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  Spacefest VII, June 2016, Starr Pass (Tucson, AZ) (Page 4)

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Author Topic:   Spacefest VII, June 2016, Starr Pass (Tucson, AZ)
milkit1
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posted 05-13-2016 08:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for milkit1   Click Here to Email milkit1     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by NovaRob:
Cernan raised his base fee to $500. We apologize for having it wrong when we posted the fees yesterday.
That's okay, not your fault. I had six things to get signed, five of which are not worth paying $500 plus $20 per word.

Where I was going to spend about $2k for the six items with 5-10 word inscriptions I'm now going to just be getting one item at about $700. Does eliminate an entire suitcase for me at least.

Lightyear69
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posted 05-14-2016 04:34 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Lightyear69   Click Here to Email Lightyear69     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by NovaRob:
Cernan raised his base fee to $500...
WOW! The current publicity bearing fruit!

This changes my plan - Overall, fewer items...

gareth89
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posted 05-14-2016 06:17 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for gareth89   Click Here to Email gareth89     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Forget about breaking the piggy bank, get your masks out, it's bank robbing time!

rgarner
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posted 05-14-2016 06:55 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for rgarner   Click Here to Email rgarner     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
When these men are gone, and one day they will be, I think everyone will appreciate what a good deal $500 really is.

Personally I pay for the experience, the autograph is just a bonus. A good old handshake is what I'm after!

David C
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posted 05-14-2016 09:05 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for David C     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
So does the absense of fees for Garan and Stott mean they won't be signing?

JasonIUP
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posted 05-14-2016 11:16 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for JasonIUP   Click Here to Email JasonIUP     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I think Cernan's fee increase will cause him to walk away with less money than he would have if he charged $300 or less.

milkit1
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posted 05-14-2016 12:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for milkit1   Click Here to Email milkit1     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I agree 100%.

jiffyq58
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posted 05-14-2016 02:03 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jiffyq58   Click Here to Email jiffyq58     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Yeah. Gene is certainly free to charge what he wants, and what he thinks the market will bear, but this is a huge jump. It sure complicates what I was planning to do.

jtheoret
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posted 05-14-2016 03:43 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jtheoret   Click Here to Email jtheoret     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I think Gene is a great guy, and I am fortunate to have met him many times and get a number of things signed previously. I was thinking about a couple this time, but not any longer unfortunately. Not sure I agree that $500 for Cernan will ever be a good deal all things considered.

Lev M
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posted 05-14-2016 05:14 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Lev M   Click Here to Email Lev M     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Same thing here. I was planning to get a couple of items to sign but not anymore. I am bringing more family members this time so hopefully a handshake and a photo with my kids will still be possible.

JasonIUP
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posted 05-15-2016 08:17 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for JasonIUP   Click Here to Email JasonIUP     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'll make a prediction: Friday will not go as well as planned for Gene. On Saturday, he'll be at $300. If you need him, I recommend bringing your stuff. And plan to be there on Saturday.

milkit1
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posted 05-15-2016 08:21 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for milkit1   Click Here to Email milkit1     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I hope your right but I haven't been privy to an astronaut lowering his price by that much before. My guess is that he has seen Aldrin getting as much as he is getting but who knows.

JasonIUP
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posted 05-15-2016 08:55 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for JasonIUP   Click Here to Email JasonIUP     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I remember, or at least I think I remember, that Gene went from $175 a few years ago at one show to $300 at the next show to $175 at the following show. My memory may be off, but I believe he lowered his price after raising it. If he stays at $500, remember some that some of your best deals are the ones you DON'T make.

alanh_7
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posted 05-15-2016 09:29 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for alanh_7   Click Here to Email alanh_7     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Jason, it was 175.00 a few years back at another show. I remember at the time thinking "Wow 175.00!" when he signed a print I have by Ron Woods.

Now I am thinking of those as the gold old days.

jtheoret
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posted 05-15-2016 01:06 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jtheoret   Click Here to Email jtheoret     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Yeah, the days of through the mail, then $50, then $100, $150 or $200 are long gone. Even when Gene was $300 I could be okay with it because he wrote great inscriptions, but the new fee plus $20/word is too rich when you can find a lot out there for under $200. If I had never met him in person I'm sure I might feel different (honestly, I am a bit disappointed because I really wanted a couple of things signed) and the opportunity to talk with him and get a photo might make it worth it for some. I'm just glad I was around early enough to get the collection/memories I have.

I feel the same about Buzz by the way, I never got anything signed by him after he made the huge jump a few years back. I feel for the new folks having to choose between Cernan, Collins, Scott, Lovell — just getting those four with a five word inscription from three of them you're looking at $1650 for four autographs. Not to take away from these guys and Spacefest and other shows, they are fantastic, just not sure how many people with kids can afford that. I will be interested to see the lines this year.

gareth89
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posted 05-15-2016 01:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for gareth89   Click Here to Email gareth89     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Bit of a change of pace... Who all are you looking forward to meeting the most at Spacefest and why? Coming from Ireland this will be my first time in the states and the first time I'll have the opportunity to meet a lot of these legends other than at a couple of shows in the UK. (Big shout out to the Space Lectures and Autographica teams!)

I can't wait wait to meet Mike Collins (personal hero of mine, I got his book when I was 13, it is literally bound together with duct tape today as I've read it so many times!). I'm also really looking forward to shaking Charlie Duke's hand and hopefully questioning Walt Cunningham on a few aspects of the Apollo 7 flight and the "mutiny."

I'm also really looking forward to meeting Amy Shira Teitel, I'm almost finished reading her book and have been following her blog for the past year. I also can't wait to hear Leslie Young speak about the New Horizons program.

So much to look forward to!! What are everyone else's thoughts?

JasonB
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posted 05-15-2016 01:27 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for JasonB   Click Here to Email JasonB     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I would have preferred Cernan to stay at $300 but after seeing what he had to write at ASF 2014 I said then that I figured he would start charging per word. I got a 27 word inscription and I saw far more than that on some others.

He won't be lowering his price from one day to another. Whatever his price is the first day, it will be the same the next. Hopefully he changes his mind and lowers it before the show but I doubt it.

The real issue is the fact that all three Apollo 9 guys have completion fees and there's no way to know if all three will charge it til I get there. There's simply no way I could or would pay that. I guess I have to just hope they don't til the last guy.

dave sixsmith
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posted 05-15-2016 01:50 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for dave sixsmith   Click Here to Email dave sixsmith     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Had a photo printed for the Space Lectures event in the UK, which Cernan had to cancel due to illness so I thought well I'll get it done at Spacefest.

Looks like it's going to remain unsigned.

DChudwin
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posted 05-15-2016 03:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for DChudwin   Click Here to Email DChudwin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
One of the reasons that astronauts raise their fees is to reduce demand for their signatures. This may backfire on Gene Cernan because the fee increase is so drastic that he may see too little business.

I was going to get two items signed, and now maybe only one, if that. I think he may have gotten some bad advice on the fee increase, because he is a good guy.

David C
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posted 05-15-2016 04:06 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for David C     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by JasonB:
I got a 27 word inscription and I saw far more than that on some others.

What I saw were some people, particularly dealers, taking advantage of Cernan's generosity - trying to make a buck out of him by getting large numbers of identical prints signed with identical very long inscriptions. A production line if you like. Not unlike the jokers that abused Armstrong's good nature, such selfish people eventually ruin things for ordinary folk.

You know who you are.

YankeeClipper
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posted 05-15-2016 05:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for YankeeClipper   Click Here to Email YankeeClipper     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
In June 2012, at Spacefest IV in Tucson, Gene's base fee was USD $200.

Five months later in November 2012, at the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation's Fifth Annual Astronaut Autograph & Memorabilia Show Weekend at Kennedy Space Center, Gene's base fee had increased to USD $300.

I recall at the show that that increase, at that time, seemed to have an adverse effect on footfall at his table, possibly leading to a rethink on future pricing.

By May 2013, at Spacefest V in Tucson, Gene's base fee was back at USD $200.

In September 2013, at Autographica 19 in Bermingham UK, Gene's base fee was GBP 100.

Factors behind an increase to USD $500 may include a raised profile from the Last Man on the Moon film, status as a moonwalker and two-time lunar voyager, being Buzz's equal, age and health, likely future attendance at shows, a desire for similar financial return for less stress etc. They are very valid and understandable reasons.

On the flip side, I previously calculated that overseas visitors at Spacefest drop USD $2000 just to set foot in the door, when international flights, hotel, hire car, meals and basic entrance fees are included.

USD $500 is a big ask, and it will be interesting to see how that plays out. Personally, I think history may repeat itself as in 2012 and drive footfall to other astronauts. Weighing all the factors, USD $350 base fee might be a compromise position that may not deter as many folks.

JasonIUP
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posted 05-15-2016 06:24 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for JasonIUP   Click Here to Email JasonIUP     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by David C:
What I saw were some people, particularly dealers, taking advantage of Cernan's generosity...

David - two responses:

  1. Regarding people "abusing" Cernan's "generosity": If someone paid what Cernan asked for the job agreed to, how do you know that Cernan was the abusee rather than the abuser? Taking a pen and writing inscriptions, and then going home with thousands of dollars as a result is probably not a sign of Gene's generosity being abused.

    Armstrong was an entirely different story for two reasons: he signed for free, and people duped him into doing quantities. I can see where people abused his generosity.

  2. You dislike production lines. Are you opposed to a private signing where a guy walks into a room of hundreds or thousands of items and sits down and signs them all? You may be aware that promoters do exactly that, sometimes with astronauts! Some signers prefer it that way so they can avoid the same people who say they want to avoid abusing the signers.

David C
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posted 05-15-2016 06:33 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for David C     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
By generosity I was referring to Cernan adding inscriptions for free, unlike many other Apollo astronauts. Not sure how you can suggest from a commercial transaction that he was "an abuser".

I'm opposed to production lines at public events, they belong to private arrangements.

SteveG
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posted 05-15-2016 06:49 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SteveG   Click Here to Email SteveG     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
If I had the chance to do the Spacefest mail order in private for the last 6-7 times around, I'd gladly take it. I realize that I hold up the line but I try to be so efficient that it wont put anyone out.

milkit1
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posted 05-15-2016 07:00 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for milkit1   Click Here to Email milkit1     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I considered Cernan's increase to $300 part of the deal of getting whatever inscriptions you want so I wouldn't call it "free inscriptions" by any means. I just don't think he realized the can of worms there when people start asking for 50+ word inscriptions.

I personally like Jim McDivitt's inscription policy: $5 per word for verbose" which I assume means free inscriptions unless you ask for "more words than needed (part of the definition of "'verbose.'"

albatron
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posted 05-15-2016 07:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for albatron   Click Here to Email albatron     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by JasonB:
The real issue is the fact that all three Apollo 9 guys have completion fees and there's no way to know if all three will charge it til I get there.
A completion fee is for the final signature of the crew. These are not uncommon charges and in fact, the Apollo 9 completion fees are below standard. The key is get the first two, then add the cheapest third one.

I've had discussion with all of these astronauts in regards to their fees, and believe me, they listened and while they seem high, are lower than what they originally wanted to do.

As indicated, Rusty stated he will probably never do another show, and his fee is amongst the most reasonable to begin with.

As we've stated before, these guys are not getting any younger and you'll see more and more drop by the side.

albatron
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posted 05-15-2016 07:57 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for albatron   Click Here to Email albatron     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Finally let me address the fees in general starting with Cernan:

You first have to realize these guys set their own fees, I can recommend and in a few cases, they actually do listen. For example, Jack Lousma actually reduced his fee $10. Yes, I realize it's only $10 but it sure beats a major increase. Of course it would affect his traffic, but if you needed him it certainly beats the alternative. And I appreciate him recognizing the fee structures and doing a small bit to help.

I managed to keep a few of them the same, or down to a reasonable fee.

In Cernan's case, we had no input whatsoever. I did speak to someone involved with him over the weekend, and it has nothing to do with a higher visibility as some suggest, or something negative as others suggest. It is simply because his health precludes him from a lot of actual signing so he feels it discourages long lines.

Yes he's been VERY generous with inscriptions over the years. Even at $300 a pop to add lengthy inscriptions as he did was certainly well above and beyond his fee - he owed that to no one.

That we think it's expensive, is not business and make no mistake, this is business. So we should all be very appreciative of his willingness to have gone above and beyond over the years.

You will see more of these guys starting to be forthright about inscription fees this year as opposed to the past. Some of them were very generous and would write paragraphs for free. It was abused, purely and simply. One customer with one astronaut last Spacefest actually got furious when the astronaut decided enough and declined to continue to add lengthy inscriptions (note: after five pieces already with several more to go). The furious customer did not even offer to add a fee and in fact stated he would not.

Bad behavior gets around folks. I know most of you guys would never do it, but this is the reasons behind some of these things and is the reason for this.

Cernan's fee is too much for my pocketbook as I'm sure it is for many of you. Do I wish he'd go less? Of course, but we at Spacefest have no control over it. And remember, it's not due to any negative connotation, it's because it's getting increasingly difficult for him to sign.

I too thought it might price himself out of the market but let's see. When Buzz went from $150 to $250 I swore it would kill him. When he went to $450 I opined he'd be toast. Yet, each year he's had one of the longest lines.

Will Cernan do the same? I dunno, but at these guys ages, I'm just thrilled they're healthy enough to show up.

It's fine to not like his or any of their fees, and I most certainly understand that, but please, some of these guys read these comments or have friends who do and report them back to them. Let's not be behind them not doing any more shows with OUR bad behavior.

milkit1
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posted 05-15-2016 08:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for milkit1   Click Here to Email milkit1     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I havent seen any bad behavior on here regarding the price increase. Just disappointment.

With less than three weeks left til the show I had to budget this show six months ago in order to save the money to make this trip. I then purchased the times I wanted signed over the last two months to ensure I would have it on time. Now I have hundreds of dollars into items that I can no longer afford to get signed.

I'll be fine either way but it's no less disappointing news and does suck a lot of the fun out of being a collector.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 05-15-2016 10:13 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by milkit1:
I haven't seen any bad behavior on here regarding the price increase.
That's because I have edited/removed the most egregious instances...

moonnut
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posted 05-15-2016 10:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for moonnut   Click Here to Email moonnut     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I will say Gene Cernan is an amazingly wonderful individual. I met him in Iowa over a year ago. I didn't get an autograph cause he wasn't signing, but did get a handshake, picture and question answered. He genuinely enjoyed talking about his experiences with enthusiasm.

People that do get his autograph at Spacefest will be treated to an experience they won't soon forget. If green paper is worth more than that experience... I'm sorry. We can always work harder and get more green paper but we won't always have the chance to engage with such a charismatic and passionate individual.

neo1022
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posted 05-15-2016 11:11 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for neo1022   Click Here to Email neo1022     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Wow, this is a tough crowd! I agree that Cernan's new fee is probably too high, and will likely discourage many people from having items signed. But then again, according to Al, that is precisely the goal -- owing to health issues, he wants to minimize the amount of signing at the show. Fair enough. At least he's coming and making himself available, and is willing to sign whatever you've got, if you're willing to pay the price.

It's also worth remembering that he's one of the very few astronauts -- perhaps the only one now? -- who still signs his book at no charge through the mail. And he's always been very generous with inscriptions.

Really hard to knock a guy who continues to "give" more than most, even if he is raising his "custom signing" prices...

Rick Mulheirn
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posted 05-16-2016 03:46 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Rick Mulheirn   Click Here to Email Rick Mulheirn     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
While I can empathize with the disappointment at Gene's signing fee, all of those attending can consider themselves lucky Gene is there at all.

Al's insight serves only to re-inforce my own experiences of the Cernan/Stafford Space Lectures event of April last.

Gene's well being would be better served staying at home the weekend of Spacefest and he is more than entitled to a little slack.

YankeeClipper
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posted 05-16-2016 06:00 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for YankeeClipper   Click Here to Email YankeeClipper     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Rick is correct. If you're looking to meet a particular astronaut at a show, you breathe a sigh of relief when you actually see that they have arrived at the venue. Until then, experience has taught me to be prepared for cancellation and disappointment. As an example, it took me three shows to finally meet Scott Carpenter after two cancellations.

And I perfectly understand Gene wishing to deter long lines, multiple items, and a heavy workload.

The USD $500 base fee and $20/word is at a price point, however, that not just deters but will eliminate a lot of space fans interested in getting one single item signed as a memento of the meeting experience. For example, a book with a simple two word inscription would cost the book price plus $500 plus $40. That's just too much for most people now.

I've been there when the guy in front of an astronaut is running an assembly line of stuff for signing, and it is pretty inconsiderate to say the least. Many times I have had to walk away and come back later.

There are other mechanisms to deter this behaviour, however, not just through price. For example, an astronaut could implement a two item maximum policy. Base fee could be lowered and inscriptions made $50/word, or a 10 word inscription limit imposed, or no inscriptions allowed at all. A real fan will respect the policy and not try to abuse it or circumvent it.

The average space fan that I've seen and met at shows is usually only interested in and can afford one to two signatures from any given astronaut, and is NOT looking to flip the item for a fast buck on eBay. I'm sensing a lot of resistance to $500 because it is ruling out even one signature for many folks. That's what is so disappointing.

It may prove counter-productive as people will still seek the meeting experience with a very popular astronaut, but won't necessarily want to pay for an autograph. That may mean less revenue for Gene, for more or less the same workload.

I still think there's time for a compromise position on base fee that will allow most people return home with a single treasured signed memento.

capoetc
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posted 05-16-2016 09:22 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for capoetc   Click Here to Email capoetc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It sounds as though Gene will still sign his book for free, at least through the mail, so budget-minded collectors who would like to have his book signed and inscribed to them can still do so.

I am unsure if that policy will be in place at the show, but you could send it before or after the show. I cannot speak for anyone but myself, but I do not think the signing fee is intended to generate more revenue, but simply to reduce the workload.

Even a one-or-two-per-customer policy would not work, as evidenced by a certain collector and author who infamously enlisted spectators at each hole on a golf course where Neil Armstrong was playing. He gave them each two photos/lithos of Armstrong, explaining that if they got them signed they would give one back to him and keep one for themselves (thus, in my view, taking unfair advantage of Armstrong's generosity to amass a huge collection of Armstrong signed pieces).

At a low enough price with a limit, dealers would just get show attendees to get autographs from Cernan for them. Increasing the signing price is the only way to limit the workload, I think.

rgarner
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posted 05-16-2016 09:37 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for rgarner   Click Here to Email rgarner     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It surprises me to hear the lengths some people will go to. Hearing this I can't say I blame Armstrong for his decision to stop signing.

stsmithva
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posted 05-16-2016 12:38 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for stsmithva   Click Here to Email stsmithva     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I can understand the disappointment of people who now find they can't afford even a single signed item... but I'll join those expressing thanks that Cernan still signs his book for free through the mail.

My son and daughter are just seven and five years old now, but in ten years or so I'll be able to give them for Christmas the matching books I have stashed away. Each is personalized with their full names (that is, including the middle name - maybe others with the last name "Smith" tend to ask for that); and without my asking he inscribed each with a note encouraging curiosity and adventure.

YankeeClipper
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posted 05-16-2016 01:15 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for YankeeClipper   Click Here to Email YankeeClipper     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This isn't about Neil or Gene signing for free, nor through the mail, nor on a golf course.

Spacefest is an in-person experience, in an already controlled environment, based around the premise of paid autographs. Controlling access and/or limiting workload further for an astronaut is entirely possible.

Example scenario: Base Fee $350, one signature per person on production of photo ID (passport/drivers license), no inscriptions. Have an efficient assistant use an Excel spreadsheet on a laptop to record your last name, first name, date of birth, hometown, photo ID number. Delete the data at the end of the show.

As it currently stands, for $500 you could get at least two other moonwalkers' autographs as a memento and two movies.

You do the math...

schnappsicle
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posted 05-16-2016 01:24 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for schnappsicle   Click Here to Email schnappsicle     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Every year in the weeks before a Spacefest, people complain about the rising prices. As far as I'm concerned, these guys (and women) laid down their lives for us as Americans and for the country they love and served. In my eyes, they deserve far more than the few hundred dollars we give them each time we ask for their autograph on something.

Granted, not everyone can afford to pay the signing fees. My answer to them is Buzz Aldrin. He charges $600 for his autograph, but anyone can easily find his signed photos in the secondary market for $350 or so. Cernan's are still available for $300, well below his current signing fee. You may not get exactly what you want, but you will get a genuine autograph from a genuine American hero.

I wish there was an easy answer to this problem, but I'm afraid there isn't. My first thought was a "normal price" for any single item, then an increase for every item after that. If that were the case, people would just get one item signed and move to the back of the line for the next one. People will always try to cheat whatever system the astronaut conceives, especially the dealers.

The problem I see is, not everyone who gets multiples is a dealer. At the Spacefest 2 years ago, I got Alan Bean to sign about six photos. Again, I'm not a dealer, I'm a collector. I got him to sign them because they were photos I've always wanted with his signature on them.

The same with Borman and Lovell. At their most recent Novaspace signing, I got nine pieces signed by both. The reason I did that was not to sell any of them. The reason I did it was because I like all those pictures and I've always wanted to have them autographed. That, and I couldn't bring myself to narrowing down my selection to just a few. I hang three or four on my wall at any one time and rotate them out as I see fit. Will I sell them someday? I'm sure I'll have to, but I honestly hope not.

My other thought was to charge more to sign a larger photo because more can be written on it. In the end, a simple per word fee seems to work best. I don't think it's unreasonable for them to ask us to pay for what they're giving us.

I can't remember how many Cernan's I have, but I got my first five for free through the mail in the early 70's. The way I look at it, I don't mind paying more now because I paid nothing back then. I appreciate his generosity then and now, and he's a load of fun to talk to.

As for inscriptions, I have two Cernan pans with very long inscriptions on them. I also have about a dozen 8x10s with just his name on it. I must admit, I felt like he was giving me a bonus when I got him to write the long inscriptions. To his credit, he was happy to do so. I knew at the time that those would sell for far more than what I paid for them, but I wasn't looking at it in those terms. All I saw was how great the photos would look hanging on my wall.

NovaRob
Member

Posts: 242
From: Tucson, Arizona, USA
Registered: Nov 2008

posted 05-16-2016 04:33 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for NovaRob   Click Here to Email NovaRob     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
In answer to a question near the top of this page, we have now posted Nicole Stott's fee at $25, being donated to charity. At this moment Ron Garan is not sure of his schedule, other than his WorldView/Paragon talk, so he is not sure if he will be available for signing.

Blackarrow
Member

Posts: 3120
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 05-16-2016 04:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Blackarrow     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Having read the above posts, I warmly remember my most recent meeting with Gene Cernan, on the last day of Spacefest 2014 at Pasadena, as the event was coming to an end. I met him among the exhibits and exchanged a few words, with a firm handshake. He must have spoken to hundreds of people and exchanged hundreds of handshakes, but perhaps he recognized from my accent that I had come further than most to attend the event. If I never meet Gene Cernan again, I will remember that brief encounter with the commander of Apollo 17 and I will value that handshake above a signature.


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