Autographs

I would never sell autographs. That's so far from why I get them. I can't quite pin why I get them. Part of it is to remember the moment...I have a bad memory and items help me...I don't like to lose the detail in the memory...also it gives me a "reason" to approach the person, because I'm too chickenshit to do so to just talk to them. And it's especially meaningful to me if it isn't just them signing their name...if it's them actually writing something to ME because they engage me as an individual and not just the next fan in line.

And even the ones I didn't get in person...it just gives me warm fuzzies to think that someone I admire had contact with the item to sign it. It's stupid but it means something to me. I am such an insignificant person in general that it gives me tiny feelings of significance when I look at the autographs.

I only have two autographs, but they are SO important to me!

1. all the guys in Rustic Overtones signed one of their shirts (yes the drummer took off his shirt to give to me) mmmmcuteboysweatincrustedsignedmemorabilia... I used to baby sit for the drummers little brother.

2. the dudes in Paranoid Social Club (my strongest obsession) signed their fist realease for me YAY!

both somewhat local bands, but its not how much the things would be worth that makes them so precious to me. ooo fun fact... Rustic Overtones did some work with david bowie, he did some back ground vocals in thir last album. yay!

 

I saw Rustic Overtones open for They Might Be Giants back in October of 1999.  Any band with a horn section is okay in my book. :)

I've never understood it either. *shrugs*

It's not like the signature of someone is "magic" or anything. Sheesh. They're just people.

they are people I admire and so them taking time to do something for me is special. its nice to have that kind of attention when otherwise you are fogettable and invisable, shame on tot for not understanding. *mock glare*

:-)

I usually try to stay away from asking for autographs.  I think it can be a hassle if it is too much.  You see all these people stalking their favorite celebs with paper and a sharpie, saying "It's for my son/daughter" then they turn around and sell it on EBay.  It just irks me.

There are a few exceptions.  When a band is doing an in-store where they will have a signing session afterwards, then I'll usually get stuff signed.  And usually it is for other people.  At one TMBG in-store, I got three No! CDs signed for three different people, sending them all over the country.

Another thing I like doing is the whole "yearbook" style.  I have a McSweeney's book, the one with TMBG on it, and I decided to bring it to the Sept. 10th, 2001 in-store.  While I was waiting outside, I got all the fans outside to sign it.  Then I got the Johns to sign it.  Now it has become my TMBG signing book, with LOTS of fans signing it.  A much better memory for me.

I do need to get EFO to sign my EFO songbook though.  I ut so much work into it that this is a must.  I may decide to wait the couple of hours in the signature line at Falcon Ridge to get this accomplished.

Of course, there is the one moment from Frucon 5 when someone asked ME to sign THEIR newly purchased Professor Plum CD, when I said:

"Not now, I'm busy being a rock star."

All my autographs are from Toronto musicians. Sometimes it's just an icebreaker to go up and engage them in converstation which can lead to really interesting talks. I have some from musicians I've gotten to know which I either usually get 'cause it makes them laugh or just to bug them. *g*

I'm so glad to get such a big response to this. I was really wondering about it. I don't think I'll ever tire of hearing peoples opinions, how they view the world. It's amazing to me how differently people see things than I do. For years I assumed my opinion was the majority opinion, clearly it's not in many things. :^)