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I'd like forum members' opinions on celebrities who sign autographs for a fee

I have heard that there are celebrities who charge a fee for their autographs. How common is this practice?

Just out of curiosity, I thought I'd ask forum members' their thoughts on such a practice.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on September 26, 2023 at 11:18am

Findbooks, you should see what Harrison Ford charges now.

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Permalink Reply by Findbooks on September 26, 2023 at 11:33am

I probably do not want to see that, lol.

TG I have a very narrow area of interest which does not include Hollywood celebrities.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on September 26, 2023 at 11:37am

I am thankful my collecting stops at 1980. I have vintage Star Trek Shatner but I think he "only" charges $100-200 now, but the Star Wars folks - Ford I believe is charging over 1K. Probably a good bit more - for multiple signed items I would be sure more.

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Permalink Reply by Sparky1708 on October 1, 2023 at 12:26am

I was tempted by a Ford signing to complete my Blade Runner project 2 years ago but the price was $750 dollars which was too steep for me at the time. Earlier this year he had another private signing and the price for a signature had increased to $895. If you wanted the signature adding to an existing signed piece then the price increased to a minimum of $1295 or more. Then there were also additional costs dependent on extras such as dedications or pieces over 11x14 size. God only knows how much the next private signing will cost!

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Permalink Reply by crazyrabbits23 on October 1, 2023 at 12:32am

Yeah, Ford specifically is a pipedream for me. I actually have a friend who won a cast-signed BR2049 poster (signed by Ford Gosling and Villeneuve) that was witnessed by WB and IMAX reps (with CoA) and won by her at a gala here years ago that I'm still trying to get her to part with for a reasonable sum. Still hoping I can get her to change her mind on it lol.

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Permalink Reply by Sparky1708 on October 1, 2023 at 2:15am

Keep working on your friend and hopefully you will eventually wear her down lol. Sounds like an amazing piece.

My project is the original film. I have many signed photos and a few signed cards. I’m only missing Morgan Paull & Ford. He is my holy grail so I suppose I will have to bite the bullet and pay the going rate at his next private signing

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Permalink Reply by crazyrabbits23 on October 24, 2023 at 2:16am

Oh, she knows - I just asked her again about it the other night at a gala, and said I was serious about making an offer on it. I asked her to think of a price and let me know the next time she sees me. (The fact that I was willing to pay a pretty penny for the biggest art piece at the event probably told her that I don't have a problem ponying up a few hundred for it.)

We'll see, knock on wood.

Permalink Reply by Rich on September 26, 2023 at 12:00pm

My primary interest is music, and that tends to represent among the best value due to the importance of self-promotion at just about every level of the business. Artists sign items (Vinyl, CDs or accompanying art cards/prints) to move physical products, and live shows remain among the best opportunities to meet both established and rising stars and get things signed.

The worst seems to be sports, and that plunge began in the 90s and only got worse to the extremes we see today. I don't think you can get anything at a Tom Brady signing for less than a grand, and even rising stars and hot names collect a premium for autographs that have very little potential to be worth as much let alone than what you're spending on them. Jordan Love is charging $150 minimum for a signing this Saturday. He's won two games. Granted the high ceiling seems to be there, but.. come on.

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Permalink Reply by BGK on September 26, 2023 at 11:44am

I have a tiny bit of real world experience to add. Several years ago, perhaps 8 or so, I attended one of these events in NYC (not sure if it was comic con). William Shatner charged $100 to sign, but I got a brand new Enterprise model signed which would have been difficult to do otherwise. Interestingly, Mark Hamill was also signing - $250 a pop. I was so outraged by the price that I passed on him, foolishly in retrospect, given what authentic Hamills cost now. All sigs required payment in cash.