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The Pros and Cons of Meet-and-Greets

It’s about time I tackle this subject. I must admit, though…I’m doing so with lots of second-hand stories and editorializing. It’s also after midnight (no Clapton reference intended). I’m a little tired and just typing off the top of me head!

A few of the late night shows did a comparison between the meet-and-greets that were happening at Avril Lavigne’s concert recently. She was charging $400 for the meet-and-greet, but you couldn’t touch her. That created a series of pictures that were…really funny to look at. Fans were standing two feet from her.

A few days later, there were photos of Rhianna’s meet-and-greet. I’m not sure what she was charging, but one thing for sure. She was getting up close and personal. She’d have her arms around you. She’d let you grab her a**. She’d do wacky photos, if that’s what you wanted. And it really seems that if you’re spending the big bucks for the meet-and-greet, that’s the way a celebrity should be with the fans.

Now, this leads to the autograph collector. Since I worked for five years at a classic rock radio station, I had been backstage many times. This was before meet-and-greets were so common – unless it was put on by the radio station or some other promotion. There was never a price attached to attend them (ah, the good ol’ days!)

The first time I had the opportunity to spend money for one, was to have dinner with Paul McCartney for $5,000. I was on the fence about it. Only 20 people were being allowed to attend. When I called a few days later, they told me only two people had signed up. I was thrilled. There might only be a few of us. I told my friend he was the only Beatle I needed to complete a set, but I still wasn’t comfortable spending that much money. He and I came up with a good plan, though. I’d bring 20 albums. Have him sign those, and sell 10, to help shoulder the cost. Now, selling autographs goes against everything I feel about this hobby, but if it meant I got into an event cheaper, I was considering it. I said, “There’s no way he’s going to sign 20 albums for me.” My friend replied, “There’s no way he’s not going to. You paid five grand to get in! He owes it to you.”

I ended up not going, because I figured the most he’d sign for me was five. Thankfully, I eventually got his signature another way.

Now, fast forward 18 years. I met a guy that DID go to that same dinner. He told me he brought eight items for Sir Paul to sign. McCartney sighed, and signed two. Paul then looked over at a big guy in a suit, who promptly came over and said, “Paul isn’t here to sign a bunch of stuff.”

McCartney said, “I’ll sign one more for you, but that’s it.”

The guy got three items signed for his $5,000 (which went to a vegetarian charity he was promoting). I won’t do the math, but…that’s a lot to spend for 3 items that aren’t worth that much. I was happy I opted not to do it.

My friend is a locksmith, and he was re-keying a concert hall that Bonnie Raitt was playing at. She had turned me down for an autograph years ago, but when she did a benefit my sister was involved in, she helped me snag a signature. Raitt was charging around $500 for a backstage meet-and-greet, that included eating with her. Yet all the money she charged went to charity. That certainly makes it more palatable.

My biggest fear about these M&Gs is that the autograph collector is the most likely to be disappointed. The fans that want the wacky photos for Facebook are set. That’s because most bands are probably willing to sign a few items, but not many more. So you have to decide – is $500 or more – worth one or two items signed, and some photos? Yet the more I hear and read about M&Gs, the more I’m finding out that bands aren’t willing to sign.

I spent $100 for a meet-and-greet with Steppenwolf, because it’s a band I love, and the money went to an animal rescue charity (and included watching the sound check performance). Singer/songwriter John Kay snapped at me when I slid a third item on the table for him to sign. This is a guy that is legally blind!!! Yet he noticed, after we were all told “two items each,” I had a 3^rd thing in there.

I’ve been writing the Kiss Kronikles, and a few have talked about how much they charge at the meet-and-greets. Well, I read an interview with former Metallica member Jason Newsted. He said Metallica always wanted them to do M&G’s, because Kiss made so much money. He said that it’s ridiculous to pay to meet Gene Simmons. He wouldn’t have a problem paying a few hundred to meet his favorite players from the 1970s Baltimore Orioles, but not rock stars. He said when you meet them in person, they should always sign autographs, and he’s never charged for an autograph until the website went up. He figures if fans want to order a CD or 8x10 signed on the website, they can pay, but never in person. Now that’s the attitude I want to see.

I’ve talked to a few friends that have paid for the M&Gs for “30 Seconds to Mars,” and they were told no photos. That bothered them.

There was controversy on the Godsmack website, when a fan talked about paying for the VIP package (which included a M&G). It wasn’t until after the purchase was made, that the band put on their Facebook page, “No autographs or photos.”

A woman was furious (and rightly so). She posted, “If they’re going to do this, they should state those rules on the page where we are paying for these tickets.”

Other people later posted that the band usually does sign, but only one item per person, and only if they have time. They will usually take photos, but with their photographer (which is a common practice for bands now). You then go to their website and download it.

I have been hearing horror stories regarding ZZ Top and how they handle M&Gs. This didn’t surprise me, because a stagehand I know, told me that’s the only band that ever refused to sign an autograph for him as he was working on the stage (and he only had one photo he would ask to have signed).

On the ZZ Top website, a man wrote a blog about how he was a big fan and paid $300 for the M&G. He was told by the bands manager that there would be no autographs and no photos. It would be a Q&A with the band, but that only 4 of the 20 people with their hands raised had questions answered. He was furious about spending the money for what was basically a cattle call.

Another woman wrote of a similar experience, saying she paid for this for her husband. It was enough money to feed them for a week, but she wanted to splurge for him. He came back to the hotel room rather upset. He said it was a quick three minutes and he didn’t get to say a word to the band.

So the conclusion I’ve come to is – do your research before dropping big bucks for the meet-and-greets. You might get an item signed, and a photo – but you might not. If it’s your favorite band or the money goes to charity – go for it. You’ll probably never get the chance again.

I just prefer bands to do what Def Leppard told me in an interview. They said they finally started charging for their autographs. They make everyone pay $5 and they give 100% of that to charity.

That’s affordable for everyone, and some charity gets a nice chunk of change.

Comment by Ian Baldock on June 14, 2014 at 9:18am: ,Thankfully we are back on topic. Roger daultry and Joan Jett are coming to Philly for his charity sick children (sorry cant remember the name atm). They have different m&g tiers but 500 will get prime seats signed poster, photo op cant remember if any other autos but thats not bad for charity and the chance to meet a rock god. I would go but Id be stuck bringing my wife and dont want to spend a grand.

Comment by wascher on June 15, 2014 at 4:22am: Sorry if this was brought up somewhere else in this thread (my computer is really going slow on this site for some reason - so I didnt go through each page to see if someone else posted it.) A McCartney article online about signing at meets:

McCartney slams eBay 'bounty hunters

He also criticicized those who would get the albums signed just to put them on eBay. "Signing sessions are nice, as they're for real fans. Normally when I get asked to sign stuff these days, it's for what my team call 'bounty hunters' – middle-aged guys who all carry vinyl covers of 'Abbey Road' and 'Sgt Pepper'. I'll say to them, 'Oh, you play the vinyl all the time, do you?', because I know they're just going to put them straight on eBay. Meeting people who actually like what I do is much nicer."

Comment by David K on June 17, 2014 at 5:10pm: Thats funny... y ou cant "touch Avril".. a lot of people dont want to be touhed...Patti SMith...Howard Stern... its not unsual... but having to stand so far apart..seems a but silly for a 400 price tag for the photo with....on the other hand...if the EAGLES ever offered up a photo with all of them for that perice..PLEASE let me know...they have a VIP package for 1K and nowhere in the VIP pacakge does it state "includes meet and greet with band" you get "items" and a fan Parrty..lol..NO pictures or signatures...that figures. Just try and have thme sign your Hotel CA album...

Comment by Rich on June 17, 2014 at 6:36pm: Actually had a FB friend who did the Avril meet and greet thing tonight. Apparently the "can't touch Avril" thing isn't entirely accurate.

Comment by Josh Board on June 20, 2014 at 10:27pm: Paul McCartney may have a point, but ya know what? When you have a billion dollars, it's rather silly to worry about somebody selling signed Wings albums on Ebay for $100! And you can always do the "one per person" deal. Yeah, the Eagles have gotten really bad over the years.

My friend did the Roger Daltrey meet-and-greet. I was there before the concert, but my girlfriend was nagging me (note to everyone: DO NOT bring somebody that isn't a fan, to stand around waiting for a signature). Just after I left, Roger showed up. He told the 8 people, "I will sign two items for each of you." My friend that was there, got his two items signed. He then paid $500 or something like that, for the backstage meet-and-greet. The rule was "4 items signed" or maybe 5, I can't remember. NOW THAT....is the way to do it, folks!

Comment by David K on June 20, 2014 at 10:55pm: "Paul" has so many rules.. it's all silly. Ringo has the best attitude..I dont sign..leave me alone. I am DONE. Very simple. Paul plays games...no candid photos, and dont take a photo if he signs you wol be sorry. if you look over 30 hes going to sign his first name only...I dont think a real signed Wings album is going for only 100.00 ..but the point is..he is very petty about this now. He only signs on event days..at specific set up locations. where he knows the media will photograph him in the nest light. He is the "nice" beatle..yeah right... He is auctioning off a "meet and greet" and he made sure to put in the auction NO AUTOGRAPHS..real nice Paul you wont sing ONE item for someone paying over 10K to meet you. Hes taking advantage of his own fame.

Comment by Peter C. on June 21, 2014 at 3:59am: "When you have a billion dollars, it's rather silly to worry about somebody selling signed Wings albums on Ebay for $100!"

No its not silly..... How would you feel when your good will would be abused for money? Dealers are hindrance in relationship between artists and their fans. I agree that fans should get an opportunity to get an autograph during meet and greet or at the hotels / airports etc. or buy these autographs - but the main issue is from whom - who gets money... because autographs are sadly part of business, its the signer who should be payed for it.

Comment by Lars Olav Karlsen on June 21, 2014 at 4:39am: First of all - the name is "Meet and greet", not "Meet and sign" or as someone here thinks "private signing session". There are lots of fans who gladly pay hundreds of dollars to meet their idol, with no obligation to sign.

I really understand stars like Paul McCartney who are tired of using his time to sign autographs for someone who really does not care for his music, but only are after a quick buck. I guess they would be more happy if they knew that it was genuine fans.

But then again - I really dislike stars that wont sign an autograph during "meet and greet" because of that. Hey! The session costs many times what the autograph is selling for. I had two albums signed by all members of "The E-Street Band" except for Roy Bittan. When I meet him I got him to sign the first album and when I asked him to sign the second he just looked at me and asked what these were selling for on Ebay? My answer was quickly "a lot less than what I would have gotten if I didn't take two days of work to get the signatures", and lucky for me he signed the second one as well.

Comment by David K on June 21, 2014 at 5:27am: The 'celebrities" think they are worth a lot more (in most cases) than they are really selling for. AS lot really dont know the market is soft and over saturated in most cases. Ebay is filled with thousands of REAL autos unsold and will be for many years. . There are some who do know the real world and are caring..Steven Tyler for ex. I wouldnt pay 800.00 to "meet" anyone who is refusing to take a photo OR sign ONE item. what is the POINT? you get to Shake their hand. And someone this will change your life? Then your life is what you need to think about. It is still taking advantage of someone's worship of a celebrity. I admire those who WONT do the Meet and Greet. They still have personal integrity. Most of these people DONT want to meet anyone. They know its a serious waste of everyones TIME. But hey...if someone REALLY wants to spend 600.00 to shake Tommy Lee's hand...He will do it... when I see David Gilmour, Jimmy Page, and Robert Fripp do one of these I know everything is for sale. It wasnt always that way.

Comment by Josh Board on June 21, 2014 at 7:38am: I agree that the dealers have ruined it, and the musicians have a right to be angry about that. But there's ways to get around that. You sign one item per person, you personalize, things like that. And McCartney has always had a reputation as being cheap. Many ex-band members have talked about it, so...that's another one of the reasons I said he had a billion dollars and shouldn't worry about what somebody is selling a photo for.

Lars, I love the E-Street Band story. My friend said a similar thing to Bo Diddley, when he was signging a guitar that he had other signatures on. It wasn't as if he got 25 other guitarists, and now Diddley was the signature that would make him go....NOW, I can sell it on eBay. It just made no sense, but again, we can understand why they think that.

Again, going back to what you can/can't do at meet-and-greets, think about your number one favorite actor. Now, your number one favorite guitarist. Now, you pay $500 to meet Jimmy Page (Led Zep). If he did no autographs, you simply shake his hand and say, "Man, I love the sound you created on In My Time of Dying. That song sends shivers up my spine." He smiles and says, "Thanks, mate. Cheers" and moves along to the next person in line. Seriously, how is that an enjoyable moment worthy of $500!!?? Yet, if I said NOTHING to Page (and I love Zeppelin), but he signed right over the blimp on the debut record -- I'm thrilled!!! I have an item I love.

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