Autographed Rock Memorabilia

Hopefully if you are reading this lens, you have already discovered the hobby of collecting autographed memorabilia. Collecting memorabilia is fun to do and your collection will grow in value as the years go by (also read our investment guide below). There are many types of memorabilia to collect - sports, movies, celebrity, historical and more, but autographed rock memorabilia is our favorite and we think it will be yours too. Everyone loves music so it is easy to have the passion of collecting autographs from your favorite bands and musicians. How about a guitar signed by your favorite band growing up or a cd signed by your current favorite? Or Both? You can easily create a unique timeline of your life through music memorabilia.

Starting an autographed music memorabilia collection is fun to do and pretty easy. You can either purchase from a dealer or obtain them yourself:

Purchasing -

Purchasing autographs from a dealer is the easiest way to add to your collection. The dealer has already done all the work for you and you have the option of picking out exactly what autograph you want on the item you want (guitar, cd, lp, drumskin, ect). You usually won't get that much choice when trying to get items signed yourself. Just make sure to purchase from a dealer that obtains their autographs in person (like us). This insures you are getting authentic autographs and it keeps your cost lower. A middleman will charge more to get back what they paid plus profit and they usually are not 100% sure about authenticity.

Obtaining in Person -

Obtaining autographs in person definitely has its advantages - its free (except expenses from the hunt), you can always be sure about authenticity and you will always remember the encounter of getting the autograph. The downside is that it is hard work, especially if you do not have any music business connections. If you are willing to put in the effort, it will be worth it. First thing you want to do is find out who is coming to your town or close by. After you have a list of the autographs you want, you can start the stalking procedures. If they are coming to town for a concert, which venue are they playing? You can try to catch them arriving or leaving the venue and ask for an autograph. Same can be done at hotels. You might get lucky enough to catch them around town too. Some musicians will do autograph signing sessions at a local store or at the concert venue. Check their website or online to find out if they have anything scheduled.

Obtaining autographs Through The Mail (TTM) -

This is another option, but not really recommended. Only some musicians actually sign the items mailed to them. It is usually someone else signing for them (called a secretarial) or a stamped signature. If you don't mind the mystery than this can be a good option. Addresses can be found on many website with success rates posted. Mail in a photo or other small item you want signed and hopefully you will receive it back autographed. To increase your chances of success, always include return postage costs. Also consider writing a letter along with it explaining why you are such a fan and what the autograph would mean to you. This could help your chances of getting a real autograph if your letter gets relayed to the artist.

Once you've picked your method, it is time to start planning your collection. Good luck!

The most important part of your collection is whether or not the pieces are authentic. No one wants to own a collection of forgeries. It takes the fun out of collecting autographs and tanks your collection's value to zero. To ensure that you do not end up in this situation, always do your research before purchasing an autograph.

Did they obtain the autograph in person? If not, do they know who did? When and where was the autograph signed? Most of the time an internet search can tell you if the musician was there or not. Remember the person that tried to sell Britney Spears' chewed gum from the VMAs on eBay? Well, it turned out that Britney didn't even attend the VMAs that year. The same method applies here. If the celebrity wasn't where the seller says they obtained the autograph, you can be sure they are trying to sell you a forgery.

If it was a special event, do they have ticket stubs or passes? This can help you to confirm that they were there.

Do they have photos of the signing? If so, this can be a lock for authenticity and you won't need much else. If not, don't count it out yet. Some venues will not allow cameras (a problem we have encountered many times).

If purchasing from a company, what is their reputation? How long have they been in business? How informative are they about their autographs? Sending a few questions and doing an internet search will help figure all that out.

Warning about Certificates of Authenticity -

If an autograph comes with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA), it does not automatically make it authentic. Unfortunately, anyone can print one and most forgers do. Even COAs from companies like PSA and JSA have proven to be unreliable. It is better to stick to the guidelines above and the COA will just be extra.

Did you know you can invest in autographed memorabilia? While gold and your 401k go up and down over the years, memorabilia consistently goes up in value. As musicians get older and bands break up, their autographs become harder and harder to obtain making their value go up. When musicians pass away, expect their autographed memorabilia to skyrocket. You don't have to invest all your money at once. Just buy a piece here and there when you have extra money available. As the years go by, you will have an impressive collection that will be worth much more than you put into it. The best part is that you can display it in your home or office. It looks great on the wall and makes for great conversation with your guests. You can't do that with your 401k. Visit Hard Rock Stage Productions Autographed Memorabilia to find out about starting a collection

Did you know anyone can earn money selling autographed memorabilia? Do you have an existing store? Just put a few pieces of autographed memorabilia for sale behind the counter. It makes for an attractive display and sells well. Autographed rock memorabilia goes great in bars, clubs, music stores, clothing stores and just about anywhere else. Have an online store? Add an extra page with your autographed memorabilia. You can also make it into a full time business. Hard Rock Stage Productions offers wholesale pricing on autographed rock, country and pop memorabilia to retailers. Find out more on their site - Autographed Memorabilia Wholesale

Auctions and fundraisers are a great way for charity organizations to raise the much needed funds for their cause. To get the most response and revenue from your event, you will want to add items for sale/raffle that really get their attention and encourage them to participate in bidding or buying raffle tickets. Adding autographed memorabilia to your event is one of the best ways to accomplish this. Everyone enjoys music and to see a piece of memorabilia autographed by your favorite musician is quite exciting. Having a chance to own it is even better. Getting the word out early that you have a Rolling Stones signed guitar or a Paul McCartney signed album at your upcoming event will generate a lot of interest and press about your event which increases attendance (if it is not invitation only). Once you have everyone in attendance, watch the donations pour in. Whether they are buying raffle tickets or bidding, autographed memorabilia usually tends to go for much more than expected. A $500 investment for an autographed guitar could get you back $3000. That is $2500 profit straight to your cause. Put a few pieces in your event and the profit will be even more. To help charities get autographed memorabilia for their events at the lowest cost, Hard Rock Stage Productions has a discount program for all non-profit organizations. Find out more about their program on their website - Autographed memorabilia charity discounts

Once you have added a great piece of autographed memorabilia to your collection, you will want to preserve it and keep it in the same condition as when you bought or obtained it. If the autograph ever becomes ruined, you will probably be heartbroken and your memorabilia's value will be gone. The #1 thing you will want to do is frame it. Not only are you protecting the autograph and the item the autograph is on, but you can set up a unique display to show off your new prized possession (see attached photo). You can add pictures, matting, logos and anything else you want to make your piece unique and protect it.

A couple notes about autographed guitars: Please do not play an autographed guitar. Just because your favorite guitarist put his signature on it, does not mean you will suddenly be able to play like him by using that guitar. If you sucked before, you will still suck and rub off the signature in the process. Also, if you live near the ocean, consider framing your autographed guitar. Something about the saltwater in the air causes the signatures to fade rather quickly.