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Got to Borders in Philly today at about 6:45 or so in the morning to get my wristband. Store opened at 8, and I was in group B (batches of 50 people). Got to the store this evening at 5:45, and the signing was scheduled to start at 6. When I got there, group C was being allowed in. To their credit, security moved me right up ahead with the B's. That's about all I give them credit for tonight. The line was chaotic and poorly organized, and the handlers were downright mean. I had a Blizzard of Ozz album cover (the first I ever bought), and the handler who saw it immediately started yelling, "No! No! Absolutely not! Put that away!" They were completely unreasonable with how quickly they moved folks along too. I had just finished saying "Ozzy, you're one of my heroes. Blizzard was the first album I ever bought" when I was physically moved along by his handlers. He was looking up and clearly wanted to respond to me, but was not allowed to. Ozzy is, has been, and always will be great to his fans. 1500 wrist bands were given out today, and every person will get their turn. Unfortunately, the handling staff prevented it from being as amazing as it should have been.

Ozzy remains a hero to me, both for his music and the down-to-earth manner with which he treats his fans. It pains me to see his staff do this.

In any case, it was totally worth the 5:30 alarm to get in line to meet this legend.

I went to the one yesterday at Borders Columbus Circle in NYC and I had a simular experience with the staff rushing you out without barely letting a word out to Ozzy.

We didn't have it like you did with the wristbands and the different groups it was just going in to get the book and hop on line.

I'm glad I got to "meet" him but he was pretty much like a robot; he kept signing without looking up at anyone as the staff handed him the books and rushed people out.

btw, I posted my autograph in another thread if you haven't seen it already.

Congrats but honestly did you think you were going to talk to him?? I have been to many,many signings and the more popular the person is the more they hurry you along.You might get a smile or a wave but they aren't going to say hi or forget having a photo with.That is one of the reasons why I hate signings. They are very rushed

Heyheyyou wrote:Congrats but honestly did you think you were going to talk to him?? I have been to many,many signings and the more popular the person is the more they hurry you along.You might get a smile or a wave but they aren't going to say hi or forget having a photo with.That is one of the reasons why I hate signings. They are very rushed

Past book signings I have been to:
Gene Simmons (KISS)
Kevin Smith (director)
Guillermo del Toro (director)
Stephen Fry (actor)

...took their time with everyone, posing for individual photos and having brief convos. with the fans.

Gene Simmons kind of a has been Kevin Smith he isn't exactly popular anymore and the other 2 you mentioned never heard of so of course they would greet fans,etc but someone like say Ozzy, Stefanie Myer someone hugely popular and huge fanbase they wouldn't stop pose for pics.Come on let's be realistic here....... Ozzy huge Gene Simmons not so much....

I'm with James on this one. Did I expect to have a convo? Yes. I didn't expect him to walk me through the process of recording Blizzard of Ozz piece by piece, but I expected to have at least a one sentence per person dialogue. Major book signings I have been to before:

Michael Crichton - told him that I was a big fan, that I had been reading his books since the 5th grade (true), and that I was about to write a paper on The Andromeda Strain. He asked me what I was writing about, talked with me about it a bit, then wrote a personal message in my book. Signed it "To Seth - It was an absolute pleasure to meet you! Best, Michael Crichton). I was like 14, and it made a huge impression on me.

Sen. Al Franken - The signing was just after the Jewish New Year. I wished him a happy new year, and we chitchatted a bit while he signed my book and a little bit after. Not a huge or meaningful convo, but certainly not just going through the motions.

George Carlin - Easily the most caring star I have had the good fortune to meet. I wear the yarmalke (Jewish ritual head covering), which Mr. Carlin's new book references at a point. As I approached the table, before I could say anything, he said "Hey, man, how ya doin? Have you gotten to the part of the book yet about the hip-hop Jew who wears his Yarmalke sideways?" We then proceeded to have a pretty decent length convo about one of his older comedy bits which continued well past the actual signing of the book, meaning that we actually made a bunch of eye contact. Felt like he was an old buddy. Just an awesome, awesome man. He is missed.

I've also met Howard Dean, Sec. Madeline Albright, and many others at signings like this one where I had real convos. I've also had full convos with very busy, very prominent people far more influential than Ozzy even (one of whom addressed our nation tonight) and had very full, meaningful conversations. I don't think it was so unreasonable to, for waiting in line for 2 hr this morning to buy my book and another half hour for the signing, to expect at least a "Thanks for being a fan" or "I appreciate that" after I told the man he was a hero of mine. I don't blame Oz, 'cause it was definitely his handlers rushing it along, but it definitely left a bad taste the way his handlers were treating the fans.

Heyheyyou wrote:Gene Simmons kind of a has been Kevin Smith he isn't exactly popular anymore and the other 2 you mentioned never heard of so of course they would greet fans,etc but someone like say Ozzy, Stefanie Myer someone hugely popular and huge fanbase they wouldn't stop pose for pics.Come on let's be realistic here....... Ozzy huge Gene Simmons not so much....

Fuck taking pictures, not allowing pics is standard procedure at any book signing, no matter how big. What pisses me off is when they rush you away without time for so much as eye contact and a handshake.

Oh I gotcha....... Ya I guess that would be dissapointing especially the amount of time you waited.I personally am not a fan of signings because of how quickly the go and no photos,etc

Heyheyyou wrote:Gene Simmons kind of a has been Kevin Smith he isn't exactly popular anymore and the other 2 you mentioned never heard of so of course they would greet fans,etc but someone like say Ozzy, Stefanie Myer someone hugely popular and huge fanbase they wouldn't stop pose for pics.Come on let's be realistic here....... Ozzy huge Gene Simmons not so much....

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Heyheyyou wrote:Gene Simmons kind of a has been Kevin Smith he isn't exactly popular anymore and the other 2 you mentioned never heard of so of course they would greet fans,etc but someone like say Ozzy, Stefanie Myer someone hugely popular and huge fanbase they wouldn't stop pose for pics.Come on let's be realistic here....... Ozzy huge Gene Simmons not so much....

Gene Simmons may not be as big as Ozzy but he is no way a has been. Anything KISS related has a huge fanbase with fans following them to every event. KISS just put out a new album a few months ago.

Kevin Smith is still very popular. He has a new movie with Bruce Willis coming out and he's very big in the "comic book crowd".

Guillermo del Toro is a director. He did the 2 Hellboy's, Pan's Labyrinth, and he's currently doing The Hobbit. He is pretty big.

Stephen Fry is a British comedian who does work with Hugh Laurie (House). He's not as big in the US as he is in the UK.


I'm not speaking just as a fan but they are pretty big people; not "nobodies".