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Author
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Topic: Astronaut events: Without the autographs?
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rgarner
Member Posts: 1193
From: Shepperton, United Kingdom
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 06-08-2015 03:45 AM
   
Here is a question for you all: How would you feel about attending an astronaut event, but without the ability to get an autograph from the attending astronaut?You could get a photo, have dinner and lectures, etc. but no autographs. Would you pay for that? |
Rowland
Member Posts: 33
From: England, U.K.
Registered: Jul 2011
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posted 06-08-2015 05:25 AM
For me, the answer is yes although it does depend on who the astronaut is. I was actually having this discussion with a couple at Cosmic-Con just this weekend. For me the opportunity to meet, greet, shake hands and a minute chat with the astronaut is far more valuable and that happens with any GOOD photo-shoot opportunity. Perhaps make an autograph an optional extra though as I'm probably among the minority. |
JBoe
Member Posts: 960
From: Churchton, MD
Registered: Oct 2012
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posted 06-08-2015 06:59 AM
I really like your idea! Is this just for the UK? I think the no autograph wouldn't so much be an issue if you were allowed to have a photo with an astronaut. Besides, you could always send the photo to them for a potential autograph. I would think it would be more special.  |
18blue78
Member Posts: 126
From: UK
Registered: Aug 2013
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posted 06-08-2015 07:09 AM
The price would have to be right. Meeting astronauts, photo-shoots and attending lectures are all good in themselves but for me the highlight is getting an autograph on an image associated with an astronauts mission. So I would be reluctant to pay a large amount with no chance of an autograph.I know another event was toying with something similar (probably with the same astronaut you have in mind) but couldn't generate enough interest. But that was awhile ago so maybe your set up might have more success. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 06-08-2015 10:05 AM
I have. Explorers Club dinner. Eating exotics (look up a typical menu). Paid $250 to hear Armstrong speak in-person, as well as hear Clarke via satellite from Sri Lanka. Goldin and Cronkite were the other in-person guests.But that's the exception. While I have the attitude of, "If I can get an autograph, great," the expectation is at least there's a chance for one at the event. While somebody posted getting signatures at the Meet the Pilots event on the Intrepid, I shied away from the event because it stated no autographs. To me, the almost $75 to get there - bus fare, admission cost - would not have been worth it for no autographs or even a chance at them. With limited time and money, I have to choose what's the most bang for my buck, so to speak. |
p51
Member Posts: 1642
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 06-08-2015 11:03 AM
quote:
Originally posted by JBoe:
I think the no autograph wouldn't so much be an issue if you were allowed to have a photo with an astronaut.
I agree. A signature is a cool thing to have if you can get one, but it's not that big a deal for me. I've never paid for a signature in person and can't imagine me ever doing so.The autographs I have almost all are personalized, as I couldn't care less what happens to them after I'm gone. They aren't 'investments' to me as much as they are souvenirs of me meeting them. I'd rather have a photo of myself with the astronaut as that's proof you met them. I have few like that as usually they're being mobbed at the time when I encounter one. |
rgarner
Member Posts: 1193
From: Shepperton, United Kingdom
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 06-08-2015 01:47 PM
Thanks for that guys. So moving on given the feedback, what is the maximum you would be willing to pay for an autographless event, assuming it consists of a long lecture, photo shoot and evening meal?I know it would probably depends on who the astronaut is, but if you give me an idea of how much you would pay for Shuttle, Skylab, Apollo, etc. it would probably help! |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 06-08-2015 05:40 PM
Regardless of the nature of the event, and regardless of who is there, $75 is the most I'd pay.That was the most I did pay outside of the Explorers Club dinner, which was black tie. The $75 consisted of a lunch and a lecture at the Cradle of Aviation Museum. |
JBoe
Member Posts: 960
From: Churchton, MD
Registered: Oct 2012
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posted 06-08-2015 08:08 PM
quote:
Originally posted by p51:
I agree. A signature is a cool thing to have if you can get one, but it's not that big a deal for me...
I agree too. I'm more in the mindset that if I get an autograph that would be great, but if it doesn't happen that's okay too. There are collectors that "need" that one autograph for their collection, I understand that. However, I was never afforded the numerous opportunities I have now when I was a kid so I cherish these experiences and opportunities! As far as the pricing of the event I would leave that to the more knowledgeable cS members like Hart. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 06-08-2015 10:46 PM
I'm far from knowledgeable. I just vote with my wallet. For me personally anything approaching $100 is the tipping point where I would have to consider the likelihood of that person appearing again - especially now that I'd probably be buying two tickets. My days of spending $250 just on admission for a weekend at a Trek convention are long past. |
topmiler
Member Posts: 148
From: eastleigh, hampshire, UK
Registered: Jul 2012
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posted 06-09-2015 06:46 AM
Shuttle and Skylab, probably not.Apollo is my thing, $250. |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 06-09-2015 07:33 AM
This is a hard one price. Depends who; depends who you haven't already met; depends if its someone you'd like to meet again...Some of us paid a few hundred Euros to meet Armstrong and I would have paid that several times over; for other astronauts, not. Personally I'd be more than happy to pay £150 just to meet Borman, Collins or Schmitt - the three Apollo astronauts whom I haven't met. |
john ffoulkes
Member Posts: 146
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 06-09-2015 09:00 AM
Yes I would agree with that figure also for those three particular astronauts. |
18blue78
Member Posts: 126
From: UK
Registered: Aug 2013
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posted 06-09-2015 09:01 AM
For me I'm thinking no more then £80 broken down as; - £20 for the lecture
- £20 for the photo
- £40 for the meal (more if you included the booze.
 )
I'd also suggest the photo would have to be improved i.e. better quality of print, larger print, some sort of backdrop and maybe focus the image on head and upper torso instead of a full body shot. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 06-09-2015 09:14 AM
Can somebody post their official photos from the event on this thread? |
canyon42
Member Posts: 238
From: Ohio
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 06-09-2015 09:14 AM
No autograph wouldn't make the slightest difference in my case--never had any interest at all in autographs.As for pricing an event, it would depend a lot on proximity and convenience. If it was close enough to my hometown that I could just drive there and back, then $100 is probably reasonable for me. Obviously that changes if I have to factor in making lodging and travel arrangements. |
Robonaut
Member Posts: 259
From: Solihull, West Mids, England
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 06-09-2015 03:52 PM
Like gliderpilotuk I also attended the Armstrong event in Dublin spending a lot of money in the process knowing there was no autograph opportunity. I got a chance to speak to Armstrong and have my photograph taken. However, I doubt that I would do this again for any other astronaut where I knew there was no chance of an autograph. |
JasonIUP
Member Posts: 282
From: PA
Registered: Apr 2004
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posted 06-09-2015 04:22 PM
Is it a good practice to hire a speaker with the promise that they won't sign? That will push a Schmitt or Mattingly farther away from doing a signing again. For selfish reasons, and on behalf of people who need the "tough" signers, I hope promoters don't reward them for their autograph stances by paying a hefty fee for speaking only. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-09-2015 04:51 PM
Speaking without an expectation for an autograph is the norm, not the exception. Astronauts who have become professional speakers get paid to speak, not sign autographs, and they do so on a more regular basis than they appear at autograph shows or book signings.So I don't think you need to worry about swaying any astronauts' opinions if another event without autographs is booked. |
JasonIUP
Member Posts: 282
From: PA
Registered: Apr 2004
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posted 06-09-2015 09:59 PM
My comment focused on the decision to put money into a non-signing speaker or a signing speaker where the guests a Space collectors. Buzz Aldrin speaking at a three-day seminar about exploring Mars is not what I'm talking about. Charlie Duke speaking on a religious topic is not what I'm talking about. Hiring Harrison Schmitt to speak about his Apollo stories at an event where autographs usually are involved is what I'm talking about. I don't encourage the tradition to be ignored to fit Schmitt's (or Anders, etc.) quirks; the money should go to someone else. That's where I stand... |
moonnut
Member Posts: 248
From: Andover, MN
Registered: Apr 2013
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posted 06-09-2015 11:29 PM
If this thread does in fact involve Schmitt, there may be compromise. I was at an event about a year and a half ago with Dr. Schmitt and he signed. Although it was his book Return to the Moon. Just had to pay $25 for the book at the event. He was more than willing to sign his book and absolutely approachable, a very down to earth guy. So, couldn't he speak and then sell his book again and sign them and have a pic taken? He is a very fascinating speaker, by the way... |
Robonaut
Member Posts: 259
From: Solihull, West Mids, England
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 06-10-2015 02:14 AM
I have a number of astronaut autographed books that have been authored by them but they are not the main focus of my collection. It is a single book signed by many. Anything else is a bonus and I am always happy if my book is signed.It is unlikely that I would attend an expensive event where the astronaut limited his signing to his book. For some collectors it is a photograph that is their focus and they may also choose to give a book signing a miss where the cost was high. |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 06-10-2015 09:43 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Robonaut:
...the main focus of my collection. It is a single book signed by many.
Like this do you mean? |
p51
Member Posts: 1642
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 06-10-2015 11:15 AM
So, several of you would rather an astronaut NOT speak at an event if it meant you wouldn't get an autograph from them?Man, that's all kinds of sad that people feel that way. If it meant I'd never hear them speak otherwise, I'd be just fine with no astronauts ever signing anything, ever again. These guys won't live forever and it scares me that anyone who considers himself/herself as a fan of the space program would rather they don't speak because they won't get an autograph... |
cycleroadie
Member Posts: 452
From: Apalachin, NY USA
Registered: May 2011
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posted 06-10-2015 11:33 AM
quote:
Originally posted by p51:
So, several of you would rather an astronaut NOT speak at an event if it meant you wouldn't get an autograph from them?
I don't think that is what they are saying, they are saying they wouldn't pay a LARGE fee just to hear them speak and not get an autograph. I think if the fee is reasonable, they would still attend. That's my take on the conversation anyway. |
p51
Member Posts: 1642
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 06-10-2015 01:25 PM
quote:
Originally posted by cycleroadie:
I don't think that is what they are saying...
Sure seems to me that this quote is advocating not having an astronaut come at if it means that people can't get their precious autographs... quote:
Originally posted by JasonIUP:
For selfish reasons, and on behalf of people who need the "tough" signers, I hope promoters don't reward them for their autograph stances by paying a hefty fee for speaking only.
Robert, earlier, explained it well in that for professional speakers, it's quite common to not get autographs afterward. You see it very often in political circles. |
Kite
Member Posts: 831
From: Northampton UK
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 06-10-2015 02:11 PM
My reason for seeing astronauts, or cosmonauts, is to either hear them speak, meet them and talk and if not too expensive get a signature if possible. It's a privilege I never expected years ago so I feel so lucky to have met as many as I have, so a big thank you to all those organisers who make this possible. If they give a lecture with no signature that's fine with me and if they do it's a bonus. I am not against paying quite a big fee to see any of the top people speak as it is their own story of their career and life I want to hear. To meet and shake their hand is a honour. |
rgarner
Member Posts: 1193
From: Shepperton, United Kingdom
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 06-12-2015 03:41 AM
Okay, a lot of interesting positions here - thanks guys. |
DSeuss5490
Member Posts: 299
From: Columbus, Ohio USA
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 06-12-2015 08:31 AM
I was at an event just down the road from my house on Wednesday evening where John Glenn was interviewed by Charlie Rose. He spoke of his great friendship with Neil Armstrong and how not a day passes that he doesnt think of him, how he hated the movie "The Right Stuff" and of all the presidents he got to know personally Bill Clinton was his favorite. While he is certainly showing his age, he is still sharp as a tack! After the interview people were invited on stage for a photo with John and Annie Glenn. It was a thrill just to meet him and shake his hand. |
Wehaveliftoff
Member Posts: 2343
From:
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 06-16-2015 06:52 PM
NOT a rats chance in hell! |
schnappsicle
Member Posts: 396
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted 07-10-2015 02:07 PM
I've heard John Young speak twice at JSC for free. As a speaker, he's rather dry and unexciting. That doesn't take away from his incredible knowledge. Its more a statement on his shyness. He definitely did not look or sound comfortable either time I saw him. Even so, I was in total awe the entire time. I didn't want it to end.Both encounters were by pure chance. I happened to be visiting JSC and walked into the auditorium and there he was. I never got an autograph at either of those appearances. The first time I saw him, he was in training for STS-1. He gave his speech and made a hasty exit out of the building. I tried to get close enough for an autograph, but was turned away by JSC security guards who said he was too busy to sign that day. The second time, in the early 90's, the same thing happened. He wasn't preparing for a mission that I know of, but he was whisked away by several JSC security guards following his talk. I use Young as an example because he is my only point of reference. Was I disappointed in not getting a chance to get an autograph? Definitely. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. The memory of being there listening to him speak is something I'll treasure forever, even if I have nothing physically to share from those experiences. I bought several autographed Young photos over the last 10 years or so. So my hunger for a Young autograph has been satisfied. The question remains, would I pay to hear an astronaut speak today? Unless he or she is someone very special, I'd have to say probably not. I'd much rather read a book or watch a YouTube video of one of their speeches than pay to hear them speak. For me, it's a matter of value. I hate spending money on something without getting something tangible in return. |
Mike_The_First
Member Posts: 436
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 07-19-2015 02:23 PM
I traveled about an hour and paid about $10 or so to meet Harrison Schmitt at a minor league baseball game in Kansas City several years ago.He answered every question I had, took a few photos with me, and was all around great — but no autographs. I was a bit bummed at the time (and might still be if I wasn't able to pick up a signed book at list price a month or two later), but I never once felt that it wasn't worth it (the monetary cost being minimal and outweighed by the time). I'd do the same for any other pre-shuttle era astronaut or controller, likely willing to pay more depending on the nature of the event and the name, but it would definitely depend on the nature of the event. I'd pay more if I can get a chance to at least "mingle" and shake their hand (and hopefully get a quick picture with them) than if I'd only just get to hear them speak. Honestly, after all the TV specials and documentaries and memoirs, for a lot of the ones giving those talks, it's fairly easy to predict what's going to be said. I've actually passed on two events where Captain Lovell was giving a talk that I could have attended free of charge because I never could have gotten anywhere near him, so the benefit, to me, was outweighed by the travel time and expenses. |
Apollo14LMP
Member Posts: 291
From: UK
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 07-19-2015 05:25 PM
I would... Neil Armstrong - Dublin 2003 - No autographs but a photo worth its weight in gold, same would apply with any other — photograph is key for me these days... Schmitt would be good even if no autograph, photo would be a must though. |
moonnut
Member Posts: 248
From: Andover, MN
Registered: Apr 2013
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posted 07-19-2015 05:41 PM
A couple years ago I traveled our hours to Des Moines, Iowa to see Gene Cernan talk. I fully knew that he would not sign, but really just wanted to hear him speak of his experiences. As a bonus, cause I didn't know he would be doing it, I was able to get a picture with him and shake his hand. As I was getting a pic, I asked him a question about Apollo X and he was fully receptive to answering. In fact, he was going into quite the detail when the attendant quite abruptly interrupted and told me to keep moving. Mr. Cernan looked kinda annoyed by her, so then I just shook his hand and thanked him for his contribution to space exploration and moved on. Ended on a sour note, but all in all I wouldn't trade the experience. So I drove four hours each way, spent $60 in gas, almost died getting there (hit a patch of ice at 65 mph and went sideways on the highway, thought I was gonna die, lol) and didn't get an autograph, all to hear him speak for one hour. You know what, I would do it again!! |
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