Why Do You Have To Pay For Someone's Autograph ??9075
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Lisa private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Ok has you know I'm new to the comic book collecting thing and I've been reading some of the topics and the ones about having to pay for someone's autograph really got me wondering WHY !! I'm not new when it comes to getting someone's autograph but for all the ones I have I have never had to pay for one. All that I have ever had to do is ask the person nicely if they would mind signing something and 9/10 times they did. I would say "thank you" and that was that. So my question is why when you go to these Comic Con events do you have to pay to get someone's autograph ?? I mean it's not like the Comic Con event isn't paying the special guests to be there in the first place because if they weren't they wouldn't show up so it's not like they aren't making any money. If it were me and I had to pay for an autograph I would decline because for me it would cheapen the experience. What do you guys think? |
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KatKomics private msg quote post Address this user | |
| In the way back time machine it was free or maybe 5 bucks. I really noticed people charging once ebay became a thing. Basically i think they saw that people were selling the books they signed for free for big bucks and rightfully so decided to take a cut of that. So we have to pay because we basically screwed ourselves!!! |
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Chino24 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| It's kind of a loaded questions anymore. I mean, really these people probably don't make that much money. I know that they used to make even less. A lot of them worked and just got a pay check without having any benefits at all, nor a pension to rely on once they retire. The Hero Initiative is a good cause that I can get behind. It helps out the creators and family members who need medical bills, and other costs taken care of. It's a good way to give back to those who have entertained us for so long. Some people donate 100% of their autograph fees to charity. I think Jim Starlin and Larry Hama both did this at a convention I was at, and I totally support that. I've heard (can't confirm) that some conventions pay the guest to come at a flat rate, and then the convention makes money by charging for the autographs. Kind of a different tactic that could pay off. Anyway, they definitely have the right to ask for money because so many people collect and flip books these days after they get graded by CGC or whatever. It helps them get a piece of the pie, so to speak. And they deserve it because without them we'd have no comics that we love. |
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Silentstrider private msg quote post Address this user | |
| A lot of writers and artist in the artist alley booths that are not special guests have to pay for those booths, so for some it’s then recouping some of those costs. Also some fans take advantage of someone signing a book for free to take that as an ok that they can bring 20+ books to be signed. It happens. Some artist ask for a donation to the Hero Initiative or other charity for signatures which I don’t think is a bad thing. But at the end of the day if you don’t feel comfortable paying for a signature then you shouldn’t. | ||
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KYoung_1974 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Because capitalism. They have a commodity you want and should be compensated for their time. As @KatKomics pointed out, people were starting to show up with a stack of books that the artist were signing for free and then the books were being flipped. As far as the event paying them, I think it was on one of the old Stan Lee threads that it was discussed, but basically, they get a smaller fee directly from the promoters and then are "guaranteed" so many signatures for the event. Or maybe I made that up, I've slept some since then. |
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GanaSoth private msg quote post Address this user | |
@Lisa  That's just the way it isSome things will never change That's just the way it is That's just the way it is, it is, it is, it is |
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Darkseid_of_town private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I noticed some artists and stars are very fair about how and what they charge and are mindful of their fans. I think there is a fair middle ground where autograph seekers and those signing can find common ground.WHen I met Mike Zeck at a small show his sign stated 10 per signature, which I felt was reasonable given the smaller show setting and audience he would see that weekend. I felt he was quite personable and signed quite uniquely....careful to do what I was wanting and his finished signed page to me looked like frameable artwork. Martin Nodell, the original golden age green lantern artist was at Dallas fantasy fair in 1992....I had never known who he was and lacked a thing for him to sign. He sold me a comic and then signed it for ten dollars, then sold me a trio of trading cards for five dollars and signed them all. One of the fairest guys I have met at a con....sadly since passed away. I attended a small Midwest show with Helen Slater signing, and was delighted at the chance to have a few supergirl cards signed. When I spoke to her she flatly stated.....35 dollars per signature. I asked, if I bought three of your pictures and had them signed would you be alright with signing a few of the cards I brought along. She restated coldly and directly....it is 35 dollars each time I sign my name. Standing there I realized I had lost any real respect or desire I had for that autograph. I tore the cards up, handed them to her and left.I left content with the concept I refused to endorse what felt to me like an outright cash grab, and knowing she could have had 100 dollars more to take home had she respected her fan base a bit more. |
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antoniofett private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Some artists and writers still only ask a few bucks donation because its for charity. I love those guys. Honestly I don’t mind being charged a few buck for a signature. But what really grinds my gears is the people at comicbooksketchart.com those guys are the devil. They try to stuff as many people in the line as they can so it’s hard to get that interaction with that person autographing your book. And I think they are kind of ruining the comic con experience in my opinion. I really like people like Tom King. Whenever he comes to the conventions in my town I get two signatures for free in the next one is $10. I think that’s perfectly fair. |
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X51 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| They charge, because they found out people are getting their signature and selling it on eBay the same day. They want to discourage people from just profiting off of their name at their expense. Larger conventions cost a lot money to get the table, so it's become pretty standard for the shows to use signatures as bait to pull in as many dollars as they can. |
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Noblebeast315 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Most comic creators sign books for free up to a limit, and I completely understand that. If every person in line plopped down 20 books they would only be able to sign 20 people’s books. A lot of big name folks do charge. As others have stated their signature is worth money in the open market, so giving it has value. I do not blame a comic creator at all for charging a fee for their signature. Although If you are charging a crazy amount or are not a very good person I will decline in wanting a signature. Being a decent human still matters no matter how famous you are. | ||
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BrianGreensnips private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I had 3 of my comic books signed by Mike Grell today. They were $5 per book. If they were to be graded, it was $10 each. They are for my personal collection and I was fine with the fee of $5. A book. He has been one of my favorite artists through the bronze and copper age. They are putting their time into it and I feel they should be compensated for it. I can now check him off my list but I will probably get more stuff from him in the future. | ||
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doog private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I decided autographs are not a commodity I want to chase anymore. Just has a bad feel for me, and if not on the splash bottom, defacing. But that’s just me | ||
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Drogio private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Dennis O’Neil was asking for $15 donations to heroes initiative, I put in $20 per signature. He could only sign for an hour and only one day too..he had the longest line. | ||
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michaelekrupp private msg quote post Address this user | |
| As far as comics pros go, many of them actually do not charge. When I saw Alan Davis today, he was signing anything for free with the exceptions being if you brought multiple copies of the same issue or were having the signature witnessed to have the book slabbed. Otherwise he would sign whatever you brought for free although he did put out a jar for charitable donations. Bob Layton had a similar set up when we saw him a couple years back; would sign anything for free but you could donate to charity. The media guests, as far as I have seen, all charge for signatures and/or to take a picture with them. They are on the convention circuit to make money. That’s why I seldom spend time talking to the celebrities. I am sure they would love to hear about how you enjoy their work, but they are there to get paid. | ||
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MR_SigS private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Mike Royer asks for a minimum $2, with 100% going to research cancer, of which both he and his wife are survivors. | ||
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 I had no way of knowing that 9.8 graded copies signed by Adam Hughes weren't what you were looking for.
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drchaos private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Drogio Not true, I spent more than four hours waiting for George Perez despite using a vendor badge to get in five minutes before they let in the general ticket holders. My next stop was Denny O'Neal who was at a panel and done signing for the entire show before I could get there. Very frustrated with day one of East Coast. |
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Lonestar private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Many comic creators that are at these conventions actually need the money they make from their signatures more than you might think. I was at a convention recently and got some sigs from an artist that I will not name. No one else was at this table when I went there, so I had the opportunity to have a good and lengthy conversation with him. When I asked how many cons he does each year, he said at least 20. Wow, that's a lot I remarked. He went on to tell me that the money he made at cons and doing commissions was a major source of income for him since he wasn't actively working in comics now. (As an aside, I will state that this artist is someone virtually everyone on this forum will know and is familiar with the comics he is most noted to have worked on.) Why aren't you working on any comics I asked. Answer: I think those in charge have just sort of forgot about me or think I will cost too much, (which is not true he added). To be honest, this isn't the first time I've had this type of conversation with a creator. Thus I am happy to pay a reasonable fee for a sig or a commission piece. As noted above in other posts, there a many creators that do not charge. At Dallas Fan Expo a few weeks ago, John Byrne did not charge, and limited the number of sigs to 10. In the past, Walt & Louise Simonson did not charge, but asked for donations to Heroes Initiative. Starlin did the same, but that was several years ago and he might have changed. |
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 If the viagra is working you should be well over a 9.8.
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xkonk private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Agree with @Lonestar. I've had creators tell me that conventions are their incomes now. It's not like DC or Marvel really have retirement plans. | ||
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 I bought a meat grinder on amazon for $60 and it's changed my life.
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kaptainmyke private msg quote post Address this user | |
| After creating a spreadsheet of all my graded books finally after 3 years - I will not be getting anymore yellow label signed books any longer. Most yellow slabs (cbcs or cgc) my cost has been like $200-$300 each and I go to ebay and the same book is a fraction of the price/cost. Now I prefer blue label graded books above all others. It's nice the ones I have, but I'd never be able to sell any of them without losing my shirt. There is maybe a handful of yellow labels that are actually worth serious money like my ASM 298 SS 9.8 and ASM 361 SS 9.8s. | ||
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etapi65 private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by xkonkHeard this from someone two weeks ago, which was seconded by the artist next to them (again not going to name names). Where he said "Marvel just stopped returning my calls." after a couple of years of "wow great stuff, we'll keep looking for stuff for you". They've essentially given up on getting work from the big two and are solely dependent on cons for income. |
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Lisa private msg quote post Address this user | |
Wow I had no idea that a lot of them use what they charged as a source of income. I also have no problem when the money is going to charity I'm really big in that department  but I just don't like it when someone wants the money "just because they are so and so" and they can. As for the Ebay thing I think it's a horrible thing to do just to get someone's autograph and then turn around and sell it BUT like I mentioned to a member of the Beach Boys a few years ago who was upset that people were selling his autograph on ebay that if you see someone coming with a ton of things in their hand for you to sign what else can you expect you know that they aren't keeping it for themselves and you sign it anyway. I suggested to him that in the future if he see's someone like that to only sign 1 item. |
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I bought a meat grinder on amazon for $60 and it's changed my life.
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kaptainmyke private msg quote post Address this user | |
@Lisa what about Hollywood celebrities?  Cast signed: Michael J Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Thomas F Wilson  THE Arnold Schwarzenegger  Macgyver! Richard Dean Anderson  Megan Fox   Actor Extraordinaire Sean Astin  WWE Superstar Kevin Nash |
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GanaSoth private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Lisa What if it's for his family members or friends? What if his mother is critically ill and can't leave home, so he's getting things signed for her? You really don't know people's reasons behind getting multiple items signed so giving advice like that could be harmful; but I'm sure he will or had thought about that already. |
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Drogio private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by drchaos I’m not sure why you’re telling me it’s not true...I was there. I waited patiently for hours for him to arrive. But this was at Terrificon...not ECCC. I can’t speak for that show. Didn’t you go to Terrificon last year? D.O. Is old and does do panels and has very little stamina for sigs. If you want his you’ll likely need to wait in line when the show opens...he signs for maybe an hour to 2 hours...and yes he doesn’t return after his panel, I hear. |
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 I'm a #2.
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BigRedOne1944 private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Darkseid_of_town Good for her..... Why would you need that many signature from her? I know you will tout a story about them being for your "Personal collection", but that is obviously bogus. Her price was Plainly stated... Yet you felt the need to try and circumvent her rule and get something for nothing. So then you lost respect and desire for the (Multiple) autographs? Really? I suspect you had no respect for the sigs other than to flip them in the first place. |
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I'm a #2.
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BigRedOne1944 private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by GanaSoth More bogus BS here. "Oh my poor sick mother"...... Are you friggin kidding me? I don't blame the creators one bit for charging. NOBODY is getting these items signed for any other reason than the perceived monetary value they think it will add to the item or to flip it for profit. Regardless of what Anybody says, the entire Autograph sector of the hobby is about the perceived added montary value and profit on the item. pure and simple. Lisa is correct with her reasoning. |
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Drogio private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by kaptainmyke I’ve only been entertaining getting books witnessed the past couple years. I agree, after all the fees, especially the author fees, there’s no money to be made. Grading fees, shipping fees, pressing fees, fast pass, witness fees, entrance fees....ugh. And after that he lines for a popular artist are the worst....You’re better off buying them and saving yourself the hassle unless you really want the personal experience then price doesn’t matter. The best books are those offered by Midtown comics at cover price. Can’t beat a coverprice modern of a popular comic signed by a hot writer/artist! I have quite a few of those. I have a few books I’d love to have witnessed sigs but they would be for the PC....so those I’m patiently waiting for the right opportunity...all other books if I choose to slab them will be blue label. |
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Drogio private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by BigRedOne1944 I don’t think that’s true in all cases. All my signed/witnessed comics are all for my PC. I have no intent to sell. The slab is just a way to remind me when they were signed and to provide a protective case for preservation and display. HOWEVER....the grading and authentication does provide a fringe benefit in that (1) they can help establish a value for which to insure and (2) Should I pass help whomever I choose to inherit them know what value they have and make it easier to determine value and liquidate should they choose to do so. But I’m sure a large majority are trying to make a buck....I’m just not so sure if they actually make anything after you add up all their costs to acquire... |
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Lisa private msg quote post Address this user | |
| kaptainmyke I do have one celebrity autograph it's John Stamos. He signed a Full House promo photo of Him and the Beach Boys for me when I was at a Beach Boys concert in CT in 2000 He also signed a Beach Boys promo banner as well when I was backstage. | ||
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GanaSoth private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by BigRedOne1944 Bogus BS huh? Like you know everything... are you a God? No.... so don't assume everyone gets autographs for monetary means. |
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