MTF Rant! Wil Wheaton Goes Off On Autograph Collectors & The “Hard Work” Of Doing Conventions And Meeting Fans! Uh Huh…
Oh rant time. I wasn’t going to say anything about the Wil Wheaton post he did about autograph “hounds” as he called them. Honestly, I agree with most of what he says. No one should yell at someone if they don’t sign an autograph (maybe the exception should be Natalie Portman because well… ), no one should attack, I could only imagine what it looks like on their end.
I’ve seen the madness, I’ve lived the madness, hell… sometimes I’m in the madness… I always think that people should ask for autographs in appropriate situations. I think outside a party at SDCC is somewhat appropriate. I mean, come on, it’s SDCC and people are everywhere.
However, no one should be attacked or afraid.
But this… This section is what I found fault with.
“Contrary to popular belief, sitting at a table signing hundreds of autographs for several hours without a break is hard. It’s not just mindlessly scrawling my name; It’s stopping and listening to the always excited, sometimes shaking, always sweating, sometimes scary dude who wants to know exactly why I did “X” on episode “Y” and would I please sign his picture in silver, because Marina signed it in gold and now he wants the men in silver and the women in gold, and I hated your character and here are 25 reasons why and I expect an answer for each one of them and I’m not leaving until I’m satisfied.”
Is that really hard? Is it hard listening to fans who paid $25 to $40 bucks for a 60 second swipe of time and a quick scribble? Maybe I’m jaded from my years of working hard (Busing tables, hauling ice, being a bar back, shoveling popcorn at movie theaters, teaching junior high, etc…) but sitting at a table hearing people tell you that they are fans, doesn’t seem like hard work.
Wait… Wait… I’m sorry, I forgot you have to change pens. That’s hard. Signing in silver and/or gold is hard. Check! $25 bucks please.
I’m not trying to minimize the experience he had, but I’m getting just a little sick of the convention mentality. I love cons! LOVE THEM! So much fun, panels, meting people, etc… But I’ve had people share their con experiences with Wil and people don’t necessarily leave with a warm fuzzy, unlike say Norman Reedus who goes above and beyond.
I think a lot of the “convention circuit people” get more jaded because they can pocket thousands in a day so they don’t like to sign for free. And I know a lot of people who do shows that WANT to meet fans, and love the interaction. I’ve seen it, I’ve experienced it. And that moment is what’s fun about a con and what I love about cons.
But hard work that’s a police officer, a technician, firemen, etc… I don’t think signing in the correct color qualifies.
Okay, I’m off my soapbox. Feel free to tell me how wrong I am.
Read Wil’s entire post below!
_______________________________________________________
On the way out of the Syfy party on Saturday night, a pretty horrible thing happened. I wasn’t going to talk about it in public, but I can’t stop thinking about it, and I think this needs to be said.
When I was a Teen Idol*, and I traveled to New York for publicity all the time, it was fairly common for a handful of super weird people to hang out all day in front of my hotel, or in the lobby of my hotel, so they could pounce on me whenever I tried to enter or leave, and demand as many autographs as they could. It was really creepy and awful, and I always hated it. It was more than a little scary. I mean, who in the world spends an entire day sitting in one place waiting for someone? Oh, I know: crazy people.
So, crazy people, pay attention: If you camp out in front of my hotel while I am on location or visiting a city, if you camp out in front of a party I’m attending …
basically, if you camp out anywhere so you can shove a stack of 8x10s into my face when I’m trying to enter or leave a location, I’m not going to sign them, and I’m not going to be nice about it.
I refuse to reward or validate that kind of behavior, and I’m done being polite about it.
When we walked out of the SyFy party on Saturday night, a pack of people — probably 12 or 15, I’d guess — appeared out of nowhere, and surrounded me. They shoved pictures into my face, thrust pens at me, and made it so that I couldn’t even move. They separated me from my friends and my son, and, quite frankly, terrified me.
Let’s stop for a second and think about this: in what kind of world is it acceptable to surround a person you do not know, separate them from the people they are with, and essentially trap them? Maybe in crazy entitled psycho world, but not the world I live in.
I tried to scrawl my signature on a couple of things, just so some of those people would move and let me keep on walking, but whenever someone took something away, something new immediately took its place. Somehow, +Felicia Day saved me. She reached through the mob, grabbed my hand, and said, “Sorry, we have to go meet some of our friends,” before the literally pulled me away, to safety.
This is when the mob lost its shit. They yelled at me like I had done something wrong. They called me names, and they booed at me. (Seriously). A woman stormed up next to me and said, “If you don’t sign these things for me, I’m going to tell Twitter what an asshole you really are.”
I don’t respond well to threats like that. Though my instinct was to explode at her, I took a deep breath, looked her square in the eye, turned on my dad voice, and said, “Really? Are you serious? We’re done here.” I quickened my pace, and for the next two blocks she followed us, screaming and ranting and raving about how she’d waited there for hours, driven all the way from someplace far, and that I basically owed her as a result of her choice. I eventually tuned her out, and I guess she went back to the Syfy party to harass whoever else came out next.
The whole thing was really scary, made me feel like a sideshow freak, and made me really, really angry. I was just trying to walk out of a hotel and go meet up with my friends. I didn’t do anything wrong, and I’m not going to apologize forgetting upset about it. This is important: I realize that just about anyone reading this on my blog isn’t one of Those Guys. Please don’t think the “you” here refers to, you know, you.
This is also important: When your motto is “don’t be a dick,” a certain kind of person is vigilantly looking for moments like this when you can be accused of violating your own motto, thereby proving to the entire world that you are, in fact, a giant lying pile of shit. I’m fairly certain that reasonable people can see who the dick was in this situation, and hopefully agree that it was not me. For everyone else: go fuck yourself.**
In Dancing Barefoot, I wrote about signing autographs at conventions:
Over the years, I’ve learned something from this experience: it’s never about the signature. It’s about that brief moment, that brief encounter with a Star Trek cast member, that is so important to the fans. That 30 seconds or so of hopefully undivided attention is what they’re really paying for, and I always do my best to make sure they get their money’s worth. Contrary to popular belief, sitting at a table signing hundreds of autographs for several hours without a break is hard. It’s not just mindlessly scrawling my name; It’s stopping and listening to the always excited, sometimes shaking, always sweating, sometimes scary dude who wants to know exactly why I did “X” on episode “Y” and would I please sign his picture in silver, because Marina signed it in gold and now he wants the men in silver and the women in gold, and I hated your character and here are 25 reasons why and I expect an answer for each one of them and I’m not leaving until I’m satisfied.
The crazy people who camp out don’t care about that brief moment, that brief encounter. The crazy people only care about taking a piece of $Celebrity.person and possibly selling it, or hording it, or … you know, I don’t even want to think about where that path leads.But that’s why they behave the way they do. It isn’t about our work, or about saying “thank you” or “high-five!” or anything about that. It’s about entitlement and being crazy, and I will not validate or condone that kind of behavior ever again.
I realize that a crazy person who thinks it’s entirely normal and not psycho to camp out in front of a hotel for hours and hours so they can trap a person isn’t going to understand why I will not validate that behavior, but I need to make this clear for the future: I’m a person. I am a human being and if you cut me I will bleed. I’m happy to sign things and take pictures with people in appropriate situations, but if some dude violates my personal space or freaks me out, and then gets mad at me when I try to get away from him, I’m not going to do anything beyond telling that person to go fuck himself, and I’m not going to feel bad about it. To paraphrase Neil Gaiman, I am not your bitch.
Finally: In before the inevitable “you’re an actor and you chose this so you deserve what you get so suck it up because my life harder than yours because blah blah blah” comment (probably not here, but definitely at G+.)
*LOL.
**See? I don’t even feel bad. (Well, maybe a little bit. I need to work harder on it, I suppose.)
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mike
Starting this website has been a labor of love. I love sharing my fandom experiences but more than that I love hearing everyone else’s stories. I love hearing about conventions, movie locations, meet celebrities good and bad, I love it all. I sincerely hope you enjoy my exploits, the adventures of everyone who submits an article, and all the members of the Fanboy Family! Without everyone who writes and reads MTF there wouldn’t be a site. This is truly for the fans, by the fans!
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I agree that an individual should not feel afraid or hounded for an autograph, but come on. If you are at a convention getting 30 bucks an autograph aren’t you being a bit hypocritical? You are CHARGING for an autograph and refusing to sign for free? I’ve seen much bigger stars (is he even considered a c-lister) accommodate their fans. Yes, even the ‘psychos’ who wait for hours in the hope of getting a signature. Granted, signing more than one or two per person is a bit much to ask, but geez, get over yourself and be glad you are still in the public eye.
If you hate signing autographs and doing conventions so much, just say No. Stop putting yourself in a place that you hate. You don’t want attention? Stop putting your face out there where everyone can see it. If you are afraid of crowds of people, get a bodyguard and deal with it. You’re getting paid for your time, so shut up and do your job, or quit and find something else to do.
Will Weaton isn’t even relevant anymore. Ugh what a DB.
He is a has been,should be excited people know who he is! I guess I get jaded,these actors get tons of money and fame,and some,not all, don’t appreciate it when fans ask for an autograph
I understand what set him off in the first place.
He’s complaining about the Red Bum types and their aggressive dealer behavior, not the fans like the MTF family who actually treat the celebs like humans and ask them for autographs (NOT demand). He’s giving his perspective from the receiving end of the a-holes that we all complain about. He’s complaining about the same jerks that have ruined previous good signers like Joss Whedon.
Personally, about the only classy thing to have done in Wil’s situation would have been to state “one each!” and do it. But again, that’s probably expecting too much from someone who charges for his autograph.
BUT then Wil jumps the shark and bitches about his bread-and-butter PAYING fans. And his comment: “Finally: In before the inevitable “you’re an actor and you chose this so you deserve what you get so suck it up because my life harder than yours because blah blah blah” comment (probably not here, but definitely at G+.)” shows what an ignorant person Wil really is. THIS is the Wil people remember back from his early years at the conventions that he has apologized for his behavior so many times. The arrogant, self-entitled rude individual he has tried so hard to distance himself from for decades has come back to the surface.
And to Wil, don’t say it’s “never about the signature”. Sometimes, it actually is. Sometimes you want the least desirable card in the Magic/Pokemon/Baseball card deck just to say you have a complete set. Just smile and sign. I don’t need you to be surly about it if I’m paying you, just switch the damn pen. I won’t debate the show or your character or take up too much of your precious time, but if I’m giving you cash, “don’t be a dick” and just switch pens without being a Prima Donna about it. Patrick Stewart does it just fine and with class. If you’re signing for free, I’ll take what you’re willing to do in whatever color, but if money is changing hands for a brief flick of your wrist, be professional about it, huh?
Wil is starting to remind me of William Shatner he will not sign for anyone unless it is at a convention or some sort of paid event basically dealers ruined him. I am not certain if William Shatner was always like that but he will not sign for anyone unless like I said it’s a paid event ( from encounters that i’ve heard) and he’s super rude about it. I hate that dealers have to ruin the hobby for us not all of us are bad guys like Redbull but some celebs ” assume” we are dealers and automatically hate us refuse to sign think we are pond scum which is further from the truth.
eek, what a douchebag. Who even really cares about this guy. Excuse you, you are not anywhere near an A-lister. And a fan may wait for hours just to get a moment with you but I guess that makes them “crazy people” because they love your work. (Not that he made any notable work)
Yes dealers may not be polite but he’s pretty much saying devoted fans are crazy and no one should expect anything from him. Well, I hope he doesn’t expect respect either.
and omg, sitting for hours signing stuff is hard? When you’re getting paid? When people who likes you are the one interacting with you? Just…WOW.
To correct everyones assumptions and also to make his rant make even less sense, Wil is one of the only ones who DOES NOT charge people for his autograph at conventions. He actually signs for free. With that fact now known, it makes no sense for him to complain about having to sit there for hours signing. I figured he did it for free because he enjoyed meeting the fans. If he doesn’t like it, theres nothing and nobody making him do it. Either quit appearing at cons or start charging people if that will make it worth your time.
Met Wil at a con: This is incorrect. I know for a fact he charges at least $30 per autograph at cons. He was at Dragoncon 2012 and yes, he charged for both photos and autographs. When he appears at Wizard World Comiccon’s, he also charges.
Also to Met Wil at Con: How recent was that? Because WAAAAAY back in the day, like, 20 years ago, the stars used to sign for free at the Creation conventions. And of course, the big names like Shatner, Stewart, Spiner, etc, didn’t do it. But Doohan, Takei, McFadden, etc, etc did.
However, what you fail to realize, is that the Convention paid them for their appearance! So yes, even at these “free” signings, the fans didn’t have to pay directly to each star for their autograph. And the lines were hellishly long, and there was no guarantee you’d get one because they usually only signed for an hour or two (wasted a long time for a fail with free Frakes & Sirtis back in the day!)
But if you think these people are just showing up and sitting at a table purely out of the kindness in their hearts, you’re wrong. They are getting paid. Whether it’s directly from the show promoter, or directly from the fans, or a mix of both, it’s still a paid appearance.
Seriously, people are complaining because these folks object to being stalked? Think about it a second. “The only solution is to say ‘one only'” really? Aren’t actors allowed to have a life?
Try spending a day, for every 10 people that pass you by, sign your name in a notebook and pretend to chat for 30 seconds. How does that make your work day? Dinner out? Vacation? Movie? Buying milk at the store? If you really don’t think that’s bad, try it every day for a week. Or the rest of your life!
Maybe you only see 10 folks in the grocery while you were sent out for milk. Start signing an autograph or two and see how a line forms. See how happy the store manager is with you. Or blocking a sidewalk or entrance to a business.
Yes, I’ve paid for his autograph (one of a few) and he was really nice and pleasant. Way nicer than Patrick Stewart for example (though he was OK to us, but other’s around us weren’t “getting their money’s worth” as Wil put it).
Give these guys a break.
Um, if he didn’t want to be asked for a photo or an autograph he shouldn’t be an actor. Period. Wil Wheaton is a douche. He only wants to make extra money at conventions, in low key settings he’s a douche. This isn’t going to a grocery store, this is SDCC. If you don’t want to be approached, don’t go to comic con.
Will Wheaton can go to a mall and no one will give a crap, I’ve seen him, specifically several times around my house and no one cares, so I’m not going to shed a tear for this washed up asshat.
I wouldn’t wipe my ass with a Wil Wheaton autograph.
Wheaton is not so rich that he can afford a body guard. Look up his net worth. Give the guy a break. I hate people in my face. It may sound crazy but sometimes people act like people.
Wow, what a bunch of entitled internet types commented on this until the last commenter. And, I’m not commenting ironically.
I met Wil Wheaton at a convention in 2001 or so for my first sci fi convention. He was one of the 2 nicest celebrities I have met at any convention. He went above and beyond improvising some great stuff for my camcorder. I just read his full post. Then I read all the nasty comments after. It’s so odd (for me) that people didn’t understand his rant? It’s about respect. Not just as a celebrity but as a person. If any of us were in his shoes at that time, I would challenge anybody not to be a little freaked out. Especially when you had somewhere you had to get to? People piling on saying he’s a jerk for saying this perplexes me.