I See Posts Before My Eyes

emcomicsphotosnstuff asked: What's your opinion of people who charge for autographs or photos at cons? It just comes across super douchey to me since as I understand it and I could be wrong the con's pay for their accomodation and flights and the people paying are already supporting their projects. It's not as common among comic book people but it's common at cons. When did the thread start?

emcomicsphotosnstuff:

brevoortformspring:

Not every con pays for the accommodations of every guest. And even if those guests are being paid for, they are giving up their time to be in attendance. As individuals, they are free to charge whatever they think is fair for whatever—and you as a consumer are free to choose to pay that price or to forgo.

The people paying to attend the convention are paying for just that—to attend the convention. And often, the folks who would like an autograph or a photo or a sketch or whatever aren’t people who are supporting their projects—they’re simply people who like free stuff. Not everybody, of course, but enough of them. All you need to do is to go to eBay to see how many signatures and sketches that were done at conventions are being auctioned off by those they were done for.

So everybody is entitled to charge what they want, and everybody is entitled to partake or not.

I think people misinterpreted me. No issue with artists charging for original sketches. It’s the signings. I’ve already purchased the book and supported the writer. I don’t see why I’m being charged to get it signed. From a business point of view I question it too because I think a good experience with a writer at a con is long time more valuable to a writer. I met Kelly Sue a con. I’m not a fan of the western genre but I gave Pretty Deadly a go because I’d liked DeConnick’s other work and I liked her when I met her because she was so nice that it encouraged me to give something a chance that’s not in my area of regular interest.

I think the same rules still hold - people are making a lot of money on signed books and photos as well, and it still costs money to get to a con.

More of the people who sign for photos and autographs are the celebrities.  In increasing cases now, they’re being brought in not by the con but a company that pays them a fee, plus a taste of the proceeds from the fees.  Again, people deserve to make a living, but I agree that the fees some are charging are, well, more than I’d pay, to be polite.

Having said that, a lot of creators/celebrities do signings for charity, at the CBLDF table or for various causes they support.