So a fist bump is the new hug huh ;) I always wondered what he does to work his way around that...He doesn't openly say he doesn't want hugs in Meat n Greets does he? And you do still get a handshake don't you?
A picture would of course be the perfect memory but not easy to get. Though I suppose he is a lot different when meeting him in non-tour times ? (tapings for TV-shows, film sets)

Yes...although it's not as rude as it sounds!

At the start of the tour he was very tactile - lots of hugs, kisses, handshakes etc...then the band got sick and he openly said he was coming nowhere near any of us (to protect himself and us) and he didn't touch anyone at all, even the pics are of him with his arms folded to stop himself doing it!

As the tour went on he did get a lot more relaxed and by the end we were back to a mixture of handshakes and fist-bumps, and back to arms around people for photos, but he was joking with someone in Manchester and she asked for a kiss and he did have to say "I'm sorry but I just can't go there" - which is fair enough, he didn't know her and the last thing they need is bugs on the plane.

VIPNation brief you before going in .. no grabbing, hugging or trying to kiss. As to handshakes .. it depends. He started off shaking hands .. then they had to postpone two shows .. who could fairly blame him being super cautious after that? At Cardiff he was under instructions not to even put his arm round people during photos, which he clearly found difficult. By the time he was back from Germany, he was putting his arm round people for photos, but not shaking hands. Fist bump is safer than shaking hands, when most germs transfer. How many people would not go in because they thought they might be coming down with something? How many other wouldn't even know they were?

It's Meat you meet at the M&G, a chance to have a brief chat, be entertained by a charming and kindly man. He doesn't openly say he doesn't want hugs, no. He's a very tactile person who would naturally reach out to people. But he hates to let thousands of others down by not being able to perform. There's a joy in meeting him imo .. and the level to which he's relaxed and comfortable with shaking hands, hugging etc or not, doesn't stop it being a great experience .. he doesn't need to be handled like a commodity .. lol.

I doubt he'd welcome it on a film set ;) At TV shows, signings etc .. he's the same friendly, unpretentious, charming and easy man he is at M&Gs. Only thing that could get in the way might be other personnel (eg security at signings/golf tournaments) or one's own expectations I suppose ;)

When he's travelling it's clearly hard for him if people try and grab him (as we heard recently on here) .. he may be in a hurry to get into his hotel, onto the tour bus, catch a plane. He's gracious .. but it's HIS time after all, he's often exhausted, worried about getting into the warm because he stands or falls by his voice, his throat, his sinuses. He's a person .. and however much he cares for his fans (and he does care very much), he has many concerns beyond those who try and get his attention as he's moving through a busy and testing schedule. I think he really understands why they do .. but just wants them to understand why he can't always oblige .. fair really ;)

I think we were typing together there! :lol:

very true, I completely understand why he's doing it. But I think it's a major miracle in my opinion to still make it worthwhile for the "customers" then. Hence I wondered how he approaches the whole issue

lol, yeah I have read he made it a habit to show the Meat n Greeters his knee scars :lol: Or is it his way to make it up to the women for not hugging them? "Well, I could show you my knee in exchange, how's that?" :D

Yes .. :lol: And very consistent ;)

He's very relaxed, informal, friendly and works to put people at their ease so it becomes a memorable experience. He does it with skill, charm, and genuine friendliness .. that's why it works ;) Showing his scars, telling stories, making people laugh .. it's all done to make people feel as if they're meeting a friend rather than a celebrity imo :-)

When I first heard that there would be no contact of any kind at the Cardiff M&G, I did wonder how it would be approached and whether it would affect the experience we had but that M&G ended up being one of the most enjoyable meetings with anyone that I have ever had. Meat was charming, funny and from my perception, he really made everyone on that room feel like they'd had a great time.
I may have mentioned this in my review of the show originally but when he's talking to the group he really did make it seem like he was talking to a group of old friends.

I'm not sure how other artists would have handled the situation but I thought that Meat handled it well and I think everyone left that M&G happy.

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I do think londonautographs on eBay are taking the Michael though .. selling the signed photos from the tour, still on sale on meatloaf.net for £10, at a magnificent:

£59.99 !!

Would you believe that at £59.99 they've actually been reduced from £65.00 :shock:

I did notice thought that the ones on .net aren't signed, same price but just the photo

Aah .. yes, you're right .. I missed that on the .net ones. Meat was signing stock for the shows as he went along, and I guess these are the unsigned residual stock.

But I think they were being sold for £10 at the shows? Certainly it's a massive mark-up, even with the reduction :shock: Some things one hopes won't sell!

Yeah they were £10 at the shows but signed...can't believe people are trying to sell them at 6 times the price, though more fool anyone who spends £60+ on a photo!

How do you think Meat will go if he takes the tour to India or Indonesia? At least the climate is not dry.

I flat out refuse to believe he is going, even from his own mouth!! One word, GERMS!

However, if he went to Indonesia I'd be there in a heartbeat :lol:

Perhaps he has got a deal with his local Indian to perform and they give him free curry?

There are thousands of signed items on-eBay, :lol: although certainly you are correct in that it's not "most" people who are putting them there.

There are "professional" autograph dealers, but I think most people who have a signed item would want to keep it. I have a few autographed items, including a signed copy of "To Hell and Back", but strangely my favorite autograph is Ozzy Osbourne's- on a plain white piece of paper. :lol:

Signed items that you can buy are cool, but I think it's much more meaningful if the signature is a personal one.

The time I met Bruce Springsteen, it never even occurred to me to ask for an autograph or a picture, and I really don't feel like I need either. My memory is enough.

Often times, not very. :roll: Or, they're just hastily scribbled without much thought. The only way to be 100% sure is if you actually see the person sign.

I agree. I think some celebrities have learned to differentiate the fans from the professionals, and act accordingly, e.g. refusing to sign certain items or for certain people.

I was once in Las Vegas with a friend, and she got very excited when someone told us that Pete Rose was signing autographs. She wanted to get one for her son, who is a huge baseball fan. That was until we were also told that he was charging $100 a pop. :roll: I just thought that was disgusting. Needless to say, she didn't bother.

Oh sure :-) I was referring to ones with Meat's autograph .. generally around 50, and many of those from autograph dealers .. eg the one who has bought some signed photos from the merch stand for £10 and is trying to get £60.

Yes .. plus in Meat's case those you know you can trust eg from his merchandise stand, or via his management company. Not sure this has been/would be the case for every celebrity/group, but I trust Meat on signed items absolutely .. one of the benefits of following a performer who doesn't have a few million wild and giddy teenagers mobbing him I guess ;):lol:

Some eBay sellers admit the signature has simply been copied and applied, others don't. And I've seen a few that look remarkably unlike Meat's, even given signatures vary and change over time. I remember Meat pulling one off eBay because he knew the photo and knew he had never signed a copy.

But I do understand fans who will never get the opportunity to have something signed for them in person wanting something with an autograph. Still, they will have the opportunity to buy with confidence from LFTT when we put ours on site, and they won't be at an outrageous eBay cost! ;)

I'd agree that was outrageous .. even from one of those poorly paid professional sportsmen who must be seized constantly with how they're going to pay the power bill :roll:

I don't see a problem: People spend many hours for waiting to get autographs, other give them their money for getting signed things. No one damaged and: "Money makes the world go round". No need for discussion about it. By the way: IMO Meat is a very nice guy and I feel honored to met him personally.

No "need" to discuss perhaps, but on that basis you could strip out the majority of the threads on this forum ;) There's no need to try and anticipate the setlist of a tour, or track-listing of a new album .. but pages get devoted to both topics :lol:

And as Andrew has pointed out, on this occasion no-one waited for many hours to get an autograph. Someone simply walked up to a merch stand, bought some, and promptly put them on eBay.

(Sometimes discussions have a benefit. I recall some years ago there was one on the annoying fact that many found it impossible to get front row seats apart from buying them from profiteers on eBay. Meat was angered by that .. a few months later the introduced the packages ;) )

I had posted my response to Kai H but then decided to delete it. The post does seem a bit hypocritical to me: Whatever happens is fine BUT Meat is a great guy and it is an honour to meet him.

exactly. If you have a gorilla youd wanna poach it then set it free

Trouble is things like signings are capacity/time limited or there's a finite number of wristbands, in these circumstances fans often miss out to the moneymakers which is wrong as for some it's their only opportunity to meet the man albeit briefly.

:twisted: I believe (correct me if i'm wrong) that this tour is the first time autographed photos have gone on sale.

At a tenner, they are pretty good value (certainly better than the stuff that turns up on ebay, most of which is crap) and I think it was a good idea to sell them during the last UK tour as it's pretty much the last chance for folks in the UK to get an autograph.

What I don't like (as many have expressed themselves) is when people buy these autographs with the sole intention of selling them on at big profits.

They're no better than ticket touts.
Vultures.

Yes, they were on sale for a tenner .. very reasonable and imo a really nice idea on a last tour as many fans will never have the chance now to get something signed personally. As you say .. to buy and sell them for the profit this seller is doing pretty vulture-like. But it was still a grand idea to have them on the merch stand this time :)

ehhhh i beg to differ.

Inflating a price on a ticket effects if a person can see a show and it also takes away for some good hearted person to buy the ticket at the cheaper place if its sold out.

Reselling an autograph at a higher price point is unethical, but it doesn't effect someone getting a ticket they deserve more. THeres no real negative impact reselling a legit signature for a higher price.