Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ricardo on June 27, 2015 at 3:20am

..from my understanding of Paul's signing policy these days, your chances of getting him to sign an item at an airport are... Zero.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Robert on July 14, 2015 at 9:08am

Ricardo, can you possibly specify what has changed regarding Sir Paul's signing policy at airports or hotels?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ricardo on July 14, 2015 at 2:38pm

A couple of years ago I had a conversation with Jon Hammel, his longstanding PA. He made it clear he may sign for autographs 'at gigs or when out and about doing work related stuff' (I.e promotion I guess). Hotels / airports etc are regarded as 'private territory' , as people have no real reason to know that he will be there (as has not been publically announced for obvious reasons). On the occasion I saw Jon Hammel, it was actually outside a recording studio in London where I knew he was doing some recording, although I got lucky with the day-I was the ONLY person there -he actually said Paul would get 'quite upset' if I asked for an autograph as I had no reason to have knowledge that he was there, and it was therefore his 'private time'. I found it hard to believe he would get upset (seen him several times over the years and he's always been nice) , so I hung around. When he came out half hour later, he said he wouldn't sign as it was ' private time' ( used same phrase again). He was perfectly polite and courteous as he usually is.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Daniel Alayof on July 14, 2015 at 11:07pm

Ricardo, I didn't understand. In the end Paul agreed to sign or not?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ricardo on July 15, 2015 at 12:54am

no he didn't

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Peter C. on July 14, 2015 at 11:28pm

But on couple of videoclips I have seen from recent years (2012 onwards) he always signed (but only couple of items and pretty rushed way) on hotels during his tours. AFAIK he even signed at the airport in Japan this year when he arrived there..... Maybe that phrase private time is related whether he is or isnt on tour?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ricardo on July 15, 2015 at 1:04am

Macca has said in interviews that he separates out in his mind  the 'Beatle/famous Paul' from the 'private/real Paul'.  If he wouldn't sign for me outside a recording studio, when I was the only person there,  because it was his 'private time' (his words), then it seems unlikely he'll sign at an airport/hotel-just an opinion. You may be lucky, but it will boil down to his mindset at the time, and whether he feel he is in  'work mode' as an ex Beatle or not- this may include being on tour and jetting in and out of airports

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by J. Mikael on July 15, 2015 at 12:28pm

I have gotten Paul at hotels multiple times. I would guess many of the contemporary signatures from him have been signed at hotels while on tour.

Outside of metropolises, figuring out where he'll be staying at isn't rocket science and should be expected.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Thomas Green on July 14, 2015 at 10:51am

Based on my experience, I would have to agree.  I went to the Charlottesville Airport, and waited around all day.  I figured out where he was coming in, which was a private airstrip next to the airport.  When he came in, there was a cavalcade of black Escalades and biker police waiting to escort him out.  He got off the plane, walked to one of the Escalades, and zipped out of the airport with his window down waving to us.  There were 4 of us total waiting for him.  The three other guys who were there had a similar experience in Jacksonville, apparently.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Robert on July 16, 2015 at 1:32am

Thomas, have you tried getting him after the show? Maybe it would be easier?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by J. Mikael on July 16, 2015 at 4:20am

Every time I got Paul was after a show, so there's likely some "grace period" which is still considered "work" time.

I have also heard of him signing outside or at his offices shortly before and after official in-store signings, so there is definitely some flexibility there.

• ▶ Reply