I know I've morphed into my parents, but autograph prices.....WOW

[HomerS]

The schedule below is for the Comic Expo coming to town next month.  Not my kinda thing but I stumbled onto the Facebook page and was curious about who was coming which lead to checking the autograph schedule/prices.....WOW....In order from L to R is the price for an autograph, a picture and then a selfie.  I think the most I paid for an autograph was John Gruden (he came to Dick's Sporting Goods for a MNF awards program for a local school) but the money went to his foundation.  No charge for the a pic and got to meet him (I was working there part time and being a Bucs fan begged to work that night).  Other than him, my max was $3 for a former college basketball player who was a huge fan fav.

 

GuestDays               Attending          AutographPro Photo          OpSelfieNote

Manu Bennett            Fri/Sat/Sun       $50       $50 

Michael Bell               Fri/Sat/Sun        $25       $25                       $40 auto/selfie combo

Camren Bicondova    Sat/Sun             $40       $50        $30

Paul Blake                  Fri/Sat/Sun        $40     $60          $40

LeVar Burton              Sat/Sun              $50     $50         $30               $70 auto/selfie combo

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau      Fri/Sat/Sun    $80    $80               Noclick here for Nikolaj Experience Package

Charlet Chung            Fri/Sat                $40     $60          $40                $35 selfie with any purchase

Cary Elwes                  Sat/Sun             $50      No          $40

Summer Glau              Sat/Sun             $40         $50       $40

Clark Gregg                  Sat                   $70         $90                   Noclick here for Clark Autograph Package

Charles Martinet               Fri/Sat/Sun      $40         TBA

Peter Mayhew              Fri/Sat/Sun       $50        $60         $40               $70 auto/selfie combo

Mary McDonald-Lewis        Fri/Sat/Sun   $20      $20                    $30 auto/selfie combo

Bill Ratner                    Fri/Sat/Sun                  Free

Sean Schemmel             Fri/Sat/Sun      $30    $30                      $50 auto/selfie combo

Karl Urban                    Sat/Sun          $60         $60        $50           $100 auto/selfie combo

Benedict Wong           Sat/Sun          $50     $60         $30

William Zabka           Fri/Sat/Sun        $40    $50      $40                $60 auto/selfie combo

[Snake45]

I've only heard of four names on your list. I guess I'm getting old too. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Mmmmmm...Summer Glau; she looks used to look just like my junior year HS sweetheart.

Yeah, I'm getting old. Mo def.

Edited August 4, 2018 by Ace-Garageguy

[SfanGoch]

I remember when a ballplayer would sign his autograph for free. Former Mets catcher Jerry Grote is the exception. After a game at Shea in July'74, my friends and I saw him walking out to the players' parking lot. We went over and asked him to sign some balls we brought. He spat at us and told us to get effing lost. No big deal. He sucked as a hitter anyway.  

[OldTrucker]

I never have and never will PAY for an autograph or a selfie. Now it is different if I were asking for an autographed picture or other item that they were supplying but still will not pay an unreasonable amount either!

There was a certain 60's TV star that my wife wanted a signed picture of and I looked them up on the net.

The cheapest was 40 dollars for a 8X10 black and white. I emailed the contact and told them I would be willing to give 10 bucks and within minutes got the reply SOLD! She got the picture in the mail 4 days later!

Guess it pays to ask!

[Snake45]

2 hours ago, OldTrucker said:

There was a certain 60's TV star that my wife wanted a signed picture of and I looked them up on the net.

The cheapest was 40 dollars for a 8X10 black and white. I emailed the contact and told them I would be willing to give 10 bucks and within minutes got the reply SOLD! She got the picture in the mail 4 days later!

Guess it pays to ask!

Sounds like they were either very desperate or very, very nice. 

[SfanGoch]

95 bucks will make you the lucky owner of a gen-oo-wine autographed baseball signed by Eddie Haskell

[Howard Cohen]

Here is a photograph I took last weekend of Hurley Haywood at the Concours of America, no charge, as a few of us chatted with him for about a half hour, a super friendly man. He signed a few autographs, posed for photographs and did not ask for any money. 

 

Who are those names on the list, America's Least Wanted?  

[SfanGoch]

That's a list Z-List celebrities, the memories of whom will last a lunchtime.

[Phirewriter]

Interesting what value celebrities feel they're worth to their fans. I've got a Can Am racing book by Dave Friedman. Over the years it's been accumulating autographs from my racing heroes. Since 1994 or so I've been bringing up to Road America for the historic races and have many great's some no longer with us. All of them were free! Even Mario's was although I believe he charges for his scribble now. All of them were not only courteous but many seemed to really enjoy talking with people there to meet them.

The only autograph I ever paid for was Carroll Shelby's and at least that went to his children's heart fund foundation (although he did sign some of my original artwork free, much to the dismay of his handlers)

Edited August 4, 2018 by Phirewriter

[Rob Hall]

My sister got autographs of Derek Bell, Jacky Ickx, Mark Webber and Patrick Long at Rennsport Reunion IV at Laguna Seca a few years ago...was great to see them lined up for autographs w/ racing fans..no charge for autographs there.

Edited August 4, 2018 by Rob Hall

[Dave Ambrose]

It’s a two edged sword for the celebrities. Yes, it’s nice to be adored, but a pain in the  drain after a while. 

John Dobson is a superstar among the telescope and astronomy community. We went to a lecture he gave locally. People were having him sign all kinds of unrelated paraphernalia, which he dutifully signed. We brought a copy of his telescope making book.* He smiled while signing that one. 

I don’t blame them for charging. It keeps the casual collectors at bay. 

* because we’re giant astronomy nerds. 

[vamach1]

The only name I recognized was Chewbacca.   It's funny people seem just as happy to get a picture with a look alike, even if they (the owner of Washington Capitals) are sort of famous too.

[SfanGoch]

1 hour ago, Dave Ambrose said:

I don’t blame them for charging. It keeps the casual collectors at bay. 

 

One thing a lot of celebs do to foil potential autograph sellers is to only sign personalized messages including the person's name, which essentially makes the item practically worthless to anyone except that particular individual.

[Phirewriter]

Indeed and I have no problems with that as the book I mentioned in my last post has numerous autographs with a nice message. Since that's an item I have zero intentions of ever selling it makes it even more special to me. 

[HomerS]

I didn't think about that as most athletes charge even more for an inscription.

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

The only signatures I have any interest in collecting are on checks from people who owe me money. 

[SfanGoch]

57 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

The only signatures I have any interest in collecting are on checks from people who owe me money. 

And, those are the only ones that matter.  

[Snake45]

2 hours ago, SfanGoch said:

One thing a lot of celebs do to foil potential autograph sellers is to only sign personalized messages including the person's name, which essentially makes the item practically worthless to anyone except that particular individual.

I heard of one author asking a fan what he wanted inscribed in the book he was signing for him, and the guy said, "Dear High EBay Bidder." 

[SfanGoch]

Classic, man!  

[Phirewriter]

Yeah when it comes down to it the checks matter most. Getting my book autographed was a suggestion from a friend and it just took off from there, I just have a couple of Chaparral illustrations signed by Jim Hall and some Shelby stuff. Sometimes it's nice to be able to look at some tangible evidence that you met your racing heroes.

[Xingu]

I don't begrudge famous people for charging for an autograph. I figure some do it to try and keep folks from continually harassing them when they are out in public. Some of the older or maybe lesser known actors may actually need to do it for the income. If people are willing to pay, why not benefit from it. They will know when they are charging too much, the line will be very short.

 

[Tom Geiger]

I'm not big on sports figures since I grew up mostly outside of the USA.  Here's one of my heros, Bob Paeth signed my '57 Nomad box for me at GSL. And he didn't charge me!

 

[Renegade]

I don't collect autographs but I admire those who charge to give to the charity they support as long as the charge isn't excessive. Even better if they just asked for a donation for the autograph for their charity as some people may not be able to pay the asking price.

[SfanGoch]

1 hour ago, Xingu said:

I don't begrudge famous people for charging for an autograph. I figure some do it to try and keep folks from continually harassing them when they are out in public. Some of the older or maybe lesser known actors may actually need to do it for the income. If people are willing to pay, why not benefit from it. They will know when they are charging too much, the line will be very short.

 

Point taken, Mike. The B- and lower List celebrities charge for their autographs to make some extra money. 

There's a fan event which is held annually in NJ called "Chiller Theatre Toy, Model and Film Expo". Here's a guest list for this year. Pretty good  bunch of celebs there. If you look at the upper right of the page, organizers added a disclaimer about guests charging for autographs. If a guest tells you that the expo is making them chrge for an autograph, let a staff member know and they will confront that person.