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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 3rd 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.

Views: 16582

Tags: 30 Seconds to Mars, Avril Lavigne, Bonnie Raitt, Def Leppard, Gene Simmons, Godsmack, Jason Newsted, John Kay, Kiss, Metallica, More…Paul McCartney, Rhianna, Steppenwolf, ZZ Top

Comment by Carlos on May 23, 2014 at 8:55am
If autographs were required they would be done at every meet and greet.
Don't like it? Take it up with the band and the dictionary
Comment by Peter C. on May 23, 2014 at 9:01am

Carlos:
Ok, you are lazy to read opinions in conflict with your one´s - so this is more simple description:
- meet&greet should create stronger relationship between superloyal fans and star (I mean you become even bigger fan and supporter than before). Fans should not leave disappointed (and why stars should have this in their minds is written in the long comment) - because of that, m&g should contain some things and signing some items should be part of it, not because its awaited, but because of reason why M&G are done...

Comment by Carlos on May 23, 2014 at 9:05am
Nice use of the word "should"
Iagain, take it up with them and the dictionary
Comment by Josh Board on May 23, 2014 at 9:14am

Peter, we really shouldn't waste our time engaging in Carlos any further. He's either a troll, or just not very smart.

We all know that definitions of two combined words, can mean something totally different. I don't think I've ever taken a bath...in a restaurant or movie theatre "bathroom." And when you have complaints at a store, you go to "customer service," but...isn't "customer service" what we get at each register? Using the dictionary, that department should be called "Complaints" and not "customer service."  We could go on and on, but Carlos hates analogies and examples.

If anybody else adds anything to the M&G thread here, I'll respond. I won't waste any more time on Carlos.

Comment by Peter C. on May 23, 2014 at 9:41am

Carlos:
Yes - should... When they do not contain it - I think that fans feel rightfully anger and ripped-off...

Comment by Carlos on May 23, 2014 at 10:11am
Google "definition of meet and greet" then complain some more lol
Again, tell it to the celebrities and the dictionary. Once the definition is changed to include autographs I'll agree with you. Until then it's at the celebrities discretion, as you note in your blog
Comment by Carlos on May 23, 2014 at 10:22am
Josh you're smart enough to realize that when you put "AND" in the middle of two words it is different from joining them right? Keeps the original words definition intact. That's a different topic though....
Comment by Brian on May 23, 2014 at 5:27pm

lets toss out the term "meet & greet". Carlos: if you were a famous musician, what perks would you include in your VIP Ticket and why?

Comment by Carlos on May 23, 2014 at 5:33pm
I could include any perks I wanted and leave out anything too and nobody could complain cause it is up to the individual celebrity
Comment by Brian on May 23, 2014 at 5:35pm

if you're not here for a dialog, why are you here?

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