Paying for Autographs - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/09/2007 01:22:19 AM · #1

HERE is a short blog entry I made about my first experience of paying for an autograph :)

geoffb

07/09/2007 01:36:54 AM · #2

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

HERE is a short blog entry I made about my first experience of paying for an autograph :)

Classy, he ain't.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

07/09/2007 02:33:35 AM · #3

Sorry to hear. This one's a freebie. :D

Unless you wanna help a brotha out...

BeeCee

Nikon D40

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

07/09/2007 03:10:18 AM · #4

From Best's extremely tacky and poorly designed website;
"No Free Photos: Recently we have had several inquiries requesting a free autographed photo. While we cannot accommodate these requests - we do have autographed photos available for sale online - click here for the online store."

Oh, and the online store page takes you to "oops, page not found!"

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

07/09/2007 11:07:57 AM · #5

Originally posted by BeeCee:

Doesn't surprise me at all :)

hopper

Canon EOS-80D

Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM

07/09/2007 11:19:14 AM · #6

it's sad, no doubt about it

AJSullivan

07/09/2007 11:22:49 AM · #7

I was going to go to a Chase Utley (Phils All Star and MLBs best 2nd baseman) autograph signing session in Phila., but it was $50?! Chase is amazing and all but I just dont feel that him signing his name is worth $50. I sign things all day, and I only get $15 an hour.

Telehubbie

Canon EOS-40D

07/09/2007 11:51:38 AM · #8

A few years ago, my wife and I attended a 'has-been festival' (as we like to call it), where there's a big conference room filled with once famous actors. They all sit behind tables and sell their photos which they autograph for you. I got Traci Lords autographed photo for $15. ;-) We were taking a few photos of the celebs as we walked around, no big deal and most are happy to smile for you. Any6ways, we got to 'Doc' from Love Boat and I lifted my camera to take a photo of him and he stopped me and abruptly said that would cost $5 to take a photo of him with my camera. I said 'no thanks' and walked away.

LoudDog

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

07/09/2007 12:10:52 PM · #9

Sadly, it's probably how a lot of these ex-stars get by. I can't imagine Love Boat and the Dukes paid enough back then to allow them to live off it the rest of their lives?

Plus, a lot of people get stuff signed and then put it on ebay and make money off it. Why shouldn't the star profit off it as well?

hopper

Canon EOS-80D

Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM

07/09/2007 12:42:32 PM · #10

perhaps they could ... i don't know ... get a job, like the rest of us

Originally posted by LoudDog:

karmat

Apple iPhone 7

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

07/09/2007 12:43:34 PM · #11

I wonder if "management" causes that a lot of times

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

07/09/2007 01:47:48 PM · #12

Originally posted by karmat:

I wonder if "management" causes that a lot of times

His wife is his manager, so it probably does have something to do with it :)

LoudDog

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

07/09/2007 03:28:08 PM · #13

Originally posted by hopper:

perhaps they could ... i don't know ... get a job, like the rest of us

Originally posted by LoudDog:
Sadly, it's probably how a lot of these ex-stars get by. I can't imagine Love Boat and the Dukes paid enough back then to allow them to live off it the rest of their lives?

Plus, a lot of people get stuff signed and then put it on ebay and make money off it. Why shouldn't the star profit off it as well?

Agreed, but if people are willing to give you $5 for signing your name on a picture and you need the cash, why not?

Personally, I think it's more stupid that people are actually willing to pay for a signature. Supply and demand...

SDW

Canon EOS-60D

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

07/09/2007 03:28:15 PM · #14

Some of these actors and actress didn�t make near as much as today�s celebrities and many, if not all of them, do not receive residuals when their movies or TV series are shown. Some of the child celebrities didn�t see much or any money because their parents was in control of it and some, well they just blew the money.

I can understand that they may have a need to earn money from their former celebrity status but I think demanding X $ for signatures, photographs, or photographs with signatures is not the right thing to do. I personally think they would gain more respect and possibly make more money if they simply asked for donations when signing an autograph. If someone did not want to give a donation, sign anyway and keep your dignity and respect.

I think they are going about it the wrong way. It makes �Roscoe� look like the greedy �Boss Hog�.

Message edited by author 2007-07-09 15:29:12.

Spork99

Canon EOS M6 Mk II

Canon EF-M 22mm STM Lens

07/09/2007 03:52:21 PM · #15

Autographs are, unfortunately, a business. Why should a celebrity sign something for free, when the person receiving the autograph only intends to turn around and sell it for a quick buck? That "collector" is trading on the celebrity's fame (or what's left of it) and the celebrity gets nothing, nada.

I've heard of big time autograph traders using little kids to get celebs to sign things for free and then selling those items for thousands. That's what drives a lot of this paying for autographs.

I find it interesting that folks on DPC are so quick to congratulate others on here who would sell a print or license an image, yet would condemn someone else for not giving away something of value.

Would you give away your images to anyone who asks, knowing that they have tangible value?

(Oh wait, that's the microstock rant.....No, even microstocks will pay you a quarter.)

Message edited by author 2007-07-09 16:47:34.

karmat

Apple iPhone 7

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

07/09/2007 04:27:48 PM · #16

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Originally posted by karmat:
I wonder if "management" causes that a lot of times

His wife is his manager, so it probably does have something to do with it :)

I was more referring to the industry as a whole (actors, racers, athletes, etc.), not just Roscoe. :)

genghis

Canon PowerShot Pro1

07/09/2007 04:40:49 PM · #17

So if I read this correctly , you're upset because you couldn't get something for nothing.

Why not give your photographs away? I don't see much difference.

LN13

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 15-85mm IS USM

07/09/2007 04:56:03 PM · #18

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Cal Ripken Jr. was famous for signing for free, well into the night after games, simply to counter-act this sort of thing. His philosophy was to flood the market with his signature, so that it had little to no value. I say "good for him".

cryingdragon

Canon EOS-10D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

07/09/2007 04:58:27 PM · #19

I'll follow Ken's lead and give ya mine, too

Spork99

Canon EOS M6 Mk II

Canon EF-M 22mm STM Lens

07/09/2007 04:59:00 PM · #20

Originally posted by larryslights:

Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Autographs are, unfortunately, a business. Why should a celebrity sign something for free, when the person receiving the autograph only intends to turn around and sell it for a quick buck? That "collector" is trading on the celebrity's fame (or what's left of it) and the celebrity gets nothing, nada.

I've heard of big time autograph traders using little kids to get celebs to sign things for free and then selling those items for thousands. That's what drives a lot of this paying for autographs.

Cal Ripken Jr. was famous for signing for free, well into the night after games, simply to counter-act this sort of thing. His philosophy was to flood the market with his signature, so that it had little to no value. I say "good for him".

Look here and tell me if it worked.

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/09/2007 08:24:56 PM · #21

if fans are going to support this type of stuff, then the people with the power of the signature should be getting as much as they can for it for as long as they can. it's all simple economics, supply and demand and whatever the market will bear. if you want something bad enough, you'll pay for it. don't want to pay the current going rate? wait until the price drops...

that's the thing about capitalism: we vote with our dollars. just because someone is willing to sell something that somebody else will pay for, i'm not going to knock either one of them, as long as it's legal...

sher

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

07/09/2007 09:08:35 PM · #22

perhaps he donates all the money he receives for his autographs to charity.