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It turns out that my email box is being bombarded with autograph vendors.

I have been researching the requests and it has become clear that my autograph is being hawked. I had a hunch that was the case. I thought perhaps I was on some "artists-that-give-out-autographs" website, but it turns out that it is not that sophisticated. If one vendor lists an item for sale that the other vendors don't have, they go nuts trying to complete their catalog. It also explains why my autograph requesters would often ask for two or three autographs, each made out to a different name.

Content that the mystery was solved, I was ready to roll down my sleeves, call it a day and forget the whole thing, when my fiance asks if I am still going to send the autographs. He points out, "Does it really make a difference if the requester is keeping it or selling it?"

I never really thought about it that way before. Mostly, I was worried about whether this was a scam. I have a completely specialized signature for autographs just for this reason. My autograph signature is actually legible, and has little hearts thrown in. It is vaguely reminiscent of the repetitive penmanship of a thirteen year old practicing for when she gets married to the boy who doesn't even know she is alive yet.

It has become obvious this is not a scam. Most of the requests are coming from Germany, a country that I have toured extensively and have won awards in. And one of the requesters has a "Celebrity Autographs For Sale" website.

I can understand my fiance's point. The autographs will evetually find their way to fans. I give away signed posters at my shows and I don't ask whether the recepeients are going to keep them or sell them. I decide I need feedback on this dilemma.

I head down to the DogPatch Saloon for a jam session and manage to intercept the two people I need opinions from, Michael Zisman and Carma Berglund. Over dinner after the session, I tell them about my inbox invasion.

Zisman knows exactly what I am talking about. He says in Japan, when he was on tour with Dena DeRose, he was bombarded by autogrpah seekers, and every once in a while people would admonish him for giving an autograph to a certain person. He would ask "Why not? This person is one of the nicest and most polite people I have met."

They are nice and polite, came the response, but they are autograph sharks. Zisman says that in Japan, if you are a Western artist that has been on any distributed CDs, the sharks want your autograph.

"They aren't real fans," says Zisman.

"Oh no!" I moan, "Does that mean Gao Wei doesn't really love me?"

Carma is great publicist, and she has a different opinion. "If you can afford the postage and you are certain it's not a scam, just send them," she says, "It's good PR."

Later that night, I see an episode of "The Simpsons" in which Homer becomes a famous opera singer. The president of his fan club brusquely barks, "Send us a self-addressed stamped envelope and we will send you an autographed photo." That sounds fair.

Today, I have a request from Germany, another from Poland, and one from Florida. It turns out that all the same people that want my autograph also bombarded the guest book of actor Bill Sorice with autograph requests. Apparently, Gao Wei really loves Bill very much as well. I suppose if I fufill all the requests, at somepoint I will glut the market and the "Autograph Mafia" will go away. After all, where is the bravado in trafficking an uncontrolled easily obtainable product?

But before I do that, I am curious to see how much they are charging for my autograph.

Hmm. It says on this one website, if I send a self addressed envelope with € 1.12 in postage, the vendor will send me their autograph list. This is one of the people that asked for my autographs! Maybe they will let me swap my autograph for a copy of their list...