[HN Gopher] Radio Man, Autograph King
       ___________________________________________________________________
        
       Radio Man, Autograph King
        
       Author : Caiero
       Score  : 32 points
       Date   : 2023-03-18 06:37 UTC (1 days ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (www.nytimes.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (www.nytimes.com)
        
       | someperson wrote:
       | If a signature from Harrison Ford sells for $750/each, why do
       | actors keep making autographs for free to a small number of
       | charismatic middle-men who clearly are just selling the
       | signatures?
       | 
       | Why don't the actors sell exclusive access to autographs to a
       | more organized cartel that can better control the supply and
       | provide the actors a bigger cut of the profits?
        
         | iz_zi wrote:
         | You are the reason why they don't.
        
           | someperson wrote:
           | Huh? What are you saying?
           | 
           | Each film industry profession has a powerful guild to
           | maximize the value they can extract. I think it's reasonable
           | to understand why this cartel-like behavior doesn't apply to
           | restricting the supply of autographs?
           | 
           | This is not doing one or two autographs for an actual fan.
           | This is giving away hundreds of autographs to charismatic
           | middle-men.
           | 
           | Seems like an opportunity for a more organized group (eg,
           | Screen Actors Guild) to corner the supply that underpins the
           | autograph market and better compensate the actors themselves
           | based on the market value of their autographs.
        
         | bredren wrote:
         | Because they want to support the person.
         | 
         | These folks deal with exploitive, unproductive people involved
         | in big deals all the time.
         | 
         | They don't care what or how someone is exploiting Radio Man so
         | long as Radio is able to keep going.
         | 
         | Another possibility is that focusing on autograph money is
         | leaning toward the refuge of celebrities unable to book
         | lucrative roles and endorsement deals.
         | 
         | See comic book conventions etc.
        
       | Stratoscope wrote:
       | This is the most interesting story, and the most interesting
       | character, I've seen all week. Don't miss it!
        
       | Georgelemental wrote:
       | The comments section is very good.
        
       | boomboomsubban wrote:
       | https://archive.is/RWzP5
        
         | neonate wrote:
         | http://web.archive.org/web/20230319162808/https://www.nytime...
        
       ___________________________________________________________________
       (page generated 2023-03-19 23:03 UTC)