We're in this together.

                                              We’re in this together.

Most people who are fans within the science fiction/comic book convention world are pretty laid back good hearted people. They go to shows, meet new people, discuss and share their fandom with others that share the same interests. Most are completely oblivious that there is a sort of dark side to their fandom as well. A side that the ones that are aware of it are embarrassed to be even remotely associated with it. And it’s mainly opinion based. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that you should not have an opinion or that your opinion has to be the same as everyone else. I always think a difference of opinion is a great thing. Just think what kind of world this would be if everyone thought the same. In my opinion, that’s not somewhere I want to live.

                 A while back I was having a conversation with a friend that makes me think of a question. “Why do you think you’re a bigger fan than me?” A person who I used to knows daughter happens to be the current Guinness Record holder for having the world’s largest Doctor Who memorabilia collection. I have personally read people’s vitriol comments about her and her family. I could not believe the things people were saying about a child. I know for a fact that she would save her money or birthday presents or gifts, etc. to add to her collection. But that’s neither here nor there. It’s not your money, so it can be spent however they want it to be. Sadly, there will always be someone out there that will not like you for your accomplishments. No matter what it is.

                 Now some people think that even though she has the largest recorded collection of Doctor Who memorabilia that she is automatically believes that she is a bigger fan than someone else. She would be the first to tell you that it’s not true. Does her massive collection make her a bigger fan that I am? Does her age make me a bigger fan than she is? The answer to me for both is no. Just because someone has an amount of collectibles for a certain genre more than another person doesn’t mean they’re a bigger fan than you are. And just because I’ve been a fan of the show since before she was born doesn’t mean that I am a bigger fan than she is. I use to go to more conventions than I do now. There is one local convention that I’ve completely quit going too. Simply because they have gotten so expensive, I can no longer afford to go. But those that can, good for them. I just can’t bring myself to pay over 100 USD on a single autograph. But a lot of people do. Which is why those prices keep going up and up.

 Do I spew hatred or anger because someone spends their money on expensive autographs or has a plethora (Three Amigos) of collectibles? I don’t. But there are some that do. Even when they or their actions are called out publically. When someone does this, they just come off as a jealous child crying to whomever will listen. Just because someone has what you do not. I WANT AN OOMPA LOOMA NOW!!

 Bottom line is, there is so much negativity going on in the world right now, do we really need it to leak into a place that fans go to escape that negativity? Do we really need to treat our fellow fans with anger because they have more memorabilia or prefer the female Doctor to the others? In my opinion, no. Well we shouldn’t. Because in the end, what does it matter. You don’t like a particular Doctor, cool. No one said you had to. That’s your opinion and you’re entitled to it. But don’t treat someone like garbage because they do or don’t (yes it goes both ways). You’re both fans of the same thing. Enjoy that fandom and “Would you like a Jelly Baby?”  

Do Fans Ruin the Celebrity/Fan Relationship?

              A while back I wrote a piece titled “Do Conventions Ruin Celebrities for Fans?” https://fromthemouthofavoicelessactor.blogspot.com/2016/01/do-conventions-ruin-celebrities-for-fans.html and then recently provided a follow up piece titled “Conventions: A Celebrity Perspective”   https://fromthemouthofavoicelessactor.blogspot.com/2019/06/conventions-celebrities-perspective.html. The first was about the rising costs of attending conventions and if it ruins the celebrity/fan relationship. The second was an interview I did with my friend and celebrity Mary Deese Hampton giving her perspective on conventions and the changes that have occurred in recent years on the convention circuit. This time I am going to play the devil’s advocate a little. So I ask, “Do Fans Ruin the Celebrity/Fan Relationship?”

                For this one, let’s start with conventions. I’ve been going to conventions for quite a few years now. Presently not as often as I have in the past. It would be a pretty fair assumption to say that I know a little bit about them. Now I know there is a lot more to it than this. So I’m just going to give you the shortened version. Celebrity A is approached either in-person or via his/her agent or manager to be a guest at a convention. If he or she agrees, a contract is written up and signed. It could state something like Celebrity A will attend Convention X on these days for this amount of time for a guaranteed amount of money. Convention X will sometimes pay for lodging, meals, and airline tickets, etc. To recoup some of those expenses, the celebrity agrees to sign autographs for their fans. Someone (that’s a whole other argument) sets the price of how much to charge for the autographs and the process starts. If they go over the amount agreed upon, the celebrity either keeps the extra or they split it with the promoters. But those details are usually in the contract and not public information.

                Basically what it boils down to is that it is a job to the celebrity. You may not like to hear that but in reality, it is. The celebrity is being paid to show up at a specific time, meet the fans, and sign autographs and call it a day. It’s a pretty straight forward process, wash, rinse, and repeat. In theory, it’s simple. It doesn’t always work out that way though. There are a multitude of things that could go wrong. Even before the convention has even started. Usually the convention has a designated person picking the celeb up from their hotel to bring them in to be there at said designated time. Now if something goes wrong and the celebrity is later than their set time, a little chaos in sues. The attendees who are there to see said celeb are waiting and getting more and more anxious because he or she hasn’t shown up when they were scheduled to have. They are taking it out on the volunteers, the showrunners, the person designated to help the celeb at their table. Basically anyone who they can complain to, they do. Meanwhile a line is forming at said celebs table and as soon as they get there it’s full on convention mode. There’s not a lot of time to get situated, get settled, and get prepared for your day. So now everyone who is meeting that celeb or the celeb themselves, isn’t in the best of moods.

                Now this is where this gets a little touchy. There many different people that that attend conventions.  Many different personalities. Nothing to do with race, sexual orientation, religious aspect or anything. That’s one thing I can say about the Sci-fi/Comic Convention world is that we are all the same in that aspect. Our shared common interest puts all of that out of the way. Which is the way it should be with life. But there are many different levels of fans. If you actually think about these levels, you might understand why the convention world isn’t for every celebrity. For example, maybe there’s a celebrity that you have met one time and would like to meet them again or you’re telling someone about your prior encounter (or vice versa) and they don’t do conventions anymore or haven’t in a very long time. The following personalities could be a reason why.

                First you have what I call the inexperienced con goer. Most inexperienced con goers that I have witnessed is that their main interest is meeting celebrities. They would be the main ones in this category. This person seems to usually have a budget but not always. Most know before they even step in the door what celebrities they are going to meet and how much they are going to spend. Then again some are completely oblivious to the price structure. As for the celebrity part of it, they wait in line excited to meet one of their favorite celebrities and getting to actually talk to them. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first convention or your 100th convention, that excitement is still there especially if you’re a fan. You approach the celeb, hello Mr. /Mrs. So-and-so how are you, shake hand, nice to meet you etc., get autograph, have a great day. Usually lasting three to five minutes tops. The celeb is happy, the fan is happy, and all is well for everyone.

                 Second you have what I call the Uberfan. This person is really into the celebrity and a specific role that the celebrity has performed. What I have witnessed in my experience is this type of person will approach the celeb really super excited. Sometimes they will have a multitude of items that they want signed. (Usually at conventions, celebs will sign whatever amount of items you have as long as you pay. But they may ask you to break them up. Sign some now, the rest later for example) This fan will also start asking a barrage of specific questions. Usually about a role they did. For example, as they approach, they might quote their favorite quote or line from the television or movie they did. Then they may ask them specific questions about a role they did 10-20 years ago (maybe longer). “Do you remember in episode The Gamesters of Triskelion of season 2 of Star Trek, did the Master Thrall really shock your collar or was it just for show?” Taking up so much time that the line is getting longer without moving. Most of the time the celeb will keep his/her comments to themselves. Their assistant or handler will try to nicely move them along.

                Third you have what today would be called “the creeper”. This one is mainly certain guys when they meet female celebrities. For lack of a better word, some can get a bit “handsy”. I have seen and heard about certain guys that will put their arm around a female celebrity before they are ready and kind of catch them off guard. Or they will initiate it without their permission. Sometimes even with their permission or their initial invitation, the guy will do something that will make the person feel uncomfortable. If you want a photo with a female celebrity, don’t be that guy. Be respectful.

                Fourth you have what I call corn chips. Now I know that not everyone has the bathing habits that I do. This is one type of person that I have seen quite frequently at conventions. This person doesn’t seem to know what good hygiene is. There is usually a very pungent odor similar to corn chips. Not fritos, I mean off brand corn chips and sometimes onions. Most don’t even try to cover it with deodorant. If you’ve attended more than one conventions then it’s a pretty good guess that you know exactly what I’m talking about. Sometimes this person has traits of my third example. Which is always something that a celebrity loves. (Yes, that was sarcasm)

                This is just a few things that I have personally witnessed at science fiction/comic book conventions that may cause a celebrity to either A: stop attending or B: Be distant a standoffish to a fan. So maybe if things like this didn’t happen, maybe the possibility of a bad experience might lessen and everyone will have a better time. What do you think? Have you witnessed my examples? Do you think things like this could cause a rift between the celebrity and fan?  

                Then there's the dealer/collector who tries to get autographs from celebrities at their hotel or airports and doesn't know the definition of the words "boundaries" and or "limit". A lot of them (not all) have the sole purpose of selling their autographs and a lot of times take advantage of a celebs generosity. Which I have seen time and time again make the celebrity lump all the autograph collectors as dealers. But that's a whole other conversation. 

Conventions: A celebrity perspective

                      Recently I updated an article I wrote a couple years ago titled “Do Conventions Ruin Celebrities for Fans?”.  https://fromthemouthofavoicelessactor.blogspot.com/2016/01/do-conventions-ruin-celebrities-for-fans.html A handful of people have read it and it’s had some really good and positive responses. One being from some longtime friends of mine who happen to look at from the celebrity side of the spectrum. They are husband and wife Mary Deese Hampton and James Hampton. You would know Mary from her performances on General Hospital, Harold & Kumar 2, & Dallas to name a few. You would know James from such classics as Teen Wolf 1&2, Hanger 18, and The Longest Yard (original). 

                      Mary and Jimmy have been on the convention circuit for quite some time now. They have made many friends and have seen many changes over the years. After reading my article, Mary wanted to give their side of it. 

Riley: Hello Mary, how are you?

Mary: Wonderful Riley.  So glad to be keeping in touch with you!

Riley: Thank you for taking the time to give my article a read. It truly means the world to me. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

Mary:  Yes, it really brought back memories of the years we spent on the celebrity autograph “circuit” and the many fans we have that became friends, like you.

Riley: So what kind of changes have you and Jimmy seen over the years and what kind of effect has said changes had on the convention circuit in regards to the celebrity/fan relationship?

Mary:  Well, because of the body of work that Jimmy amassed over his almost 50 year career as an actor, director, writer and producer, he was invited to many conventions with genres that ran from Western, Horror/ SciFi, Sports, Vintage TV, and Comic cons.  He even attended a show in Houston once that was solely devoted to astronauts and actors who had played astronauts in film and tv! 

Jimmy always thought the idea of the conventions was terrific because they are a wonderful way for fans to connect to their favorite actors and vice versa.   People are always interested in “behind the scenes” stories and the cons are a great venue for fans to hear those stories - either in a one on one conversation with an actor or in a Q and A panel that the conventions usually host throughout the weekend. 

One of the changes we’ve seen through the years is that the conventions are getting bigger and bigger.   For instance, Jimmy was a guest at the very first Texas Frightmare Weekend.  There were only 6 celebrities and a few bands. It was held at the little ol’ Grapevine Convention Center.  Today, that convention is one of the largest Horror/Sci Fi conventions in the Southwest.  It’s amazing!

I can’t even begin to guess how many conventions there are out there now!  Because of the number of conventions being held each year, fans now have lots of opportunities to meet their favorite celebs.   That’s a good thing!

One of the other changes we’ve seen are the “photo ops” provided at the shows.  Some celebs don’t charge for photos with fans if they purchase a photo; however, often there are long lines  and  some celebs  can’t stop to take a photo with each and every fan.  So, they step away from signing for a few hours over the weekend just for that opportunity via “photo ops”.

I think one of the biggest changes we’ve seen over the years is the trend to bring entire casts of a television show or film to conventions.  While this seems to be very attractive to some fans, it’s not always so good for the other celebs.  If a promoter is “forced” to take 8 people from a particular television show or film but really only wants 1 or 2 of them, then that eliminates spots at the convention for other celebrities that want to attend or that the promoter would like to have attend.  Which also might keep fans hoping to see those “missing” celebs from coming to the convention at all.

Finally, another huge change in the shows is the startling number of…how do I say this…”mega stars”…that now want to come to the shows.  They’ve realized how much money is to be made and are capitalizing on the opportunity.  Good for them, but that’s also, in my opinion, what’s driving up the prices of the entry fees to the conventions.  Which leads to your next question.

Riley: So to reference the title of my article, in your opinion, with the way conventions are now and their current pricing structure, “Do Conventions Ruin Celebrities for Fans?”

Mary:  Oh, I wouldn’t use the word “ruin” but the explosion in the number of shows, the number of celebrities who attend them, and the trend to bring in entire casts has certainly impacted the wallets of both the fans and the celebs.  If the cost of the entrance fee is too high, then the fans don’t have money left to purchase photos…which, let’s be honest, is a big reason why the celebs are there.  If the prices of the “mega stars” that attend are too high (which $150.00 for a signed photo is ridiculous, in my opinion), then the fans that buy those photos probably aren’t going to purchase many more from other celebs.  The photo ops, while convenient for the celebrities who have long lines, also add to the cost of attendance if a fan wants a photo with a celeb that can’t…or won’t…take the time to snap one at his/her table. There’s got to be the right “formula” in order for a show to work well for the fans, the celebs and the promoters.  I am sure that it’s a struggle for the promoters trying to bring in the headliners and still not raise the cost of the entry fees.  That’s only one of many balls they have to juggle.  What some fans may not know is that the minute a convention is over, the promoters start planning for the next year. No rest for the weary!

I believe that fans will always enjoy attending the conventions and I personally know that most celebrities enjoy them as well. 

Unlike acting on the stage, an actor can’t see or hear responses of his or her audience when they are filming a television show or a movie. Getting together with fans as the cons gives an actor an opportunity to listen to what their fans thought of their past and current work.  Jimmy once said it was like hearing “delayed applause”.  Wonderful!  

Riley: Thank you so much Mary, for an insight to the convention world that most con goers don't know about. It's nice to hear an opinion from the other side of the table. And I completely agree about the high pricing for a single autographed photo to be ridiculous.

It's great to be a friend to you and Jimmy and I thank you so much for your time and friendship. Til the next time.

We're in this together

Just standing in line making memories.

              It’s funny how photos can help you remember details of events just by looking at them. Especially photos from sci fi/comic conventions. For everyone else, this photo is of myself meeting Brent Spiner, fellow Texan that is mostly known for portraying Lt. Comm. Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation. But for me, this photo gives me a few more details. One being the shirt that I was wearing. It was just a shirt that I had picked up from Old Navy that had some random BBQ restaurant in Texas on it. Could have been a real place, could not have been. I honestly don’t know. Well, when it was finally my turn, Brent Spiner started asking question after question about my shirt and the restaurant on it. If it was good and where was it located in Texas so he can go there. The second memory I have about this photo was just the random guy and his wife that was standing behind me. At most conventions, I usually go by myself and I usually keep to myself. Especially back then. But we all started talking about this and that. Afterwards they went on their way, I went on mine. 

             At that time Facebook hadn’t really taken off yet. I don’t even think it was around. But the convention had message boards (I miss those days) and you can post comments and photos etc about the shows and you could actually keep up with the conversations without them getting lost in the algorithm. Well I had commented on the board about the show and this person said he took a photo if I wanted it. Sure enough, it was from the couple behind me. So who’d thunk it? On Oct. 23, 2004 at Dallas Comic Con when a random photo was taken of a random person a friendship would start. And even though we don’t hang out as much, I still consider the both of them really good friends. Here’s to another almost 20 years my friends.

To Pay or Not to Pay: An Autograph Tale (revisited and updated)

             


          I can remember as a child seeing my favorite celebrities on television. Whether it was my favorite actors, voice over, or even sports celebrities. Sitting there imaging what it would be like to meet them, talk to them, or who knows maybe even get their autograph. From what I’ve heard, when I was a kid in the eighties, autographs were easier to obtain. If you saw your favorite celebrity, you just walked up and asked for his or her autograph. They would usually go all “Joe Green” on you and say “sure kid” and give you an autograph.

          For me personally, the main celebs that I would have access to were the Dallas Cowboys or the wrestlers of the WCCW. I would get autographs from my favorite players like Randy White, Danny White, or Roger Staubach or some of my favorite wresters the Von Erich family, the Dingo Warrior, or Chris Adams. Fast forward to current times and the game has completely changed. Instead of automatically getting the “sure kid”, you get the “is this going on eBay” question. Even if you say no, you get inevitable “you’re lying” look. It especially happens if you’re not a kid. But I’ve seen it happen to kids as well. In all fairness, I can see it from the celebrities’ point of view. If people are getting their autograph for free, and then sell it, then they believe they are entitled to some of that proverbial cash.

          Sometimes I think the celebrity fails to realize that if it’s the value of their autograph they are worried about, then the more they sign the less their autograph is worth. It’s all supply and demand in the world of collectibles. For example, take former Texas Rangers pitcher C.J. Wilson. C.J. would sign for just about anyone who would ask. Now don’t get me wrong C.J. wasn’t the only player that did that. In my opinion, the people who would ask for his autograph were his true fans. He was one of the most fan friendly players at the time.

          It wasn’t until 1998 that I had a chance to meet a “Hollywood” actor. In the mid to late nineties one of my favorite television shows was the X-Files. I watched it every week, read the official magazines, etc. I later found out they were making a movie. This was information that made this X-Phile very happy. To top it all off there was going to be a nationwide promotion tour. The tour would consist of actual props from the television show, exclusive trailers, and actors from the show. The way it worked was you paid for admission and just about everything inside was free (even autographs). Though Mulder & Scully weren’t there, three of my favorites were. Even though autographs weren’t guaranteed, I was able to meet two out of the three actors that was there.

          In 2002 I came across Dallas Comic Con. “Con” was short for convention. I did some research beforehand and found out that some legends from the comic book industry were going to be there along with some great science fiction writers. Most importantly to me I also found out that some actors and actresses were also going to be on hand signing autographs for a price. My wife and I attended this show; little did I know this was going to be a regular thing.

          Up until then I had never paid for an autograph from a celebrity but I understood the reasoning. I didn’t fully agree but I understood. Besides 10 to 20 dollars per autograph wasn’t that bad from someone you truly admire. Plus, you may never get to meet that person again. The choice is pretty fairly simple, if you want to pay, pay. If you don’t, then don’t. It’s just about like everything else in the world. The choice is entirely up to the individual and no one else. No one is forcing you to attend and pay for anything. Like it or not, it is a business. Since that first X-Files Expo, I have attended many conventions over the years. I have met a lot of my favorite celebrities at the conventions I have attended. I have also obtained autographs from most of them. For example, at one show in particular I was able to meet one of my favorite actors, Adam Baldwin. Now it’s not often you see Adam Baldwin walking the streets of Dallas. I know this, which is why it was a no brainer for me to gladly pay for his autograph.

          I have so many fond memories from that first convention, unfortunately there are a few regrets as well. My few fond memories was being able to share this memory with my wife, meeting Carrie Fisher for the first time, and meeting the late great Dave Stevens. Three regrets in particular always stay with me as well. Not meeting veteran actor Ben Chapman (who has since passed away), not getting a sketch or an autograph from the late great Dave Stevens (even though I spoke with him several times throughout the day), and not meeting actor Glen Shadix (also who has since passed away). Now I know you can’t tell who’ll pass away unexpectedly, it’s just something you’ll have to deal with if it happens to you.

          I can honestly say though, the positives far outweigh the negatives when it comes to the convention circuit. So, if you do decide to go to a comic book or science fiction convention, have fun. Will there be things that you don’t like? Maybe. Will there be things you like? Definitely. Just go there with an open mind, the readiness to embrace your inner nerd, have a great time. Be sure to do your own research beforehand. Check the conventions website, read their social media pages, talk to the regulars. Most of them probably know the ins and outs of the circuit better than anyone. They can help you if you have any questions. All you have to do is ask.

            There are good conventions and there are some conventions that will just nickel and dime you without delivering the goods. On the other side though, there are some that are as much for the fans as they are for the money. You just have to look for them. Word of mouth is the best type of advertising, so researching a convention beforehand will make the good ones easier to find. I personally don’t go to many conventions anymore. As stated in the beginning, Dallas Comic Con was the convention I visited the most. But that has completely changed. I do not go to their shows anymore for a multitude of reasons. But I know a lot of people that do. And that’s cool. You have that choice.

          Long story short, if you decide to go, remember the most important thing is to HAVE FUN.

Do conventions ruin celebrities for fans?

Hello everyone, I hope all is well. I’ll start this for those who might be not as familiar with conventions as others. There are Sci-Fi, Comic book, Horror, and really any kind of genre of convention that are usually held in or around major cities across the country and abroad. The most popular (imo) is the Sci-Fi/Comic Book convention. It’s usually held at a location that has at least a few large rooms. One room is usually the vendor room. The vendor room is like a merchandise market. Various vendors have tables set up selling their merchandise. If there is something you are looking for from the Science Fiction or comic book world, you can most likely find it there. But just as any other open market you need to be aware of who you’re purchasing things from. As with the rest of the world, not everyone is there to sell quality goods at a fair price. Be wary of possible bootleg products as well as highly overpriced price tags. Secondly, there is usually an artist room aka “Artist Alley”. Comic book artists, writers, inkers, etc. are here. There is usually some awesome local talent as well as more mainstream comic book talent. There you can get your favorite books signed, buy original art, or just a handshake and a hello. Thirdly there is the media room. The media room is usually where the celebrities are. A lot of times conventions will bring in celebrities to help boost admission sales. Now this isn’t the baseline for every convention. There are variations. This is to give the uninitiated a general idea. Sometimes there are additional rooms for Q&A’s, gaming, demos, cosplay contests, etc. Hopefully you get the idea.

It seems that lately more and more conventions are popping up all over the place. Some are small, some are large. Some are extremely costly and some are fairly priced. I came into the convention scene a little later than some of the other seasoned veterans did. Some remember when all convention celebrity attendees didn't charge for autographs or if you did have to pay they were relatively cheaply priced. My first convention was The X-Files Expo in Dallas in 98. There were three celebrities that there from the show and all three signed for free. The downside is that you had to stand in line a long time to meet them. Unfortunately, I was only able to meet two of them, but they were two of my favorites (Outside of Mulder & Scully). They were Mitch Pileggi and Dean Haglund aka Skinner and Langly. 

         I didn’t attend a convention for another four years. That convention was the first Dallas Comic Con. I had researched the convention a little beforehand and I noticed something different going on. Celebrities were charging a fee for their autograph. I understood the reasoning behind the charges. Of course I would rather pay nothing but who wouldn’t. Fortunately, the fees weren’t too bad, so it wasn’t a total surprise. Since prior to the show I didn’t know the exact prices, I had to figure out who I really wanted to meet just in case the prices were high. Things were good, well to me at least. I got to meet some of my favorite celebrities and artists (Dave Stevens), make some new friends (some of the best friends I have had, have been people I’ve met at a convention) and then call it a day. Were there some negatives? Sure. (Corn chips anyone?) But the positives far outweighed the negatives. But to quote the legendary Bob Dylan “The times they are a changin’”.

Now I can only personally speak from my own experiences. But I’ve heard from people who have had similar experiences, say that this has happened to them as well. In their eyes as well as mine things are going good and then the local fan friendly convention gets bought out by a corporation. Corporations only see one thing, dollar signs. The one on one interaction with your favorite celebrity is replaced by the cattle call. What I mean by that is you are just going through the line like cattle with basically no interaction with the celebrity. Just pay your money, collect your autograph, and move along. Don’t even think about eye contact. Lol (ok that was a stretch. But it happens) Customer service goes down, prices go up. Instead of a small handful of celebs being brought in, a plethora (to quote Three Amigos) of celebrities is now being brought in. At double, sometimes triple the price for their autograph. They would in turn start getting the “bigger” names in not only the science fiction world but in television and movies. Simply because they have the financial backing of the corporation. So they can afford to bring in the bigger names. When it used to be the celebrities seemed to love meeting their fans, now a lot of them consider it just an easy paycheck. Comic Cons have turned into “media cons”.  They rush you through the line and nickel and dime you for everything. Don’t even think about pulling your camera out a taking a photo of the celebrity signing your item. Because you now have to pay an additional fee (anywhere from $30 to $125) for a photo with the celeb for an “Olan Mills” style photo. It seems like now with the bigger conventions and it seems to be bleeding over to the smaller ones, you aren’t even allowed to take your camera or phone out at all. Now don’t get me wrong I love to see a variety of celebrities at a convention. But if there is so many to choose from, how do you choose. If you have five to ten (or more) “headlining” guests charging $40 to $150 (yes, I said $150) an autograph and various other guests at considerably lesser price tags, someone is getting the short end. Now if there were only a small handful of guests, let’s say five to ten total, the playing field is a little more even. And everyone goes away satisfied.  

I’ve seen a growing trend at conventions as of late. A lot of people think that it started with The Walking Dead actors charging their fans so much for their autographs. But I believe it started way before that with the Creation conventions. With those drastic price increases it is making other celebrities who wouldn’t normally charge as much start raising their prices. Of course I understand, I don’t like it, but I understand. If a celeb is sitting at a table and charging say 25 dollars for their autograph and there are two other celebs to their left and right charging let’s say 40 dollars. All three have a steady line but the one charging 25 is thinking “I could charge 40 and get more money for doing the same thing”. So he/she changes their price to 40. So it begins. Most (if not all) of celebrities that go to conventions are there for the money and therefor don’t mind the price increase to their fans. Some maybe oblivious to the prices. I doubt it, but I guess it’s possible. Now I’ve had the “pricing” conversation with many people, even with some of the celebrities themselves. Celebs saying they don’t make the prices it’s the promoters. The promoters saying it’s the celebs that make the prices. Either way the prices continue to go up and it’s the fan’s wallets that suffer. I know no one is forcing you to go or to pay the prices. I know things go up, not just with autographs but with everything. That’s beside the point. It shouldn’t go up that drastically. Gas went up over four dollars here in Texas one year, it’s not that anymore. Prices can go down. Maybe not what they were exactly, but they can come down. Of course it’s just my opinion though.

I have also had conversations with those who have absolutely zero knowledge of the convention world. They’ve asked me what goes on there and how does it work. They’ve seen the photos I’ve taken and autographs I’ve gotten. So I explain to them what all goes on and how it “works”. Once I get to the pricing part of the autographs, they are completely dumbfounded. “You have to pay for their autographs?” some would say. Then after they would think about it they would understand a little bit but not fully. Their thoughts would turn from a positive to a negative saying that “if they really cared for their fans they wouldn’t charge”. Then it would really get heated when they became aware of the higher priced autographs and “photo ops” from some celebrities. Going as far as saying they are no longer a fan. Even though they’ve never met them or attended a convention. “If all they care about is ripping people off at these conventions then they won’t see another dime from me”. I really didn’t understand at times how it got so heated. But regardless it did and by a number of people.

I also know people who can’t attend conventions because either they are too far from them or too expensive. So they are strictly ttm collectors. TTM means “Through the Mail”, meaning that someone can find an address for a specific celebrity (either a manager or agents address) and they write to them asking for an autograph. Generally there are things that should always be included, a letter of request, something for them to sign, and a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE). But I have found that with the recent growth spurt of a variety of celebrities at conventions, ones who use to sign for their fans for free via ttm now refuse because they aren’t getting paid like they would at a convention. Some have even started an official store selling autographs through there. Sometimes if you write to them you will get a standard return to sender. But some will actually keep the items you’ve sent and send you a Pre-Print autograph (a photographic copy of their autograph on a photo) or a letter requesting payment. 

My question is this: Do conventions have the possibility of ruining a fan/celebrity relationship? Especially with the ever rising ticket, autograph, and photo op prices.