Nearly three decades ago. While items sent in by customers started at $560, the cost of add-ons, like character names, started at an additional $300. (Even cooler when an artist includes a sketch!) amzn_assoc_height = 600; Priscilla Molina in Los Angeles does a minimum of 300 custom signatures a month, offering packages that include up to three ways to sign, limitless drafts or a new set of initials. Honestly, this seems like a price set to keep autograph seekers at an arm's length. Now, dont get me wrong, Ive paid the price myself as this is an individual choice. So they have a reason to show up. Its work, after all. NC has one of the worst rates of folks out of work so if this money is not going to a food bank or other such group he should be run out of town on a rail. Hertzler, an actor known to have played multiple roles in the Star Trek franchise. Its their job and they value their time. What have you understood about Star interview response? Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. The world we live in, unfortunately. I remember seeing you once at SDCC in the mid-90s when they were cracking down on autographing at any location other than a booth. Find your record within your folders or upload a new one. The earliest "Mickey Mantle" autographs looked. Although, the satisfaction of getting one may be on a case-by-case basis, but there was a complaint about the staff members being overly protective of Patrick Stewart and some people agreed how the photo looked uncomfortable enough to appear on AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com. Learn how your comment data is processed. People came to see the stars, and the stars would oblige their fans' reasonable requests. Since fame has a value, dont devalue it.. I mean you cant be giving stuff away for free when you can make money off of it, right? Costs could quickly add up though. As folks were still settling down in the smallish auditorium I noticed him come in and sit down in the first row. Same here. This kid has been blessed with talent and being at the right place at the right time. Stephen Amell One source deeply involved in the convention circuit estimates that Amell walks away with $250,000 a weekend more than he makes per episode of Arrow a figure he denies. I can even recall a time where both an autograph and a picture with a celebrity at his/her table was all lumped into the charge of the autograph. Just came back from a local comic book convention and got some autographed DVDs from a few heros of mine though I noticed that autographs are about $20 each. The main reason, because they can. 2 Do celebrities actually sign their own autographs? A brief guide on how to email autograph Request in minutes. If the convention managers had to pay for that big of a celebrity to show up on their own they wouldn't be able to afford to have a convention. Guests do not provide their prices in advance, but most charge between $20 - $80 for an autograph. (Maybe it was two books for free?) It helps to cover convention expenses because many conventions dont provide per diems. Many people who stand outside premieres asking for autographs are actually professional autograph traders, who make their living or supplement their income by selling them for full profit, rather than keeping them as a personal souvenir. She charges between $10 to $55, using the motto: "Where originality meets legacy.". It never occurred to me that theyd charge for them, and on reflection I suspect it never would have occurred to them. Total cost for the event is now at $13,000 (a 30% increase) not even including rent and the cost of the items (helmet, jerseys, etc). Harrison Ford has one of the most sought after signatures in the autograph collecting hobby. Typically there is only a two or three day window to purchase a signed copy from her site. Smith runs second-fastest 40 by DL since 03, Saleh compares Carr to Stafford pre-Rams trade, Allen to be ready to roll for offseason program, How to maximize leverage of No. I walked by your booth (not knowing you HAD a booth there) and you seemed to recognize my face as a recurring fan. Actors? wish you were here! How to Send Fan Mail to The Marvel Cast & Request Autographs From MCU Actors. But some actors would rather be doing anything else than hanging out with their fans, and some of the smarter celebs know that their fame may not last, so why not make some quick cash for taking photos while they can still charge a ton of money? Fox is a regular guest at comic cons. The New York Comic Con lists an astounding 243 opportunities for fans to get autographs over the four-day convention. But the majority of those behind-the-scenes big wigs likely think a high enough percentage wont protest. There was a time where you could do it all at once. However, the demand for autographs has grown so much that it has driven the price up and turned paid signings into a proposition too lucrative to ignore. Batman fans were overjoyed to finally have their masks, posters, and comics signed by Keaton who many consider to be the Batman. It was an expected part of celebrity and was included in the price of admission. Dress as your favorite character and walk around the floor. One of the problems is that sometimes, like in my case, you dont realize how awkward and awful the photos will look until after youve already gotten one or two your first time. A McCartney autograph sells for $5,000, while an autographed guitar goes for . He doesn't charge his fans any amount of money to meet him in person he offers free opportunities for fans to get the chance to meet him without having to pay any money! I had the pleasure to meet Peter David at a con or two back in the early 90s, and have a few books that he was kind enough to autograph. @nickelcitycon pic.twitter.com/tOtLSsA4rx, Jeff Scott Perdziak (@JeffPerdziak) May 20, 2017. As a general rule of thumb, it is not the best idea to ask a celebrity for their autograph or a picture while they are with their family. As a result, he made the decision to stop signing anything altogether, no matter what. Some may see it as a way to compensate for the inconvenience or the invasion to their privacy. Sometimes you can tell that the forger traced an autograph. In the past, the only way to get an autograph from an A-list celebrity was to meet them in person at an event or on the street. PAD: Letting him carry you around the convention on his shoulders? Its an exchange, you get an autograph and keepsake, they get some cash. But it is a shame that kids whose day would be made by getting and keeping the autograph(s) may not be able to get it/them. Of course, that was the good old days when most actors didnt charge, either. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "responsive_search_widget"; Let's say an athlete is getting paid $10,000 for an event for 500 autographs. I suppose part of what has changed things is occurred to my young teen self that one would fans who get autographs just to increase the price they can sell the whatever for online. As a fan, of course, I prefer it when Im not getting charged. Of course, I dont know how many people/fans have looked at the autograph prices and thought F that! For only $25, Swifties can own Taylor Swifts autograph, if they act fast enough that is. Use the My Signature tool to create your unique signature. Why do athletes charge for autographs? I think that it's a real big slap in the face to see that X is going to be attending and doing a signing, and then finding out that in addition to ~$75 in train and convention tickets I now need to spend another $50 (Christopher Lloyd.). Selma Hayek's autograph starts at $225 but can be as expensive as $730 depending on the size of the item being signed and the number of add-ons. Turn the document into a dynamic PDF with fillable fields. 2. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. As movie and TV stars and B- and C-listers prices for autographs skyrocket at conventions, comic book writers and artists have been discussing whether or not they charge for scribbling their names on their work. It was very nice of you. I had a Montana picture in a plaque-like display frame that I got around 1990. Wouldnt have occurred to them. Adding a character name or personalization will each cost an additional $100 on top of the $160 base price and there is a $120 premium to get large format items like posters signed. If you cant get out to meet Fox in person, there are always companies willing to take your items on consignment to get them signed for you. Writers of stuff dont have prints or originl art/sketches and such to sell at booths like artists do. Why is France the most visited country in Europe? These headphones save my life on planes. Selma Hayek will be a first time signer for 2022. For a number of them, this is a source of income. Cam your already making Millions from your fans do you really need a couple more of their hard earned dollars to pad your pockets? Was he in the Super Bowl did he win it Really?.I mean Really? I then became much more like Lawrence Taylor, LT, than I identified with JoeThats ridiculous! No way am I paying that. MDS basically wrote this same post at 8:30 this morning. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Freedom to not charge. They can sell them at conventions, or to collectors . The prices just keep going up and I fear it will hit a tipping point when the fans wont/cant pay it anymore, then what? If a writer or artist adding their name to a comic increases its resale value, why shouldnt they get some of it? I still have a little bit of a problem with these athletes who get paid millions of dollars to do one of their favorite things in the world not being able to take a little time out of their day to sign their name on something that would make somebody extremely happy. This weekend, Long Islands NYCB Live at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum hosts Ace Comic Con,three days celebrating comics, movies, and television showswith artist master classes and 30+ hours of programming. There are also special guests, and the chance to get autographs. Fascinating Stories About Sylvester Stallone, Hollywood's Most Macho Star, The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won An Oscar (For Acting), The Best TV Actors And Actresses Of All Time, The Greatest Actors & Actresses in Entertainment History, Famous People You Never Realized Are British, Ranked By How Surprised You Were When You Found Out, The Top Casting Choices For The Next James Bond Actor, Behind-The-Scenes Facts From 'Thor: Ragnarok,' Marvel's Silliest Triumph. As the star of The Walking Dead, Lincoln probably rakes stacks on stacks in photo money, but hereportedly donates all the proceeds from his convention appearances to charity. Seems like a acceptable topic to post this on. Freedom to spend. Houston's independent source of She was doing fun little drawings for a dollar! By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Oh, and you were nice too! First its getting paid for signatures, now its NBA players wanting to get paid for playing in the Olympics. I lost the autograph a week later. It would never occur to me to put some price on it. Personalizations like TO JOHN, always devalue the autographed baseball. If youfind a star in the wild and convince them to pose for a selfie, thats free. 1 draft pick, Athletes charging for autographs is no big deal, Report: Derek Carr wants $35 million per year, The Raiders are the betting favorites to land Aaron Rodgers, Mike McCarthy: Kellen Moore wants to light the scoreboard up, I want to run the damn ball, ESPN reiterates report that Lamar Jackson wants a fully-guaranteed deal, Arrest warrant issued for Jalen Carter for reckless driving, racing, Aaron Rodgers says hell make a decision soon enough, Competition Committee begins to explore the quarterback push play, Players say Chiefs discourage them from reporting injuries, have NFLs worst training staff, Report: Jalen Carter was present at teammates fatal crash, misled police about it. If you want buy an autograph from an A-list celebrity then expect to pay near $200 or much more. Overall, however, Cam has the right to charge. Hmmmand to think I got Johnny Us autograph for free and he was even gracious enough to throw me a pass before he signed the football..SMH! 1) I met Bruce Lee when he played Kato. 4) Also, if prices seem strangely low for an autographed item, chances are its a fake. Pingback: Celebrity Autographs - How to spot the legitimate ones - Mymusicarena, Your email address will not be published. Just wanted to say hi, and keep up the good work. In the mean time, dont let those prices bum you out, there are other less costly ways to enjoy a con. Most of the celebrity guests charge for autographs, and depending on the celebrity, they may also charge to take photos with them. Perhaps they should contribute their portion to a charity of their choice. Two things to say about autographs and you, Peter. Get on it.) Register now! 4. They are free to charge but, I think its classless. amzn_assoc_theme = "light"; In the past when we have tried to collect this information ahead of time, it was deemed "wildly inacurate.". Youre one of the good ones. Others may see it as a way for celebrities to make some extra cash. The Scarefest does not include an autograph price in our celebrity contracts. It depends on whom youre trying to rent and for how long, but the short answer is a lot. Best Bets: Ada Limn, Cowboy Bob and New Beginnings, This weekend was Space City Comic Conan uneven success by the kindest estimates. Thee may have also been fee beyond the ticket. of course I will have only 1 or 2 items signed at a time. The best thing to do is talk to other people who have attended previous conventions to get a sense of who charges for what, and how much. Amusingly, the only two actor photos from back then that I still have hanging on my wall are two that at the time, I just got because the actors were there but I didnt know who they were, and I only have since then become fans of their work and the show that they were both in: Lalla Ward and Nicola Bryant. The up and coming you can usually get for free. I got his autograph. I thought the conventions were the ones charging money, not the celebs themselves. amzn_assoc_default_search_key = "Peter David"; I need to get a photo with Joe! It was an expected part of celebrity and was included in the price of admission. Ive worked as a handler for a number of actors at conventions, and I understand why they charge. . But buyer beware, while many artists offer fans this unique opportunity, there are also those who have a history of selling fakes as well. dont need an autograph, I got one of those 30 years ago in San Fran. Famous Men You'd Want To Have A Beer With, The 50+ Most Beautiful Influencers Of 2023. I'm talking about when celebrities charge money for autographs at conventions, mainly NYCC. I would gladly tip you just for the laugh you gave me that day. The fact that the signing sold out proved that it wasnt overpriced, as many fans eagerly lined up to pay the high price. I dont understand the need to do it again. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Cool if thats how it isthen they can give us back the millions WE put in there pockets brother via supporting them buying there products/going to games etc! Is it pretty messed up to do, especially to a 7 year old kid or a father of three making $50,000 a year? A lot of the people getting the autographs are going to turn around and try to make a profit by selling the stuff on the internet. She was also not willing to sign custom art or home-printed images. 3 What do celebrities do with their fan mail? I have always been a big (thats an understatement) fan of Asimovs. Pro Reason #2 - Resellers. Celebrities want to be able to spend quality time with their families. The athletes demand an appearance fee for their time, which the promoters seek to recoup by charging for autographs. Fan mail is simply a way for a fan to reach out to a public figure to express their admiration or share their thoughts. If people value his autograph at $125 (or whatever . Dealing with piles of fan mail is, however, an administrative burden for most celebrities. While we try to . Spend hours on end partaking in RPG games in one of the many convention hall rooms because thats definitely worth the price of admission. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Enter J.G. Will Ferrell. At a Star Trek convention in NYC waaay back in 76 they had several of the actors at a table signing autographs. At this point in time he is rich but his contract is not that big at all. No his team was 3rd in the NFC South. Big-name movie stars didnt show up, except maybe for a panel, and they certainly werent charging $100 or more for signatures or pictures. From the outside it might seem like celebrity appearance costs shouldnt exist; that actors make enough money from their jobs, and that they dont need bilk their fans out of even more cash. A lot of the autograph fees are set by organisers, rather than guests. 3. as long as its reasonable. Just like Taylor Swift, it is free to meet Harry Styles. So now when fans ask if theres a charge, I say no, but if they want to throw money in my tip jar then I wont toss it back at them. Merch sales and meet and greet VIP tickets are critical sources of income. I guess with the invention of the smart phone, the convention took notice a ton of selfies being taken with celebs and figured one day, Next year, lets start charging for thatTOO!. Ive even suggested, when the autograph line is small enough, that all the person has to do is sit there and Ill take a photo standing in front of the table with my face and his/her face in the same frame, but the people organizing everything have still said no (which I think is patently ridiculous, its no skin off the celebritys back to sit there like they were already doing and smile for half a second).