That's a shame Brian.  Dragon*Con is a great place to go for autographs.  Every one of the pros I've met there has been very easy to talk to.  One of the advantages of D*C is that since so many genre's are represented, lines aren't always long, especially around the comic book area.

One thing I refuse to do, however, is to pay for an autograph.  I'm there showing my respect and admiration to them, and don't feel I need to slip them a 10 or a 20 to get something signed.

Jeff Gilmer: One thing I refuse to do, however, is to pay for an autograph.

Same here.  The only exception I've made is when George Perez had a charity donation can at his table.  I gladly dropped a few bucks while thanking him for making some of my favorite comics.

When Jeri Ryan was at the Motor City ComiCon a few years back, the ticket to get into the show itself was $18, and then a ticket to get in line to see her was $25.  Even if I was a Trek fan, I wouldn't have paid that.  They even had her in a completely "shrouded" booth because apparently even glimpses aren't free.

I'll never buy a signed comic.  To me, part of the draw for having the signature is to be able to take my comic personally and have it signed, to be able to say to the person, "This book is my personal favorite, and having you sign it makes it invaluable to me."

I wouldn't have a problem buying signed artwork, however.

My celebrity encounters include Debbie Reynolds, Harve Presnell, Teri Copley, Robin Curtis, Roger C. Carmel, Patrick Stewart, Angelique Pettyjohn, Stephen Wright, and DeForest Kelley.  In the world of comics, I've met Ralph Macchio, Mark Pacella, Matt Feazell, Joshua Quagmire, and Sam Kieth.  All of these encounters were unfailingly positive and brief, as they should be when one is imposing on the time of someone dealing with a number of responsibilites and people.

My short conversations with Chris Claremont were odd, but still not unpleasant...

QUOTE: with regards to the Lithgow "incident," who's to say he didn't have a sick family member, fight with his wife, or relative/friend just died?

I think the only thing you can do when dealing with people is judge them by your own standard of conduct. I know during my worst days I always do my best to be polite to others. I do not think common courtesy is too much to ask of anybody, whether they are famous or not.

As a lad I met Junkyard Dog and he was a cool dude. But in Alabama you seldom get the chance to meet famous people.

I met Deforest Kelley at a convention at the Roosevelt Hotel in NYC and he was a gentleman to everyone that stood in line to get his autograph or to take pictures with. I had the same experience with George Takei, he was very happy to chat with fans and insisted in personalizing all autographs evn one that I requested for my sister, who was not at that particular con.

I think there is a distinction to be made between actors/'celebrities' and other forms of creative people . For those in the performing arts putting themselves out into public and/or courting media attention is intrinsic to the job and they should do it with as much good grace as they can muster.

For an artist or writer, what they are like as a person is irrelevant to their work and they should not be made to parade themselves for the benefit of their fans.

Some may enjoy it, some may have the patience of Job and be able to endure it but others don't and should be entitled to their privacy.

"I had Walter Simonson sign 3 or 4 copies of the same book (!), Way of the Rat, just because I enjoyed the artwork that much."

Chris, which issue(s) of WAY OF THE RAT did Walter Simonson draw?  I thought I had every issue of the series, but I don't recall seeing any artwork by him in it.  Let me know what I'm missing.