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Autograph collector supplies nonprofits with auction items with half the proceeds going to a great cause!
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Autograph collector Chris Tyson holds a basketball signed by Spurs legend David Robinson.
Photo: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News / ©2012 San Antonio Express-News
The silent auction table is a sports fan's dream come true. Framed and signed Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili jerseys rub shoulders with a Masters flag autographed by Fred Couples. For old-school fans, there's a signed photo of former Cowboy Daryl "Moose" Johnston and a basketball inscribed by Spurs great David Robinson, complete with a Scripture addendum.
The auction offers enticements for the nonsports fan, too, including a guitar signed by Willie Nelson and autographed photos of comedian George Lopez, actress Eva Longoria, musician Merle Haggard and other celebs.
The table is set up for a Knights of Columbus Last Man Standing event, a fundraiser for the group's Habitat for Humanity build. As attendees arrive, many make a beeline to the table to scan the offerings and, in a few cases, enter opening bids.
The jerseys, programs, balls and other autographed collectibles were not donated by the players or celebrities themselves. Nor were they collected by KoC members. Instead, they were supplied by Chris Tyson, owner of Austin-based Tyson Sports Fundraising.
A peripatetic sports fan, Tyson has ingeniously parlayed what he describes as a "hobby on steroids" - collecting autographed memorabilia - into a thriving business supplying signed swag to boost the fundraising efforts of needy nonprofits.
The arrangement works like this: Tyson collects signed memorabilia from current and former athletes during public appearances, before games, at events such as celebrity golf tournaments or wherever else he can get close enough to press a Sharpie into a willing hand.
He then offers a carefully curated selection of his collection to nonprofit organizations for them to sell, usually as part of a live or silent auction during a fundraising event. In most cases, Tyson splits the proceeds 50/50 with the organization. So if that signed Tim-Duncan-in-a-frame sells for the opening bid of $700, the nonprofit makes $350.
Not everything Tyson offers is so pricey. Unframed jerseys start at $300 to $400, and the opening bid for a game-day program signed by second-tier Spurs such as Kawhi Leonard and Matt Bonner is as low as $50.
"We love working with Chris," says Jim Wade of the Knights of Columbus. "We don't have to knock on doors to collect stuff for the silent auction. He brings plenty of items of interest, and we share in the profits."
Wade said the Knights netted about $2,000 from silent auction sales during last year's event.
The 50/50 split is "more than fair," said Mary Carriker, head of First Tee of San Antonio, which teaches young people confidence through golf. "We wouldn't be able to get the kind of memorabilia Chris brings on our own."
The most expensive item Tyson has ever sold, a Nolan Ryan framed jersey, went for $3,000 at a Rodeo Austin fundraiser.
When items don't sell - every piece carries a minimum bid - the organization isn't out any money. Tyson simply returns it to his collection to be offered at a later date.
"We hear from companies all the time that want to sell us stuff on consignment, sculptures, tickets to events like the Masters," says J.D. Damian of the American Wounded Heroes, which supports wounded military veterans. "I'd much rather deal with someone locally like Chris."
Five years ago, Tyson was a manager with Austin Energy when he attended a sports networking event. The executive director of a charity overheard him talking about his collection of sports memorabilia and asked if he'd bring some items to auction off at a golf tournament planned for the next week. He did, and they were such a big hit he launched Tyson Sports Fundraising.
Tyson did five events that first year and 53 in 2011. This year he expects to do 70. He says he's on pace to match the salary he made during his final year at Austin Energy.
The auction offers enticements for the nonsports fan, too, including a guitar signed by Willie Nelson and autographed photos of comedian George Lopez, actress Eva Longoria, musician Merle Haggard and other celebs.
The table is set up for a Knights of Columbus Last Man Standing event, a fundraiser for the group's Habitat for Humanity build. As attendees arrive, many make a beeline to the table to scan the offerings and, in a few cases, enter opening bids.
The jerseys, programs, balls and other autographed collectibles were not donated by the players or celebrities themselves. Nor were they collected by KoC members. Instead, they were supplied by Chris Tyson, owner of Austin-based Tyson Sports Fundraising.
A peripatetic sports fan, Tyson has ingeniously parlayed what he describes as a "hobby on steroids" - collecting autographed memorabilia - into a thriving business supplying signed swag to boost the fundraising efforts of needy nonprofits.
The arrangement works like this: Tyson collects signed memorabilia from current and former athletes during public appearances, before games, at events such as celebrity golf tournaments or wherever else he can get close enough to press a Sharpie into a willing hand.
He then offers a carefully curated selection of his collection to nonprofit organizations for them to sell, usually as part of a live or silent auction during a fundraising event. In most cases, Tyson splits the proceeds 50/50 with the organization. So if that signed Tim-Duncan-in-a-frame sells for the opening bid of $700, the nonprofit makes $350.
Not everything Tyson offers is so pricey. Unframed jerseys start at $300 to $400, and the opening bid for a game-day program signed by second-tier Spurs such as Kawhi Leonard and Matt Bonner is as low as $50.
"We love working with Chris," says Jim Wade of the Knights of Columbus. "We don't have to knock on doors to collect stuff for the silent auction. He brings plenty of items of interest, and we share in the profits."
Wade said the Knights netted about $2,000 from silent auction sales during last year's event.
The 50/50 split is "more than fair," said Mary Carriker, head of First Tee of San Antonio, which teaches young people confidence through golf. "We wouldn't be able to get the kind of memorabilia Chris brings on our own."
The most expensive item Tyson has ever sold, a Nolan Ryan framed jersey, went for $3,000 at a Rodeo Austin fundraiser.
When items don't sell - every piece carries a minimum bid - the organization isn't out any money. Tyson simply returns it to his collection to be offered at a later date.
"We hear from companies all the time that want to sell us stuff on consignment, sculptures, tickets to events like the Masters," says J.D. Damian of the American Wounded Heroes, which supports wounded military veterans. "I'd much rather deal with someone locally like Chris."
Five years ago, Tyson was a manager with Austin Energy when he attended a sports networking event. The executive director of a charity overheard him talking about his collection of sports memorabilia and asked if he'd bring some items to auction off at a golf tournament planned for the next week. He did, and they were such a big hit he launched Tyson Sports Fundraising.
Tyson did five events that first year and 53 in 2011. This year he expects to do 70. He says he's on pace to match the salary he made during his final year at Austin Energy.
In
fact, he's so busy he can no longer get all the autographs he needs on
his own. So he relies on an informal network of friends from across the
state who'll alert him when they hear about a scheduled signing and even
fetch the celebrity signature themselves.
Tyson will rarely ask an athlete or celebrity to sign more than two items. Most understand there's value in their scribble and frown on seeing things they sign for free being auctioned on eBay.
But if someone asks why he wants something signed, Tyson tells the truth.
"I explain that one is for me and the other will be used for a fundraiser," he says. "Most don't have a problem with that."
Indeed, most don't even notice that they've previously signed things for Tyson. "Tony Parker looked at me once and said, 'Haven't I seen you before?' But that's about it."
Tyson rarely pays for an autograph, but he will if it's someone difficult to get. He's paid $25 each for a Bob Lily jersey and helmet, $250 for an Emmitt Smith jersey.
Before a scheduled fundraiser, Tyson talks with the person in charge to gauge the size and type of crowd expected and will tailor his offerings accordingly. For a big crowd like the Last Man Standing event, with 450 guests, he'll bring as many as 50 pieces. High-end crowds get a pricier selection of goods.
On any given night, between 40 percent and 50 percent of what's displayed will sell.
He usually stays for the entire event, chatting up browsers and answering any questions about authenticity. He often has photos of himself with the athlete to reassure doubters that his autographs are legit.
He selects items based on where the event takes place. In San Antonio, he'll bring lots of Spurs, Longhorns and Cowboys memorabilia, with a smattering of Texas A&M University items. In Dallas it's Cowboys and Mavericks; in Houston it's Texans and Rockets. In Austin it's some of everything.
Getting autographs often takes patience, creativity and tact. He waited several hours outside an Austin theater to get George Lopez to sign a pair of photos, and he volunteered to work Willie Nelson's first celebrity golf tournament in Briarcliff to get the singer's signature. He caught the notoriously cranky Gregg Popovich as the Spurs coach was leaving the Convention Center after a George Gervin roast several years ago.
"I just held out the photo and didn't say anything," Tyson says. "He signed, handed it back to me and continued on."
Tyson says parting with his hard-earned memorabilia is sometimes difficult. He has several pieces he'll never sell, including a pair of boxing gloves signed by "The Greatest," Muhammad Ali, and a baseball inked by Willie Mays. He'd love to get former Celtics great Bill Russell, who famously refuses to sign.
"He's polite but always says no," he says.
Tyson Sports Fundraising has grown to the point that he's considering hiring someone to help set up and run the event auctions, yet he still finds it a blast to do most of the legwork himself.
"The job is fun and, for me, always will be," he says. "It's still pretty cool to see guys like Tim Duncan and Earl Campbell up close."
For more information about Autograph Hell, CLICK HERE!
Tyson will rarely ask an athlete or celebrity to sign more than two items. Most understand there's value in their scribble and frown on seeing things they sign for free being auctioned on eBay.
But if someone asks why he wants something signed, Tyson tells the truth.
"I explain that one is for me and the other will be used for a fundraiser," he says. "Most don't have a problem with that."
Indeed, most don't even notice that they've previously signed things for Tyson. "Tony Parker looked at me once and said, 'Haven't I seen you before?' But that's about it."
Tyson rarely pays for an autograph, but he will if it's someone difficult to get. He's paid $25 each for a Bob Lily jersey and helmet, $250 for an Emmitt Smith jersey.
Before a scheduled fundraiser, Tyson talks with the person in charge to gauge the size and type of crowd expected and will tailor his offerings accordingly. For a big crowd like the Last Man Standing event, with 450 guests, he'll bring as many as 50 pieces. High-end crowds get a pricier selection of goods.
On any given night, between 40 percent and 50 percent of what's displayed will sell.
He usually stays for the entire event, chatting up browsers and answering any questions about authenticity. He often has photos of himself with the athlete to reassure doubters that his autographs are legit.
He selects items based on where the event takes place. In San Antonio, he'll bring lots of Spurs, Longhorns and Cowboys memorabilia, with a smattering of Texas A&M University items. In Dallas it's Cowboys and Mavericks; in Houston it's Texans and Rockets. In Austin it's some of everything.
Getting autographs often takes patience, creativity and tact. He waited several hours outside an Austin theater to get George Lopez to sign a pair of photos, and he volunteered to work Willie Nelson's first celebrity golf tournament in Briarcliff to get the singer's signature. He caught the notoriously cranky Gregg Popovich as the Spurs coach was leaving the Convention Center after a George Gervin roast several years ago.
"I just held out the photo and didn't say anything," Tyson says. "He signed, handed it back to me and continued on."
Tyson says parting with his hard-earned memorabilia is sometimes difficult. He has several pieces he'll never sell, including a pair of boxing gloves signed by "The Greatest," Muhammad Ali, and a baseball inked by Willie Mays. He'd love to get former Celtics great Bill Russell, who famously refuses to sign.
"He's polite but always says no," he says.
Tyson Sports Fundraising has grown to the point that he's considering hiring someone to help set up and run the event auctions, yet he still finds it a blast to do most of the legwork himself.
"The job is fun and, for me, always will be," he says. "It's still pretty cool to see guys like Tim Duncan and Earl Campbell up close."
For more information about Autograph Hell, CLICK HERE!
*article source: mysanantonio.com
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