Autograph etiquette is important to Matt Raymond, 32, whose hobby is chasing signatures and photos of athlete and celebrities. Raymond posts do’s and don’ts on his website AutographU.com, and shared tips from his experiences with Atlanta athletes.
I live near Boston and know that most pro teams stay in their preferred hotels every time they play here. The best time to get autographs is on the way to practice or the game when players board the bus one at a time.
It’s been a thrill meeting Hawks stars past and present, including Dominique Wilkins and Al Horford. Matt Ryan is a great signer. When the Falcons stayed in a Providence hotel before a Patriots game, I was in a mosh pit of autograph-seekers. He signed everything he could before leaving. I was the next person in line. I hung out for a bit, and he came back over just to sign my football. That is exceedingly rare. It is much easier when players aren’t traveling in a pack and when you’re not among 100 arms vying for an autograph.
Dwight Howard, who grew up in Atlanta, rarely turns anyone down. But once I walked away steaming from trying to get his autograph. Several aggressive dealers had formed a wall around him and were getting stacks of items done. Howard quickly tired, and security ended the session. Good etiquette: Ask for one signature, and after everyone gets one, then maybe ask for a second.
Online message boards and social media can help in finding out where an athlete or celebrity is signing. I saw a tweet that Ludacris was at a liquor store signing bottles of his product, Conjure cognac, and I got his signature there. For superstars, look for their side projects. Ludacris is an A-lister, but in the field of specialty drinks, he was just starting up.
I don’t sell my autographs. Collecting is my addiction. It’s like fishing. You wait for hours trying to catch the big one. Just enjoy the scene and have positive interactions with others doing the same thing.
Because the hobby is competitive, it can be intimidating for new collectors breaking into their local scene. My advice is to go to publicized autograph events such as book signings and retail promotions to network with other collectors to build credibility and trust. Information is the currency of the hobby.
My website, Autograph University, is a resource where young collectors who love sports and entertainment can learn from experts while avoiding all the mistakes I made since I started. As much as I’m a teacher, I still learn from our community of collectors every day.
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