ECCC Ponderings...

[captain_slinky]

So it looks like it'll cost $40 per autograph from Stan Lee, with a limit of 3 tickets per person. YIKES! There will also be a "Photo Op" for a fee that will be separate from the signing... s if you want a picture and an autograph of Stan, plan on dropping an extra hundred bucks at the convention :(

Since I already have his autograph on a limited hardback proof copy of his novel "Riftworld", I'll probably go for the picture instead. That way if I ever meet him again I'll have something awesome for him to sign :)

Also, need t get a high-quality 8x10 print of my "Me n' Wil Wheaton" picture to try and get him to sign this year. I hope I remember to do that before the convention!

Oh, and for you BSG Nerds out there? They've added Chief Galen Tyrol (Aaron Douglas) to the line-up of Media Guests! I expect to see a nice battle between the Star Wars 501st and the local BSG Squadron this year :)

Let's see... I need a List Of Crap To Do Before The Convention!

• Inventory my Justice League collection
  
• Print picture of me and my BFF Wil Wheaton
  
• Make sure that my outfits are clean (Spider-Man costume shirt for day 1, Day 2 TBD)
  
• Sew nerdy things to my new hoody
  
• Find my Convention-Strength Superman Duffel Bag (can hold an entire long box of comics!)
  
• List stuff on Ebay for extra funds
  
• Get cash (1's and 5's)
  
• Charge the Flip and the Camera
  
• Confirm babysitter
  
• Arrange a "Friends of The Captain" lunch for Saturday or Sunday?

Comments

[indigo-tide.livejournal.com]

so i'm kind of disgusted that people are charging for autographs. Especially that much.

That's kind of bullshit.

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

I'm okay with Stan charging that much... he's nearly 90 years old! Signatures are a bit fatiguing on even the healthiest of young buck artists, I can only imagine what type of wear-and-tear they have on a man of his legacy! Leonard Nimoy I can understand a bit, too... he's SPOCK. He is one of the Five Big Pop Culture Icons of the 20th Century! His signature is actually *worth* something.

It's the folks from The Guild, Lou Ferrigno, Erin Grey and the likes charging that makes me sad. They're young, they can take it... and really without the fans they're nothing more than a footnote in pop-culture history.

Wil Wheaton and Thomas Jane have got the right idea; neither f them charges for an autograph because they know that without the fans they wouldn't make any money. I will be sure to purchase things from them at the convention :)

[indigo-tide.livejournal.com]

I can understand wanting to make a buck, and yes, at least Stan is famous. Same for Spock. But I would think they'd be over their autographing days you know? If they are providing the thing to be autographed or selling wares in line - I maybe would understand that route a little better. But $40 for some ink? Idk. Maybe that is the result of the access of ebay and people reselling shit like that to make a buck.

I love the guild but there's no way I'd pay any of them for a signature. But then again, I'm so not that good at the fangirling thing.

My boyfriend is still shocked that I went and saw Neil Gaiman speak but didn't bother bringing anything for him to sign. I'm just not that much of a fan of standing in line. :P

[aurora77]

$40 is a bit much. It's probably to limit the number of things he has to sign and the number of people he has to deal with.

I would rather stand in line for a panel than for a signing. As a rule, an experience is far more valuable to me than a signed [X]. Now, if it's a really, really super cool signed [X], like the time Jhonen Vasquez was signing awesome prints of his Bioshock 2 concept art, then yeah, I'll jump in line for that. (It's on my wall now. XD)

I did do a few lines back when I did the special journey of the Magical d20. It was to get photos of famous/cool/geeky people blessing the Magical d20. Phil Foglio in a dramatic pose, Wil Wheaton giving it a good talking-to, Jerry Krahulik imbuing psychic energy into it by holding it to his forehead... that sort of thing. A lot of fun, and the con was a little short on entertainment, so I found lots of good entertainment that way. But again, more of about the experience than about the item.

[aurora77]

I was wrong. 1998. Still, it's pretty cool.

[sasjhwa.livejournal.com]

The market asks what the market can get. If no one would buy them for that price they would be cheaper. If hundreds of people don't get one this year that want them they will probably raise the price next year. That is the beauty of economics.

Higher prices also likely limit the massive throngs of people willing to sell their very souls for a chance to wipe the sweat from his brow, for which I'm sure he is grateful. His age may also play a role in the pricing as he doesn't have too many more years of signing things left so more people are anxious to get them while they can.

For the smaller players, I suppose they have to eat. I doubt the residuals on Buck Rogers are very hefty any more. And again, if people are willing to pay them, they might as well charge.

I wonder how much the convention pays them or if most of their income for the weekend comes from autographs and such.

[aurora77]

Considering that I have a particularly special item I'd like to have signed by Stan Lee in order to increase its value, I can understand why he might charge. I don't know if it's worth it at that rate, since I don't think it would increase the value by that much.

Also, good news! I have a 2-day pass and found someone to take my Sunday LARP duties for me, so I can show up both days! :D ZOMGCOMICCON!

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

HOORAY!!! So what are you getting signed?

[aurora77]

I don't think I'll pay the $40, but I would love to get my old Spider-Man Sunday strip original art signed by him. It's already signed by Sinnott and Saviuk. It's a great piece. Early 90s from what I remember, maybe 1992. I haven't pulled it out for a while, so I don't remember exactly. It has humor, a story wrap-up/summary, and the characters in it are great. JJ, Peter in costume and out of costume and Peter kissing MJ. No action shots, but it does have Peter coming home through the window. It was the most well-rounded piece the artist was selling. I'll probably sell it someday, since I bought it pretty cheap as small investment. It's not really something I'd hang on my own walls, because I have way too many other things I want on them. It's still pretty cool, though.

[aurora77]

Weird. I could have sworn I'd replied. 1998 was the year, to be precise.

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

I WOULD SO TOTALLY SPEND THE MONEY ON GETTING THAT SIGNED IF I WERE YOU!!! That's so awesome!

[aurora77]

I went ahead and purchased an autograph. I can't not do it. What if he croaks right afterward? I'd be kicking myself from here to Kalamzoo.

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

Good for you! I don't have anything worth getting signed, but YOU have an AWESOME thing that NEEDS signing :)

[sasjhwa.livejournal.com]

Be sure to take a photo of him signing it with the art clearly visible so you can add that to the authenticity of the signature. It will help with the resale value.

[aurora77]

Good point. I also kept the handwritten receipt. I bought it directly from one of the artists. I honestly can't remember which one, though, because it's been so long.

[teh-dirty-robot.livejournal.com]

Where do you see Aaron Douglas' name?
*edit* durr, main page, they just haven't added him to the guests page yet.

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

I see his name n the smiles of the children as they play in fields of The Lord... doesn't everybody?

Sooooooo... with the promise of Aaron Douglas there, might it be time for a certain Dirty Robt to put in appearance this year?

[teh-dirty-robot.livejournal.com]

I've conferred with the Magic 8 Ball and 'It is certain'.

[zachary-cole.livejournal.com]

If I were Stan Lee, I'd charge more than $40, honestly. As others here have said, he's an older The Man and literally HUNDREDS of people want to shake his hand and have him sign their swag. I'm reminded of that scene in "The West Wing" when Alan Alda's character, a presidential nominee, soaks his swollen hand in ice water after an event.