This fascinated me for two reasons. First I have never gotten the autograph bug, my brain does not understand value in my own scrawl, but I can abstractly file away the fact that lots of people do seem to be into this collectable.

First, that I have been asked to sign my own autograph on prints, which I reluctantly do but feel my face making that bean-eyed expression of “not computing why someone wants my cruddy signature”. My tag name, decorated artistically -yeah (a piece of art), I get that, but my stupid street name? wack.

Consequently the only autographs I have, from other people, were forced on me. Not that Ann Richards or Ellen, or any other celeb typos, held me down and wrote on my chest or anything, but they assumed I wanted some scrawling of theirs and just gave it to me, unasked.

I have mostly pitched any I received in the trash except for those two, and a letter from Raymond Nasher; precious in that he was a top-200 collector of art in the world, when he wrote me the thank you note for the small portrait I presented to him, of him, after our meeting… one of my most amazing experiences.

And Ann Richards wrote on the flysheet of her autobiography, so that was cool in an author way, and I loved the book and that she gave it to me so I didn’t/wont pitch that one. Ellen gave me; a coffee cup she drank out of on the show I attended (yuk!) and a card that said some shit about it I ever have a talk show she will be a guest… yeah right.

I use the ellen coffee cup as a toothbrush holder, and the notecard I have almost pitched several times, but she is considered a collector, however remote her insulated island, so I keep it stashed hidden in the collector information file. I actually feel like burning that one.

All this (sorry!) said; I would totally fall for the “trace your hand” pitch, and I probably would not even make a scrunchy face. In fact I would go the Natalie Merchant route and draw something and send something… The leaf though… now THAT is original and the most awesome thing I have heard in gifting… wow.

You were right, I enjoyed and laughed my way through this posting and it made me think about my autograph-phobia and what it could possibly mean. Maybe I need to think more like ms Merchant.
–RawfeyL

NEW OFFICE! 🙂

RawfeyL – I was hoping you’d eye this one with your usual sense of humor and perspective. I have shifted into your line of thinking…I have a hard time computing the value. I know when I see the artists I work with at shows sign, I think people are looking more for the chance at a connection and a built in momento. I get that. The mail thing, except when I got a letter or something back (Joan Baez’s mom wrote me a letter 🙂 — it’s a lot less personal. And I lost interest.

but they will look awesome on the wall, Katie!

I would only ask how do you feel about handing out your handwriting now, as an entertainer? With the open ended title “Autographs” the perimeter is wide open. You were beggin’ for an askin’ -the circle of life.