how the terminal big guy in Bellevue enriches the 1%

[franksolich]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/stars-getting-rich-fan-conventions-933062

Oh my.

I always wondered what was going on, but not being impressed by celebrities and celebritydom, I never even though of a theory.

Stars Getting Rich Off Fan Conventions: How to Take Home "Garbage Bags Full of $20s"

One effect of superhero culture: a proliferation of fan events where Marvel movie heroes and 'Walking Dead' stars walk away with six figures (more than most get paid for their real jobs) for a weekend's work.

It's like a scene from Blow or Goodfellas: a room full of money with professional cash counters." This isn't a description of a drug den or casino cage. It's the backroom of a fan festival, says one producer familiar with such events, where thousands of die-hards — many in costume — pay admission to fork over bigger bucks for autographs and photos with their favorite stars. And nearly all of this money is going into the pockets of talent big and small who, in many cases, now can earn more from weekend fan events than from the shows and movies making them famous.....

[Duke Nukum]

Has anyone heard from him of late? Maybe he's finally passed on and so is no longer enriching these people? Or maybe he went to a mega-con and got lost, still wondering about?

[FiddyBeowulf]

He is not going to those conventions though. The ones he goes to is more of a flea market/swap meet but with "D" list actors. Most of their acting credits are ironically along the lines of "uncredited" or "unnamed soldier".
 

[Big Dog]

He is not going to those conventions though. The ones he goes to is more of a flea market/swap meet but with "D" list actors. Most of their acting credits are ironically along the lines of "uncredited" or "unnamed soldier".

There was that picture of Steve with 'Second Nazi Guard' from The Great Escape. That was big stuff for Steve- he was weeping in the photo.

I bet he still talks about that, incessantly.

[BlueStateSaint]

There was that picture of Steve with 'Second Nazi Guard' from The Great Escape. That was big stuff for Steve- he was weeping in the photo.

I bet he still talks about that, incessantly.

Umm, why do you think that we call him 'the big, sweaty guy from Bellvue?'

[SVPete]

Was this a warning to some Hollyweird stars that if they don't donate now to The SHREW they might find the IRS horning in on their action later if she's elected POTUS?

[Big Dog]

Umm, why do you think that we call him 'the big, sweaty guy from Bellvue?'

The Bawling Buffalo!

[Ralph Wiggum]

The Bawling Buffalo!

I preferred "Weaping Neckbeard".

[franksolich]

Was this a warning to some Hollyweird stars that if they don't donate now to The SHREW they might find the IRS horning in on their action later if she's elected POTUS?

Since when have celebrities charged money for autographs?

isn't it considered good public relations to sign them out for anyone who requests one?

<<<has a nice collection of autographs--no Steve Dawes-quality celebrities, though--none for which paid.

[I_B_Perky]

Since when have celebrities charged money for autographs?

isn't it considered good public relations to sign them out for anyone who requests one?

<<<has a nice collection of autographs--no Steve Dawes-quality celebrities, though--none for which paid.

If I understand it correctly they are normally paid for their appearance at these things and part of that is the signing of autographs by x number of attendees.  Only reason why I know this was my mom was a big star trek fan and some big name trek actors and actress came to town one weekend back in the 90's and she wanted to go.  So I bought the tickets that included an autograph and we went.  Got to hear them speak, then got to meet them as there were tables set up to sign autographs where you could chat.    I've always thought actors and actresses were pretty much assholes. Not these folks. They were really nice to my mom. I was surprised.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Since when have celebrities charged money for autographs?

isn't it considered good public relations to sign them out for anyone who requests one?

<<<has a nice collection of autographs--no Steve Dawes-quality celebrities, though--none for which paid.

Didn't know they did either.  Other than retired athletes at a card show or something similar.

Only have a few myself, but they were signed in person and have sentimental value only.

[Big Dog]

I preferred "Weaping Neckbeard".

[franksolich]

Didn't know they did either.  Other than retired athletes at a card show or something similar.

Only have a few myself, but they were signed in person and have sentimental value only.

Among the lesser autographs I have is one from Barry Switzer back when he was head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, this was the early 1980s.  This was when Oklahoma was thumping Nebraska all the time, and so I wasn't enamoured of him.

But once when standing in line behind the coach, he turned and upon glancing at me, asked the person with him who I was.  "Oh, that's [franksolich], and he hates your guts."

The guy with him had a roster sheet, and Barry grabbed it, writing, "Hey [franksolich], thanks for being a fan!  Good wishes, Barry Switzer."

I kept it and still have it, but my opinion of him didn't change until after I read his autobiography, Son of a Bootlegger, doing a 180 swinging over to admiration.  Barry Switzer was awesome.

In early 1978, I met Lord Mountbatten K.G. in person.  People were always asking him for his autograph, but I knew royalty does not sign autographs, so I didn't even bother asking.  Which seemed to irk him, and he asked, "Aren't you going to ask me for my autograph?"

Yeah, right.  I thanked him, but politely demurred.

Less than a month after that, again in early 1978, Muhammed Ali was on the same flight--this was when private airplanes were rather more rarer than they are now--as I was.  Other passengers kept going up front to get his autograph.  He finally agreed to walk up and down the aisles and sign them, if people'd let him alone after that. 

He came to me, reaching over for a piece of paper I was supposed to have, but didn't.  He acted taken aback, at least for a second or two.  I thanked him, but pointed out that I admired him a great deal; I admired him enough that I thought he should be left alone in peace and quiet, not bothered.  He seemed really stunned, but in a positive way.

[FunkyZero]

One of my prizes is an in-person autograph I got from Roger Waters on a Remo drum head. I doubt it's worth anything to anyone else, but I was there and got it myself (many years ago). Oddly enough, it was a chance encounter too, which made it all the more cool. All I had in my hand at the time were some drum heads I was buying. I remember complaining about how damned crowded the shop was before I figured out what was happening. Funny how it ended up. Poor bastard was getting nearly mobbed for autographs so I piled on, what the hell right? I also got his and Gilmour's autographs on a vinyl copy of Wish You Were Here, but that came from an uncle who got it in person back in the late 70's sometime.
I mean, I can't stand Roger Waters, but he is an undeniable genius and right up there on my list of favorites with Malcom Young and Joe Satriani.

[Big Dog]

One of my prizes is an in-person autograph I got from Roger Waters on a Remo drum head. I doubt it's worth anything to anyone else, but I was there and got it myself (many years ago). Oddly enough, it was a chance encounter too, which made it all the more cool. All I had in my hand at the time were some drum heads I was buying. I remember complaining about how damned crowded the shop was before I figured out what was happening. Funny how it ended up. Poor bastard was getting nearly mobbed for autographs so I piled on, what the hell right? I also got his and Gilmour's autographs on a vinyl copy of Wish You Were Here, but that came from an uncle who got it in person back in the late 70's sometime.
I mean, I can't stand Roger Waters, but he is an undeniable genius and right up there on my list of favorites with Malcom Young and Joe Satriani.

Cool!

[Airwolf]

So far as I know the whole autographs for money thing started back in the 70's - early 80's when some of the actors from Star Trek were not getting any residuals from the show until they balked at doing the first movie. It seems that only the top three actors on the show ever got paid for the reruns and so they started to charge for the autographs and people gladly paid the then current price whatever it was. So once they problem of getting paid for their participation in the show and then the movie was resolved it became common for other shows to pay the cast their percentage for their work and then as the popularity of actors and their shows equally became famous they started to do the cons and ask for money for their autographs. Ever since the price has gone up and  it's not cheap. A couple of years ago William Shatner was in KC for a con there and his price for signing is or was $75.00 each. Some are cheaper depending on who they are at about $45.00 and so on. I haven't gotten an autograph in awhile because I don't have the cash to spend for the more well known actors but I have a few maybe a dozen. I am just glad to get the chance to meet them and I have met a lot . My last autograph was from an actor named Jeffery Coombs who is known as the guy on Deep Space 9 as the Vorta who was called Wayune. He was basically a bad guy/servant to the leaders of the Dominion. HE really is a nice guy and he liked the picture I had printed up that I asked him to sign. I paid about $40.00 for it .

So as it is if it's worth it to you the fan you can get them at the cons or where ever they appear but it's going to cost you bucks if you want more then one from a group of actors that often appear at the shows in order to draw as many people in as possible. Some of these stars haven't acted in years like the late Yvonne Craig better known as Batgirl from the 60's TV show Batman. I got to meet her through a friend of mine that was sponsoring her appearance and for her age she really looked good but sadly as it turns out she died about a year or two ago.  My best autograph meeting was when my friend Bruce Crawford had Richard Keil come to Omaha for a one night showing of "The Spy Who Loved Me" . He played the part of Jaws in the movie. IF you look in the pictures of the display I am wearing a white polo shirt with our model clubs emblem on the front. The movie posters around the table are mine and so are some of the items on the tables.

http://www.omahafilmevent.com/past/spy007bond1.htm

Then a week later I got to meet one of the other bad guys from the movie. Carolyn Munroe who played the helicopter pilot for Hugo Drax.

http://jamesbond.wikia.com/wiki/Naomi

I got both of them to sign a large movie poster for "The Spy Who Loved me" for $20.00 each.

So for those that want the fun and experiance of getting a picture or whatever signed but like I said it can cost you.