I run a small, local nonprofit and would like to do a simple auction that includes autographed items. Does anyone have some insider tips on getting autographs for a fundraiser? How long will it take to get the autographs?
I don’t know how long you have before your event, but your best bet is to make it easy for the celeb and their rep. Remember, they’re busy and they’ve never heard of you before. To get the quickest results, don’t ask them to select an item to autograph and send. Instead, send an item to them. There are a few things you can do to ensure success and a quick return.
- Send a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) with the item
- Make it something easy and lightweight to mail—CD, DVD, photo, t-shirt, etc.
- Include a piece of cardboard for photos to prevent bending in the mail
- Use FedEx or UPS, but don’t ask for a signature for receipt
Also, when you’re enquiring about possible autographs, don’t be shy about name-dropping any other celebs you’ve already secured autographs from. This lends credibility to your fundraiser and may increase the likelihood of getting your item returned.
As far as how long it takes, the average wait time to get an autograph back is about three months. But some people wait as long as a year before getting the signed item returned. There’s really nothing you can do to speed up the process. Sometimes the celeb is just busy doing other things, on vacation, or otherwise out of town. So it’s a good idea to start sending autograph requests as soon as you start planning your auction. You may even want to include the planned date for your event in your autograph requests so celebs know you have a deadline.
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