Some of my friends dragged me down to a sci-fi convention yesterday in Plano, Texas. Carrie Fisher was charging people $25 for autographs, a lot of the Star Wars cast was there (Chewy, R2D2, etc) and Adam Baldwin was there signing autographs to promote Serenity.
It was really neat to see one of the guys from the show in the flesh. I'm pretty tall and he was actually taller than I am, you never really get a feel for the guy's size until you see him standing next to the guy who played R2D2
*Feels shame for wanting to get Adam Baldwin to sing "Jayne the Hero of Canton"*
Posts: 459 | Registered: Mar 2005
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quote:Carrie Fisher was charging people $25 for autographs
That is sooooooo tacky. I've heard of millionaire sports figures doing this, too. Whatever happened to fan appreciation? Posts: 6394 | Registered: Dec 1999
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At the one Star Trek convention I went to all of the actors were charging for autographs. I just figured it was normal.
Posts: 4655 | Registered: Jan 2002
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I think the general rule of thumb* is that if you have something you're currently promoting, like a book or a movie that's still in theaters, you give autographs for free. But if your main reason for fame is already out there and doesn't need promotion (Star Wars movies, Star Trek tv shows) you charge for autographs.
Also, if the celebrity is providing the autographed item, typically an 8x10 photo, there's usually a charge. If the fan brings something to sign, like a book or comic book, it's less likely for there to be a charge for the autograph because the item itself was paid for. That kind of ties in to the self-promotion aspect, though.
*Yes, I'm sure there have been many exceptions to this. I'm just saying it seems to be common.
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Celebrities started charging when pseudo"fans", professional resellers began showing up at signings to profit off their autographs.
Posts: 8501 | Registered: Jul 2001
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You know, I'd be willing to sign Carrie Fisher's name on glossy 8x10s, and I'd only charge $15.
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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Maybe the $25 is to discourage people from asking, thin the numbers, so she doesn't have to sign so many. I mean, how many times do you suppose she's been kind enough to put her name on some bit of paraphernalia or other over the years? I'd probably be sick of it by now -- I'd charge four-leaf clovers or something.
Posts: 270 | Registered: Jul 2004
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