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In Person musician autograph experiences

I thought it would be a great topic. A place for everyone to tell their stories. "I met so and so and here's how it went".... The good.The bad. The ugly.

Enjoy,
Mike

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Permalink Reply by mccawgomets on April 25, 2016 at 10:56am

Saw John Mellencamp in Portland Maine last week. It was a good show. Got there at 1 in hopes of meeting him before sound check. He travels with quite a crew. 3 buses and an Airstream camper that sits outside stage door and acts as his dressing room.
By far the most secure stage door I'd seen in Portland. His Airstream was all gated off. My brother and I waited patiently for several hours unfortunately. We were told by 2-3 crew members he shows up between 6-7 and only does sound check on first show in tour. One of his band mates told us he wouldn't come over to sign but that his personal helper Trevor would likely grab our stuff to have John sign on his Airstream. But having done this a few years, I've heard more than a few falsehoods come from the nicest people, so we waited, and waited..... sure enough, he was delivered by the promoter at 7. And as promised he went directly onto his Airstream. His handler Trevor immediately came up to us, took two albums each to John and returned within 5 minutes with 4 signed records. They weren't the prettiest signatures I've seen but by comparison to a lot I've seen, pretty good just the same

Would like to have shaken his hand and said hello but it was not to be. By all accounts a very private man. One of his crew told us he doesn't even like the security to make eye contact with him.

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Permalink Reply by Rich on April 26, 2016 at 9:09am

Somehow I've only had the situation where a crew member collects items to get signed once - Jenny Lewis last year. Would have loved to have met her, as I heard she is pretty fan friendly.

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Permalink Reply by mccawgomets on April 26, 2016 at 11:14am

Most people I've met personally. But a few I've got through either management or someone at the venue. Dave Davies, George Thorogood, Neko Case, Peter Wolf, Mavis Staples come to mind.

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Permalink Reply by Rich on April 26, 2016 at 11:20am

Yeah, same here.

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Permalink Reply by Rich on April 26, 2016 at 11:28am

I'm curious what the longest anyone has waited for an artists post show is. Generally, it seems like most artists, if they are going to sign or take photos, come out about an hour after the show. I think the longest I've waited is until about 1 or 1:30 PM for St. Vincent (turns out she'd left hours earlier) and Warpaint (eventually did come out and hung out with fans for a bit).

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Permalink Reply by mccawgomets on April 26, 2016 at 12:00pm

Mellencamp was on his bus within 1 minute if finishing the show! I find it very variable. I like to go to sound check. That way I have the rest if the day/night to myself!!

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Permalink Reply by Rich on April 26, 2016 at 12:22pm

Most of who I see are indie bands, so I really never see anyone dart for the bus. I guess circumstances are different for bigger names who've been around longer.

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Permalink Reply by Rich on May 4, 2016 at 9:18am

I'll try for Ellie Goulding later this week. Don't know what to expect.

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Permalink Reply by Rich on May 10, 2016 at 7:15am

No go on Ellie, but it came down to the venue staff, not her decision.

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Permalink Reply by Glad Max on May 13, 2016 at 4:15pm

Only music autograph experience I have was when I saw Eisley in 2008 (loved 'em then, still love 'em now!) Helped that I met up with some members of the official Eisley forum, one of whom was a pro photographer from their home state of Texas and had been to 30 of their shows and knew them well. We hung around outside after the gig talking for an hour and I was introduced to their father/manager Boyd DuPree (the band are all related), a great guy who asked "Hey would you like to get a poster signed?" These were 11x17" posters they had been selling for $6 but he took several for us for nothing onto the bus and several minutes later came back and gave me this:

That's Garron, Weston, Stacy, and Chauntelle. He said Sherri, on the far left, was too tired and he didn't want to disturb her. Soon afterward Chauntelle & Stacy came out and chatted with us in a nearby coffee shop while posing for pictures.

Happily I got my chance to meet Sherri 2.5 years later when they came back around!

They were all among the nicest people you will ever meet. Since then they have all gotten married and started families - while still keeping the band together, mind you! - so I'm sure access is a fraction of what they used to give because they don't have the time anymore. As far as an autograph experience, it doesn't get much better so I started & ended on top :)