Attitude of Celebs

[autograph hound]

ut Adam West. I don't think his goes to charity? (yeah , he gives all to charity....and pigs might fly

....nobody is forced to pay though but yeah...some overcharge :/

[Shambler]

I know its for charity and thats good yeah, but $10 is ALOT of money to someone like me! If I want an autograph thats one thing, I'll donate to charity on my time and when I can afford it. I was even thinking, from next year, every time I recieve an autograph I'll give a blanket or food to animal charities. Autographs + money are a bad combination imo!

[Gary2880]

Is buzz still charging $250? i know he falls into the doesn't owe the public anything list, but still!

[celeb123]

Its great when you get an authentic or better personalised but, pp are okay. i guess, just te stars i REALLY want to send to are pps. or they dont send out.

[reaper07]

I think that there are a few celebs who would love to reply to their fanmail but they simply get too many requests!

You know, just take Viggo Mortensen, he said that he always tried to answer his mail and everything but it is simply too much now and so he said that he stopped signing ttm because he wants to spend more time with family and his art but gladly signs in person!

Others are probably to arrogant or are afraid their autographs will sell for much money which is sad for the real fans.

I simply don't know!

[TheCollector]

.....I would really like to get Rowan Atkinsons, Hugh Lauries and Robbie Coltrains, but as you know they all send out PP's due to their "fame". Where as arguably more famous people such as Judi Dench take the time to sign.

Hi Gary

Actually those three do occasionally sign authentically through the mail - providing you write them a decent letter, and don't treat them like a comodity
See here:
Hugh Laurie: http://www.fanmail.biz/mboard/viewtopic ... highlight=
Robbie Coltrane: http://www.fanmail.biz/mboard/viewtopic ... highlight=
Rowan Atkinson: http://www.fanmail.biz/mboard/viewtopic.php?t=78300

Occasionally I do have to speak out for actors and presenters, and my qualifications for such are that although I am a charity collector and Admin on Fanmail.Biz, I am also the presenter of the Discovery Channel's show: Ghosthunters, and I work on worldwide tv and radio as a broadcaster/journalist.

Unfortunately, much of the requests for autographs that I receive come in the form of: " I love your show, please send me a signed photograph.", or "I am a collector of autographs and I would like you to send me yours.... (!)

Requests like this often seem rude and clinical - especially if you expect the reply to come from our (my) marketing budget Actually celebrities don't owe autograph collectors anything for nothing. Most of them do oblige freely, but please don't expect anything for free without a little effort on your part :neutral: If you tell a celeb what you like about what they do - enter into a conversation - you will often do much,. much better.

Ian [reindeer]

Ian

[Atomic ant]

Good point Ian.

It would also help, if we send them something to sign. (even an index card) and pay the postage.

After all we expect, a free autograph, so please try at least to be a bit helpful.
We must keep, them sweet so that thay will sign for others. But there should be a bit of willing on their part as well.

[nomoredramamama75]

Hi Ian. ThanX for sharing your expertise & experience as someone who is on both sides of the fence: charity autograph collector and autograph request receiver.

When you write "enter into a conversation", does that include asking thoughtful (not shallow) questions?

I have sometimes came off as clinical/ robot-like at work. Sometimes i rub people the wrong way even without meaning to. Other times (in person) I just don't bloody care.

I'm just trying to figure out why I have so many outstanding requests. (Other than this hobby is about patience and waiting.) Maybe it's my attitude, not the attitude of the celebs, that needs modification.

We cannot change the attitude of others (celebs included), but we can change our approach/ technique.

[TheCollector]

Hi nomoredramamama75

All I was meaning was, try as far as possible for your letters not to sound like "form letters", e.g. as if they have been printed (or written) en-masse and sent ouy exactly the same to everyone on your list

I don't think it is really necessary to go too in-depth with questioning etc, but it is nice to demonstrate that you at least have a proper interest in the person you are writing to.

For example in the past I have received letters which I would be mad to reply to! One which comes to mind is where the writer asked for an autographed photo, but said they didn't actually know what I did I suppose it is good to be honest, but maybe not that honest!!

Do you always supply reply-paid envelopes with your requests? You can substantially increase your rate of success if you do. I know some people say it doesn't really matter, but in my own experience (and I have collected over 1,000 autopgraphs now for charity) it really does make a difference.

My advice would be, even if it means you have to cut down your requests in order to send SASE's then that is still the way to go

I hope this helps a bit, and best of luck in your collecting!

Ian [reindeer]

[nomoredramamama75]

Ian,

I see where you're coming from, I feel ya. ThanX for the tips.

I think I display a healthy interest in/ knowledge of the celebs I write fan mail to (not just "You're so kewl, give me an autograph pul-leeze.") And I do send SASE's.

I'm feeling much more confident that (at least most of) the letters I've sent are solid/ personalized but not overly personal.

You know what they say about anticipation: "it's making me wait." At the earliest I've been waiting since May, & from what I read that's not really outside the range for receiving a response. For all I know some of my "pictures" could be delayed in the [xmastree] Christmas [reindeer] mail rush.

Fondly,

{love} Drama Mama , reformed