My general rule would be not to send things to personal addresses. Some celebrities might not mind but personally I would if it was me!
You might be better off trying through the workplace: if it's an actor write to them via the studio their show is filmed in or their agent (you can sometimes get agent adresses from their IMDB page). Some less known actors have contact emails on their web pages. I suppose if it's a sports person you could write via their club. Or you could try hanging out around stage doors (never done that myself, but getting it yourself means you know it's real!)
But don't get your hopes up especially if writing. If they are very famous then it's likely they'll never see your letter as they'll employ someone to look through their mail. You may well get a standard refusal letter or a pre-print autograph (that means they autographed one picture that was copied: it's worth no more than a none-autographed picture) or a 'secretarial' (which means a secretary signed it on the star's behalf!). On the other hand you may get lucky and get a good autograph! If the person is less famous I think you have a better chance of getting something good, but they may take years to answer their fan mail!
I don't actually collect via mail myself, because of the difficulties of knowing whether what you get is real and the time it can take.
I get autographs by going to signing events for my own collection. It used to be that you could pay for an autograph there and then sell it on eBay at a profit. Unfortunately these days there are so many people selling autographs on there, and so many of them are fakes so driving the prices down, that it's getting to be impossible to do that.
I've also got some through knowing an event organiser who's let me get free autographs for charity a couple of times. I've currently got a load from actors in Stargate and Battlestar Gallactica sitting in my cupboard waiting to help with my fundraising *G*
Some of those probably will be auctioned on eBay. But with the number of fakes on there you need to really sell them right:
Sorry to be such a downer! It's actually a good idea to get celebrity stuff to auction (heck I'm doing it myself aren't I?). But you need to be aware of the pitfalls and the disapointments you might have.
Hope I haven't put you off! Good luck and do post details of your auction!
From what I've heard of her, Nell sounds very genuine *G* Maybe you could write to her and ask for another to sell?
Especially with with SF and fantasy TV and films there's organised conventions and signing shows where you can meet actors (and sometimes back stage people too). There's also some signing shows that have other types of people, eg Astronauts and sports people (I've been to one which had WWF wrestlers). Problem with all of these is that you pay for the autograph: £15 to £20 is common (some conventions it is part of an entry fee of around £80, but that's still paying for them in effect). As I said before it can be hard to make that back on eBay when your up against a load of fakes selling at £10 each. Some big bookstores have book signings where you just pay the price of the book, so it might be worth checking that (if you are willing to invest the price of the book, but I'd only do it for a very well known author as I don't think some author's signatures really add value)
I've never done it myself, but a lot of people collect autographs at stage doors, premiers and airports (I was talking to one recently: apparently they have a freind in the States so they give each other tip offs of who's on what flight!). Apparently many famous people are happy to quickly sign a photo or even a stack of photos if they are handed them. But I don't know who is and who isn't. (Hmmm, think I heard Patrick Stewart will sign the program for a play if he's in it...). Anyway, apparently it's acceptable behaviour, but I've not done it myself!
Writing to clubs and through fan club addresses sounds like a good idea to me. Probably be doing some of that myself!
And I'll be auctioning any doubles myself *G*
Actually had some luck myself without really trying. I'm doing the London Marathon for the Stroke Association. Met race director and former world record holder David Bedford at a training event (rumoured to be the model for the 118 runners, though that's a touchy subject apparently!) and he's sent me an autograph. I've also got someone else going to send me theirs and maybe some stuff off their TV show. Also met him as part of my marathon training (keeping details quiet until something actually arrives on that one!) So keep your ears open and good luck!
Sounds a good idea, tell me how it goes!
Paying through the justgiving account: also a great idea! Might not work for me as I'm not working at the moment, so I can't afford to cover the eBay fees myself. You have to pay those however the auction is paid for! They can add up, especially if an item goes for a high price.
Just thought you might like to know my auction is up! Selling some of my signed pics and keeping others for competion prizes.
For the auction I'm actually doing it with another seller who's also doing the London Marathon for the Stroke Association and we are cross-advertising our auctions. So if you follow this link it will take you to our auctions (or search eBay for SAFLM if that doesn't work). My auctions are under the ID moonrisinguk.
I've got to agree with moonrise, we are in the process of setting up a charity auction for MacMillan's and Roy Castle, and going through agents, who alot of the time are only too willing to help as long as you have official confirmation from the charity you are collecting for.
We have been promised some rather special items, which I can't divulge at the moment. Keep trying someting special will come of it.
Niall
Hello
There is a company that can supply autographed items for auction if you go to www.sportizus.com, they will help you out.
Cheers
Mark
Hello everyone,
A quick tip - if you take a programme to stage door of a theatre, the stage door staff will usually get it signed by the cast for you, and you can pick it up from them a couple of days later. Always explain that your intention is to sell it for charity. I suspect the same thing might work at TV studios.
On the subject of taking payments, just to say that Justgiving is designed for donations only. Unfortunately you can't use the site to process payments. Donations are not eligible for Gift Aid if the donor receives something in return for their gift. Sorry about that!James
I'll have to have a look into doing that. Since I'm in London there's lots of theatres I could hit!
(Now I just have to find out how to get the programs... LOL)
You could try care of any shows they are on.
See if this site lists an agent for them (you might need to get the free trial of their 'pro' membership to get an agent address). Agents will generally forward mail.
Or you could do a search for a site that lists celebritie's addresses: but personally I see writing to them at home as invading their privacy. The celebrity may or may not agree...
Good luck!