Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by PFCollector on July 31, 2017 at 10:40am

I can see your perspective, and can see why people would pay people to stand in line. Obviously it's a $200-300 payday for each one you get. I don't agree with the sneaker comparison though... If you pay someone to wait on sneakers the store isn't going to stop selling sneakers. That would be the big difference to me. It's taking advantage of a person, who's giving something of value for free, compared to purchasing something from a store. I don't think the guy making $10 bucks an hour inside footlocker cares who's buying them and the store probably don't care long as they're selling.

What years was he signing like that? I wonder if the difference was his popularity. I know when he left Floyd he wasn't selling out arenas like he does now.

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Permalink Reply by Mr. Steffman on August 1, 2017 at 5:21am

He has signed as described for as long as I can recall. It's actually not uncommon for regular IP collectors to have individually obtained Waters a hundred times. Aside from being a top signer in quantity, he's also just been out and about far more than most rock stars have, regularly attending random popular events as a guest, etc.

I guess that's why it's strange to hear people saying that Waters is ruined and it's not fair to the fans. He has been famous for how many decades now? It's Pink Floyd and it's 2017, but his true fans are just now getting around to asking him for an autograph? Where have they been this entire time? Not trying, obviously. Are these just guys who buy a Dark Side t-shirt at Walmart and became "fans" last week? Could be!

I'd be willing to bet as well that these venue lines would have never happened in the first place if it wasn't for dealers being involved. There is some irony in that.

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Permalink Reply by Peter C. on August 1, 2017 at 7:08am

What I know - since at least 2002 (when he was in Prague for the first time with In The Flesh Tour) he is signing one per person. When I got him in person in 2011 he signed one per person at that time too.... So maybe in 80s or 90s, but since early 00s, he is signing one per person.

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Permalink Reply by Mr. Steffman on August 1, 2017 at 8:40am

I started collecting regularly around 2000, so my experiences were all from then on. It's possible as well that his habits differ in NYC, but the best RACC we had as I described earlier was in Boston. There were usually at least 3-4 people asking him when he was out and about in NYC, and we would end up with 2-4 autographs each. He never had any hesitation at all on bodies & pickguards and, if he signed on the way in, he would sign again on the way out anyway. I used to love seeing him. I always thought he had a Jimmy Page sort of energy to him. Always calm, intelligent, cool, extremely rich, and a jet black top-series Mercedes. And of course Floyd is one of my favorite bands.

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Permalink Reply by Peter C. on August 1, 2017 at 9:51am

It´s maybe about "on tour" / "not on tour"?

Permalink Reply by Peter C. on July 31, 2017 at 10:54am

Despite the fact that I cant stand dealers, those ones who got one signature has some basic respect for Roger´s current rules - those act with at least basic level of decency and respect. I have absolutely ZERO respect to guys who got 9 extra albums if they got them by such a disgusting way which led to this... Trying to avoiding rules, trying to make up even more money from artist who is actually one of most generous signers - he is able to sign for 100 people, it just needs basic respect - dont take advantage of someone´s generosity in such an enormous striking way. Instead of being grateful, some are getting greedy (let´s get more than others, let´s sell more than others...)  - disgusting.

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Permalink Reply by Derek Walker on July 30, 2017 at 10:41am

This whole thing has turned into a spot of bother, hasn't it? I'm one who stood in line by himself for two separate days in Chicago, no homeless people, no friends or buddies to get stuff signed for myself, although I did mingle with folks in line. Chicago's second day was embarrassing beyond repair, and I can see how that would have been Roger's tipping point. I doubt someone even had to tip off his security guard, but it was clear by the time I had gotten up there, that Roger was not in a good mood, and he was just signing using the marker in his hand. For that reason, I received a signed WYWH in... silver. I'd even asked Roger if he could use the black marker in his other hand, and he didn't budge. The silver even ran out as he was using it, so he tapped it on the top of the album, leaving a little imprint. In a way, that makes this autograph kind of unique, though I'd much rather have had it in black.

Case in point is by the 60th person in Chicago, which was me, he was already over it, especially when compared to the day previous, when I actually got him to smile a bit. He was in a good mood giving good graphs. And the crowd was much more tame, though that was likely people scouting it out for the next few days. Unfortunately, the innocent people who just want an album to hang on their wall are the ones getting screwed, while the macho men who hired black homeless men to do their bidding are the ones profiting. I had a whole conversation with a guy about how he authenticates the albums after he gets signed, and I just stopped and thought to myself, "Is there nothing pure in this world anymore?"

I have one nicely signed album, and it's my favorite record ever, Animals, and it's a promo copy from the '70s some famous Atlanta DJ used to spin. I love it. People actually used to listen to this album on the radio and now it's signed and on my wall. Awesome. I cherish that one record I have with every ounce of my being (to sound lame, I guess) because I spent 7 hours in the dead of July Chicago heat getting it. I earned it. That album is mine. Is it personalized? Is there a cute story behind it? Not really, but it's mine.

To all the sellers, not only did you ruin the in-person experience of getting an autograph with your greed-driven personalities, but you ruined the opportunity for other people. I have a real job, with which I earn real funds, with which I support my hobbies. It's true, it's honest, and it f****** feels good. I sleep well at night because I know I am honest and not a huge piece of s***. Seriously, standing in those lines was a nightmare. Overhearing not just one or two greedy people plan their days, but a whole crowd? And you know the worst part of it?

It was all fellow white people doing the bidding. Greedy, ugly, white middle-aged men. (Emphasis: ugly. You don't see handsome men wasting their time on this s***.) Many of whom sold out their own grandmothers just to get another record signed. I saw at least two grandmothers barely functioning in the 90-degree heat. It was beyond pathetic, just to sell a record? Is your resume that bad that you can't get a job in your field? Can you not work the traditional way like the rest of us, and at least attempt to put forth an honest life? F***, man, these aren't even human beings we're dealing with, these are sub-human cretins. Scum of the earth.

Good on Roger for calling this off. Here's a picture of my beloved copy of Animals, which has no price tag attached to it, m***********, because I actually like the band and I'm not a gigantic poof.

http://i.imgur.com/cyZopUD.jpg

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Permalink Reply by PFCollector on July 30, 2017 at 11:55am

Wow that's one of the nicer Animals I've seen! Makes me wish I had gotten Animals signed when I went to the St Paul show, which would have been my last chance. But I'm very grateful for the ones I got. Yours looks really nice in silver. I haven't seen many that the signature pops on. Congrats. I agree with what you said as well. Can't be too many huge name celebs that will do a free autograph signing almost every day. Greed ruined it.

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Permalink Reply by Derek Walker on July 30, 2017 at 2:22pm

Thank you! I figured I have at least one very-nice-looking album, and it's an original print of my all-time favorite, so I can't complain. The WYWH I was going to have signed is a new print, and those covers don't carry the marker as well as the originals.

When Roger signed for the first 20 or so people, where I was, he was very happy. His bodyguard was happy. He could tell it was true fans and people who were standing in line for true, honest reasons. Or so I'd like to think. Even people at the back of the line that Saturday were getting good, crisp signatures, but sometime on Sunday that changed. I heard the rumor of him switching to a dry erase, but I cannot confirm. All I know is I have one copy of WYWH that doesn't look good, doesn't pop, but I'll snap a picture or two of it anyway. On one hand, it's still a signed album, but ya know...

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Permalink Reply by Derek Walker on July 30, 2017 at 2:41pm

WYWH: http://i.imgur.com/id5Rt4W.jpg AND http://i.imgur.com/0NR0xrb.jpg.

And I've looked through copies of Animals on eBay and mine is the best one out there IMO. Big signature that pops and looks clean. Some out there are real muddy and ugly, more like my WYWH one, which honestly isn't as bad as I first thought. It's still a Roger signed album, and I haven't seen many with his full first name, and none in silver. Overall, I still love it because I earned it, but Animals will always be my favorite.

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Permalink Reply by PFCollector on July 30, 2017 at 2:51pm

It really doesn't look bad in silver. If the paint was a little wetter I think silver might look better than black, Was the album cover bent like that before you gave it to him? I noticed either him or the security guard bent mine and the edge split s little. I bought brand new ones so they'd be in the best condition. I didn't care about the bend though, just adds to the story.

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Permalink Reply by Derek Walker on July 30, 2017 at 2:54pm

It had bent in my backpack on the way over, but if I pop it into a frame, the crease should work itself out. I'll go to Michaels or Hobby Lobby and get one sometime, but the Animals was my priority. Still frame-worthy IMO, and you're right, if the paint was a little heavier, it would likely rival black or blue. For a second thing I got signed, I am overall happy with it.

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