47 replies to this topic

[Jim Ohara]

So Wizard World Chicago is coming up in August, and like most Wizard cons these days it's become a place were celebs come to meet the unwashed masses. Rather than just getting autographs like in the old days, you now stand in line and pay for a signed headshot. Most rates are around $30-$40 depending on how famous the celeb is. And it's a model that seems to work, given the 300 people I saw standing in line at C2E2 to meet Val Kilmer.

So Stan is going to be at Wizard World, and he's one of those guys I've always wanted to meet so I looked into it. You can stand in line to get his autograph and pay $70 for the honor, or there's a VIP pass that gets you to an exclusive lunch with Stan (and an unknown number of fans) where you'll get your autograph and a chance to have your picture taken with him, shake his hand and thank him for all the work he's done. The VIP pass is $200.

So it got me wondering - would you pay $200 to meet Stan, or is there anyone famous you'd pay that amount of money to get a picture with? Or do you think you shouldn't be paying to spend 5 seconds with a famous person - should this be something they do for nothing?

(As an aside, Shatner will be there too but his ticket is $250 - only Shatner would upstage Stan at a comics convention!)

[craggy]

could I get to choose what said celebrity was doing in the picture I'm paying $200 for?

[stephanie familiar]

i saw the title of this and thought it was started by bovy.

[The Lorcan Nagle]

Big no right here.

[ditta]

No. I'd meet Kristen Bell for $200 but the restraining order might put a dampener on that.

[Jim Ohara]

Big no right here.

Yeah, that's what I figured. I couldn't believe it was actually an option, or that the industry would offer such a thing. And yet I'm sure they'll sell out of passes. And in some ways I suppose meeting Stan might be the equivalent of going to a concert or a sporting event for some people, and folks regularly spend much more on tickets to something like that. It just seems like such a bizarre thing to do.

[Jacowboy (Jonathan)]

Well if it's like your dream or something, why not... But then again the "VIP" details are sketchy... you might end up with 500 other fans or seomthing... Personnally I've never really been into getting autographs and stuff like that, even for free... like why the hell is someone gonna ruin something I own with their ugly signature on it?

Edited by Jacowboy (Jonathan), 02 June 2012 - 12:46 AM.

[Paul F]

Nope. No real interest at all, but if they can get people to pay, fair enough.

[Sarah Horrocks]

There is no one I would pay money to meet.

[Todd Gross]

There is no one I would pay money to meet.

Same here.


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[jamon g]

i think this falls into the category of a gift you would give to someone or a corporate event. a lot of the paid speaking tours or celebrity dinners where you pay like a grand to have dinner and hear them talk/meet them are organised by companies and banks etc to send their staff to.

[Ricardo_C]

I would. The man and his works were an influence on me before I even knew who he was. I would love to have the opportunity to meet him, even at a lunch event with 50 other fanboys.

[brucegray666]

No disrespect to Stan Lee but hell no!

[John Hendrick]

YEAH!

Stan is probably the only one though.

[Martin Smith]

Compared to a private meal with Dave Cameron, it's a steal! Though you can influence British government policy with those, which you can't with Stan.

[garjones]

I think I would, yes.

[Steve Sensible]

I would too. As long as it's a chance to talk to him, and not just stand in the same room where he's being introduced to a hundred other people. The Man's a living legend, so £130 seems like a bargain.

That said, I can think of few other people I'd pay money to meet.

[Ogul]

I'm head of the autographs section at Otakon, so I'm well aware of autograph fans and their issues. Like some of you, people's names on a piece of paper have never really done much for me, which is one of the reasons I'm well suited to the job. Still, there are plenty of people who are serious about it, and some really want to monopolize the guest's time, and we can't have that since there are hundreds of people behind them, so I can really see the value of having a "VIP access" that is only for people who truly invest in the opportunity, but offers a more personal experience. I can totally see charging for something like that, just as a way to winnow the field, although ideally that money should go to a charitable cause like one of those "old artists" funds, and whatever happens it should NEVER go to the con itself (and for the record there are no plans for Otakon to ever charge a dime for an autograph).

[Will]

Hell no. I can't think of anyone I'd pay money to meet.

[Jim Ohara]

There is no one I would pay money to meet.

There's no-one alive who inspires you enough or who's work you enjoy so much that you wouldn't shell out some money to meet them and thank them?

There's loads of folks I'd pay to meet, but $200 without any real time or a lunch or something is a bit much. I've always wanted to meet and thank Stan though. The guy is an American treasure. Would meeting Stan be similar to going to a Bulls playoff game - that's the question?

I think the only people I'd shell out $200 to meet are Obama, Biden, Mohammad Ali and Jackie Chan. Stan's up there though - if this were $100 I'd buy in a minute.