Stage Door Question

[The_Jackal]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 1:44am

I'm so sorry if something like this has already been posted. I tried searching, but I couldn't find anything about this.
I was just wondering if it would be appropriate to ask an actor at the stage door for a show to sign something (a CD booklet) from a show he was previously in. I would really like to sign it but I really don't want to do something that isn't considered "OK" to do. Thank you.

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 1:46am

Usually, yes.

[The_Jackal]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 1:47am

Okay, thank you. :)

[Weez]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 6:05am

Depends. Patrick Stewart will not sign any Star Trek stuff after a play because 99.999999999999% of the time it ends up on eBay. For example. But if you're asking a stage actor to sign something else they've previously done on stage, they'll most likely do it. They may even get a kick out of the fact you've brought it up. ^_^

[jordangirl]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 7:44am

I agree with Weez. It depends on the actor. Kevin Spacey would only sign playbills from A Moon for the Misbegotten. (I'd assumer windowcards if they had them...I just never saw anyone with one.) During previews of The Vertical Hour (at least early ones) Julianne Moore and Bill Nighy would only sign those playbills, but that relaxed as time went on. I still saw Julianne refuse to sign some pictures ~ I guess ones she wasn't overly thrilled with or something because I never got a great look at those.

In general most people are glad to sign things...but as for non-show stuff, it really does depend on the actor.

[pc1145N2]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 9:54am

I agree with everyone else. It all despends on the actor. Most of them (98%)are very accomodating and will sign anything. If you're friendly and polite, it can never hurt to ask them to sign something old. Some stars really enjoy seeing some of the older stuff. It's a small walk down memory lane for them. I think you'll be fine if you ask.

[HughE2030]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 10:43am

After signing all the playbills, Julia Roberts would then sign four or five non-Playbills, when she appeared on Broadway last year.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 11:14am

I do it all the time.

[craig238]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 11:15am

Bottom line, everyone is different (and crowd size after the show matters as well). Tim Curry signed my Spamalot playbill but would not sign my Rocky Horror Album. Usher signed a magazine he was on and didn't even bother with my playbill. Harry Connick signed his playbill, 2 cd covers, and a magazine he was on. So though some do say no for certain items, I would have to say the majority are AOK for other items beside the playbill.

[BroadwayBelle2]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 2:23pm

Why and how can an actor refuse to sign something? That seems rude to me. They should be happy anyone wants their autograph.
Updated On: 8/21/07 at 02:23 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 2:25pm

Because it's their choice, they can do what they want, and the stage door isn't customer service?

[BroadwayBelle2]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 2:26pm

I understand, but it takes less than a second to sign something.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 2:34pm

Yeah, but after doing a show or 2 shows, activities that take "just a second" seem like a waste of valuable sleeping time.

[wicked_beast4]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 2:35pm

But they shouldn't have to sign something they don't want to sign. They don't have to sign anything, but they do, so it should be their choice on what they sign.

[WestVillage]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 2:38pm

Did it ever occur to you that actors could find signing autographs annoying? Think about it ... when you leave work (or school, whatever the case) for the day, would you want to deal with a bunch of pushy strangers hounding you outside the door? Its not rude of them at all to refuse; whats rude is autograph seekers being obnoxious and disappointed if they don't get what they want.

[mikem]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 2:41pm

I've seen some actors decline to sign more than 2 or 3 things for the same person when there is a crowd, which seems reasonable. I think actors also feel funny about signing stuff that seems like it's going straight to EBay rather than being cherished by the autograph seeker.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 2:49pm

"Why and how can an actor refuse to sign something?"

Why? For any number of reasons. With the big names, it COULD just possibly be that they want to make sure everyone there who legitimately wants a playbill or windowcard signed gets it and their time isn't taken up with things that they once did. (If Kevin Spacey had signed everything people wanted him to outside the stage door at Moon he would never have gotten through them all and gotten home.) Or it could be pictures they had to take at some point that they really aren't comfortable with where they are in their careers now. It happens. Or there could be any number of other reasons.

How? Again, it depends on the actors. Most that I've encountered were very polite about it. Julianne Moore would just simply say "I won't sign that one." and move on to the next picture, item or person, whatever the case may be. When Audra McDonald was in a rush she politely explained that she'd only be signing playbills and why (usually she had to get a plane or her daughter). I personally have not seen anyone be rude about not signing things ~ only the people who wanted something signed (obviously for eBay given their stack of things) were the ones who got attitude about it.

The start signing is a perk for the fans, not a right that their ticket buys them. I've always made it a point to be gracious when I'm at the stage door ~ and in cases where I've been there more than once, assure them that nothing they sign is going to come even close to eBay. That's gone a long way towards extremely positive experiences at the stage door.

[DezBryner]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 2:52pm

I have no problem at all with an actor declining to sign something that isn't involved with their current project.
I do feel extremely disappointed when actors don't bother to come out and sign at all. When done correctly it really doesn't have to take that long. I suppose it's just a matter of what that actor is comfortable with. If they felt like it was ok to say 'no' sometimes perhaps they'd be more inclined to take the time to sign playbills.
This is fresh in my mind because the only actor who came out after 'Young Frankenstein' was Megan Mullally. She was so sweet, but I was a bit disappointed.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 3:09pm

Dez ~ I agree it's very disappointing when actors don't come out. I understand that they do have lives and commitments, and I try not to let it affect me. Sadly it seems Sutton's keeping up her no coming out after shows ~ a lot of us waited outside the Drowsy stage door after a show on her last weekend in it, but even being the last weekend she still went out alternative doors rather than sign. It's when the not coming out (and doing so with no explanation like prior engagements or family obligations) becomes a habit that I get really disappointed. Yes, they're human. Yes there is nothing saying the HAVE to sign, but when they're obviously avoiding the fans, that's a little extreme. IMHO.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 3:46pm

There are also items from an actor's past, which, while amusing to you, may not be to them. I'm not saying it's necessarily offensive, but it might be something they don't want to revisit. I saw this happen once when someone brought a gay men's magazine when this actor had posed nude for it several years before (he's not gay and only did it for the money). They were tasteful and artsy, but...yeah. He obviously was NOT prepared at all to see those, but he joked it off and at the same time made clear he wasn't going to sign it.

Updated On: 8/21/07 at 03:46 PM

[Kalimba]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 3:57pm

I still can't figure out the Sutton "no stagedoor" after shows. Didn't she sign after "Little Women"?

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 4:05pm

Every time I've brought something from another show for an actor to sign, they've always been very amused by it and it starts up a conversation.

[BroadwayBelle2]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 4:05pm

I guess I haven't given this much thought that fans have ebay in mind. I'm assuming that most of these fans have good intentions. I know it's probably annoying to sign autographs, but it comes with the territory.
Updated On: 8/21/07 at 04:05 PM

[Lm4dham052]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 4:13pm

I always hope that fans have good intentions, but sadly not everyone does. I don't blame an actor for not wanting to sign something, specially if it's for someone who is pushing and shoving, or if they think that the person is going to turn around and sell it. It saddens me that people don't respect the art and only try and make a profit from it.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 4:21pm

I never saw Little Women, so I don't know. But she regularly went out alternate doors during Drowsy.