Get Started tips

[Xingnor]

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

[jahabadin16]

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

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

[Xingnor]

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

Hey thanks for the quick reply

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

[annie985]

Hi Xingnor!

Welcome! I have moved your question over the the "Collecting Help" forum. Let me try and answer your questions...

Firstly
What do all those acronyms that you use mean? RTS, SASE and all those.

You can find all the abbreviations here: http://fanmail.biz/mboard/viewtopic.php?f=117&t=14169

Secondly
What's best? hand written letters or computer? (Guessing hand if a stranger can read it)

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.

Thirdly
Should i include pictures or other items, or should i let them find a picture or how does it work?

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.

Finally
How should i write should i include personal story's (Not to long i guess)

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.

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

[Xingnor]

Hi Xingnor!

Welcome! I have moved your question over the the "Collecting Help" forum. Let me try and answer your questions...

~Annie

Thanks 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

[BossC]

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

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.

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

[Xingnor]

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

Hey thanks 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

[bbgood39]

How big envelops do you guys send? And do you fold the picture?
- Gard

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.

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. (:

[Xingnor]

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. (:

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

[bbgood39]

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

SAE is a Self Addressed Envelope. You put your address in the middle of the envelope and that's it.
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