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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 Mike P on May 20, 2014 at 4:17pm: I went to a meet and great several years ago involving by favorite European football club. You needed to purchase $100 or more worth of in store merchandise at the store, Adidas; so it wasn't so bad. The flier stated autographs not guaranteed, no pictures, one item to be signed per person etc. However, the athletes signed everything you put in front of them no matter how much you had. They had stacks of cards and team banners that they were also signing that you could take at your leisure. They also stopped signing to take pictures with anyone who wanted to. Adidas had it set up like we were a human conveyor belt; a group of 5 or so would go up an escalator on one side of the room, and go from player to player each sitting at tables that were put together to look like a giant upside down "U", and go back down another escalator on the other side of the room. If only other celebrities/athletic organizations would do the same...

Comment by Ian Baldock on May 20, 2014 at 4:27pm: Thats why my favorite sport is football (soccer) for my fellow Americans. I just love the fact the players walk out holding childrens hands and even the greatest football coach of all (Sir Alex Ferguson) would sign for fans in the stands. If only our arrogant U.S. players were more fan friendly. And to those that think Meet and greets shouldnt include autographs, your on the wrong website.

Comment by Mike P on May 20, 2014 at 4:38pm: I couldn't edit my post, but the team was AC Milan.

Ian, I agree with you. It definitely seems that out of most of the sports out there, European football/soccer athletes seem to be more engaged with the fans than athletes in other sports. Could it be because a majority of them were fans themselves and value fans more than US athletes? It's a debate, but in comparison to baseball it definitely seems so.

When I decided to buy $100 worth of merchandise, I did fully expect to get autographs just from the title "Meet and Greet" that was on the flier. I wouldn't pay more than $100 to have a mere conversation with a celebrity/athlete that is less than 2 minutes long; especially since most conversations with fans consists of brown-nosing and the celebrity being half-interested.

Comment by Josh Board on May 22, 2014 at 6:45pm: And since Carlos kept going on and on about his "it's a meet and greet, not an autograph signing" I will add this. If he's taking the words literally, well...since EVERYONE ON THE PLANET would think "meet and greet" means you can get an autograph and a photo...the bands should instead advertise "Pay $500 to high five Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, as he walks from the stage to the dressing room." Then there will be no angry fan. And, probably no fan that pays that. But you'd know what you were getting. The chance to spend $500 to high five Billy Gibbons, and perhaps say "Nice beard" or "Love that solo you do on La Grange" as he nods and walks to the dressing room.

Comment by Carlos on May 22, 2014 at 8:28pm: Lol
If you go to a meet and greet and don't get an autograph who's fault is it?
Unless "autographs" is explicitly stated you shouldn't assume anything .... Unless you're an idiot

Comment by Josh Board on May 22, 2014 at 10:32pm: Carlos, with all due respect, the only idiot on this thread is you. Let me explain. If you're taking some goofy definition of what the words "meet and greet" means, by your idiotic logic, I can pay $1,000 for a meet-and-greet with U2. All that money going to starving children in Africa, as per Bono's request. Me and 100 other people pay this. And, we wait backstage. The band comes over, and a huge security guard says "Hey Josh...this is Bono, this is The Edge, Larry Mulleny Jr, and another band member I don't remember." Bono and crew say "Hello Josh," and one extends hands. We shake hands. Then, I'm asked to leave the backstage area. According to YOU Carlos, and ONLY YOU....I just "met" them and was "greeted" by them. It took 4 seconds, and they took $1,000. And guess what? if that happened, and I sued the band. And their representative came into court, and used the logic you are using. The bands lawyer gets up there and says "Well, Josh did get to meet and greet the band." Guess what would happen? The judge (or jury)....would say "It's obvious, if somebody is paying that amount of money, it is implied that they will get to have a conversation that lasts at the very least, a few minutes. That they'll get a photo with the band and something signed."

You know WHY the judge would say this? Because a precedent has been set. Everybody knows what "meet and greet" means. It means we want a photo of them to slap on Facebook, or an autograph on our favorite album. What about that aren't you getting?

Comment by Carlos on May 22, 2014 at 10:40pm: "Goofy definitions"....ummm you mean the ones from the dictionary?

"Implied" yes but not guaranteed. If you go to a meet and greet and assume more than that then it's on you and no one else if your desires aren't met.

Comment by Carlos on May 22, 2014 at 10:41pm: Why don't you sue ZZ Top and see how that goes....
Seems like you have a solid, fool proof case

Comment by Josh Board on May 22, 2014 at 11:08pm: First, I did not attend the ZZ Top meet-and-greet. Second, it's the people that did, that were unhappy. Third, the ZZ Top meet-and-greet wouldn't win the lawsuit, because they actually stayed there for a few minutes talking to the crowd. A judge/jury would say "Yeah, that's lame...but they kind of filled their obligation. They met with you guys, had a brief chat."

I was talking about the scenario I stated above...where Bono literally shakes my hand, says hello, and walks away. And paying $1,000 for that privilege. Even the President, when he does dinners that are $25,000 a plate -- you get to shake the Presidents hand, and have a photo taken, and an autograph if you like. A precedent has been set on these things.

Lastly, when you keep talking about definitions of words, you're forgetting a key point dude. Words separately, often mean something different than together. If you "meet" somebody....that can be brief. If you "greet" somebody, that can be, too. Yet if you're saying it's a "meet and greet" people know what that means. IT means you're getting to spend some time with these people. Let me give you another example of how words can do this: If I have a "girlfriend"...it's a safe assumption we kiss, have sex, hold hands, call each other, go to dinner, etc. Yet, if I have "girls" that are "friends" of mine...none of those same things are assumed. In fact, everyone would assume those things ARE NOT happening.

See how that works?