The New Four Letter Word “Ebay”
         So, I am an autograph collector and have been for the better part of 20 years. I am also starting to work on a documentary film on “in-person” autograph collecting. Everyone always talks about, “When I was kid it was so easy to get an autograph” or “back in the day an athlete would never CHARGE for his autograph”. The most derogatory, offensive word I keep hearing, especially from celebrities is “EBAY”. I go out for autographs maybe 3 or 4 nights a week maybe up to 20-30 celebrities a month and I would say maybe 50% of the time the word “EBAY” comes out of the mouth of said celebrity. Sting gave me a quizzical,    “This isn’t going on Ebay is it?” When I said, “No Sir, you can sign it to me.” He then approvingly nodded and gave me one of the best Sting autographs I have ever seen, like he was signing an autograph for the President. I even witnessed President Clinton, after he noticed that some people were going through his autograph line more than once, and requesting specialized inscriptions like “God Bless America” saying, “why does it matter? It’s just going on Ebay” After hearing the “E-word” as much as I do, I began to think about it even more.

We have all bought items on Ebay I’m sure. Some of us I am sure have sold items on Ebay including autographs. In my opinion Ebay devalues autographs and the business in general (remember I did say I have bought autographs from Ebay). So many fakes out there, I am so hesitant to buy an autograph off of Ebay who is anyone more than a B celebrity.
Just recently one of my favorite directors, John Waters was in town. He is a super nice, down to earth guy. He said to my friend and I, “So, you guys a team?” “Ya, I guess” I said. “Ok, so who is the biggest dick you’ve met, like who was the biggest jerk”, he really wanted to know; he was funny in his curiosity. “Fred Schneider, from The B-52’s”, I said. He was surprised and asked me how and why etc. I said how Fred kept yelling about Ebay and that I wasn’t a fan and had to see a ticket etc. I didn’t have time to tell Ol’ Fred that, I like The B-52’s a lot, but I also have a job, a wife, a rent and a dog. I can’t go to every $30.00 concert I desire. Damn Ebay, lesson learned.

           I am not here to judge or say what is right or wrong or what is ethical or unethical. I recently got the Gallagher Brothers from Oasis on a Rolling Stone magazine, one I will keep and cherish, that being said, if we do the math and let’s say it took me 6 hours to get those autographs, between doing research, driving, waiting around etc. Now, let’s say if I decided to sell it and get 80.00 bucks for it, that means I made right around 13.00 dollars an hour for that “job” not bad I guess, especially, if it is your goal to make CASH and you’re armed with 5 Rolling Stone magazines, 2 drumheads, a pickguard and 3 LP’s. You get the point.

If I were a celebrity, or if you were, your reading this, how would you feel about somebody selling your signature? I am a collector, I can be bias, sometimes I think, “Oh man I would sign for EVERYBODY”, in the vein of great signers like Kris Kristofferson or Todd Rundgren. On the other hand, let’s say you are a Paul McCartney or Eric Clapton or some other super famous dude and EVERY room you are EVER in, you are the most famous and most gawked at person, would your view change? When I see celebrities who are on the OTHER end of the spectrum from a McCartney or Clapton mention Ebay, I can’t help but think, “won’t Ebay and people selling your signature actually HELP you?” If people want to buy your signature, doesn’t that mean people are still thinking of you?
Anyways, thanks for reading my ramblings and I will start a Facebook soon for the flick, hope I’ll have the pleasure of showing it to some of you.

Cheers….