i'm not really into getting autographs unless someome wants to sign a check
for me heehee so paying for one is just not for me! i just like to see the stars
i know they make money for them but i'd rather buy a movie or book and i
find these show with big athletes selling their signatures replusive and refuse to
go to them.
Actually if anyone wants the backstory on when and why actors at cons/shows started CHARGING for autographs, Jennifer put her finger RIGHT on the reason. It was the example of the Sports stars -- and you can blame certain actors from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine for starting the trend with actors.
Reason I know this was that back then I worked a few weekends a year for what was then Creation Conventions, back when the events they put together were more like conventions than the arena sized shows with no fan contact with the talent which are now the ONLY thing most people know as "Star Trek Cons". For many years actors did cons unpaid except for a per diem and travel expenses then they went to being paid, which turned their con appearances into speaking engagements for pay only, with very little interest in the fans. Autographs were also done for no charge, even when a dealer would show up with a dozen or more that the actor KNEW they would sell for a profit.
Then , as I said, one or more (I forget the particulars and I'm not about to name names anyway) of the actors from the third Trek series, having had no experience with Fandom, considered the experience simply an engagment for pay and wanted parity with the sports stars charging for autographs. So, Creation started charging for autographs, and photo ops. Eventually even the old guard went along with it cause, frankly, if everyone else was being paid, and they hadn't seen a residual in years, they would have been fools not to take the money.
So, this is why the promoter run shows all charge for autographs and photo ops, and the ones like the Fest who don't are almost non existant these days.