Awesome! After the tweets from yesterday I was thinking we wouldn't hear anymore for a few weeks. Harely Race, a legend, Hall of Famer, and former World Champion. I can't wait to meet Harley.  
 
I can not wait until August this is going to be my first Fanfest and already many people I've only dreamed of meeting are going to be there.
 
Great going Greg.

THATS GREAT!!

dory funk, terry funk,tommy rich,nick bockwinkle,harley race, and hopefully dusty rhodes what an awsome photo op. that will be 1 to remember even better then the horseman.  count me in on this photo op and yes if it cost 100.00 im still in bottom line  

Quote from stingscorpion on Jan 7^th, 2011, 6:49pm:

 
 
never ceases to amaze me when people offer to pay high amounts for things without being prodded;  i could see if greg specifically polled would you pay $100 for such and such like he did years ago with flair but the unsolicited offer to pay $100 for any photo op... i get your excited dude but a lot of times thats why prices are so high....esp with vendors... any time a name is mentioned and people go ecstatic, "i need him on 10 things, thank you thank you thank you," of course the vendors will jack the prices, why wouldnt they?... if people tried to contain their excitement on the boards a little, perhaps prices wouldnt be so high on things.. already the wheels must be turning in gregs head as to how much he can get for the photo op you mentioned, esp since there is at least 1 person willing to pay $100 for it....not saying dont get excited but its counterproductive, at least from a financial point of view, to go nuts every time greg, but especially vendors, announce a new name...

Quote from oldschoolwwwf on Jan 8^th, 2011, 3:03pm:

 
I have known Greg a while. We are not close friends but he has always shot straight with me. Is he in this to make a buck? Sure. But I feel I can safely say Greg has never once thought "I wonder how much I can charge for this photo op".  In fact, I bet he thinks "how little can I charge and still make a profit". I may be wrong, but in my dealings with him it seems Greg puts huge stock in keeping his customers happy. In addition, he gives us photo ops we could never EVER have other wise.  
 
Oh, and Greg bring in Dust and offer that NWA Champs photo op. I'm in, too!  

Quote from HardcoreHeroes on Jan 8^th, 2011, 4:54pm:

 
 
that wasnt so much a hit on you greg, as it was more directed towards the vendors.....we've talked pricing before and i have no issues with how you've done things at the last 5 fanfests i've been to....

Quote from lotrpromoter on Jan 9^th, 2011, 10:21am:

 
 
gee t, spoken from the perspective of a promoter, what a shocker.. i disagree though as i feel some vendors have been way more than $5 overinflated-  but the truth is, the fans don't care-   with the exception of a very few others, i have been the only one over the years to call vendors out on what seems like higher than necessary prices-  the fans are all too happy to pay whatever is charged.....  
and while that photo op price for montana might be accurate, i have met a slew of baseball players, bigger in sports history than any wrestler could ever hope to be, guys like reggie jackson, wade boggs, joe torre, and their photo ops were free with the price of an autograph (an autograph that actually retains some value in the sellers market, as opposed to most wrestling autographs which arent worth the paper they are written on in the sellers market)...i just used that as a point, i have a ton of wrestling autographs for reasons other than to sell, so being able to sell them isnt the end all, be all, just responding to what terence said....
 
and i dont think greg gouges-  i just used him in that context to illustrate a point, which the pwi photographer completely missed-  its not that it isnt a great possible photo op, its just why would you be the one to throw out what youd be willing to pay for it (especially when its in excess of $100)-  throw out the suggestion for the photo op itself, and then if greg determines he wants to do it, he'll throw out the price;  
 
believe me, i have spent a lot of money at the last 5 fanfests and its been worth every penny to me..... i just don't understand why people would volunteer to pay $100 or $150 before greg tells you what the price for that photo op would be--  but i guess i'm alone in trying to see some of these things from a cost perspective- too many of you guys have the excitement level of a 5 year old at disneyworld when it comes to meeting wrestlers and will pay any amount of money to meet your heroes....

[quote author=oldschoolwwwf link=1294415946/0#13 date=1294587873
 
gee t, spoken from the perspective of a promoter, what a shocker.. i disagree though as i feel some vendors have been way more than $5 overinflated-  but the truth is, the fans don't care-   with the exception of a very few others, i have been the only one over the years to call vendors out on what seems like higher than necessary prices-  the fans are all too happy to pay whatever is charged.....  
and while that photo op price for montana might be accurate, i have met a slew of baseball players, bigger in sports history than any wrestler could ever hope to be, guys like reggie jackson, wade boggs, joe torre, and their photo ops were free with the price of an autograph (an autograph that actually retains some value in the sellers market, as opposed to most wrestling autographs which arent worth the paper they are written on in the sellers market)...i just used that as a point, i have a ton of wrestling autographs for reasons other than to sell, so being able to sell them isnt the end all, be all, just responding to what terence said.... [/quote]
 
I too, am one of the few, who "dares" to let my thoughts be known if a vendor (or anyone) is charging too much. I am also one of the few that will not give a vendor my business based on the price (or their attitude). However, as long as the majority of fans are willing to pay any price, some vendors will continue to raise theirs.
 
Back in the day, when I started going to conventions, etc. Photo ops were free. Then, over the years, I watched photo op prices go to "free with purchase" to $5 and now to prices that are close to ridiculous in some cases. Considering it is my camera, battery, and I'm paying for the film to be developed, in many cases, some prices are absurd. Thus, I skip those guests/vendors. If more fans would do that, prices would have to drop.
 
(I won't compare prices charged by baseball players to wrestlers as that is apples and grapefruit).  

Quote from martymart on Jan 9^th, 2011, 8:39pm:

 
Glad to hear that, I had nothing but smooth sailing in my dealings with you last year.  Well, aside from the one thing that was beyond anyone's control, but that was announced and made right.  Of course, I'm hoping it gets made up this year.  

I have to say that the TMart table was probably my favorite vendor at last year's convention. Not only were they an awesome group of guys who were very fan friendly, easy going, and enjoyed their beer in the hotel bar , but they had an awesome mix of guests from various eras including Shane Douglas, Jannetty, Traci, Strongbow and Beefcake (still a shame The Brain couldn't be there due to his accident). I can't wait to see who they bring in for 2011.
 
I understand the arguments about pricing. For me personally, I think anything around the $15-$30 range (depending on who it is) is more than fair for a few minutes with the superstar and an awesome quality 8x10 to take home. And I don't mind admitting that I'd be willing to pay more to a vendor for a "blue chip" guest like a Hogan or a Stone Cold.  
 
I think it's all about value, too. No disrespect towards any talent intended here, but I think it's natural to expect to be charged a little more to meet a Terry Funk or a Bruno Sammartino than a Virgil or a Koko B Ware, right?
 

[quote author=martymart link=1294415946/0#20 date=1295127524]Quote from DJ_Taylor on Jan 9^th, 2011, 9:39pm:

 
I'm loving the sound of this!