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I tried to meet Paul McCartney at the Airport recently - thoughts

Sir Paul was in my town a month back, so I tried to meet him. It was only about 4 of us at the airport and I thought he might actually sign for us. He did roll down the window and wave. I still think that was pretty cool. He didn't even have to do that… just could have keep driving.

NOW - I tried to meet him when he was leaving. Still only about 4 of us. It was cold and late at night.. which is ok - part of the game. His body guard came over and asked us to leave the parking area and wait by the street. Really… ok no worries we can just wait in the grass. He then went on to say - Paul has not stop to sign anything this tour - BUT if he does you have to write "YOUR NAME" "the CITY we are in" and the "Date". REALLY??? At the time I didn't raise a fuss, but later on I really wish I had. The reason we had to write all the crap on our album was because of "Ebay" according the to body guard. Really EBAY!! Please… Is Ebay really hurting Paul McCartney. I wanted to say… instead of complaining about ebay - why doesn't he just charge a fee and donate it to his favorite charity. Still has me shaking my head…. I am glad I didn't write all that crap on the album and ruin it. Oh - and Paul didn't stop btw.

Mark

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Maxwell on January 4, 2015 at 7:16pm

I understand the market for autographs on eBay. Many of us do not live in cities that these stars frequent or have the time to leave work and chase them down. A part of me has an issue with the autograph seekers that resell on eBay, but if they didn't, I wouldn't have a lot of the autos that I do have. The reason I have an issue with the reselling is because of stories like this where stars will not sign because of the resellers market. But again, I often go to eBay and buy these signatures, so since I don't want to be a hypocrite, I am glad they DO sell online.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Roberts on January 4, 2015 at 7:29pm

I agree - I sell on Ebay and I buy on Ebay. And the main reason is not to pay for my Lexus but to pay for my hobby that I so enjoy. The time off from work trying to get the signatures, the ticket and travel expenses going to various cons. The expense going to concerts. These days - they aint cheap.

Mark

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Permalink Reply by michelle on December 30, 2014 at 9:49pm

I have had a similar horrible experience with him as well a while back;- not pleasant at all

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Permalink Reply by Dan Gregory on December 30, 2014 at 9:58pm

Met him a few times in the past few years. Probably struck out 90% of the time as he walks by or has the bodyguards around him so you cannot get close. Worth trying though as you never know

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Permalink Reply by Mark Roberts on December 31, 2014 at 9:13am

McCartney body guard was very polite… So the experience, for what is was, was not BAD. It just has me saying WTF. Really.. because of Ebay. Write your name, city and date and MAYBE he will sign it.

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Permalink Reply by Mike White on January 2, 2015 at 8:10am

At least he has conditions under which he'll sign, instead of just not signing at all.

He doesn't want to see people profiting off a favor he's doing for them--what's so bad about that? At least he's not doing what Chuck Yeager does and demanding that you sign a contract swearing not to sell your own property.

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Permalink Reply by Mike T on January 2, 2015 at 8:18am

Again, if he's that concerned with people selling his autograph why not make it available? If you can buy his autograph for $100 on his website, no one will pay $500 on eBay for it. The market would disappear overnight. He can even donate the proceeds to charity. Until celebs start doing this, they don't have any right to complain.

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Permalink Reply by Peter C. on January 2, 2015 at 9:00am

Two major points:
- it´s still autograph business - autographs should not be business article (at least as I understand artist´s point of view)..... I think that it´s tolerable in case of charity events, but mainly the situation is very easy - autographs are kind gesture of artist, noone (fan, dealer, collector) has a right to require them from anyone... You cant fight against business by starting your own business.... ;)
- in PMc´s case - he would be flooded with requests and probably make same decision as Ringo Starr did.

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Permalink Reply by Mike T on January 2, 2015 at 9:08am

Autographs will always be a business article, the majority of fans do not live in areas where celebrties are accessible. They have no other option but to purchase an autograph. Celebrities have the option to control the market for their own autograph or complain about it, the smarter ones do the former.

McCartney is a unique case because he is so immensely popular and has been for so many years. Still, if he provided an outlet for people to obtain his autograph directly from his website, the amount of people hounding him for autographs to sell would quickly diminish simply because the opportunity for profit would shrink with the market.

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Permalink Reply by Peter C. on January 3, 2015 at 3:28am

Please differ between fans and autograph collectors. Fans wish to meet their star.... and autograph is just memorabilia from that brief meeting. Autograph collectors wish to have an autograph no matter how they got it. It´s completely different group of people.

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Permalink Reply by Mike T on January 3, 2015 at 6:40am

Why differ? I know plenty of people who are fans and enjoy having a cool piece of signed memorabilia but have no means to meet the celebrity.. Perhaps the tour didn't come through their city/country or they just don't have the physical or financial means. The last Paul McCartney concert I went to cost me almost $1000 for two tickets, and I was in the "cheap" seats. I sure would have liked to meet him and get his autograph but even after spending all that money I still have to shell out another $1000 if I want his autograph.

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Permalink Reply by Mike White on January 2, 2015 at 9:05pm

As I've already stated, there are plenty of celebrities who don't think it's right to charge for an autograph, even if the money is going to charity.

But you'd have me believe that they should violate their own ethics in order to gain the right to complain about what they view as unethical practices?

Not everyone is you. Not everyone views the world the same way you do. Not everyone shares your ethical standpoints.

So, for the love of God, please stop telling them what they should do & believe like your views are somehow superior to theirs.