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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 Carlos on May 22, 2014 at 11:11pm: Google "definition of meet and greet".
I think you'll find it educational

Comment by Josh Board on May 22, 2014 at 11:16pm: Carlos, let me ask you ... when put together "girl" and "friend" which part of that means she's having sex with me?

Again, you're just making yourself sound idiotic. In 98% of relationships, that are boyfriend/girlfriend, sex is involved (assuming it's adult relationships, and not relationships where a a couple is waiting for religious reasons). In 98% of "meet-and-greets" people DO THOSE, because they want a photo or autograph. They rarely do that so they can say "I really loved the Tres Hobres album. And...why is the one guy in ZZ Top without a beard, the one actually named Beard?" That's not why people go to them.

Now, if you go to a baseball game...and you wait afterwards for autographs, that's where your logic would work. You bought a ticket to watch a baseball game, not have players come over and sign autographs. IF they do, great. If they don't, well...you didn't buy a ticket for that. If you buy a ticket for a "meet and greet"...anybody with an IQ over 100, understands what is implied in that. Just as if (and I'm sure you do this)...call an "escort" service. I'm guessing if you paid $1,000 for this gorgeous girl, you'd be a little ticked if she said, "Well...here I am. Where do I escort you? You want to go to dance? A fancy dinner? A drive in my Ford Escort. You didn't pay for sex. You paid for an 'escort'."

Comment by Carlos on May 22, 2014 at 11:18pm: What's with all these analogies? Look up the definition.
If you don't like the definition go on a personal crusade to include "autographs" as a requirement in meet and greets
I didn't make the definition I'm just restating it...

Comment by Carlos on May 22, 2014 at 11:22pm: You yourself have stated in your blog that some artists don't sign at their meet and greets ...that's cause they don't have to (unless they clearly stated they would prior to purchase)
I don't think they give a rats whether some dude blogs about not understand what meet and greet means. If people cant comprehend what they read and assume otherwise that's their fault

Comment by Josh Board on May 22, 2014 at 11:23pm: Yes, I do get carried away with the analogies, I'll be the first to admit it. But...can you explain to me what the definition of a "girlfriend" is? Just humor me here. Because I'm guessing NO WHERE in the definition, will you find the word "sex"

Comment by Carlos on May 22, 2014 at 11:35pm: That's because you don't have to have sex to be in a relationship. It's not a requirement. Assumed and implied, maybe, but a requirement? Not at all.
Proves my point completely. Thanks

Comment by Peter C. on May 23, 2014 at 1:36am: Carlos:
You are still obviously missing the main point of meet&greets.... In fact - if you really dont care about fans and if you think you can behave to them just as "they are source of money for me and nothing else" - then, it probably would work like you say - and then these meet&greets have absolutely NO POINT - there is simply NO REASON why they should happen, because artists are bothered or annoyed by that, and fans would be angry because it would work like that.... Then there is really no reason why to do something what you DONT want to do! But real point of M&G is to give something special outstanding experience that they will talk about for months and what would make their devotee to the artist stronger than before M&G.... NOONE wants to leave the venue disappointed (even Col. Parker´s rule was to let the fans "hunger" for more but never disappointed!) and then M&G should be made according to THIS strategy. M&G are bought from loyal hardcore fans who saw the band for numerous times and when you disappoint them on M&G you are losing the money because these disappointed fans will probably NEVER come again - plus dont forget they are usually very active on fan forums and when they are really frustrated and disappointed, they can seriously damage your reputation among your own fans. No band in the world wants that.... That´s why M&G should contain some "obvious" things. Other than that - you are not aware of power of market - bands with good M&G can get good attention from "fans of other bands" too (it worked for me like that when I got one of my friends to M&G with DP - he respected them before, but now - they are one of his absolutely fav band and goes to every show he can simply because he liked how cool guys they really are) - and just opposite when you get an information that M&G from any band was rip-off you will be very aware of other products which are offered by band (just google opinions about ZZ Top M&G on OTHER fansites, not only ZZ Top sites).... ;)

Comment by Carlos on May 23, 2014 at 8:28am: Too long....

Comment by Josh Board on May 23, 2014 at 8:38am: Carlos, you seem to think the girlfriend analogy proves your point. I believe it proves mine. Here is one word to describe why: MONEY. You don't pay a girlfriend money. So if at any point, you don't like how the relationship is going (either you argue, you don't have sex, she tries to stab you when you fall asleep...not saying that's ever happened to me, but...) then you can end it. No harm, no foul. No money changed hands. YET...at meet-and-greets, if a band DOES NOT explain EXACTLY what you get (the way the person posted about Alice Cooper above)...then it's IMPLIED you will get an autograph. No argument about that. No definition to support you. NONE.

Now, to stick with my analogies -- I've had friends that are furious they have to pay for dinner on a first date, when they aren't even sure if the relationship will work out. I tell those cheap ba****ds -- then don't go on dates! If you're so cheap that a dinner and drinks is gonna kill you, don't go on dates. Once you're in a relationship, those things are never a big deal. If you go on a few first dates, to see who you click with -- oh well. You buy a few dinners. If you can't afford that, you probably can't afford to pay your rent or be going on dates in the first place.

And there are MANY who can barely afford to go to M&Gs, but they do it for their favorite band. If they're THEN told (afterwards) that the band doesn't do autographs at that time...well, they just got ripped off.