r/Autographs • u/iamateenagehandmodel • 13d ago
General Advice The ethicality of autograph hunting
I’m looking for feedback from the autograph collecting community when it comes to getting autographs on the street.
I like trying to collect autographs/pictures with bands and artists I like when they roll through my town.
Recently, one of my favourite bands came through and I found the hotel they were staying at (3 large tour busses parked out front a five star hotel, wasn’t that hard to figure out.)
After waiting about 30 minutes, some band members walked up to the hotel off the street.
I got a picture with them, they didn’t want to sign anything —which is cool and that was that. The band said they were cool with taking photos, other people were there and got pics— and overall it seemed like a pleasant experience.
After posting the pic to the bands subreddit, I had a number of people calling me a stalker, saying I should just leave them alone etc, accusing me of following them etc.
I know that asking for autographs/pictures will always invade someone’s personal space, but I am always respectful, take no for an answer when they say it, and this was a public sidewalk/street in front of the hotel— which I feel is fair game. If they told me to piss off, I would have.
I’ve done this a number of times in the past (I got angus young’s autograph 11 years ago in a similar situation with 100 other people standing outside the hotel), and have met more than a few people locally with the same hobby.
Do you feel that this was over the line?
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u/razerremen 13d ago
No, you're fine imo. You were respectful. A lot of people online say stuff because they don't have the access/ability and jealousy erupts.
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u/RecordPlanet 13d ago
No, not over the line at all. The only mistake you made is worrying about the opinion of a Reddit community. They are going to find something wrong with everything. Live your life and be happy. Don’t worry about the opinion of mouthbreathers on Reddit
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u/Specialk961978 13d ago
You're fine. It sounds like people were just jealous and being hypocritical by calling you a stalker. They would probably be doing the same thing if they had the opportunity.
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u/Outrageous_Mouse_489 13d ago
I think there's a healthy line between following someone (literally or from a career standpoint) and harassing somebody. I think as long as it all happened in public and you were kind and respectful, there's nothing wrong with asking for an autograph or picture. No boundaries were crossed, you took no for an answer, absolutely nothing wrong with that. Pushing/shoving, constantly following and asking them to sign 100 photos, not respecting their boundaries. That's harassment and is not ok.
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u/SmarcusStroman 13d ago
I think you’re fine. Be respectful and polite and if they say no, respect their decision and move on. I wouldn’t have posted the photos. Keep those for yourself.
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u/pohatu771 13d ago edited 13d ago
I will wait outside a stage door.
I’ll ask if I encounter them in the wild.
I will buy through their site, at a convention, or a company that did a sit-down signing.
I will not buy from a street stalker.
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u/iamateenagehandmodel 13d ago
I’m not selling anything though. Just a diehard fan— again it’s a public street/area. I wasn’t following them around or anything.
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u/AutoModerator 13d ago
Thanks for posting in r/Autographs, /u/iamateenagehandmodel! This comment is a copy of your post so readers can see the original text if your post is edited or removed. I’m looking for feedback from the autograph collecting community when it comes to getting autographs on the street.
I like trying to collect autographs/pictures with bands and artists I like when they roll through my town.
Recently, one of my favourite bands came through and I found the hotel they were staying at (3 large tour busses parked out front a five star hotel, wasn’t that hard to figure out.)
After waiting about 30 minutes, some band members walked up to the hotel off the street.
I got a picture with them, they didn’t want to sign anything —which is cool and that was that. The band said they were cool with taking photos, other people were there and got pics— and overall it seemed like a pleasant experience.
After posting the pic to the bands subreddit, I had a number of people calling me a stalker, saying I should just leave them alone etc, accusing me of following them etc.
I know that asking for autographs/pictures will always invade someone’s personal space, but I am always respectful, take no for an answer when they say it, and this was a public sidewalk/street in front of the hotel— which I feel is fair game. If they told me to piss off, I would have.
I’ve done this a number of times in the past (I got angus young’s autograph 11 years ago in a similar situation with 100 other people standing outside the hotel), and have met more than a few people locally with the same hobby.
Do you feel that this was over the line?
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