I need a little help...

[MW1221]

I thought about starting a charity auction, but I thought it seemed a little common. So I got an idea of starting a convention-like show, where the celebrities actually come and sign for you for a small fee, which is donated to charity.

I pretty much know what I'm doing, but I have a few questions.

1.) What celebrities can you think of that will willingly travel and sign for free to help charity?

2.) What's a good charity? I can't think of one. So my first thought was to have the celebrities pick their favorite charity and all their money goes to that. But that still leaves the entry fee and those fees. So, any ideas?

[danny2010]

I don't know if any major celebrities will travel for a free signing, but you might be able to get some smaller ones, I would say to call their agents.

I would say any charity really, they are all worth it. What is a charity that is really worth it to you?

[jasonw]

Hi,
I would suggest you to get younger celebs, thats less busy, eg. hannah marks.
Good luck,
jason

[SweeneyToddFan]

I don't know if any major celebrities will travel for a free signing, but you might be able to get some smaller ones, I would say to call their agents.

I would say any charity really, they are all worth it. What is a charity that is really worth it to you?

I'd like to make a correction: not all charities are worth the time and trouble. DO YOUR RESEARCH on any charity you are considering collecting for. Ask them if you can have some info and/or tour their buildings/sites/projects if possible.

As to getting celebs...I'll be honest. The majority of them arn't going to fly and sign for a charity they might not have heard of on their dime just because you write them a letter(but almost any of them will sign something for an auction....accept simon from american idol...). 99 out of 100 celebs already have atleast 1 charity they support on a regular basis. Try local celebs in your area. News ancors/bands/sport teams are good ideas. Many of them would be more then happy to come.

-please note- if you disagree with what I wrote above, please remember...its my opinion....not yours.

[The.Evening.Optimist]

A charity auction is more common yes, but it's certainly more realistic then expecting a whole bunch of A-listers to pop up at a convention at their own expense. You can only but try younger/less known stars, but whether they'll generate much interest and money for your charitable causes is another thing. As for which charity, my suggestions are something for the homeless, those with cancer, or animals.

[SweeneyToddFan]

A charity auction is more common yes, but it's certainly more realistic then expecting a whole bunch of A-listers to pop up at a convention at their own expense. You can only but try younger/less known stars, but whether they'll generate much interest and money for your charitable causes is another thing. As for which charity, my suggestions are something for the homeless, those with cancer, or animals.

I totally agree. Sorry, but johhy depp or tom cruise arn't going to show up. Even lesser known star you might have to pay to come....which kinda defeats the purpose. To get anybody more then local celebs to show up, you would have to personally know the star...and even then that may not be enough. And with the writers strike doing better alot of top celebs are back
making movies, so they really dont have much free time on their hands.

My only thought on how to get some smaller/lesser known stars there(besides local celebs), would be raising money for a chairity they support. EXAMPLE: say "bob" the celebrity supports cancer research and regularly gives to a certain cancer charity. And say you decied his charity is the one you want to support. Try writing bob and the chairty and tell them what your doing and why and ask both the charity and "Bob" if he could come and sign stuff. If its a lesser known star they might show up, or if their busy or they are a bigger star they might send you multiply autographed pictures and memorabilia to sale for the charity. I mean it's worth a shot, but really, dont get set on the idea that a celeb would actually come.---SweeneyToddFan

[afem1010]

I agree with what everyone has stated in this thread

However, if this is your idea for a charity mission and you think you can pull it off, by all means try. I would like you to succeed. But this is restricted not only to smaller stars, but certain people as well. People who would take time out to come and "volunteer" for a charity event would be mostly local Authors, journalists, theatre stars perhaps and if your lucky, local movie/tv stars who are junior to their respective field like kid stars like Diandra Newlin (though she is a pretty big star in my opinion)

I would concentrate less on the celebrities and more on the event. Even if two well known local authors come, its a big deal, and a big achievement. And the thing about local people is, who are not A-Listers of course, you could probably go to their residence and speak to them one on one, and they would be happy to help out

Nonetheless, if it is A-Listers you want, you would either need BIG sponsors (and I mean BIG) or you will never very very good contacts to arrange celebrities. Otherwise, its alot of money out of your pocket, which would be a major burden on you for a LONG time to come.

I am not saying you cannot do it, you just need to see what is possible for a beginning.


One point to note - if you are at a University or a college or maybe even a highschool for that matter, start of your charity collecting there and start building a resume of your charitable events. Then when you make a portfolio of how much you have been involved in charity collecting, you are likely to get sponsors later on and then you can build a sponsor database for yourself. This way you will just continue to climb where, at one point, you can make a big event where getting one or 2 known celebrities maybe possible (this is still probably local but KNOWN people)

I hope this has helped you and anyone else interested in Charity collecting

Cheers
afem1010

[SweeneyToddFan]

I will also say, the celeb's managers and PR people can be hard to convince....Thats their job. I have interviewed Maksim Chmerkovskiy from Dancing with the Stars over the phone, and let me tell you, it took about 2 weeks of calling down to his studio to get past his PR people. I'm not holding that against them or anything, I totally respect them, but man it was alot of work.

I would say: collect autograph...collect autographs like crazy. Then if you have time, ask the celebs to come; but dont count on any celeb showing up.