posted
So tonite my Hubby and I went to see the band War play up in Seattle. Very Nice. Lowrider, Cisco Kid was a Friend of my, Why can't we be friends" etc. It was at Jazz Alley, a small venue. So I get there and the drummer noticed I was carrying a red ukulele. He said "Oh is that yours?" I said "yes, I thought I'd get some autographs on it" He says, "Well we have some things that have been autographed for sale, such as these drum sticks for 10 bucks each" I said "Oh tha'ts nice but I am going to do a bit of artwork on the ukulele after it signed" This was before the show, by the way. Then we got into this big discussion about artists supporting other artist and egos" Well I was done talking with "Sal the Drummer" and I wanted to go sit down with my husband, so I said, "Well it was nice talking to you and I have to get back to my table now" And as I walked away I heard him say to my back, "It wasn't very nice talking to you" I just ignored him at that point. Alicia does not pay for autographs. What is with these nutucases that want mula for their autographs? Personally, I would be a little embarressed to have to resout to selling my autograph, unless I really needed the money. Even worst, as the show ended the manager was telling people to move on so the people could exit the building, because the crowd just wanted to talk to the musicans, not buy anything, just talk. You know'it's not just musicans, sports figures, anyone who name gets in the paper, now wants to get paid for their stupid autograph. Like they are better than us, their poop don't smell. Oh, and of course, the little bongo drums they had for sale for $100.00, the guy tells me "That is the last one he has for sale" I gave him the "You are full chit look".
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3816 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6717 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Most of the time, even big name Bluegrass musicians will talk to you after performances. Got Ricky Skaggs to personlly sign my son's mandolin. I couldn't get in to see Ricky personally but, one of his roadies took it backstage for me and they didn't charge anything.
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7404 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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posted
Well that's the other thing. It was only 35 bucks to see them. But it's not all of the original members from the band WAR. For sure Lonny Jordon, but the other guys, not so sure Especially the sax and bass guy. Way to young. The band was is currently split up due to "They Hate Each other" The rest of the original WAR band is paying under the name "The Lowrider Band" But other than that, they sound great, which was all I wanted anyways. By the way, at the end of the show "Lonnie" wasn't around, I guess he gets tried of being asked "Where's the other guys? The real WAR".
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3816 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
I can see both sides- I have NEVER paid for anyone's autograph, and I have gotten a few that meant something special to me... the issue is people try to sell other people's autograph and make a profit- for instance, the sports memorobilla market is ridiculous, which is why sports figures have turned to charging for their autographs, the people are going to turn around and double or triple the profit. That may be what the band thought about you bringing a piece in to have signed- somehow, you might find a way to profit off of them.
As a musician, I have even been asked for my autograph a few times- which is very surreal to say the least... I know it's not worth anything, but it obviously means something to the other person... so I don't mind at all.
As a band promoter and manager, I know that you sometimes have to resort to selling a few trinkets to help pay the bills- most venues don't pay well enough to make a decent living- we call it "McDonalds money"- you hope you get enough at the end of the night to take the band to McDonalds- that's why bands sell CDs, t-shirts, etc.- it just helps offset the cost of playing music. It is always overpriced, but can really help the band survive. When I traveled as a drummer, we had some places that paid well and some that barely covered our gas expenses- you hope it all evens out in the long run.
-------------------- Michael Clanton Clanton Graphics/ Blackberry 19 Studio 1933 Blackberry Conway AR 72034 501-505-6794 clantongraphics@yahoo.com Posts: 1736 | From: Conway Arkansas | Registered: Oct 2001
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Plus- a band as old as "War" which more than likely attracts a "selective" audience is hoping all those baby boomers that still remember them will not think twice about shelling out big bucks just to make sure they are still alive and can still play... plus the older the musicians, the more alimony and child support they have to worry about covering
-------------------- Michael Clanton Clanton Graphics/ Blackberry 19 Studio 1933 Blackberry Conway AR 72034 501-505-6794 clantongraphics@yahoo.com Posts: 1736 | From: Conway Arkansas | Registered: Oct 2001
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posted
I do have one autograph that i kinda treasure. it's from the pop artist "Robet Williams" It's on the back of a check that I wrote to him to buy a few posters from him , at Mooneyes, back about in the early ninties. He also signed the posters, but I treasure the check even better.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3816 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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I love classic rock as much as anyone but I fail to see the appeal of a 'classic' band that can't hold it together. One original member is no band and should never use the original name. If a band has any success it's often ego and greed that destroys them. Many fail to realize fame is more often than not fleeting and don't consider or plan for that eventuality, which is sad, but certainly not the fan's fault. That musician himself should still be forever grateful for any fan who still remembers him decades later.
-------------------- Happy Signing...... Marty
M.F. (Marty) Happy Signmaker Since 1974 Happy Ad Sign & Design Regina SK, Canada S4N 5K4 306-789-9567 happyad@sasktel.net www.happyad.ca
Get Happy & Get Noticed! Posts: 773 | From: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada | Registered: Jan 1999
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posted
That's a shame to get a bad vibe before hearing good music. I saw War a few years ago at a music festival - Widespread Panic was on a different stage at the same time, but I'm glad I opted for War (sure wish Lee Oskar had been there though)
I think the coolest autograph I ever got was from Leon Russell. His bus was parked behind the venue about an hour before the show and I went over and tapped on the door, thinking a roadie might get a CD I had with me signed by Leon. Lo and behold, a little tiny window in the door popped open (just like when Dorothy got to the Emerald City) and there was LEON !! He's a very imposing figure with the long white hair and beard and I didn't expect his face to pop up, but I stammered my request, he snatched the CD out of my hand and closed the window. I looked at Peggy and she was as stunned as I was - then he re-appeared and handed me the autographed CD and closed the window, all without saying a word. The whole experience was very surreal.....
-------------------- www.signcreations.net Sonny Franks Lilburn, GA 770-923-9933 Posts: 4115 | From: Lilburn, GA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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posted
I remember seeing War here in Fresno, I also remember seeing Eric Burton at another concert. One thing that was a trip was in the audience everyone kept hollaring sing Spill the Wine, he wouldn't do it. I guess copyright laws who knows. But when War was here they sang it, but also had mentioned in their new version and homage to Eric. I saw them selling their CD's, but never heard them selling thier autographs, que cavrones...
-------------------- aka:Cisco the "Traveling Millennium Sign Artist" http://www.franciscovargas.com Fresno, CA 93703 559 252-0935 "to live life, is to love life, a sign of no life, is a sign of no love"...Cisco 12'98 Posts: 3576 | From: Fresno, Ca, the great USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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Aparently Rusty, Movie Stars, Sports fiqures, Musicans have seen their signtures go up for auction or just get sold at sometimes incrediable rates. And because of greed,,,they want some of the action. Fan loyaty is not enough. People get real star struck when they see their idols. Not me. To me they are just people with really good jobs that pay very well. I had wanted to get some of the guys signtures because their signatures combined with my artwork on the ukulele might look cute hanging up on the wall. What they had for sale, as far as artistly speaking, wasn't all that great. Even their T-Shirts looked bad. I've seen better at the Goodwill store. The drummer asked where I got the ukulele at. He made a surprize look when I told him I got it at the Goodwill. I should have told him "Isn't that where you got your drums?"
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3816 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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Maybe next I'll go back wearing a T-Shirt that has their logo, etc all over it (Done by Me) And if that same drummer guy asked me where I got the T-Shirt I'll tell em " I got it from that guy who's selling T-Shirts outside" Ha!! Don't mess with sign people!
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3816 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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one of the movie stars I think it was Tom Cruise got fed up with people selling his autograph, His solution was to sign as many as he could often spending about an hour outside the premiers signing hundreds of them thus making them worth little at auction
-------------------- Terry Colley The VintageSign Co 42 barrack hill Romiley Stockport Cheshire, England sk6 3az tel 0161 494 5089 terry@bullandbrush.fsnet.co.uk Posts: 210 | From: England | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
Alicia...seems this whole autograph thing is a mix of greed by some and a fanatical obession of celebrities by others...the one I find distasteful and the other I find ridiculous...but for anyone interested I have a used wad of gum for sale that supposedly came from the mouth of Elvis...it tastes like Juicy Fruit to me...make me an offer if you're interested.
I got an autograph from Bill Lambier, R. Lee Ermy, Louis Gonzales, and my son got two autographs from Earvin 'Magic' Johnson at two different times at the movie theater he works at in town when Magic was back for the holidays (I actually watched him when he played for Lansing Everett High School play our Grand Ledge High School team in high school.)
None of those people who are way more famous than the guy you talked to ( I never heard of him before) charged for their autograph.
You should have told him that if you had to pay for his autograph, it was going to be the most expensive piece of toilet paper you ever used.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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Tom Cruise handled this pretty well, I thought.... some idiot decided to get call him over for a quick interview.... but his 'mic' was really a squirt gun... and he squirted Cruise in the face. I give Cruise kudos for confronting the guy without going 'postal' and making the prankster feel like an @ss.
posted
I personally like autographs...and I really don't care from who. You know, the ones right in the lower right hand corner of a CHECK!
We ( using the term loosely ) create these jerks. Look at today with national signing day for college football. When in hell does any high school kid deserve a press conference to see what hat he'll put on. Growing up IN racing I got to see those Guys as they were..people. Not as a fan sees them..as a god. IMHO, fans have driven these prima donnas to this as Alicia experienced...well that and greed.
-------------------- Skidmore Sign Co. 3806 1st Avenue North Birmingham AL 35222 205-251-6049
Skidmore Signs - Facebook
"Success always occurs in private, but failure in full view."
posted
I think our autographs are worth alot since we make people lots of money and stimulate the local, and world economy greatly if it were not for us this world would be in the worst shape and much would have not been created. Not many groups of people can say that plus most of what it takes to do this is also bought within our own countries and the talent it also takes.
posted
Next year when WAR comes back to play in Seattle, they play up here every year, I will be wearing a very cool looking cow bell embelished with the band's WAR logo, maybe engraving, gold leaf, candy paint on top etc. etc, on a chain, on my neck. And then I'll try to sell that to them for $500.00.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3816 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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quote:Originally posted by Alicia B. Jennings: I do have one autograph that i kinda treasure. it's from the pop artist "Robet Williams" It's on the back of a check that I wrote to him to buy a few posters from him , at Mooneyes, back about in the early ninties. He also signed the posters, but I treasure the check even better.
I got a pair of Rob't WIlliams Vans. I love em.
-------------------- Dan Beach Cylinder 9 Designs 1650 Glassboro Rd Sewell, NJ 08080 Posts: 625 | From: South Jersey | Registered: Sep 2008
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posted
Do you think that would make the situation better or worse? I doubt it would make the guy any less jaded or restore his faith that everyone isn't out for themselves.
On the other hand, if you make what you proposed and give it to them as a gift, he might look at everyone a little differently. I bet you'd get your uke signed.
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
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