"TTM" stands for through the mail. You send a signer a request, and they sign and send your item back. It is one of the most affordable ways to build a collection, and because you mailed the item yourself, you know exactly where the signature came from.
This guide walks through the whole process.
What TTM is (and is not)
TTM means mailing a request to a place where a public figure receives mail: a fan-mail address, a team office, an agent or a publicist. You include your item and a way to get it back, and then you wait.
It is not a way to reach someone at home. Addresses that belong to a person's private residence are off limits, and so is any attempt to find them. If you cannot find a proper business or fan-mail address for someone, that signer is not available through the mail for you. That is the rule, and it protects everyone, including the hobby.
Find a proper address
The best addresses are the ones other collectors have already used successfully. The RACC TTM database collects addresses along with results and reply times logged by members, so you can see what has actually worked.
When you look for an address, favor:
- A team, studio, league or organization's official mailing address
- A fan-mail address the signer or their representative publishes
- An agent, manager or publicist's business address, where the signer accepts mail
Avoid anything that looks like a residence. If you are unsure, do not send.
What to send
Keep it simple. A good request has four parts.
- A short, polite letter. Two or three sentences is enough. Say who you are, why you admire their work and what you are asking. See writing a great TTM letter for a full example.
- One or two items. Fewer is better. Signers are far more willing to sign one item than a stack. Choose items that are easy to sign, such as an 8x10 photo, an index card or a trading card.
- A self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE). This is the envelope the signer will use to send your item back, so it needs your address and correct postage.
- The outer envelope or mailer. Something sturdy enough to protect your items on the way there.
Getting the postage right
The SASE is where most beginners go wrong. If the postage is short, your item may never come back.
- Use the right size envelope. The return envelope must fit your item without folding it. For an 8x10 photo, a 9x12 envelope is common, with the photo protected by cardboard.
- Put real postage on it. Do not guess. Weigh the whole return package (envelope, item, cardboard) and check the current rate with the postal service.
- Use stamps that stay valid. In the United States, stamps marked "Forever" keep their value as rates change. For international requests, stamps from your own country usually cannot be used by someone mailing from abroad, so ask your postal service what it recommends for return postage to that country, and consider whether the request is worth the cost.
- Write your return address clearly, and make sure the envelope is addressed to you, not to the signer.
Postal rules and prices change, so check with your postal service rather than relying on a number written down somewhere.
Packaging your items
Your items travel twice, so protect them both ways.
- Photos: Sandwich the photo between two pieces of stiff cardboard that are slightly larger than the photo, and tape the cardboard together along the edges (not onto the photo). Some collectors tuck the photo in a thin sleeve first.
- Cards: Use a soft sleeve or a thin top loader, plus cardboard, so the card cannot bend or slide.
- The SASE: Fold it once to fit inside the mailer, or use a slightly larger envelope for your outgoing package. Do not seal the SASE.
- The letter: Place it on top where it is the first thing the signer sees.
Write nothing on the front of your photo or card. If you want to tell the signer where you would like it signed, put a light removable note on the cardboard or in your letter, not on the item.
Track every request
TTM is a waiting game, and it is easy to lose track of what you sent and when. Log each request as you mail it: who, what you sent, the date, the address and what you included. When something comes back, record the date and the result.
On RACC, you can do this at Log a TTM request and see everything in one place on My TTM tracker. Logging your results also helps other collectors, because they can see which addresses are working and how long replies took.
How long does it take?
It varies a great deal. Some signers reply in a couple of weeks, some take many months and some never reply. The type of signer, their schedule, whether they are working or traveling and how much mail they receive all play a part. Do not expect a particular timeline, and do not send follow-up letters every week. A patient approach gets better results and keeps things pleasant for everyone.
If you are curious what is typical for a specific person, check what other collectors have logged in the TTM database and use that as a loose guide, not a promise.
Etiquette
- Be polite. A kind, brief letter gets a better reception than a demanding one.
- Be modest. Ask for one or two items, not a stack.
- Do not pester. One request, then wait. If you have not heard back after a long time, a single polite follow-up is plenty.
- Say thank you. A short note or a public thank-you when appropriate goes a long way.
- Respect a "no." Some signers do not sign through the mail, or only sign for charities, or only sign certain items. If you receive a note saying so, accept it.
- Share your results. Log what happened, good or bad, so the next collector knows what to expect.
Common beginner mistakes
- Sending too many items
- Forgetting the SASE or putting on too little postage
- Mailing to a home address instead of a business or fan-mail address
- Using fragile items you cannot replace
- Writing a long letter that asks for too much
- Not logging the request and forgetting what is outstanding
Your first request, step by step
- Choose one signer you admire who accepts mail.
- Find a proper business or fan-mail address, ideally one with recent results in the TTM database.
- Write a short, friendly letter.
- Pick one easy-to-sign item and package it with cardboard.
- Prepare a SASE with correct postage.
- Mail it, then log it.
- Wait, and update your log when something arrives.
That is all there is to it. Start small, learn from the first few, and your success will improve as you go.
