Get Started tips
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Get Started tips
Hi my name is Gard and i live in Norway
I want to start collecting autographs, but i've got some questions before i start.
Firstly
What do all those acronyms that you use mean? RTS, SASE and all those.
Secondly
What's best? hand written letters or computer? (Guessing hand if a stranger can read it)
Thirdly
Should i include pictures or other items, or should i let them find a picture or how does it work?
Finally
How should i write should i include personal story's (Not to long i guess)
Any other tips are very welcome
- Gard
I want to start collecting autographs, but i've got some questions before i start.
Firstly
What do all those acronyms that you use mean? RTS, SASE and all those.
Secondly
What's best? hand written letters or computer? (Guessing hand if a stranger can read it)
Thirdly
Should i include pictures or other items, or should i let them find a picture or how does it work?
Finally
How should i write should i include personal story's (Not to long i guess)
Any other tips are very welcome
- Gard
- jahabadin16
- Autograph Collector
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Mon Aug 03, 2009 4:26 am
- Contact:
Re: Get Started tips
Hey Gard, I'm Nick from the US.Xingnor wrote:Hi my name is Gard and i live in Norway
I want to start collecting autographs, but i've got some questions before i start.
Firstly
What do all those acronyms that you use mean? RTS, SASE and all those.
Secondly
What's best? hand written letters or computer? (Guessing hand if a stranger can read it)
Thirdly
Should i include pictures or other items, or should i let them find a picture or how does it work?
Finally
How should i write should i include personal story's (Not to long i guess)
Any other tips are very welcome
- Gard
Here are some answers to your tips
1) An RTS means a Return to Sender, you don't want this, this could mean that the address you used was wrong, you didn't include the correct amount of postage or many other reasons why the mail failed to send. aka, you don't get the autograph
a SASE means Self Addressed Stamped Envelope which generally means that the person you are sending the letter too doesn't have to pay the postage back thus increasing your chances of getting an autograph back.
2) I always write my letter by hand, they don't have to be novels just something heartfelt and something to make the person sending it to smile a bit
3) It really depends on the celebrity, some will sign pictures you send and some will send back a pre-print, but don't worry at least your were successful. Just to be sure send a picture of them anyway, it couldn't hurt.
4)You can include anything you'd like it's all up to you, just be nice and respectful and you should be a successful autograph collector in no time.
Happy collecting
-Nick
Re: Get Started tips
Hey thanks for the quick replyjahabadin16 wrote: Hey Gard, I'm Nick from the US.
Here are some answers to your tips
1) An RTS means a Return to Sender, you don't want this, this could mean that the address you used was wrong, you didn't include the correct amount of postage or many other reasons why the mail failed to send. aka, you don't get the autograph
a SASE means Self Addressed Stamped Envelope which generally means that the person you are sending the letter too doesn't have to pay the postage back thus increasing your chances of getting an autograph back.
2) I always write my letter by hand, they don't have to be novels just something heartfelt and something to make the person sending it to smile a bit
3) It really depends on the celebrity, some will sign pictures you send and some will send back a pre-print, but don't worry at least your were successful. Just to be sure send a picture of them anyway, it couldn't hurt.
4)You can include anything you'd like it's all up to you, just be nice and respectful and you should be a successful autograph collector in no time.
Happy collecting
-Nick
I see now that SASE was the answer to my next question. But do you include extra stamps or is it a special stamp that you get at the post office?
Is it a good/bad idea to include questions?
And how big are the pictures you send, do you fold them (Seems like something one would like to avoid)
And do you ask "I was hoping you would sign my picture" or something like that? How do you ask?
Thanks again
- Gard
Re: Get Started tips
Hi Xingnor!
Welcome! I have moved your question over the the "Collecting Help" forum. Let me try and answer your questions...
As for tips, always include an self addressed stamped envelope, or international reply coupons and thank them for reading your letter.
Hope that helps!
Good luck!
~Annie
Welcome! I have moved your question over the the "Collecting Help" forum. Let me try and answer your questions...
You can find all the abbreviations here: http://fanmail.biz/mboard/viewtopic.php?f=117&t=14169Firstly
What do all those acronyms that you use mean? RTS, SASE and all those.
Personally, I like to hand write all my letters. I think it looks more personal, but that's just my opinion. Others type their letters. It's what ever you prefer. If you have "bad" handwriting, you may want to type. Some people even explain to the celeb the reason why they typed their letter is because of their handwriting.Secondly
What's best? hand written letters or computer? (Guessing hand if a stranger can read it)
It's really up to you whether or not you want to send a photo. I have sent requests with photos and without photos and have gotten responses. However, some celebs don't sign unless you send a photo. In which case you can check the feedback history on this database for the person you want to send to and find out more info that way.Thirdly
Should i include pictures or other items, or should i let them find a picture or how does it work?
Again, it's really up to you. I'd say try to make your letter no longer then one page (front and back). I usually tell the person why I like them, a little about myself and maybe a few questions I have for them. If they are on telelvision or in film, I include a story line that their character was involved in that I liked or a role that they played that inspired me.Finally
How should i write should i include personal story's (Not to long i guess)
As for tips, always include an self addressed stamped envelope, or international reply coupons and thank them for reading your letter.
Hope that helps!
Good luck!
~Annie
Re: Get Started tips
Thanks Annieannie985 wrote:Hi Xingnor!
Welcome! I have moved your question over the the "Collecting Help" forum. Let me try and answer your questions...
~Annie
Oh I was looking for a help forum, but apparently i didn't look enough :neutral:
How big pictures do you send? And do you just print a picture on normal paper, or do you use like a photo paper? or do you buy a poster or something?
Sorry if I'm asking a lot of questions but I don't want to make a mistake
- Gard
Re: Get Started tips
The size of the photo depends on you. I usually send a small photo so it costs less to print and send, that way if it isn't returned I haven't spent a lot of money. I print photos at a store near me but others on the forum print them at home, but I would use photo paper so they would be better quality than normal paper.Xingnor wrote: How big pictures do you send? And do you just print a picture on normal paper, or do you use like a photo paper? or do you buy a poster or something?
Sorry if I'm asking a lot of questions but I don't want to make a mistake
- Gard
I wouldn't recomend sending a poster mainly because it is big and might be hard to keep.
Feel free to ask more questions: we love to help. {thumb2}
BossC
Re: Get Started tips
Hey thanks BossCBossC wrote: I wouldn't recomend sending a poster mainly because it is big and might be hard to keep.
Feel free to ask more questions: we love to help. {thumb2}
BossC
And yea i know a poster would be really hard to send, i just added it in case anyone bought small poster ect..
I've got a color printer and ill probably print on some photo paper and i might use an exacto knife to cut out a picture a bit smaller then A4.
How big envelops do you guys send? And do you fold the picture?
As always any more tips are welcome
- Gard
Re: Get Started tips
Well, again, it all depends on the size of the picture that you are sending. I ALWAYS send a letter with my requests, so I usually use an 8.5 x 11" envelope or at least a big enough envelope that fits normal paper without having to bend it.Xingnor wrote:How big envelops do you guys send? And do you fold the picture?
- Gard
So, I never have to fold my picture. But if you send an SAE/SASE with your request, I always fold it down the middle to fit in the envelope.
Any more questions? I'm happy to answer them. (:
Re: Get Started tips
Okay what is actuarially an SAE/SASE i understand that it is a way that the person that you're sending to doesn't have to pay in order to send it back, but since you say that you fold it i got confused, is it just another envelope with stamps and your address on it, or what.... Cleesebbgood39 wrote: So, I never have to fold my picture. But if you send an SAE/SASE with your request, I always fold it down the middle to fit in the envelope.
Any more questions? I'm happy to answer them. (:
And one more thing what do you wright?
I mean how do you ask if the would sign it?
Sorry again for my questions but since ill be sending to those people i idolize like John Cleese so i want to be sure of what I'm doing.
- Gard
Re: Get Started tips
SAE is a Self Addressed Envelope. You put your address in the middle of the envelope and that's it.Xingnor wrote:Okay what is actuarially an SAE/SASE i understand that it is a way that the person that you're sending to doesn't have to pay in order to send it back, but since you say that you fold it i got confused, is it just another envelope with stamps and your address on it, or what.... Cleese
And one more thing what do you wright?
I mean how do you ask if the would sign it?
Sorry again for my questions but since ill be sending to those people i idolize like John Cleese so i want to be sure of what I'm doing.
- Gard
SASE is a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope. You put your address in the middle of the envelope, and put stamps in the upper right hand corner.
For the letter, it's up to you. I would start off by saying a bit about yourself (who you are, your age) and then saying why you like them. And then end off by asking for an autograph.
Good luck.
- Angela
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