16 replies to this topic

[Little Nelly]

I met George Lazenby a couple of days ago.

After standing in line for an hour, I got him to sign a couple of OHMSS repro posters, and only then, after my property had been signed, I was informed that the autographs cost £20 each!

Is this usual? I've never been to this type of event before, but it never occurred to me that they would charge. Nowhere on their advertising did they state that they were. When I protested I was told "well that's how much they cost". Needless to say I did not pay (I'm a family man, and £40 is a lot of money to me), and consequently had to abandon a 007 Magazine from my collection.

So beware! If you go to this venue for a signing (I believe Honor Blackman is appearing there in August) ask beforehand if they're charging for autographs.

[Zorin Industries]

I met George Lazenby a couple of days ago.

After standing in line for an hour, I got him to sign a couple of OHMSS repro posters, and only then, after my property had been signed, I was informed that the autographs cost £20 each!

Is this usual? I've never been to this type of event before, but it never occurred to me that they would charge. Nowhere on their advertising did they state that they were. When I protested I was told "well that's how much they cost". Needless to say I did not pay (I'm a family man, and £40 is a lot of money to me), and consequently had to abandon a 007 Magazine from my collection.

So beware! If you go to this venue for a signing (I believe Honor Blackman is appearing there in August) ask beforehand if they're charging for autographs.

£20 is far too much. They should be a gesture of cost, and certainly not that much. There should also be a charity element involved. I don't see what the difference is between nabbing Lazenby in the street and queueing up to see him in some dingy basement in some London film store. One is more guaranteed granted, but £20 is far too much. And yes, the likes of all of us have to eat and pay the bills, but signing autographs is not the way to do it. Though many do...I know.

There are also probably issues here of copyright with the owners of any photographs or posters that are subsequently signed. The signers are making money via an image that is not there's to do so with. Just a thought. Tell me I'm wrong.

[The Admiral]

When I was in LA, it was $20 for a Laz signature. Doesn't look like they're taking into account the exchange rate... But they did have a sign on each desk stating the price for an autograph. If there wasn't something similar in London, then I think you were right to protest against paying. Would be horrible for a little kid to go there and have the same happen to him.

Unless the venue is paying the person to make the visit, I don't think they'd sit at a table for a few hours, out of the kindness of their heart, to sign autographs all day. So I guess Laz was invited their with an opportunity for him to print his own money, rather than Vintage, and they get a lot more visitors in their shop buying other things at the same time.

[marktmurphy]

I think I heard that the recent Star Wars thingy in London had costs of something like £80 for a Mark Hamill autograph! Crazy times.

I meant to pop along to this, though- I wanted to have a look at Lazenby just to tick him off my list! Forgot all about it, though.

[Simon]

Is this usual?

In a word, yes.

Welcome to the tacky world of autograph hunting, in my view. Another thread here has recently been discussing this.

But to be sure, they should have advertised the costs (if they didn't); a touch unprofessional by all concerned especially if the age range covers salaries to pocket money.

[Mark_Hazard]

All this signing autographs for money came about because too many people were asking celebs for multiple autographed photographs (one for me, one for each of my 17 brothers and sisters, for my counsins, second cousins, aunts & uncles etc etc), but please don't bother to dedicate them, and then selling them on, when eBay arrived this became much more prevelant. I'm not going to mention which one, but all the celebs that have mentioned this practice to me all name the same (European) country as being the worst perpetrator (according to many, not even bothering to send return postage or an envelope, or even a picture to autograph). Anyway, why shouldn't the signer make a few quid from their autograph, it also makes it cheaper than paying what some of the autograph sellers charge (and you know it's genuine)*, and you get them dedicated.

Would be horrible for a little kid to go there and have the same happen to him.

Having helped at the NEC for a number of Bond celebs, you'd be surprised (or maybe not) at the number of adults that send their kids to try and get a free autograph.


* plug, one seller that you can rely on, for both price and genuine autographs, is bondstars.com

[doublenoughtspy]

So Little Nelly,

You are willing to locate multiple items from your collection, trek to the vintage magazine store, and stand in line for an hour.

Conceivably then, the autograph has some sort of value to you?

Are you under the impression that Lazenby should fly 3000+ miles from California, and sit and sign autographs for anyone who wants one for FREE?

That makes no sense to me.

Yes, there should have been signs. But didn't you see the people 1, 2 or 3 slots ahead of you exchanging money for his autograph?

I'm not happy about the autograph inflation either, but I doubt you would see even a fraction of the celebs at these events if it weren't in their financial interest.

[Little Nelly]

So Little Nelly,

You are willing to locate multiple items from your collection, trek to the vintage magazine store, and stand in line for an hour.

Conceivably then, the autograph has some sort of value to you?

Are you under the impression that Lazenby should fly 3000+ miles from California, and sit and sign autographs for anyone who wants one for FREE?

That makes no sense to me.

Yes, there should have been signs. But didn't you see the people 1, 2 or 3 slots ahead of you exchanging money for his autograph?

I'm not happy about the autograph inflation either, but I doubt you would see even a fraction of the celebs at these events if it weren't in their financial interest.

I don't have an objection to him charging for his autograph as such, just to the underhand way the charges were applied, i.e. after my own property had been signed.

[Bryce (003)]

Nature of the beast lads.

I'll agree that twenty pounds is a bit heavy as here at most of the events the price is half that in USD.

Still, if you want it, it's worth it. That applies to anything, but the store should have made it more clear, then again, you should have expected it. It just the way these things work.

BTW - Admiral, Quartermaster, Stromberg and Zencat - Miss West said you can just send your fees to her paypal account for your personalised autographs. Adjusted, it's just about 17.50 GBP. Actually, Admiral, you did provide dinner so yours is half-price.

[ACE]

Cause and effect

http://debrief.comma...p...c=47565&hl=

There were signs up stating clearly the charge, Little Nellie.
How you missed the signs, I do not know.
Vintage Magazines have done a number of signings over the years.
Charges are raised at all film memorabilia shows and autograph conventions.
Even if someone had landed from Mars, it would be difficult to believe that they would expect an autograph for free.
There was nothing underhand about the charges at all.
However, some people will always shamelessly try it on.

BTW, if you cannot get autographs in person, http://www.bondstars.com/ is the safest and most reliable source for genuine Bond autographs.

[dodge]

I'm surprised but, considering Lazenby's stature, I think the charge was reasonable. I mean, let's keep this real, if Mark Hammill can command 80 pounds for co-starring in three silly sci-fi films, then Laz--who did star in the Gone with the Wind of all Bond films--almost gave his autograph away, in comparison.

[lazenbyland]

I think 20 pounds was reasonable for a signed item by a James Bond. I agree you can't have a free for all.

My only criticism of the charge was that it had to be in cash. Luckily I had plenty on me, but I was surprised that we couldn't pay by Switch at least. I hope no-one queued up hoping they could pay by card and then finding they couldn't.

[FlemingBond]

Three silly sci-fi films. uh right.

i don't get them telling you about the charge after he signed. That's odd.

[Turn]

All this signing autographs for money came about because too many people were asking celebs for multiple autographed photographs (one for me, one for each of my 17 brothers and sisters, for my counsins, second cousins, aunts & uncles etc etc), but please don't bother to dedicate them, and then selling them on, when eBay arrived this became much more prevelant. I'm not going to mention which one, but all the celebs that have mentioned this practice to me all name the same (European) country as being the worst perpetrator (according to many, not even bothering to send return postage or an envelope, or even a picture to autograph). Anyway, why shouldn't the signer make a few quid from their autograph, it also makes it cheaper than paying what some of the autograph sellers charge (and you know it's genuine)*, and you get them dedicated.

Not just this, but show promoters and dealers found they could make money and the celebrities found it was an easy buck. Thus an alliance was born and an innocent pleasure of autograph seeking became a casualty for many. I've seen numerous athletes say they wouldn't sign for free because they can get paid to do so. I once saw an somebody ask an athlete for an autograph and the athlete said "Yeah, I'll sign...for $25." And the guy walked away stunned.

I heard a story about Ken Griffey Jr. getting harassed by some fans when he was in the middle of a game recently. Griffey is one of the best baseball players of all time for those who don't know him. He said he couldn't sign because he was playing and the people began berating him. But he actually signed some balls and sent them over to the people. That's a case where people who were jerks got something for being jerks. Makes you feel for the little guy with the best of intentions.

People wonder why athletes and celebrities make so much money, it's because people are willing to pay them. Same with getting their autograph. This thread kind of ties into the one in the Connery forum about the two guys who basically stalked Connery for autographs, annoying him in the process.

Another question is why the price for the Lazenby autograph seemed so steep to some when a site like the Bond Collectibles web site charges nearly $100 for a Lazenby signature. Personally, I think it sounds like a bargain when so many lesser celebs often charge around that for an autograph.

One other thing: did Lazenby talk to those he signed for or pose for pictures or interact in any sort of way or was it strictly business?

It reminds me of one of the few times I paid for an autograph. David Carradine was at a comic show about five years ago when Kill Bill was out. I was surprised there was nobody at his table. I think it was $20 or $25 so I said why not. I greeted him and said I enjoyed Kill Bill and was looking forward to part two. I think he either mumbled something or it was just a grunt and he passed the autograph to one of the guys he was with and he never even looked up at me. I wasn't expecting a conversation with the guy, but for somebody who didn't even have anybody around his table I thought maybe I'd have gotten some sort of acknowledgement. No big deal. I've met other celebrities with better personalities who have made me follow their careers more closely because they took the time to make me feel a part of their world for a short time.

[lazenbyland]

From what I saw, Lazenby was happy to talk to those who had queued up to see him and he also was ok with us having photos taken with him.

He was great with my two young sons who have talked about nothing else since.

[Mark_Hazard]

From what I saw, Lazenby was happy to talk to those who had queued up to see him and he also was ok with us having photos taken with him.

He was great with my two young sons who have talked about nothing else since.

I've met George a few times (had dinner with him a couple of times and even drove him to the NEC once) and he always seems to get on well with everyone, a very amicable guy.

Only met David Carradine the once, that was in the hotel after an event at the NEC, where he was very entertaining, playing classical tunes on the piano (as well as a few I didn't recognise), not sure what he was actually like at the event.

[Turn]

Only met David Carradine the once, that was in the hotel after an event at the NEC, where he was very entertaining, playing classical tunes on the piano (as well as a few I didn't recognise), not sure what he was actually like at the event.

Thus my above point. When one is paying to have a memento that says they have had contact with this celebrity, you'd also like to walk away with the impression the person was nice or cared that he has people interested in him and his work, whether they were sincere or not.

Maybe the man was having a bad day or something, I don't know. What I do know is the way I was treated led me to believe he was there for the money, which is fine. I just think he owed me a little more considering I actually payed to see POW: The Escape back in 1986.