As a collector of signed (by the artist) magic cards I heard that some artists will attend to autograph cards.
Now, I have a question about how this works. Can anyone just bring a big pile of cards and the poor guy digs through the pile? Or is there a limitation (like 20 or 50 cards)? Can you re-queue (after the 20 or 50 cards have been signed)? How many times? Or is it artist specific?
Thanks a lot for your help!
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Signed card collector Current signed cards count (31.12.16):
Diff. signed cards: 16'451 Artist alters: 828 Beta Project: 2574/2853 Grand Total signed cards: 42'091
The usual way it works is you bring a pile of cards (maybe 5 or 10 of them) illustrated by that artist and wait in the line. When you get to the front, the artist will sign your cards. if you have more than the allotted number of cards you want signed, you are usually free to get in the back of the line and wait again for another bunch as many times as you want.
Note that in many cases artists will not sign cards they did not illustrate without good reason.* It's also just a little odd to ask an artist to sign someone else's art.
* - The one example I can think of off the top of my head was Edward Beard (the illustrator of 7th/8th ED Birds) altered someone's foreign Beta Birds (illustrated by Mark Poole) with a sharpie to add another bird very similar to the one on the newer cards that Beard had illustrated.
some artists don't seem to care how many cards you bring to them (cf. RKF @ GP philly, who signed a stack of 100+ cards for one dude while a line was amassing). i recommend bringing no more than 12 (3 playsets) at a time as a courtesy to your fellow players.
also, it's generally good form to buy a little something from the artist, whether you're paying for a card alter/artist proof or a preprinted item, since they don't charge for the signings.
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Seems to be trickier than I thought. As I plan to go there just for the card signings and it's quite a big trip (across Europe) I wil have to requeue quiet a bit to make it worth while. But I certainly make sure the artist gets the well deserved thank you.
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Signed card collector Current signed cards count (31.12.16):
Diff. signed cards: 16'451 Artist alters: 828 Beta Project: 2574/2853 Grand Total signed cards: 42'091
The only time I remember an artist signing or drawing on another person's art work was with Scott M. Fischer and Darren Bader back at Worlds in 2004.
What happened is Bader signed a Fischer card and then was like, "Wait.." and Fischer was standing next to him. So they both drew on each other cards and signed them as a little fun joke or something.
However, when wanting an artist to sign cards some of them don't have a limit or sometimes have trouble saying, "Only Xx at a time" and so people will take around 50 cards and have them sign them while people wait in line.
I suggest you and anybody else reading this don't do that. It is rude and annoying, because most people are there only between rounds or waiting for their tournament to start.
The only time I remember an artist signing or drawing on another person's art work was with Scott M. Fischer and Darren Bader back at Worlds in 2004.
What happened is Bader signed a Fischer card and then was like, "Wait.." and Fischer was standing next to him. So they both drew on each other cards and signed them as a little fun joke or something.
However, when wanting an artist to sign cards some of them don't have a limit or sometimes have trouble saying, "Only Xx at a time" and so people will take around 50 cards and have them sign them while people wait in line.
I suggest you and anybody else reading this don't do that. It is rude and annoying, because most people are there only between rounds or waiting for their tournament to start.
Getting artist to sign different cards than they did on purpose? Nah...Certainly not my cup of tea.
As I have a full day I will requeue after 20 cards...No stretch...
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Signed card collector Current signed cards count (31.12.16):
Diff. signed cards: 16'451 Artist alters: 828 Beta Project: 2574/2853 Grand Total signed cards: 42'091
In my opinion, about 20 cards is normal, but you can run through the line again and again.
At pre-releases it is naturally more casual. I have seen rk post at three events and now I have every rk post card I own signed! (except for Eventide and a couple of lands. If the artist does lands, have pity on him.).
At Grand Prix Columbus, there were so many people that even though I was not playing I could not get through the line to Matt Cavotta. I caught him after the event and he graciously signed one card for me.
I strongly recommend bringing a new pen in the packaging and offering it to them as a gift. The side-benefit is you get to pick your favorite color! I did that with Steve Prescott and rk post and they did appreciate it.
In my opinion, about 20 cards is normal, but you can run through the line again and again.
At pre-releases it is naturally more casual. I have seen rk post at three events and now I have every rk post card I own signed! (except for Eventide and a couple of lands. If the artist does lands, have pity on him.).
It's John Avon...Nah, he didn't do any lands :D:D...Yes, I will have pity on him...Each land once or twice and that's it.
At Grand Prix Columbus, there were so many people that even though I was not playing I could not get through the line to Matt Cavotta. I caught him after the event and he graciously signed one card for me.
Uhh, that sounds bad. Very bad. So at Pro Tours/Grand Prix it's more difficult to go through the queues? Ohoh...Anyone have some experience with big European Tournaments? As far as I understand getting your cards signed is mostly an 'American thing' but maybe I am wrong...
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Signed card collector Current signed cards count (31.12.16):
Diff. signed cards: 16'451 Artist alters: 828 Beta Project: 2574/2853 Grand Total signed cards: 42'091
Another question - where do artists show up? PTQs, PTs, GPTs, GPs, and Prereleases? Or are there more/less places usually.
That covers it. PTQ and GPT are not huge events, so it's rare to see artists set aside time to go to those events.
Other places: Nats, Regionals (sometimes), Worlds, Origins, GenCon, and the opening of a new premier store. *
*rk post was nice enough to actually COME to a new store on the debut of 7th Edition and sign cards in the store...there are usually no more than two dozen guys in there drafting or playing but that day the phones were ringing off the hook and people were pouring into the tiny store with piles of Unmasks and Avatars of Woe and Covetous Dragons around the block.
I got a Defiling Tears signed, also got a signed 11x14 poster of same, and gave him one of our playgroup's cheesy homemade dragon cards tha we printed up.
Definitely if you go get more than about 10 cards signed, you need to do it on more than one session. Also, be polite and buy something for chrissake. An artist is taking time away from work to be there and sit for hours signing cards and chatting with players asking the same 4 or 5 questions.
Some people will sign cards done by others: Richard Garfield will sign any card, and even put some silly rules text in there (which in some circles is LEGAL RULES TEXT!!111) upon request. I got Richard to sign a Contract from Below on the DOTTED LINE for my 5-color deck. Also: pros and world champs and whatnot may sign cards they won with or made famous, on a personal basis. You should know them before you go randomly up and ask them.
If your mate is standing in line beside you and his round starts, offer to take his name and get his cards signed for him. It really sucks to wait 15-20 minutes in line only to have to run out when you're 2nd in line because your round is starting. Be a good citizen and offer to have the cards signed and return them to him. If it's a high K event, you may hve to ask the floor judge if you're permitted to go to his table and put cards on it. You may have to wait. Best is to write his full name on a team bag, put the cards inside, seal it, and communicate to the judge or someone to signal him when his match ends. Before you leave anything with a judge or third person, know that most judges do not feel it's their duty to play concierge or lost n' found with other people's cards and belongings. They may hang onto it and give it to him, and then again, they may forget. You can try leaving it with the artist and then letting the guy know his cards are with the artist, but the artist may leave before the round is over and then you're both screwed.
Yea. High-profile artists will garner serious attention. At Worlds 07, the lines for Parente, Guay, and Murray were minor waits (10-15 minutes tops). You could not expect to get to Briclot without waiting an hour, realistically. Granted, I just got about 10 cards signed and one altered, but like many before have said, it's gracious to purchase something (I probably could've afforded some artist proofs if I didn't already splurge on one of the events that day.)
The whole marker idea is also nice, because some markers are very, very bad for signing, especially on just-altered cards. If it's signed in something thicker than normal marker ink, expect it to take a day or so to dry.
Finally, just be polite. Think how the artists feel when they come into the venue, see a line stretching past three tables, and then have to wait it out for seven or eight hours a day signing, altering, and the like. (Polite also includes not dropping a shoe of cards by that artist to have signed, because there are others who want to get their stuff signed.) Personally, I like to get artists, if possible, to doodle on my playmat just for posterity. It's nifty for when you go to prereleases or PTQs.
They got anyway to check if the artists will be there before hand? I have a few signed after a number of prelreleases, but nothing I like to play with. I'm typically paranoid bringing any cards to a prelease rather than my deck and chaffe in a binder.
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Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.
Individualities may form communities, but it is institutions alone that can create a nation.
Nothing succeeds like the appearance of success.
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At the san diego time spiral prerelease I was the only person to even go to Michael Sutfin's table, like the whole event.
I walked up and said hi and had him sign something trivial that i just happened to have and i saw him altering artists proofs of Yawgmoth's Bargains. I said i would buy them and watched him do them both and nobody else came up the whole time, i then watched him do a whole playset of another card and nobody came up.
I kind of wish i still had these, but they ended up being a birthday present :/
Media is not making me steal. But in a way is like the story of the very hot girl with the short skirt teasing the old sick guy with a history of rape.
Now, I have a question about how this works. Can anyone just bring a big pile of cards and the poor guy digs through the pile? Or is there a limitation (like 20 or 50 cards)? Can you re-queue (after the 20 or 50 cards have been signed)? How many times? Or is it artist specific?
Thanks a lot for your help!
Current signed cards count (31.12.16):
Artist alters: 828
Beta Project: 2574/2853
Grand Total signed cards: 42'091
All my stuff in a FB group
Me@WOTC
Note that in many cases artists will not sign cards they did not illustrate without good reason.* It's also just a little odd to ask an artist to sign someone else's art.
* - The one example I can think of off the top of my head was Edward Beard (the illustrator of 7th/8th ED Birds) altered someone's foreign Beta Birds (illustrated by Mark Poole) with a sharpie to add another bird very similar to the one on the newer cards that Beard had illustrated.
Winner of the Weekly Signature & Avatar Contest Weeks 51, 59, 78, & 118.
I don't care if I was framed for murder if I only got a warning I would let it go.
also, it's generally good form to buy a little something from the artist, whether you're paying for a card alter/artist proof or a preprinted item, since they don't charge for the signings.
The MirroCube - 420 card Mirrodin themed cube
And if I've offended you, I'm sorry, but maybe you need to be offended. But here's my apology and one more thing...
Seems to be trickier than I thought. As I plan to go there just for the card signings and it's quite a big trip (across Europe) I wil have to requeue quiet a bit to make it worth while. But I certainly make sure the artist gets the well deserved thank you.
Current signed cards count (31.12.16):
Artist alters: 828
Beta Project: 2574/2853
Grand Total signed cards: 42'091
All my stuff in a FB group
Me@WOTC
What happened is Bader signed a Fischer card and then was like, "Wait.." and Fischer was standing next to him. So they both drew on each other cards and signed them as a little fun joke or something.
However, when wanting an artist to sign cards some of them don't have a limit or sometimes have trouble saying, "Only Xx at a time" and so people will take around 50 cards and have them sign them while people wait in line.
I suggest you and anybody else reading this don't do that. It is rude and annoying, because most people are there only between rounds or waiting for their tournament to start.
Getting artist to sign different cards than they did on purpose? Nah...Certainly not my cup of tea.
As I have a full day I will requeue after 20 cards...No stretch...
Current signed cards count (31.12.16):
Artist alters: 828
Beta Project: 2574/2853
Grand Total signed cards: 42'091
All my stuff in a FB group
Me@WOTC
At pre-releases it is naturally more casual. I have seen rk post at three events and now I have every rk post card I own signed! (except for Eventide and a couple of lands. If the artist does lands, have pity on him.).
At Grand Prix Columbus, there were so many people that even though I was not playing I could not get through the line to Matt Cavotta. I caught him after the event and he graciously signed one card for me.
I strongly recommend bringing a new pen in the packaging and offering it to them as a gift. The side-benefit is you get to pick your favorite color! I did that with Steve Prescott and rk post and they did appreciate it.
Here is an article by Matt Cavotta on the topic:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/daily/mc44
J
It's John Avon...Nah, he didn't do any lands :D:D...Yes, I will have pity on him...Each land once or twice and that's it.
Uhh, that sounds bad. Very bad. So at Pro Tours/Grand Prix it's more difficult to go through the queues? Ohoh...Anyone have some experience with big European Tournaments? As far as I understand getting your cards signed is mostly an 'American thing' but maybe I am wrong...
Current signed cards count (31.12.16):
Artist alters: 828
Beta Project: 2574/2853
Grand Total signed cards: 42'091
All my stuff in a FB group
Me@WOTC
GX Tron XG
UR Phoenix RU
GG Freyalise High Tide GG
UR Parun Counterspells RU
BB Yawgmoth Token Storm BB
WB Pestilence BW
I've never heard of one at a PTQ of GPT, the other ones usually have 1 or more.
That covers it. PTQ and GPT are not huge events, so it's rare to see artists set aside time to go to those events.
Other places: Nats, Regionals (sometimes), Worlds, Origins, GenCon, and the opening of a new premier store. *
*rk post was nice enough to actually COME to a new store on the debut of 7th Edition and sign cards in the store...there are usually no more than two dozen guys in there drafting or playing but that day the phones were ringing off the hook and people were pouring into the tiny store with piles of Unmasks and Avatars of Woe and Covetous Dragons around the block.
I got a Defiling Tears signed, also got a signed 11x14 poster of same, and gave him one of our playgroup's cheesy homemade dragon cards tha we printed up.
Definitely if you go get more than about 10 cards signed, you need to do it on more than one session. Also, be polite and buy something for chrissake. An artist is taking time away from work to be there and sit for hours signing cards and chatting with players asking the same 4 or 5 questions.
Some people will sign cards done by others: Richard Garfield will sign any card, and even put some silly rules text in there (which in some circles is LEGAL RULES TEXT!!111) upon request. I got Richard to sign a Contract from Below on the DOTTED LINE for my 5-color deck. Also: pros and world champs and whatnot may sign cards they won with or made famous, on a personal basis. You should know them before you go randomly up and ask them.
If your mate is standing in line beside you and his round starts, offer to take his name and get his cards signed for him. It really sucks to wait 15-20 minutes in line only to have to run out when you're 2nd in line because your round is starting. Be a good citizen and offer to have the cards signed and return them to him. If it's a high K event, you may hve to ask the floor judge if you're permitted to go to his table and put cards on it. You may have to wait. Best is to write his full name on a team bag, put the cards inside, seal it, and communicate to the judge or someone to signal him when his match ends. Before you leave anything with a judge or third person, know that most judges do not feel it's their duty to play concierge or lost n' found with other people's cards and belongings. They may hang onto it and give it to him, and then again, they may forget. You can try leaving it with the artist and then letting the guy know his cards are with the artist, but the artist may leave before the round is over and then you're both screwed.
Here in Switzerland you don't get any visits at all (I think John Avon came some time ago when there was a GP or ProTour in Zurich but that's it).
Pity...
Current signed cards count (31.12.16):
Artist alters: 828
Beta Project: 2574/2853
Grand Total signed cards: 42'091
All my stuff in a FB group
Me@WOTC
The whole marker idea is also nice, because some markers are very, very bad for signing, especially on just-altered cards. If it's signed in something thicker than normal marker ink, expect it to take a day or so to dry.
Finally, just be polite. Think how the artists feel when they come into the venue, see a line stretching past three tables, and then have to wait it out for seven or eight hours a day signing, altering, and the like. (Polite also includes not dropping a shoe of cards by that artist to have signed, because there are others who want to get their stuff signed.) Personally, I like to get artists, if possible, to doodle on my playmat just for posterity. It's nifty for when you go to prereleases or PTQs.
My 0.02...
[GTC] Gatecrash Patch for MWS (249/249)
Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.
Individualities may form communities, but it is institutions alone that can create a nation.
Nothing succeeds like the appearance of success.
Here is my principle: Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle.
I walked up and said hi and had him sign something trivial that i just happened to have and i saw him altering artists proofs of Yawgmoth's Bargains. I said i would buy them and watched him do them both and nobody else came up the whole time, i then watched him do a whole playset of another card and nobody came up.
I kind of wish i still had these, but they ended up being a birthday present :/
But more than 400 cards in one day is just not possible or maybe I am too old. My feet killed me in the end.
But it was worth it.
Thanks for all the info guys...helped a lot
Current signed cards count (31.12.16):
Artist alters: 828
Beta Project: 2574/2853
Grand Total signed cards: 42'091
All my stuff in a FB group
Me@WOTC