http://ldsman.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] ldsman.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] dragoncon_lj_archive2011-08-21 10:21 pm
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Shatner and Star Trek signatures

Does Mr. Shatner charge to sign one of his books? How much does he charge? Do the trek stars charge to sign the Next Generation Trading Cards? I mean, they are small baseball sized cards and it seems a little high to charge 30 bucks for one of those.

[identity profile] omahastar.livejournal.com 2011-08-22 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
It's normally between $60 and $75, no matter what it is (book, photo, card, etc). Sorry, he's been that way for years now.

[identity profile] theaterman007.livejournal.com 2011-08-22 04:51 am (UTC)(link)
Mr. Shatner charges to look your way even though he's not looking at you!
In other words; He's a douche! At least that's what I witnessed last year!

[identity profile] resa53.livejournal.com 2011-08-22 12:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Mr. Nimoy was the same way at DragonCon last year iirc yet it's just Mr. Shatner that gets called names. Apparently, they even got into a 'bidding' war with each other until they agreed on $80.00. And they each refused to sign 'freebies'.

[identity profile] rap541.livejournal.com 2011-08-22 01:05 pm (UTC)(link)
To be fair to Mr. Nimoy, I didn't find him to be brusque or unpleasant when signing my autograph. I will say that Mr. SHatner came off a bit more prima donna, and has for years, and that may be why he attracts more negative comments. I'm still wrapping my head around whether I want to invest the time to get his autograph... on the one hand its 75-80 bucks, on the other, he's what, 82?

[identity profile] neovenom.livejournal.com 2011-08-22 04:53 am (UTC)(link)
In general, the media stars charge for the autograph itself, regardless of the item. Unless you catch someone in the hallways or at a bar, you're going to have to pay to get something signed.

[identity profile] sonata-ix.livejournal.com 2011-08-22 05:48 am (UTC)(link)

I tried to get some cards signed a few years ago and was equally disappointed. You pay for the signature rather than what it goes on, I guess.

[identity profile] delle.livejournal.com 2011-08-22 06:27 am (UTC)(link)
you can thank Erin Gray and Julie Caitlin Brown for the exorbinant (sp, sorry) prices - they got their claws into the stars and the days of free pics and free autographs are long, long gone.

[identity profile] resa53.livejournal.com 2011-08-22 12:56 pm (UTC)(link)
We have to remember that some stars make their living attending cons and selling their autographs and pictures. It's just unfortunate that JCB and EG are so rude to fans (at least JCB is ... I've witnessed this first hand) and have caused an inflation of prices so that some (myself included) refuse to pay.

[identity profile] resa53.livejournal.com 2011-08-22 12:43 pm (UTC)(link)
On the WOF some of the stars will let you take pics at their table ... some won't. For example Edward James Olmos was very gracious to everyone and took pics. Some stars adhere strictly to the no pics rule.
Mr. Shatner and Mr. Nimoy both charged $80.00 for their signatures last year even if you were asking them to sign their book. The same price for a picture and you could only have an 'official' picture done.

[identity profile] neovenom.livejournal.com 2011-08-22 04:34 pm (UTC)(link)
While I agree whole-heartedly that Mr. Olmos and the rest of the BSG people are very fan friendly, he did charge $50 for a photo op with your camera at his table. After 3 years of Walk of Fame experiences, I've yet to encounter a celeb that gives a photo op with them for free. Even the most minor of names still charge about $10 for it.

[identity profile] resa53.livejournal.com 2011-08-22 05:16 pm (UTC)(link)
hmmm ... I took a couple of photos with him and he didn't charge me ... I did however buy an autograph. Maybe that's why ...

[identity profile] resa53.livejournal.com 2011-08-22 05:18 pm (UTC)(link)
meant to add ... several years ago Andy Hallett and I had a wonderful conversation at his table and he gave me a picture and his autograph. He was very friendly and seemed uneasy about accepting money for his autograph even though his 'sign' said $20 and I offered. He was one of a kind I think.

[identity profile] vixendarkfairy.livejournal.com 2011-08-22 08:13 pm (UTC)(link)
I've taken pics with at least a dozen celebs and not been charged, but ya have to go when they are not very busy, and DO strike up a conversation. They are people, after all, and like to be spoken to like people instead of icons. At least, the more humble ones do...

[identity profile] nyreak.livejournal.com 2011-08-23 07:31 pm (UTC)(link)
We never pay for photos with folks, I just refuse to do it. Last year, we had photos done with Armin Shimmerman, the Eureka folks (Colin Ferguson, Neil Grayston, and Erica Cerra). Each year, we get autographs and photos with those folks and my little girl. It could be because we do them for her (as a keepsake for when she's older) that they are willing to do them, but I've seen the same folks doing photos with others as well.

[identity profile] noelleleithe.livejournal.com 2011-08-22 02:13 pm (UTC)(link)
The signature is the same no matter what they're signing. I agree that some of the prices are getting ridiculous, but they're working, and that's how they get paid for it.

[identity profile] eoywin.livejournal.com 2011-08-22 08:17 pm (UTC)(link)
You are going to pay for your WoF autographs, even if it is on a small card.

Some guests will take pictures will you and some won't. You will need to ask the handler. There seems to be more of a trend of charging for at the WoF pictures.

My first Dragon*Con (2007) I got a picture with Ron Glass as he signed my Firefly DVD for free. Last year, I paid $20 or $25 for a picture with Keven Sorbo (that turned out really good and was worth the price)

[identity profile] ladyvalkris.livejournal.com 2011-08-24 12:56 am (UTC)(link)
Adam West's only requirement was that you didn't use flash photography. He did sell pics at this WoF table but you could take a pic of him w/o cost.

He was very gracious.

Look, they charge what the market can bear. all of this griping is nonsensical to me. This is a business.

Nerdom is no longer a niche market. It's now big business. Media stars go to cons to make more money in a 3 day weekend than they can in months.

If you don't want to pay for what you used to get for free, then don't.

I'd go around WoF when it wasn't busy, strike up conversations and see where it will get you. You might get lucky.