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George Takei really worth Shatner-level prices?

Plan on going back to Steel City this August, and was...surprised when the Celeb Price List was published. George Takei (Sulu) is listed at $80 photo/$100 photo op, which is what William Shatner was getting last convention. That pricing explains why they put together another VIP package at $250, but seems to me the two are on somewhat different levels...should be interesting to see the number of VIP armbands this convention vs. last (where I admit the Mrs. and I both wore those blue special bands).

With Lea Thompson (Back to the Future, Caroline in the City, & my personal favorite Howard the Duck!) running $60, Karen Allen (Raiders of the Lost Arc) at only $40, and Walter Koenig last con at $50, I'm looking at Takei wondering if he's really worth that much. I mean, I'm seriously going to have to think hard about spending that level of coin. Am I missing something? Thoughts?

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Permalink Reply by Rich on May 24, 2019 at 9:12am

A lot of autographs that just a few years ago were $25 - 40 are now much, much higher. Depends on the con and the market. I'm guessing Takei or his rep/team decided he could charge more given his continuing popularity and age.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Zarelli on May 24, 2019 at 2:39pm

No.

But convention autograph pricing is rarely related to "what the autograph is worth." It's usually multiples of fair market value. But as long as people pay it, they'll keep charging it.

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Permalink Reply by Charlie Summers on September 5, 2019 at 9:12pm

FWIW, I bit the bullet and did it anyway. He was perfectly nice, polite, and all that, and I have to say has the neatest handwriting of anyone in my collection.

Still, Lea Thompson and Karen Allen for the win that trip. My daughter got Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films) and Theo Rossi (Shades in Marvel's Luke Cage) who hugged her twice. ;)

Turns out I'm going again in December. My daughter can't make it (in college, Steel City will be in Finals Week), and wants autographs from the two Hobbits who are attending. My wife is seriously annoyed with me having passed this expensive hobby on to the kid. ;)