How does the $ breakdown for an athlete appearing at a card show

mrb842 · 04-10-2025, 05:19 PM

Let's say it's Joe Montana or David Ortiz appearing at the national or Thurman Thomas or an Adley Rutschman appearing at a card show in the region they played in. How does the $ breakdown for the athlete to appear, the dealer that runs the signings like tristar and the show itself.

auctionjmm · 04-10-2025, 06:05 PM

It varies. The athlete has a price, and that price doesn't change. So if the athlete wants $100 per signature and is willing to sign 250 items, the rest of the "math" is up to the promoter. As long as the athlete gets his $25,000, he couldn't care less what the promoter charges. Some promoters will treat signers as loss leaders and absorb much of the cost to entice guests. Others treat this as a true business where they will charge X above $100 to make sure they get enough profit.

VinnyH · 04-11-2025, 12:04 PM

Some other thing I’ll throw out there with high prices. Some guys don’t need the money and it goes to his/her charity. Sometimes the agent is anxious to get their 10% or more so it’s a favor to them. Sometimes they need the money after a nasty divorce. Overall it’s good public relations when done right.
Vinny

daveyc1 · 04-11-2025, 12:24 PM

To my understanding, most athletes have a flat fee for appearing and that is based on time, usually for 1-4 hours. the promoter will then sell as many auto tickets as possible during that time frame.

there are exceptions, Abdul-Jabbar being one. He signs cards according to the "grade" his handler assesses them while at the table, whether they are professionally graded or not. I dont know if he just purchases a table at shows like a dealer or how he goes about it.

04-10-2025, 05:19 PM	#1
mrb842 Member Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: midwest Posts: 1,692	How does the $ breakdown for an athlete appearing at a card show Let's say it's Joe Montana or David Ortiz appearing at the national or Thurman Thomas or an Adley Rutschman appearing at a card show in the region they played in. How does the $ breakdown for the athlete to appear, the dealer that runs the signings like tristar and the show itself.

04-11-2025, 12:04 PM	#3
VinnyH Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Westchester, NY Posts: 10,215 vjweb VinnyH	Some other thing I’ll throw out there with high prices. Some guys don’t need the money and it goes to his/her charity. Sometimes the agent is anxious to get their 10% or more so it’s a favor to them. Sometimes they need the money after a nasty divorce. Overall it’s good public relations when done right. Vinny __________________ I admit, I like collectibles for the action. Buying, selling, prospecting, gambling, etc., are parts of the fun. I will say that being older than many here I just can’t justify sticker autos. Give me a nice on-card auto and I feel that little connection to the signer.

04-10-2025, 06:05 PM	#2
auctionjmm Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 10,055 auctionjmm	It varies. The athlete has a price, and that price doesn't change. So if the athlete wants $100 per signature and is willing to sign 250 items, the rest of the "math" is up to the promoter. As long as the athlete gets his $25,000, he couldn't care less what the promoter charges. Some promoters will treat signers as loss leaders and absorb much of the cost to entice guests. Others treat this as a true business where they will charge X above $100 to make sure they get enough profit.

04-11-2025, 12:24 PM	#4
daveyc1 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: maine Posts: 2,058	To my understanding, most athletes have a flat fee for appearing and that is based on time, usually for 1-4 hours. the promoter will then sell as many auto tickets as possible during that time frame. there are exceptions, Abdul-Jabbar being one. He signs cards according to the "grade" his handler assesses them while at the table, whether they are professionally graded or not. I dont know if he just purchases a table at shows like a dealer or how he goes about it.