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Authenticity is Everything
I've often wonder why people who go into show business are annoyed by autograph seekers.
I never understood why people who go into show business are annoyed by (a) lack of privacy, and (b) giving autographs.
It seems to me that a lack of privacy and giving autographs go with the territory.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on
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Some, like David Gilmour, manage to avoid a lot of that. Gleason also disliked signing and the extreme rarity of authentic items supports this. He appears to have signed more during the 1940s than the other decades combined.
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Permalink Reply by Eddy on
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It's an interesting thought. I remember we had a great discussion awhile back here specifically about those who didn't sign...but not so much about why they didn't sign.
Some celebrities have used the logic that "show business" is exactly that....a business. There is a clear separation from their real lives and what they do for a living.
As far as autographs, in this day and age many probably are wary due to people immediately turning them around and selling them.
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"...There is a clear separation from their real lives and what they do for a living. ..."
These days I don't know!
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"...in this day and age many probably are wary due to people immediately turning them around and selling them..."
That is true so far I witnessed. When Roger Waters signed for me on 9.6.17, despite trying to ask for a dedication (I know, ro "Eric", his fathers name), he was screaming "THIS IS ALL EBAY!" and I know mine wasn't, and the teenage boy I let in front of me wasn't (getting his Dad's '73 DSOTM LP signed for him), but the idiot that tried for two causing a scuffle and Roger driving away...well...
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Permalink Reply by Garrett Meadows on
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Thank you everyone for your responses. I appreciate them.
I lost a lot respect for JoAnne Woodard with her dismissive attitude toward autograph seekers.
The British actor Alistair Sim, famous for his portrayal of Scrooge in a version of "A Christmas Carol," when approached an autograph said to the fellow, "Sir, you may have my autograph or my respect, but, not both."
The absolutely worst attitude I ever saw exhibited by a notable when asked for an autograph was the comic artist Robert Crumb. A young man very politely asked Crumb to sign a comic book and Crumb simply said "NO!" and walked away. If anyone's name characterizes his personality, it's Crumb.
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Celebrities are no different from any other homogenous group - a certain proportion of them are always going to be mean-spirited, elitist or just downright unpleasant individuals. Most are not.
One the one hand I can sympathise with the celeb who is willing to spend many hours signing a 1000 records/books/publicity photos/whatever and then gets a bit grumpy if approached at a restaurant or in their car at the traffic lights or similar.
On the other hand, I don't understand why a celebrity like Roger Waters in the example given, would give a damn about why someone wants their autograph in the first place. Why would he care if it ends up on ebay - does he feel he's being cheated in some way? Does he want a piece of the action or something?
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Permalink Reply by crazyrabbits23 on
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It's a topic that's come up here before - there's a perception by some celebrities that they're "leaving money on the table" by not charging higher amounts for their signed items.
I get feeling pressured or frustrated by people hunting for autographs. By the same token, they don't have to sign for anyone if they don't want to. The problem comes when they try to have it both ways.
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Robert Crumb is an odd one, for sure, and probably intentionally so.
I once sent him two index cards with quotes by him printed on them, as well as a blank card in case he wanted to add another quote.
He signed both quotes and wrote out and signed a third.
Something about my request must have been unique enough to draw his interest, since that was certainly not his usual reaction.
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I have to admit your experience is the exception, not the rule. I agree with your observation that Crumb probably appreciated your creativity and unique approach.
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Marlon Brando used to make references to his acting career as being rather transactional. He was being paid for a service and he provided it. In his case, it was as an actor. In the cases of other people, it might as a lawyer, a doctor, a baker, a waiter, etc. etc.. All ultimately transactional services provided for a fee. He also (at least publicly) pooh-poohed the idea that acting was an "art" and kind of bristled at being referred to as an "artist".
I guess in his case, having that mindset makes some sense of claiming privacy and not feeling an obligation of interacting with fans and giving autographs (although he did sign more frequently than he is often given credit for).
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I don't necessarily agree (with Marlon Brando) about that. I would suggest that Publicity and public relations are the oxygens of the entertainment industry. You know when you sign a multi-million dollar contract with a film company that part of your duties is going to include promotional activities - which include being accessible to journalists, fans and signing autographs etc. I imagine it's the same with record contracts.
I do agree, however, that when you are off-duty, you are under no such obligation and it is a personal choice how accessible or otherwise you make yourself. And it's very unfair to criticise celebs for choosing not to be accessible or Mr/Ms. Nice Guy in their own time/space. But that is different from the Roger Waters attitude, I feel. What is his problem, exactly?
Ringo, of course, is another one, inasmuch as he famously announced that he was not going to respond to any more ttm's because he was fed up of seeing them being sold on ebay.
I don't get why they care about that, personally. The only thing I can think of is that they feel that they are being taken advantage of, somehow. Cry me a river - so what!?
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