LET’s TALK ABOUT AUTOGRAPH SIGNINGS
- 03/06/2009 (1:32:04 pm)
- Georgiann Makropoulos
Letter from a fan and yours truly.
Hello I have been reading the Wrestling Figs site for a few years now because its great to see pictures of the wrestlers autograph signings and catch up on figure news.
However Georgie I need to vent a little bit here as it relates to some of your readers complaining about autograph signings. Feel free to publish this open letter as well as a way to see both sides of the story.
Dear readers of Wrestling Figs and more specifically the fans that attend autograph signings of the wrestlers. I have been reading this site for quite some time now and it seems that over the past several years and the many signings that have taken place there is a 50/50 split of with some people being happy and some people being upset about an autograph signing. I would first like to say that if some shady promoter put together an autograph signing event in a unorganized and messy fashion, I can totally understand you being bitter about that. I would like to say though that you should really understand just how much a WWE Wrestler gives back to the fans and how busy there life is. They are celebrities. The second they leave there house to do things like you and I do everyday like food shopping, or going to the gas station or driving to work, they get noticed. The unofficial autograph session is 24/7 365. Fans coming up to them while they are trying to eat, trying to shop, trying to drive, trying to just about anything in public when they are "off the clock" they are signing autographs and dealing with fans.
Now thats one of there few days off.
The real "fun" begins when they have to return back to work ...on the road..which puts them more in the public eys. Alot of Fans know which Airline they are flying and meet them there for autographs. They know which Hotels they are staying at and meet them there for autographs. They know which gyms they work out at and meet them there for autographs. Pictures to, did I mention that more often then not Fans will have there camera ready to ask the wrestler to pose for a picture to go along with the autograph. Work in the actual ring hasnt event begun yet and the wrestler has already signed hundreds of autographs and taken hundreds of pictures. Throw in wintry travel conditions with snow and icy roads that they have to drive thru to make it to the arena and back to the airport. All those pictures and autographs were signed and taken just on the go on the way to work, back from work, and in public BUT the wrestlers still make themselves available with the precious little free time they have to meet you people for an official autograph signing when they could be in the comofort of there own home withe there own family. Not any form of sport or entertainment makes there employees more available and accesible to fans then the WWE does.
I read some people on here say this wrestler wasnt in the best of moods or this wrestler didnt slap me high five. Well you know something? Give them a break. Seriously. They encounter literally thousands upon thousands of fans who want autographs and pictures taken at all times, they do there best to make sure people get what they want but can you really blame them if they are a little grouchy from time to time, if there not in the best of moods when you see them can you consider maybe they are missing there family at home or simply not feeling well and maybe just tired that day? Have some consideration is all I am asking.
They lead EXTREMELY busy lives and have a very HECTIC work schedule and they are only human like you and I are. Some days we are tired, or grumpy, or just dont feel well and thats from just basic day to day stuff, WWE Wrestlers literally travel all over the world and are away from there own homes and familys for lenghthy period of times. Just remember they are human beings like you and I are and have some consideration for that fact.
The WWE is perhaps the most fan friendly company ever. Just imagine how busy all the wrestlers are gonna be come Wrestlemania Weekend at Fan Axxess. It is a very tiring job, and sometimes a thankless job.
I hope this message will reach just a few people who might have complained that this wrestler or that wrestler wasnt in the best of moods when they met them at the airport or outside the hotel lobby and understand they are only human like you and I , except they have a very different job.
Dear readers of Wrestling Figs and more specifically the fans that attend autograph signings of the wrestlers. I have been reading this site for quite some time now and it seems that over the past several years and the many signings that have taken place there is a 50/50 split of with some people being happy and some people being upset about an autograph signing. I would first like to say that if some shady promoter put together an autograph signing event in a unorganized and messy fashion, I can totally understand you being bitter about that. I would like to say though that you should really understand just how much a WWE Wrestler gives back to the fans and how busy there life is. They are celebrities. The second they leave there house to do things like you and I do everyday like food shopping, or going to the gas station or driving to work, they get noticed. The unofficial autograph session is 24/7 365. Fans coming up to them while they are trying to eat, trying to shop, trying to drive, trying to just about anything in public when they are "off the clock" they are signing autographs and dealing with fans.
Now thats one of there few days off.
The real "fun" begins when they have to return back to work ...on the road..which puts them more in the public eys. Alot of Fans know which Airline they are flying and meet them there for autographs. They know which Hotels they are staying at and meet them there for autographs. They know which gyms they work out at and meet them there for autographs. Pictures to, did I mention that more often then not Fans will have there camera ready to ask the wrestler to pose for a picture to go along with the autograph. Work in the actual ring hasnt event begun yet and the wrestler has already signed hundreds of autographs and taken hundreds of pictures. Throw in wintry travel conditions with snow and icy roads that they have to drive thru to make it to the arena and back to the airport. All those pictures and autographs were signed and taken just on the go on the way to work, back from work, and in public BUT the wrestlers still make themselves available with the precious little free time they have to meet you people for an official autograph signing when they could be in the comofort of there own home withe there own family. Not any form of sport or entertainment makes there employees more available and accesible to fans then the WWE does.
I read some people on here say this wrestler wasnt in the best of moods or this wrestler didnt slap me high five. Well you know something? Give them a break. Seriously. They encounter literally thousands upon thousands of fans who want autographs and pictures taken at all times, they do there best to make sure people get what they want but can you really blame them if they are a little grouchy from time to time, if there not in the best of moods when you see them can you consider maybe they are missing there family at home or simply not feeling well and maybe just tired that day? Have some consideration is all I am asking.
They lead EXTREMELY busy lives and have a very HECTIC work schedule and they are only human like you and I are. Some days we are tired, or grumpy, or just dont feel well and thats from just basic day to day stuff, WWE Wrestlers literally travel all over the world and are away from there own homes and familys for lenghthy period of times. Just remember they are human beings like you and I are and have some consideration for that fact.
The WWE is perhaps the most fan friendly company ever. Just imagine how busy all the wrestlers are gonna be come Wrestlemania Weekend at Fan Axxess. It is a very tiring job, and sometimes a thankless job.
I hope this message will reach just a few people who might have complained that this wrestler or that wrestler wasnt in the best of moods when they met them at the airport or outside the hotel lobby and understand they are only human like you and I , except they have a very different job.
From: JQENJ
* * * * * * * * *
I would like to add something to this letter, I received this morning.
I have heard lately that the promoters are charging way too much money for the autograph signings. What the fans DON'T realize is that these promoters want very much to be able to bring TOP talent to the fans, as they know that is who the fans want to see.
BUT.. what they don't understand is that the prices are out of this world lately, especially in this economy.
Many of the top wrestling talent get anywhere from $15,000 to $20,000 per autograph signing. The promoter has to charge a large fee, or they won't even break even. There is also a charge for the limo to and from the event, a charge for the photo's and the first class airfare and hotel, if that becomes necessary. So you see it is a very large investment.
So if the promoter is rushing you through the line, it is because they want to at least break even on their investment to make you happy. And you might think it is being cruel, as you want to spend more time with your favorite wrestler, but it is necessary when the turnout of fans is overwhelming.
And one thing I have seen many times, is a fan interrupting the wrestlers while they are having dinner, PLEASE leave them alone at this time. That in my opinion is so RUDE. I have seen fans follow the wrestler into the bathroom, come on now, have some manners.
I just wanted to let you fans know, as I have stated many times before, it isn't easy running these events, just make the best of it.
I could go on and on, but I'm sure you all know what is right and what is wrong.
I have to give a ton of credit to promoters like Terrance, James, George and others who run their conventions, it isn't easy. And I know all the hard work that goes into making these events happen, and run properly. Behind the scenes it is nerve racking. Making sure everyone is picked up at the airports on time, checking them into the hotel, making sure they are at the Convention on time, etc. Kudos, you guys deserve a lot of respect.
OK, I will get off my soap box, but I wanted you to know putting these events together isn't that easy. Just enjoy the events and make the best of a bad situation, if there happens to be a little one.
Georgie [email protected]
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