General Question about Via Venue requests

[SweetRiverBanes]

Hey, everybody. I am relatively new to the message boards, and have recently begun trying to get some autographs, mostly from bands. I'm sure there are some obvious answers to this question but here goes:

In the last couple months, I have sent between ten and fifteen VV requests, all to venues that have confirmed successes, and most to artists that have signed VV before. To date, I have received NOTHING back. No fails, no RTSs, and sadly, no successes.

All of my mailings are CD covers in regular 5x11.5" envelopes with LORs and SASEs.

Thoughts?
How possible is it that they get received by the venue, end up on somebody's desk, then are thrown away? Would people really do that instead of just Returning to Sender?

I would appreciate any insight.

[aamir]

Via Venue is a big risk - take it if you wanted. The less risky way to get musician's autographs is to send to their management. As for your autos, there is a chance you'll get a few of them back soon. Don't be disheartened.

[Selise]

Hey, everybody. I am relatively new to the message boards, and have recently begun trying to get some autographs, mostly from bands. I'm sure there are some obvious answers to this question but here goes:

In the last couple months, I have sent between ten and fifteen VV requests, all to venues that have confirmed successes, and most to artists that have signed VV before. To date, I have received NOTHING back. No fails, no RTSs, and sadly, no successes.

All of my mailings are CD covers in regular 5x11.5" envelopes with LORs and SASEs.

Thoughts?
How possible is it that they get received by the venue, end up on somebody's desk, then are thrown away? Would people really do that instead of just Returning to Sender?

I would appreciate any insight.

Hi! Welcome to Fanmail! I do a lot of my sending VV, so I hope I can help a little bit:

Honestly - it depends on the people handling the fanmail. Your letter probably did get passed on to the bands management *if* the venue is confirmed (I've no idea what venues you sent to). Sometimes the manager or the celebs will take the letters with them and read & respond when they get back to their home.

Is it possible they got thrown out - yes. Yes, people do really just throw things away.

I don't know what bands you've sent to, but it's possible the bands are going to go through their mail at the later date, or it's possible your letter got to the bottom of the pile. It's also possible that the band didn't get your letter, if your letter got there late. Perhaps you didn't have enough postage on the SASE.. There are multitudes of reasons why you might not have it back yet.

My best advice to you, especially while sending VV, is to only send what you are willing to lose. I typically send a 4x6 photo, a custom index card, plain index card or a magazine page or something that I'm not going to be too fussed over if I don't get it back.

Hope that helps,

Selise

[SweetRiverBanes]

Thanks for those good thoughts. I really appreciate it. In case anyone is interested, here are a few artists and venues I have tried. YES, I know that several of these are historically bad signers and some are unproved altogether. And YES, luckily I did send stuff I did not mind if I never saw again.

Also, even if these boards told me the venue passed mail, I double-checked with all of them beforehand. So all of these venues are good, supposedly.

Wilco and Neil Young at Madison Square Garden (seperate mail)
Oasis and Ryan Adams at GMU Patriot Center (separate mail)
Widespread Panic at Pepsi Center in Denver
Gregg Allman at Wellmont Theatre
Eagles at Time Warner Cable
Brian Wilson at Grammy Museum

And several others. I will keep my fingers crossed I guess. I am in the US, BTW.

Also, I have gotten some good sigs via management (even Tom Petty!), but have not taken the time to post yet.

[karaoke]

VV is the best & quickest way to get items signed.
a little hint ( try sending somthing other than a photo, show them you are a fan of the artist eg. cd cover or somthing, but nothing you are willing to lose forever, or to expensive).
hope this hint helps you.

[SweetRiverBanes]

As if someone knew the woes I was having, I received my FIRST VV response today. I will post it officially when I have time, but it was Kings of Leon from the Uptown Theater on January 23. All four guys signed my CD cover.

[Selise]

Great!

Be sure to post it in the Via Venue section for Feedback

Selise

[jrott]

Hi Sweet

I can say for sure Oasis signs VV as I sent to them last December. It took a total of 8 days to get back.
I also sent to Neil Young for his MSG shows in December. Last week I received it back return to sender. "Undeliverable address"
After my fast Oasis success, I thought VV was the best way to get bands (as thats what I mainly collect) but like you, I am starting to lose hope. I called all the venues prior to sending to confirm the mail is passed to the tour manager but so far nothing. Hopefully, we will get something back soon to give each other hope