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Collectors' Jargon

Often times at in-person autograph venues you will face certain collectors who are not very friendly or do not like to share information with other collectors who are not a part of the 'inner circle' of local collectors. While this may be unfortunate, you can still try to decipher some of the dialogue going on without engaging in direct communication with them. Also, by knowing some of the jargon used by seasoned autograph seekers, you can sometimes 'ease' you way into the trusted circle and gain access to valuable information. This discussion group is geared towards identifying some of the unique terms used by seasoned autograph collectors and defining their meaning for newer collectors! Feel free to add terms you know of that are in use by industry insiders.

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Permalink Reply by Louis Becerra on November 10, 2009 at 11:55pm

I'll start with a few terms that I have picked up over time:

RACKING - Every autograph collector's dream! It can either mean getting multiple items signed by the same celebrity or athlete at one setting, or getting items signed by various targeted celebrities or athletes at the same venue.

RACKFEST - A venue which produced many opportunities to 'RACK.'

TOTAL RACKFEST - A venue which produced even more autograph opportunities than a regular RACKFEST.

PREPPING - Preparing your items for signing. This is more commonly used for items with heavy gloss that require you to rub them down with your fingers, erasers or baby powder in order to remove some of the gloss that typically causes autographs to bubble or streak.

DECO - An abbreviation for referring to a DecoColor paint pen.

SHOT DOWN - A term used when you are refused an autograph by a celebrity or athlete.

STIFFED - Some celebrities or athletes will refuse an autograph when heading into a venue but will mention that they will 'sign inside' (at sports venues) or on their way out, or 'tomorrow.' Being 'stiffed' is more aptly used when you attempt to get the autograph when and where the celebrity or athlete said that they will sign, but they still refuse the autograph. This is very common in the industry!

F* ME! - A common expression by collectors who just missed an extremely rare autograph opportunity with an athlete or celebrity who is normally known to be a tough signer. Traffic, or needing to leave a venue abruptly in order to move a vehicle to avoid a parking ticket is usually the main cause of this expression.

LAME - A term used to describe a venue in which virtually no autographs were obtained.

CLOSE-HOLD or DL - Terms used by collectors when requesting other collectors to keep information on a future autograph opportunity secret. DL obviously means 'down low.'

That's it for now. I'll post more as they come to me, but I invite more submission from other collectors!

Permalink Reply by Tim Henderson on November 11, 2009 at 8:02am

"lets go to the house"- means if the celebrity/team does not sign at the stadium/venue, we are going to the hotel where the team or celebrity is staying while they are in town.

A Wall/MIA means the celebrity went out the back door and we never saw them!

Go through the guard- some celebrities dont mind signing but they like their bodyguard to retrieve the items and let them sign in a limo or hotel room so they dont get bombarded. then the body guard will bring the items back. IE -Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, Paul Mccartney

Permalink Reply by Louis Becerra on November 11, 2009 at 2:51pm

Thanks for the input, Tim!

Permalink Reply by michael bartow on November 11, 2009 at 4:01pm

" Blow off " - I use this term in nascar when a driver has his or her "Danica to nascar?" Blinders on and walks right by the Fans while they are standing near the fence looking to get a autograph from them and don't even acknowledge them. I know of a couple of drivers who act like that.

Permalink Reply by Louis Becerra on November 12, 2009 at 11:06am

I know what you mean! I don't collect NASCAR, but there are quite a few pro baseball players that do that all the time. We also say 'SHAFTED' when this happens, but your term works well too!

Permalink Reply by michael bartow on November 13, 2009 at 9:23am

"running to the bathroom"- used when the driver is walking a brisk pace while signing like he is having to make a bathroom call ASAP. may have other terms based on a case by case study

Permalink Reply by Louis Becerra on November 14, 2009 at 6:02pm

Here are a couple more I remembered today:

1-PER - This means that the athlete or celebrity being discussed only signs 1 item per person. Some organized signings advertise only 1 item per person, but when collectors mention the event, they'll say that it's "1-per."

DOUBLE DIPPING - a term used when a collector successfully scores 2 (or more) signatures from a notoriously 1-per signer in the same setting. This can be accomplished by undergoing a quick disguise change (adding or removing a hat or sunglasses, or both), and re-approaching the signer with a second item. Or, if there is a line for the auograph, simply going through the line a second time.

Permalink Reply by michael bartow on November 16, 2009 at 8:19am

beauty pageant wave: used when the person you want to get their autograph from see's you and as they are walking away give you the hand wave instead of coming on over to sign. sometimes you might get a one hand special wave instead depending on if the autograph seeker PO's the person you want to get.

Permalink Reply by Louis Becerra on November 17, 2009 at 10:23am

Here's another one:

CELL PHONE ROUTINE - This is especially popular among athletes. Whenever they spot a group of collectors, or are heading into the stadium in general, a lot of athletes will prop their cell phone up to their ear and pretend like they're talking to someone. That way they can blow off autograph seekers on their way in without having to directly engage in conversation with any of them. I guess it's too difficult for some just to say 'no' or 'sorry, not today guys' when they don't feel like signing!

Permalink Reply by michael bartow on November 17, 2009 at 11:02am

"safe zone": used in Nascar. This area is usually the motor coach lot where the drivers have there RV's parked and the only way your getting in there is with a hard card or some sort of ID that says your allowed in that area. usually the big names have a golf cart wisk them fast into that area so they don't have to sign for the fans. has many other terms in other sports.

Permalink Reply by Louis Becerra on November 20, 2009 at 6:33pm

REGULAR - Someone who frequents a venue or several venues for getting in-person autographs within a particular geographic area.

NEWBIE - A new, unfamiliar face in the crowd among REGULARS at a particular venue. A NEWBIE can easily be transformed into a REGULAR by re-appearing frequently at the same venue(s) and establishing constructive dialogue between other REGULARS.

Permalink Reply by Tim Henderson on November 21, 2009 at 5:54pm

Band Wagon- Means if you are outside a venue or hotel and fans from the concert walk by and see what your doing and they stick around and sometimes ruin your opportunity because it looks like more people are waiting on the celebrity than really are. Band Wagoners get business cards signed and only take photos sometimes. They usually go crazy for the celeb and ruin your chances also. Especially if the celeb does not like caos. We don't like the Band Wagon!!!!!!!!