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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: 16537

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 Joe W. on November 3, 2016 at 10:18am

I'm sure today's celebrities get tired of dealing with autograph and selfie requests. But I do think that certain events, especially where they charge for meet and greets, signing autographs should be expected not avoided. Putting a limit or guidelines are fine but rudeness should never be their attitude. Why have a meet and greet in the first place? Geez....

Comment by Josh Board on November 3, 2016 at 10:25am

Exactly, Joe.

The Doors drummer, John Densmore, recently stopped signing autographs because it kept getting out of hand. He was getting mail to his house, and all these other things that just got ridiculous. But even when a person like Densmore, who has ALWAYS been great with fans, says that...they mean when they come in off the airplane and "dealers" are there with drum heads, drum sticks, etc. If a fan wanted his autograph, he'd surely sign.

At meet-and-greets, sure...some hardcore fan might be content with just a handshake or a hello, but 95% paid the $500 or more, to get a photo or item signed. The fact that anybody even argued with me on that early on is crazy

Comment by Patrick Batson on November 3, 2016 at 10:31am
Joe W...I've got a nice old set of ZZ Top sigs on a poster or ad. Let me find it and I'd be happy for it to have a new home.
Comment by Joe W. on November 3, 2016 at 10:38am

Cool! Message me when you find it. Thanks.

Comment by Elizabeth Magee on May 21, 2017 at 5:32pm

I just joined this evening. I have been trying to research fan reviews of Def Leppard Meet and Greets. I bought one for the up coming tour. I read Phil's book and really researched their history and I really wanted to meet them. Will I be disappointed? This is the first big one I have ever bought

Comment by Josh Board on May 21, 2017 at 6:15pm

You won't be. They're really nice guys. Over the last few years, they've gotten stricter about signing lots and lots of things at those, but...if you're a fan, you'll be glad you did it.

Comment by Elizabeth Magee on May 22, 2017 at 3:47am

They spelled it out clearly, no autographs at the meet and greet. Part of the package is an autographed 8X10. I don't know what the money goes for but after reading Phil's book, I bought it the first time I saw them last year. I really dug into their history. I had to do it. What really breaks my heart is Steve Clark I was only 6 or 7 when he passed. I wish I could have seen him play. I am a fan for sure!!

Comment by Josh Board on May 22, 2017 at 8:37am

You'll probably have fun, but still...it's SO LAME when they don't let you get something signed. It wouldn't be hard to say "two items per person," that way somebody doesn't show up with 8 albums and 5 ticket stubs they want signed. But...most people would rather have their favorite album signed, as opposed to some 8x10 photo, that probably has the record label logo bigger than the band members faces.

Comment by Crabby Appleton on October 28, 2019 at 1:11am

Well, I had no trouble getting Bonnie Raitt (and Jackson Browne) to sign when they were part of the traveling John Edwards presidential campaign.

Comment by Crabby Appleton on October 28, 2019 at 1:23am

I spent a lot of time staking out a Crosby and Nash concert. Nash was walking the streets in the neighborhood taking photos all day. I had a nice conversation and he signed all my albums. Later in the day a bus pulls up dropping both of them off. I yell to Crosby and he gives me the finger and keeps walking. Nash takes my CSN lp inside and someone else brings it back out to me with Crosby’s signature. Thank you Graham Nash. Got Stills to sign it when he came to town with Judy Collins. Whew!

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