great sentimental value

 

[1001001]

The last couple of Creation Conventions I've been to had the photo ops before the autograph sessions. You could pick up your photo, then have the actor sign it. I like that option a lot.

 

[Amaris]

Which is a much more reasonable way of making your point. Some people don't get autographs or meeting celebrities, that's fine. I don't get watching sport, why do you want to watch other people doing exercise? I find that weird.
But lots of people do enjoy meeting actors and getting a signature as a memento of doing so, and for me, it's a little bit of hero worship combined with feeling a tiny part of something you've enjoyed at a distance for so long. I find it fun.

Indeed. I mention him a lot but, when I got Armin's autograph, and had a nice chat with him for a few minutes, I started walking away and it just clicked in my brain "you were just shooting the breeze with the man who played Quark on your favorite show ever!"

It is one of the highlights of my life.

 

[stardream]

I did this once and I decided I was never going to do it again...and I didn't have to pay for the autograph and the celebrity was very nice. Looking back it was sort of a peer pressure thing in the Tolkien fandom. All my friends were going to premiers and events and getting their pictures taken with Orlando Bloom and Elijah Wood etc and I just didn't want to feel left out of the hype so when it was announced that Sean Astin was making an appearance near here I went and did the thing. I'm glad I did but it does make me wonder why it was so important for me to become part of this particular 'club'.

 

[sbk1234]

I used to enjoy collecting autographs. I got a real kick out of it, and in some small way, it did help me feel connected to the show. However, I drew the line when it came to paying for the signature. I will not pay for an autograph, although I do enjoy chatting with some of the celebrities at the conventions. The way I see it, with any of the arts, they connect with us on an emotional level, so many people have this desire to connect in person. That's fine. Most folks are fine with chatting, as long as you don't ask them to sign anything. Some are also really good about letting you snap a picture with your own camera. Some of the best in this regard have been Bill Mumy, Armin Shimmerman, and Richard Hatch. I always ask before, and respect their wishes on the matter.
I don't mind paying for the item to be signed, such as a book or a photo, but to pay for the signature itself is where I draw the line.

 

[TheGoodStuff]

One of my issues with conventions is the 'meet the actors/get an autograph/talk to them' thing. It's part of the reason I don't go. I love the CHARACTERS these actors played, and I will be forever grateful to them for their performances, but it is typical of fandom [and the cult of celebrity in popular culture] for people to confuse actors for characters.

There are always threads [and there is one right now] of people being disappointed with an actors attitude etc when they met them [and I am in no way excusing or condoning arrogant/ignorant behaviour] but I always cant help but think, the guy whose autograph you are asking for isn't the character. Kaley Cuoco isn't Penny just as Brent Spiner isn't Data. I have never really felt a desire to meet the actors, perhaps for fear that it removes the shine from their performances.

This then brings me to being charged money for autographs/pictures which boggles my mind. I feel uneasy at the pedestal some people are put on in relation to others. To charge a fan X ammount of money to write your name on something feels...exploitative to me.

I understand many love to meet the actors and that is great. But I know I would balk at the notion of handing one of them £20 to write their name on something.

Would they pay for my signature?
Then again, would I pay to meet someone in the first place?
There you go, in my view they're a human being and unless it's on equal terms I have no interest in meeting them at all, much less humiliating myself by paying for them to pretend to be interested in talking to me and spend two seconds scribbling their name.
Just because I'm a fan of a show they were in as paid employment doesn't make me in anyway more interested in being in the same room as them, much less demeaning myself by putting them on a pedestal

This is a great post.