The Autograph Collector’s Manifesto
I have explained this philosophy to people on so many occasions that I figured it was about time I put it in writing. While the readers of this blog are by no means my target audience for this rant, I figure they can relate to the questions being asked and the rationale behind my commentary.
Why would anyone pay for an autograph when you can get one for free?
When you attend a public autograph session (at Frozen Pond or elsewhere), you are not just buying an autograph. You are purchasing an experience.
Non-collectors can not understand how any sane person could pay $100+ just to get a player to scribble on their keepsake, but let us put that into perspective. How many people are paying that same amount just to attend a hockey game in most major cities? 10,000 per game? 15,000? They pay several hundred dollars for tickets to the game and parking. They get a couple hours of mediocre entertainment and then go home disappointed when their team loses.
Now let’s assume you are paying $100 to meet and receive an autograph from Gordie Howe. For that $100 you get to meet one of the greatest players ever to play the game. You get to talk to him for a few seconds. You get your picture with him. You get a beautiful signature; potentially personalized just to you. You get an appreciable asset, something that will have value in the future. Most of all, you get a memory, something that will never be taken away from you.
I can guarantee the person that attended the hockey game will not have any long-lasting memories, and unless their ticket stub holds some value, there will be nothing left over to show for their money spent. Sure it’s great to watch Alex Ovechkin play, but am I wrong to assume that the majority of people in the seats would eagerly trade in their ticket for an opportunity to meet him in person and get a souvenir autographed photo and a picture with him?
Of course you could spend your day waiting outside the arena or the team hotel for the chance that you see the player and he stops to sign your item. But is the opportunity cost of your time not worth something? Will the quality of the signature be anywhere near what you receive at a formal autograph function? What are the chances you receive nothing more than a scribble, potentially signed in the wrong color and in the wrong location on your item? What if you don’t get to see the player at all?
Why pay for an autograph when you can get one for free? Why go to a concert when you can listen to the same songs on the radio? Why go to the Super Bowl when you can watch it for free on television? Sometimes I find the ignorance of this question to be mind-boggling. Sure you can wait for the chance opportunity that the athlete will be signing fee autographs at a local sporting goods store. You can arrive four hours early and get the exact same experience as I described above; all the power to you. But using the same logic, why buy a car or flat-screen television or iPhone when there is a chance it will eventually go on sale? Do people not buy things because it makes them feel good?
Canadians and Americans are fascinated with celebrities. I can guarantee that whenever you meet or see one, you tell everyone you know. So why do some consider it such a bad thing for people to pay for something that brings them enjoyment?
I read a quote in a chatroom where someone was comparing autograph dealers to the lowest forms of life. Why? If you do not want to meet Marty Brodeur or Joe Thornton or Guy Lafleur, that is your prerogative. No one is forcing you to spend your hard-earned money on something in which you have no interest. But when we have 1,000+ people show up for some autograph appearances and lineups that last for over five hours, does that really make us bad people? Is giving people what they want not the definition of capitalism?
I don’t understand how a player can possibly charge for his autograph. Am I not the one paying his salary?
In most cases, the player is not charging for his autograph; the promoter is. I am buying two hours of Doug Gilmour’s time and then re-selling it to the public in the form of an autograph. Is that bad?
If you want a player to appear in your commercial, you have to pay him for his time. If you want him to speak at your function, he needs to be compensated. Time is money and it is naive to assume that everything these people do should be free. Professional hockey players make countless hospital visits and community appearances without being compensated. They also donate far more to charitable causes than most of us ever will. But what kind of life would they have if they were expected to do everything asked of them without being offered any kind of remuneration?
Sure you help pay their salary. But you also pay the salaries of school teachers, bus drivers, and politicians. Does that give you the right to show up at their houses and expect them to do your laundry?
Most collectors realize how lucky it is that there is a formal industry in place to make athletes accessible to their fans. It is much tougher to get near actors and musicians, since there are rarely formal autograph sessions in those realms. I should know. I tried for years to meet Shania Twain (the future Mrs. Borenstein). I have a bunch of friends in the music industry, but they could not get me near her. She was just too big; one of the most popular people in the world at the time. The closest I came was an offer to sit in on a MuchMusic “Intimate and Interactive” session in downtown Toronto. But I had already been to her concerts and did not want to see her sing or hear her talk. I wanted a picture of the two of us, a personalized photo, and a memory.
I eventually ended up with the high bid in a charity auction and enjoyed a quick “Meet and Greet” with her in Detroit in 2003, but the experience cost me a five-figure donation to Shania’s charity. It was worth every penny, but if there were “Frozen Pond’s” in the music business, I could have saved myself an awful lot of money.
How many hundreds of thousands of tween Jonas Brothers or Justin Bieber fans would right now pay anything for the opportunity to meet their pop idols? If such a service was available, would it not be beneficial for both parties?
I went to a Hollywood Autograph show over the summer and met the cast of Happy Days and got them to sign my picture. I was even able to spend a few minutes talking to Ralph and Potsie. At the same show, I was able to speak with and get my picture taken with Davy Jones. I love the Monkees – who wouldn’t want to meet the guy that sings Daydream Believer? A few years ago, I went to a similar show in Burbank and met Don Knotts. Now that Mr. Furley is no longer with us, this memory is more special than most.
Do I chastise the promoters for putting on such a show? Do I berate the celebrities for having a fee attached to their signature? Of course not – I value the fact that I was able to meet the people that brought me a great deal of entertainment over the years. My office is lined with photos of these celebs and I truly treasure my encounters with them.
We have a great hobby, one that pays my salary and keeps me entertained year in and year out. I just wish the naysayers would tone it down a little. Our industry provides a ton of enjoyment and keeps famous people clothed in Armani suits long after their playing days are over. Is that all bad?
I apologize for the delay since the last “Hersh Blog” and I appreciate all the calls and emails asking for an update. I hope to get back on a regular schedule of 1-2 blogs a week. I have definitely gathered enough material over the past few months, now I just have to find the time to write the darn things.
Tags: Alexander Ovechkin, Gordie Howe, Joe Thornton, Jonas Brothers, Justin Bieber, Martin Brodeur, Monkees, Shania Twain