Autographs

Have you been asked for your autograph?  What was your reaction?

I was caught off-guard a couple years ago, and said jokingly,  "I only give that to the Fed-Ex guy".  They persisted because one of my commercials was playing in the restaurant where I was having lunch. So I whipped out a business card and signed the back of it for him (then someone else noticed and asked me too) Oh the humanity. I want to always remain humble and nice but I didn't get it, really.  I mean its a job - I am not famous, so why? I guess its a conversation piece.

Then I realized my business card had my phone number and e-mail on it.  Yikes!  I called my agent and he said "Just happily always give the autographs without hesitation.  The longer you do this the more you will get asked, the less awkward it will be."  He also told me to sign my name differently than I would a signature on a legal document.  Just in case they wanted you create fake documents and forge my name.  What?  Wow! OK, so I ordered new business cards with just my website and a photo on them.  No phone or email.  My email is on my website contact information page, and that's OK, I just don't want strange phone calls   

Then it took another turn.  People were contacting me via e-mail and Facebook for me to mail them a signed autograph.  Eeks.  My PR person told me this would happen more and more and just to ignore them for the most part.  I sort of felt bad about it, but the postage and printing costs were really going to add up!  Most people will want an autograph when they "meet" you, so I thought the mail thing was a little odd too.

But now I make a couple exceptions.  Email is pretty impersonal, so if I get a random e-mail I will not usually respond.  Last year I responded to a disabled Vet who collected autographs, and sent him one - he collects them and he posts them on his Facebook page - pretty cool really.  The other exception I make is if someone is a fan of my Facebook Actor page - they follow me, they comment etc, and they PM me there, asking for an autograph, I will send it.  They are following me on my journey and its cool, I appreciate it.

The only thing I struggle with now is what to say.  Usually I write their name and say "Thanks for being a fan" or "all the best" or something generic, but I would like to come up with some better stuff.  If you have ideas of what to say - please comment on my blog.

Thanks and happy Autographing!

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