Guess who's back! Stay tuned for new posts with plenty of TTM and IP autograph collecting goodness coming soon.
You can also get your Cpt.Caveman's TTM Autographs fix on Facebook
or follow me on Twitter @cavewv
Friday, July 12, 2019
Saturday, December 22, 2018
Cpt. Caveman's TTM Autographs #180
Welcome back for another weekly TTM success post. It's been a hectic week here this week with work and getting everything ready for Christmas so as you might have noticed I didn't get the Wednesday or Friday posts up and I'm a bit late on the success post. Sadly it was a no mail week for us also so we don't have any new TTM returns to share this week. I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and hopefully Santa will bring you all some autographs and TTM supplies Christmas morning. Everyone have a safe and wonderful holiday. I'm off all this week so everything will be back to normal this Wednesday for the mid week TTM address post. So until then Merry Christmas everyone.
You can also get your Cpt.Caveman's TTM Autographs fix on Facebook
or follow me on Twitter @cavewv
Saturday, December 15, 2018
Cpt. Caveman's TTM Autographs #179
Welcome back for another weekly TTM success post. Its been awhile since I did a how to TTM post so here's a quick step by step guide to our method of TTM autograph collecting to help any new collectors out there that may need a little info or help to get them started.
Step 1-Research and Address Hunting
The first thing I do is research the celeb I intend to write. I look to see what they are currently doing, are they still filming movies and shows or are they retired? When trying for musicians and bands maby their out on tour so sending to the venue might be the best place to try. I then look for address's. I'd rather use a management address but sometimes only a private address is available. I look at their signing habits. Do they even sign autographs TTM for fans? Some big name celebs won't sign period. Some get tired of signing or seeing the items they thought they signed for true fans for sell on eBay so they just stop signing all together. Luckily alot of celebs still do sign TTM. When researching address's a good place for beginners to start is www.fanmail.biz. There are better sites like www.startiger.com but its requires a fee to join but its worth the price. Then there's the Sports Card Forum and an entire world of TTM blogs and Facebook pages with people sharing address's. Since fanmail is a free site its a great place to start, but I really recommend StarTiger even with having to pay it has more current and up to date address's and forums that actually help members out. With enough online research you can find at least one contact address or email for about any celeb. For current sports stars try sending it to the teams stadium or training facility during spring training or during the regular season.
Step 2-What do you want signed
After I have my info and address's then comes what I think is the hardest part. What do I want signed. We usually send 4x6 photos but others prefer 8x10s and others use 3x5 index cards. Some collectors send baseballs to everyone to have signed. It's really a matter of sending what you like. Choosing the perfect picture to get signed can be the hardest part. You want one that you like but it also best to have one with a lighter area for the celeb to sign. Some will sign with silver or gold sharpies or use paint pens that show up well on darker pictures but unless you send your own most will return in black sharpie. That's why I always try to choose pictures with a lighter background behind the celeb so they have a good area that they can sign in. For athletes sports cards are a great thing to have signed if you have them laying around you might at well try to get some signed. We also send alot of the DVD and bluray covers from our favorite films to be signed and Authors are usually happy to sign a copy of their book.
Step 3-Stamps and Envelopes
So after I have what item I want signed the next step I do is get my request envelope and my SASE or self addressed stamped envelope ready. For envelopes we primarily use 4 1/8 inch by 9 1/2 inch strip and seal envelopes they fit 4x6 photos perfectly and no licking or water to seal the envelope. I address the envelope to the celebs with my address in the return area and theirs in the proper place. For my SASE I put my address in both spots to insure it returns to me no matter what. This way even if it doesn't have proper return postage it will still return to me postage due and not be sent back to the celeb. Then I write PLEASE DO NOT BEND on the front and back of the envelope. After that I put proper postage on both. For our 4x6 photos usually one stamp per envelope works. That covers our 2-3 pictures, letter and our SASE and one stamp is plenty for our return of just a couple pictures. For attempts in the US just regular postage stamps will do but for the overseas requests you need Global forever stamps. Its usually around $1.20 to mail the regular size white or small brown envelopes overseas but its always best to have the post office weigh it just to make sure.
Top envelope is an example for sending your TTM requests.
Bottom envelope is an example of the SASE for the return.
Step 4-Writing your letter of request
Now its time to write that letter. I usually write a full front page letter sometimes a front and back depending on how big a fan I am but I usually try to keep it at a single front page that way I don't take up to much of their time. We send sincere handwritten letters to the celebs and not just a generic can I have your autograph form letter. Sometimes that's all it takes but I'd rather be sincere it's worked better for us. I write them thanking them for all the joy they have given us over the years. I tell them exactly why we are fans and not just we loved you in such and such movie. We tell them exactly how there work has touched our lives and thank them for it. After all that and towards the end I add my request for an autograph followed by please and thanking them again for everything especially their time. Now for really huge celebs or extremely rare or harder to obtain people we write 2-4 page letters. Sometimes it just takes the right letter to move them to sign and sometimes is still a waist of time and stamps but you just never know unless you try. Remember nothing is ever guaranteed.
Step 5-Mail and wait
So you have your pictures and your envelopes ready and you've written the letter now its time to neatly put it all in your request envelope, dont forget the items to be signed, the request letter and a SASE then seal it all up and make sure to check that proper postage is on both then drop it in you mail box and wait and sometimes wait some more lol. Sometimes you get lucky and it only takes a week or two but usually it takes months or even a year or more before you might get a reply. Sometimes the bigger the celeb the longer the wait but that's not always the case because its all in the luck of the draw when they pull your letter out of the huge fan mail pile and reply.
Step 6-log book and tips
So after I send my letter a handy thing I like to do is keep a log book. I write the celebs name and date I sent the request along with the address I used in a small note book that way I can mark the date when and if it's returned. Another tip is I dont hesitate once I find a working address I get a letter out the next day. A celebs signing habits can change and they can stop signing at anytime or the address can get abused and stop working you just never know and when its an older celeb I dont waste time getting my request out to them because like I said anything can happen. They may develop health issues that can stop them from signing or maby just get tired of signing after all these years. Remember it's their choice to sign for us fans its not something they have to do but I always appreciate the ones who do and I'm sure they appreciate us fans or they wouldn't reply at all. So that's how we do it I hope this helps any new collectors looking to get into TTM autograph collecting.
Now for this weeks TTM successes. Monday brought the only return of the week when we received our Archer DVD cover back signed by Amber Nash after only three months. She also sent us several other nice signed photos and a wonderful thank you not on the back of a post card. That's all for this week. Have a great graphing weekend and I'll be back next week with more TTM autographs and address's.
Step 1-Research and Address Hunting
The first thing I do is research the celeb I intend to write. I look to see what they are currently doing, are they still filming movies and shows or are they retired? When trying for musicians and bands maby their out on tour so sending to the venue might be the best place to try. I then look for address's. I'd rather use a management address but sometimes only a private address is available. I look at their signing habits. Do they even sign autographs TTM for fans? Some big name celebs won't sign period. Some get tired of signing or seeing the items they thought they signed for true fans for sell on eBay so they just stop signing all together. Luckily alot of celebs still do sign TTM. When researching address's a good place for beginners to start is www.fanmail.biz. There are better sites like www.startiger.com but its requires a fee to join but its worth the price. Then there's the Sports Card Forum and an entire world of TTM blogs and Facebook pages with people sharing address's. Since fanmail is a free site its a great place to start, but I really recommend StarTiger even with having to pay it has more current and up to date address's and forums that actually help members out. With enough online research you can find at least one contact address or email for about any celeb. For current sports stars try sending it to the teams stadium or training facility during spring training or during the regular season.
Step 2-What do you want signed
After I have my info and address's then comes what I think is the hardest part. What do I want signed. We usually send 4x6 photos but others prefer 8x10s and others use 3x5 index cards. Some collectors send baseballs to everyone to have signed. It's really a matter of sending what you like. Choosing the perfect picture to get signed can be the hardest part. You want one that you like but it also best to have one with a lighter area for the celeb to sign. Some will sign with silver or gold sharpies or use paint pens that show up well on darker pictures but unless you send your own most will return in black sharpie. That's why I always try to choose pictures with a lighter background behind the celeb so they have a good area that they can sign in. For athletes sports cards are a great thing to have signed if you have them laying around you might at well try to get some signed. We also send alot of the DVD and bluray covers from our favorite films to be signed and Authors are usually happy to sign a copy of their book.
Step 3-Stamps and Envelopes
So after I have what item I want signed the next step I do is get my request envelope and my SASE or self addressed stamped envelope ready. For envelopes we primarily use 4 1/8 inch by 9 1/2 inch strip and seal envelopes they fit 4x6 photos perfectly and no licking or water to seal the envelope. I address the envelope to the celebs with my address in the return area and theirs in the proper place. For my SASE I put my address in both spots to insure it returns to me no matter what. This way even if it doesn't have proper return postage it will still return to me postage due and not be sent back to the celeb. Then I write PLEASE DO NOT BEND on the front and back of the envelope. After that I put proper postage on both. For our 4x6 photos usually one stamp per envelope works. That covers our 2-3 pictures, letter and our SASE and one stamp is plenty for our return of just a couple pictures. For attempts in the US just regular postage stamps will do but for the overseas requests you need Global forever stamps. Its usually around $1.20 to mail the regular size white or small brown envelopes overseas but its always best to have the post office weigh it just to make sure.
Top envelope is an example for sending your TTM requests.
Step 4-Writing your letter of request
Now its time to write that letter. I usually write a full front page letter sometimes a front and back depending on how big a fan I am but I usually try to keep it at a single front page that way I don't take up to much of their time. We send sincere handwritten letters to the celebs and not just a generic can I have your autograph form letter. Sometimes that's all it takes but I'd rather be sincere it's worked better for us. I write them thanking them for all the joy they have given us over the years. I tell them exactly why we are fans and not just we loved you in such and such movie. We tell them exactly how there work has touched our lives and thank them for it. After all that and towards the end I add my request for an autograph followed by please and thanking them again for everything especially their time. Now for really huge celebs or extremely rare or harder to obtain people we write 2-4 page letters. Sometimes it just takes the right letter to move them to sign and sometimes is still a waist of time and stamps but you just never know unless you try. Remember nothing is ever guaranteed.
Step 5-Mail and wait
So you have your pictures and your envelopes ready and you've written the letter now its time to neatly put it all in your request envelope, dont forget the items to be signed, the request letter and a SASE then seal it all up and make sure to check that proper postage is on both then drop it in you mail box and wait and sometimes wait some more lol. Sometimes you get lucky and it only takes a week or two but usually it takes months or even a year or more before you might get a reply. Sometimes the bigger the celeb the longer the wait but that's not always the case because its all in the luck of the draw when they pull your letter out of the huge fan mail pile and reply.
Step 6-log book and tips
So after I send my letter a handy thing I like to do is keep a log book. I write the celebs name and date I sent the request along with the address I used in a small note book that way I can mark the date when and if it's returned. Another tip is I dont hesitate once I find a working address I get a letter out the next day. A celebs signing habits can change and they can stop signing at anytime or the address can get abused and stop working you just never know and when its an older celeb I dont waste time getting my request out to them because like I said anything can happen. They may develop health issues that can stop them from signing or maby just get tired of signing after all these years. Remember it's their choice to sign for us fans its not something they have to do but I always appreciate the ones who do and I'm sure they appreciate us fans or they wouldn't reply at all. So that's how we do it I hope this helps any new collectors looking to get into TTM autograph collecting.
Now for this weeks TTM successes. Monday brought the only return of the week when we received our Archer DVD cover back signed by Amber Nash after only three months. She also sent us several other nice signed photos and a wonderful thank you not on the back of a post card. That's all for this week. Have a great graphing weekend and I'll be back next week with more TTM autographs and address's.
*
-
Amber Nash
Atlanta Models & Talent
3098 Piedmont Road
Suite 102
Atlanta, GA 30305
-
*
You can also get your Cpt.Caveman's TTM Autographs fix on Facebook
or follow me on Twitter @cavewv
Friday, December 14, 2018
Cpt. Caveman's TTM Autographs Friday Favorites
Welcome back to another Friday Favorites. Every Friday we share a few of our favorite autographs from our collection. Some may be TTM favorites and some may be in person or purchased favorites but as always if it's a TTM favorite and the address is still valid I'll add that also. This week it's a random favorites. So enjoy and I'll be back tomorrow with this weeks TTM success post with new autographs and address's
*
-
Jeffrey Dean Morgan
-
Eric Roberts
-
Curtis Armstrong
-
Ed Asner
-
Jon Cryer
-
*
You can also get your Cpt.Caveman's TTM Autographs fix on Facebook
or follow me on Twitter @cavewv
Thursday, December 13, 2018
Cpt. Caveman's TTM Autographs Bonus Post Graphing the Riders in the Sky
Welcome back for another in person graphing bonus post. I headed out to Lewisburg, WV the coolest small town in America ( Google it if you don't believe me lol ) and only a couple miles away from my house Thursday night to watch the amazingly funny and talented music group Riders In The Sky perform at our Carnegie Hall ( same Carnegie different Hall ). The Riders have been bringing laughter and music to fans for 41 years and are still out touring and putting on a wonderful show. The current tour is called Christmas The Cowboy Way and I highly recommend seeing the multi Grammy winning act if you have the opportunity. After they finished up the two hour show all four members came out to meet the fans, take photos and sign autographs for anyone that wanted to hang out after the show. Somehow I lucked out and was first in line and had the opportunity to talk with everyone while getting my photos signed and then I got my picture taken with all four. Everyone was super nice and they signed anything people had for them. It was a fun night filled with laughter and fresh ink and who could ask for anything more than that. Anyways I'll be back Saturday with this week's TTM Success Post so until then enjoy a few pictures and my autographs from the concert.
*
-
-
-
-
-
-
*
You can also get your Cpt.Caveman's TTM Autographs fix on Facebook
or follow me on Twitter @cavewv
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Cpt. Caveman's TTM Autographs Mid Week Address's
Welcome back to another mid week TTM address post. Every Wednesday I share a few of the current working TTM address's I've run across since last weeks post. We haven't tested all of these yet some we have and some we will but others have recently had success using them. So get writing and as always I'll be back Friday with the favorites and Saturday with this weeks TTM success post with new autographs and tested address's.
*
-
David Bradley
c/o United Agents
12-26 Lexington Street
London W1F 0LE
UK
-
Dee Bradley Baker
Sutton-Barth & Vennari
5900 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 700
Los Angeles, CA 90036
-
Ariela Barer
c/o Innovative Artists
235 Park Avenue South
10th Floor
New York, NY 10003
-
Diane Baker
Baker Street Entertainment
2733 Outpost Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90068-2061
-
Billy Crudup
c/o Buchwald
10 East 44th Street
New York, NY 10017
-
*
You can also get your Cpt.Caveman's TTM Autographs fix on Facebook
or follow me on Twitter @cavewv
Saturday, December 8, 2018
Cpt. Caveman's TTM Autographs #178
Welcome back for another weekly TTM success post. This week I wanted to share a few websites that will help all you TTM and In Person graphers with your never ending quest for fresh ink.
http://www.celebritybooksigningsandevents.com
onlocationvacations.com
http://www.signingshotline.com
http://www.sportscollectors.net/
www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on stage
Now for this week's TTM returns. Monday brought our only return of the week when we received both our photos from IT back signed by Jeremy Ray Taylor after waiting just under a year for them to return. That's all for this week. Have a great graphing weekend and I'll be back next week with more TTM autographs and address's.
http://www.celebritybooksigningsandevents.com
onlocationvacations.com
http://www.signingshotline.com
http://www.sportscollectors.net/
www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on stage
Now for this week's TTM returns. Monday brought our only return of the week when we received both our photos from IT back signed by Jeremy Ray Taylor after waiting just under a year for them to return. That's all for this week. Have a great graphing weekend and I'll be back next week with more TTM autographs and address's.
*
-
Jeremy Ray Taylor
P.o. Box 3056
Bristol, TN 37625
-
*
You can also get your Cpt.Caveman's TTM Autographs fix on Facebook
or follow me on Twitter @cavewv
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)