Well I'm going to see John K Samson on March 14th in Buffalo, NY at Mohawk Place. I've heard it's a relatively small venue, and I doubt there'll be many people there, so how does one go about getting an autograph?
I've never tried before, but do artists usually just sort of hang out after shows? I figured posting on the tMG forums would be good for a topic like this since The Weakerthans/John Samson are similar to tMG in both popularity and music to an extent.
I really just want John K Samson to sign my capo.


AND/OR post experiences about hanging out with famous musicians.

No first hand experience, but I think just hanging out after the show is the key.

I'm really just posting to say how stoked I am about this JKS tour. I've got tickets for the DC show.

Hanging out afterwords is definitely essential. If they shut down the venue and kick everyone out, wait outside. If they kick you off of the venue's steps, wait on the sidewalk. It really helps if you know where the backdoor/artist's entrance is. Bands, JD included, never leave a venue from the front door. Hang out by that exit. They've got to vacate the building sometime.

My record is waiting three hours after a W/IFS show to meet Jack Terricloth. They kicked us out of the bar, then off of the steps. I waited by the back exit, and BAM, Mr. T. Kloth showed up with the rest of the band. Terricloth even asked me if I knew any good bars, which, had any been open, I'm assuming meant we'd get to drink together.

I once saw Justin Sullivan from New Model Army (about 18 years ago, I guess) with Red Sky Coven, and during the break in the middle of the show he came out into the foyer to the merch table. First thing I wanted to do was to get an autograph on my newly purchased CD, but then my friend who took me there went to Sullivan and said "Hi Justin", and Sullivan answered "Hi Mark, how are you?", and they went on talking about their new record and football and stuff, for my pal knew Sullivan personally from following him and NMA around for nearly a year. At that point it seemed so embarrassing to ask for an autograph while my pal and Justin Sullivan were chatting like old buddies I didn't dare asking him.

I regret it ever since.

But I wonder what's the big deal with autographs (besides I wish I had this Justin-Sullivan-autograph on my tour-only CD, dammit). What is it that makes an autograph so precious? Is it because it's a proof that you've been there? Is it because it gives you the feeling to have something personal from the artist you love? I was thinking about this a lot since I got some autographs from authors I went to see reading and always felt a little stupid asking for them, but also felt proud when I had a book with their very own handwriting in it, without knowing why I felt that way...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/2012 11:21AM by Doc Sanchez.

i hung out in front of the main entrance for awhile after a NYC show and met/talked to JD, same with Peter. John Vanderslice was at the merch table after a show, and he offered to sign the copy of Pixel Revolt that I bought. Wasn't expecting it, but it definitely personalized the copy, which is cool, which leads into the next post..

There's two different kinds of autographed memorabilia - there's kind that people lust over because the autographs come from absolute legends, which is like the Mickey Mantle (or whatever, just an example, not a sports guy so feel free to swap out that name for someone else) signed baseball kinda stuff - you know your chance to meet the person is non-existent, so that's kinda like the next best thing. That situation also weighs in with the value of the person's signature. The only people that situation would hold any merit with me would be someone like Johnny Cash or Hank Williams; I'd hold something like that in high regard because I LOVE them and just to have something they held/signed would blow my mind. But in the more common regard, I wouldn't be overly interested in autographs unless it was somewhere that I was at that time, just as a keepsake. I keep ticket stubs, sometimes it's cooler if it's autographed because it resonates more in memory - aside from the Vanderslice, I think the only time I had something autographed was like, a Nada Surf ticket from 1996. I usually feel silly to ask; at the Housing Works Q&A, JD was signing copies of Master of Reality and Life of the World, but I was like "eh this might be awkward" and also "i'll probably get another chance if i really need an autograph"

ramble ramble

Well the show is tonight, and we passed by the venue and it is SMALL. All I've ever heard from people that I've talked to is how ridiculously small it is, so hopefully it'll be a nice personal show. Unfortunately it's St. Patrick's Day, but hopefully that won't make it really crowded.

So what I've gathered is basically just stay after the show and try to meet him, which I'm 100% up for.
And Nutopia I guess I just want an autograph as a reminder like "Holy shit I met one of my biggest musical idols", it's not like the autograph would be worth much or anything, but I think to have the handwriting of someone who's used the same writing for some of my favorite lyrics ever would be awesome.

Thanks guys, and if you hear a little schoolgirl scream from far away, you'll know I've gotten what I wanted.

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The Abattoir
Thanks guys, and if you hear a little schoolgirl scream from far away, you'll know I've gotten what I wanted.

Why is the butcher making little schoolgirls scream?

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VagabondKing
Why is the butcher making little schoolgirls scream?

I lol'ed

Well it ended up being the easiest thing ever.
My friend and I were some of the first people in, and he was literally just sitting at the bar eating chicken wings. A little while later he was walking towards me and every single ounce of awkwardness and nervousness escaped my body but I managed to ask him to sign a bunch of shit and get a picture.
It was awesome.

[p.twimg.com]
[p.twimg.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/2012 01:18AM by The Abattoir.

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nutopia1213
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I think the only time I had something autographed was like, a Nada Surf ticket from 1996.

In 1996, I was roommates in New York with the girlfriend of the drummer from Nada Surf. He used to come over and get high with me and we would listen to CDs of the Monkees. His girlfriend waited upstairs and grumbled.

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The first thing that distinguishes a writer is that he is most alive when alone. - Martin Amis

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Wild Creature

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nutopia1213
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I think the only time I had something autographed was like, a Nada Surf ticket from 1996.

In 1996, I was roommates in New York with the girlfriend of the drummer from Nada Surf. He used to come over and get high with me and we would listen to CDs of the Monkees. His girlfriend waited upstairs and grumbled.

Honestly the single best post I've ever seen ever.

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[www.last.fm]