Comment by Josh Board on April 10, 2020 at 10:05am

Dave B -- my wife brought up a great point. She said...being "out in public" is different than being at a convention, so...perhaps you're right. Because, if you go to a concert, you can be told "not to take pictures" and that is "public." So...I think Steve may have been wrong on this one.

Comment by Josh Board on April 10, 2020 at 10:07am

Give us the details on Loretta Swit!!!

Comment by Rich on April 10, 2020 at 12:13pm

I've seen a number of artists I'm a fan of calling their fans via Instagram the past few weeks, genuinely enjoying it and not charging a dime (I had an opportunity for one, but I passed as I am never, ever comfortable on any sort of webcam type thing).

That being said, the whole video message for cash thing is clearly picking up steam, based on how fast the Cameo website has grown. Some of the pricing is straight up funny, with has beens or never weres charging absurd prices.

Comment by Josh Board on April 10, 2020 at 12:17pm

I'm glad you said that, Rich. I had been meaning to check that site, when I read a story in the paper saying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was charging $500 a message, and some no-namers were charging $75. Just for kicks, I wanted to see who was charging what. One thing I think is a good idea. There's some local sports show on the radio, and they paid a few of those for messages, because you're getting some Hall of Fame athlete saying, "Bob and Carol are the best morning team in the world. I love these two" or whatever. But...back from my days in radio, we would interview the artists, and after the interview, we'd ask them to say that, and usually they did (although Country Joe MacDonald yelled at me and refused to do one; long story)

Comment by Rich on April 10, 2020 at 12:32pm

Some deals aren't too bad at all - the band Echosmith will do a message together for $50. Meanwhile, Mandy Moore is charging $300, though hers is for charity.

I laughed out loud when I saw Packers second round bust Josh Jones charging $200 for one a few months back.

Comment by Josh Board on April 10, 2020 at 12:40pm

I think if you're going to spend $300 for Mandy Moore, you'd have her say something crazy. My friend was dating Mandy Moore, and then moved in with her. It was around the time of my 20 year high school reunion, and I asked him to ask her, if she would go with me. Just because I thought it would impress my classmates. I told him she'd only have to stay for 15 minutes, and I'd pay for a limo, that would then take her and she could meet up with him. He didn't want to ask her, though.

Comment by BC on April 10, 2020 at 10:30pm

For $100 you can get a Cameo from Tori.

Comment by Jason Strecker on April 11, 2020 at 5:51am

Josh, the Loretta Swit story was a slightly nastier version of the Tori's husband story. My friend Todd, who I believe has attended every HCS for 20 years or longer, went to Loretta's table. He started taking pictures without having asked her. She immediately went off on him and demanded she see him take the film out. This was years before digital cameras. I'm not sure if Todd himself, or others, went to the owners of the show but Loretta was banned from the show that day for her general behavior. She did a HCS many years later though that I think was under the new ownership. She also did a Baltimore based convention last year and although she was much gentler in her manners she also scolded anyone taking her photo without her permission. She would pose for pictures if someone had bought something. She also has done jewelry shows and I wonder how she was at that those shows.

Mickey Rooney and Robert Blake were also banned from HCS though Mickey eventually came back under the original owners. Mickey wasn't particularly nasty to any one person but his behavior throughout the show was reason for banning. Blake I believe had demanded a private room, which he got, but at some point something set him off and in a "chicken or egg" situation he was either banned and left or he left and was banned. I recall reading that when he was outside he started signing free autographs for fans.

You don't hear these stories about HCS anymore mostly because it is a lot of lower level celebrities who know not to rock the boat. Whenever Todd posts the HCS list for upcoming shows I just cringe seeing most of the names. There are a few stars but it's mostly "extras" who someone can get a customer to but their signed photos.

Comment by Sidney Fields on April 11, 2020 at 7:30am

The big Tori Spelling question is why is she even doing this?

What happened to all of Aaron Spelling's money?

Comment by Josh Board on April 11, 2020 at 7:50am

Jason -- those were great stories, thanks. I suppose on could be happy that Blake didn't kill them, like he did his wife (allegedly!)

Sidney -- that's a great point.

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