Autographs are one of the biggest reasons people attend anime conventions. Fans love anime, cosplay, and for many, a huge part of that experience is meeting the voice actors behind their favorite characters. With English dubs improving every year, more and more fans are eager to meet the voices that bring their favorite characters to life.
Voice acting is no simple task—it’s not just walking into a booth and reading lines like, "Hello, my name is Eren Yeager." It requires skill, emotion, and performance. These actors work hard, and fans deeply appreciate their craft. However, the cost of getting an autograph has skyrocketed in recent years.
At AnimeCon.org, we take pride in the fact that most of our guests offer a free autograph session. During a scheduled hour-long session (technically about 50 minutes), guests will sign one item per person for free—whether it’s a DVD, a badge, or another small item. This is something we do because we truly care about making conventions accessible. We want young fans, especially those who are 13 or 14 and don’t have jobs, to be able to get an autograph from someone they admire without spending $40, $60, or even more.
The Paywall Problem at Other Conventions
Unfortunately, more and more conventions are eliminating free autograph sessions. At some events, the charge is $40, $60, $80, or even $100 per autograph. And in many cases, the convention itself takes a percentage of those sales.
At AnimeCon.org, we never take a cut from what a guest charges for their autographs. The voice actors and their agents decide their rates and keep all of the revenue. But at some conventions, fans are forced to pay just to enter the event and then pay again for every interaction. It creates a cycle of constant spending—paying for entry, paying for autographs, paying for photos, and more. We believe conventions shouldn’t nickel and dime attendees at every turn.
Now, there are some things we do have to charge extra for, like the maid café. That’s because we provide snacks and have expenses like uniforms and staff wages. But wherever possible, we aim to make our conventions as all-inclusive as we can.
Supporting Voice Actors Fairly
If you want more than one autograph, or if you’d like to get a selfie with a voice actor, many guests offer those options for an additional fee outside of the free session time. And that’s completely reasonable—voice acting isn’t a high-paying job unless you’re one of the top stars.
Actors in Hollywood might make millions, but most actors—including those in anime—earn much more modest incomes. A major movie star like Robert Downey Jr. might make millions for playing Iron Man, but most other actors in the same film were likely earning union-scale rates. A voice actor might earn $150 per hour in a recording booth, but if they only get one hour of work that day, it’s not sustainable. Factor in travel time, waiting around, and the reality that gigs aren’t guaranteed, and you can see why many voice actors rely on autograph sales for extra income.
Keeping the Focus on the Convention Experience
One of my biggest concerns is how some conventions are becoming all about autograph sales. It’s frustrating to see events that prioritize selling as many autographs as possible over offering real experiences for attendees.
At AnimeCon.org events, we focus on the entire convention experience. We host game shows, tabletop gaming, panels, workshops, demonstrations, cultural lessons, and even unique performances. At Con Alt Delete, for example, we had a musician play the Japanese koto, a traditional stringed instrument. These kinds of experiences make a convention truly special.
So next time you’re at a convention, take advantage of free autograph sessions if they’re available. And if you do choose to pay for an autograph outside of those sessions, know that you’re directly supporting the actors who bring your favorite characters to life. But most of all, don’t forget to enjoy everything else the convention has to offer!