Roger Waters Signing And Paying People To Wait In Line

I’ve heard that Roger Waters has been signing on his current tour. He was making a stop in Columbus two months before his stop in Cleveland. So three of my friends and I made the trek down to C-bus to try and get Pink Floyd’s bassist/singer and songwriter. We arrived early and there were already four people there. Within an hour, the line grew to 50. Another hour went by and there was easily over 150. After talking to some people and overhearing people talk while in line, it seems that some people went to a homeless shelter and offered to pay the homeless to stand in line and get items signed. I overheard two guys saying “These guys came and got us out of our tents.” When Rogers arrived, I somehow was 11th in line when I was 6th when I got there.

There are two sides to this situation. On the one side, you are paying someone for their time - about 2 to 2 ½ hours. I think the offer was 20 bucks. The other side is that you are getting something that has way more value than what you are paying for, a signed Dark Side or The Wall is going for over $300 on ebay. Also, I think this is just morally wrong. These “dealers” are not only exploiting the people that they are paying (I also heard the guy did not end up paying them, he took the albums and left) but they are also exploiting the kindness of Roger who is taking his time out of his day to sign for his fans.

I think Roger is going to shut it down pretty soon. When the tour started, he would sign anything- guitars, drum heads, posters, and albums. As time went on, he started limiting items that he would sign. It was albums only when I saw him. He also refuses to sign for kids, which I think this is a good thing. It makes me sick when parents drag their kids out to get something signed when clearly they do not want to be there or even know who the artist is. Roger sat in the back of the SUV and signed 1 item each. He did switch markers, depending on the item. He didn’t say a word, even after I thanked him for signing for me, it seemed like he just wanted to get through the signing before he went into the venue. For the 150 or so people in line it took about 20 minutes for him to sign for everyone. His security was very clear, “no posters, no musical instruments and no kids.” You also could only bring one item up and all bags had to left on the ground.

What do you think- is it ok for people to pay homeless guys to stand in line and get things signed? Sure, I wish I got a few things signed, but I am more than happy having the gatefold of my “The Wall” album signed. I'm going to frame it up, along with my Nick Mason signed drum head and hang it on my wall.

Tags: InPerson, RogerWaters, TheWall

1 member likes this

Comment by Coachgd on July 25, 2017 at 1:38pm: I can see maybe paying someONE, not a crew of 5-10 people to get things signed.

John- The problem with the scenario you presented is that all of those things you listed cost money- iphones, toys, etc. Autographs are free. Big difference. Once artists gets wind that people are being paid to stand in line, I believe the artist will stop signing all together.

Now, don't get me wrong- if you stand in line or wait for hours for an autograph, you can do what ever you like with it. I think I've sold 4 autographs since I started collecting, and I know signed things have to come from somewhere. The moral issue is paying others, specifically homeless to get something of great value for little to nothing.

Josh and Ian- here's the thing about showing the concert ticket to the artist before the show. More times than not, my ticket is at will call and often that doesn't open until after the artist has arrived. Another thing, at least at The Q in Cleveland is that they use "Flash Seats" That means there is no ticket until you scan your ID or credit card when you enter the venue. Again, major problem for people who sign before the show. After the show, I have no problem. Slash did that last year, if you didn't have a ticket, you had to get out of line. I'm totally cool with that- you should have seen the people scrambling to find tickets or asking people for their tickets on the way out.

Richard- totally agree with you. I hate people who have "stacks" and think it's a game. They get their stuff signed and then the artist may be done because they've signed a lot. Get your 2-3 items done and get to the end of the line and let other people get there stuff signed, then go back. I have a friend who buys every CD from the artist and he expects them to sign everyone- and gets upset if they only sign 1 or 2.. He had like 25 Doobie Brothers CDs and I was amazed that Tom Johnston stood there and signed them all. It was very uncomfortable.

I wish everyone was like Roger Waters. Everything was great, people were orderly and the line moved fast. However he is only one of 3 artists who has done this in my experience. The others were Slash, like I mentioned, and Angus Young.

Comment by Robert on July 25, 2017 at 3:06pm: I believe there is not much wrong in paying someone or bring a friend if you want the album they get signed for yourself. If you make a huge profit (like $200-300 for which Roger graph goes) and pay a worker only a minor percentage of it, it´s a bit unethical. On the other hand, Roger´s graph value has decreased steadily since this tour started - from like $400 before the tour up to like half of it nowadays. So actually the more graphs flood the marker, the cheaper they will become = less profit for dealers.

Comment by Ian Baldock on July 25, 2017 at 3:13pm: Even when I got autographs in person I never had more than 2 things to get signed. I just didn't think it was polite or right to take advantage of somebody nice enough to stop and sign. It makes people laugh but I always equate graphing with my other hobby bird watching. People hang around for the subject to show up and tell their war stories (successes and misses) and always the top dogs hold court and tell their tales. Then the subject shows up and theres a bit of a frenzy and excitement of success. Everybody goes home on a little natural high.Shame with graphing now though there are too many obnoxious people. You can see multiple videos of people chasing stars down in traffic,Im waiting for somebody to get killed! Oh well.

Comment by Josh Board on July 25, 2017 at 3:53pm: So Ian, to combine your two loves....I'm sure you'd love a signed BYRDS album. Speaking of which, Roger McGuinn turned me down (only two other fans there), and was rude. But his wife said, "We sell signed CDs inside the venue." So, I bought a signed CD for $25. Love when artists do that. Thorogood did the same thing to me.

Good point about the concert tickets being at "will call." I hadn't considered that.

Comment by Paul on July 25, 2017 at 4:21pm: Someone should give Roger a rubber stamp because that's what the hobby has become. I understand fans wanting to meet their idol, but the dealers are ruining the hobby, if you buy from them its supporting this behavior. If possible trade with other collectors. I wouldn't want to buy Rogers autograph when he is signing his life away, there's nothing rare about them, just like stamps.

Comment by marc e on July 25, 2017 at 4:29pm: if you think artist dont know that what ever signing is being sold your kinding your self.

ebay killed the fan thing over 10 15 years ago.

artist want to mke the money now as people no longer buy albums so the only way they make money from is ticket and merch sales.the industry has change

i dont blame them ,they have to eat

Comment by Paul on July 25, 2017 at 4:43pm: I don't think his short on cash.

Comment by Eric Keith Longo on July 25, 2017 at 4:57pm: My 1984 vintage signed Waters promo LP is looking better and better to me.

Another reason for me to consider cutting off my collection (with 1 exception possibly) at the turn of the last millennium.

Comment by Ian Baldock on July 25, 2017 at 6:10pm: I really would love to know what Roger W really thinks of all the people in these lines waiting for him. I hear from everybody he barely says a word,just signing away from his suv! And yes I would like a Roger McGuinn! He seems to be one of these guys whose wife does all the talking. As far as birds I'm quite happy as I saw a Roseate Spoonbill outside of Harrisburg Pa this week (still there as of today)! REALLY rare! I have seen over 300 different species in my county and approaching 350 in Pa (that's pretty dam good)!

Comment by Corey Moylan on July 28, 2017 at 2:50pm: Sorry comment deleted. Went this afternoon for Rogers last concert in Chicago. It was a tame crowd this time. He drove right through. Rumor has it he may be done. Also heard on Sunday he was signing for many non-fans in line in dry erase marker