Any bad stage-door experiences? — Page 8

The only time I've ever heard of a performer having a contracted requirement to sign autographs is at the Disney theme parks and cruises. And AFAIK that applies only to the costumed characters, not the performers in the shows. They are signing in costume, as the character, while they are on the clock during regularly scheduled working hours. It's spelled out in their job description that interaction with the public is part of their assigned duties and they're trained to do so.

On Broadway, any official offstage appearances and performances, including autograph sessions, that are required by the production (for instance an in-store appearance for a CD release of a cast recording), are negotiated, covered under AEA and paid. Unless the performer is volunteering to donate her/his time to a cause, such as the BC/EFA autograph booth.

And again, the $100 ticket entitles you to a performance, not a meet and greet. Anyone who would think that a performer should stay after work, unpaid, getting perhaps hassled, for as long as necessary, should try it for a few months and see how they feel about it.

"my rule is that if your name is on the poster or your face/character you should really come out to the fans who fund your paycheck."

Are you for real? The ticket price you pay is to see a show, not to meet the actors afterwards.

"My third point is that if you are a performer and somebody pays you $100 or more to see you then you do in fact owe them an autograph at least, you should also take pics with your fans. They only work 3 or 4 hours a day staying an extra hour for fans is not gonna kill you."

They owe you absolutely nothing once the curtain comes down. They owe you a good performance, that's it. Can you imagine if every audience member thought like you did ... actors would have to sign over 1000 autographs a night. Get a life.

"Joanna Gleason walked right out after DRS on christmas eve. She covered her face and went straight to her car, if she didnt have time all she had to say was sorry have to get home for christmas, merry christmas everyone"

It was Christmas eve for god's sake. Don't you think actors want to get home to their families too. She owed you absolutely nothing. You were an INTRUSION!!!!!

I have had a few people who were disrespectful. Joanna Gleason walked right out after DRS on christmas eve. She covered her face and went straight to her car, if she didnt have time all she had to say was sorry have to get home for christmas, merry christmas everyone. thats it. John Lithgow was also a bit of a diva.

How dare she rush to get home on Christmas Eve??? THE OUTRAGE!!

---

There is nothing wrong with politely refusing a request, but there is just no need to be intentionally rude for no reason.

---

I am in NO way saying that Joanna gleason should have stayed to sign things on christmas eve, but it comes down to common courtesy, all she had to do was say sorry guys i have to get to my family, and that would have been absolutely understandable.

I still don't see anything wrong with trying to get out of there unnoticed. She was probably trying to avoid the couple of obnoxious people who would have stopped her no matter what. It's not like she turned around and said "I hate you all and I'm leaving." THAT would be disrespectful.

---

I saw Beauty and the Beast the last few months of the run and Anneliese barely signed for anyone. I actually stood back and watched (after she had gone through the line to sign) that this whole flock of people with cameras and programs were literally following her down the street. This was a group of like 15-20 people! They followed her up until she got into her car, that was just ridiculous and insane! I don't blame her for not wanting to sign because people there just mobbed her every time. Not to mention that the Lunt-Fontanne are idiots about their stage door management. Half the time they never even had a barricade up, it was always a hot mess there. I'm not suprised that Sierra is starting to show the same symptoms of annoyance/fear at the stage door...who wants to deal with that craziness 8 times a week?

I greatly hope Sierra doesn't start to act like Anneliese did. I'd be really dissapointed by that. But if she doesn't want to come out and sign atleast just go out another way

It is really interesting to read what some of you guys are saying! I haven't had many "bad" stage door experiences...the one that stands out the most; Most of the crowd had cleared out for this one actor (I will not name HIS name) because they had gotten their autographs, and so when I got up to him my mom asked if she could take his picture with my brother and I, throwing in the fact we had seen the show three times...and he was a jerk, and just left a nasty taste in my mouth. Saying things like, "No, [we] have to be at a photoshoot." "You can take pictures of [us]" ...it was a horrible experience. When there were less than 12 people left. The other two times I saw the show, he didn't do pictures either...granted, maybe he did have to be somewhere, but there were maybe 12 all together; like; a pair next to us, a group of 4 behind them, etc. It wouldn't take longer than a minute if the rest of us waiting wanted pictures. That just kind of irked me. It's not just me, a friend who was there a different night had a same horrible experience with the same cast member.

---

I just had my first one.
I went to the Grease stage door because i really wanted to meet Laura I had talked to her over myspace and she was just so sweet. I get there she was just so cold and not very nice.
I may have caught her on a bad day. but i lost respect for her.

"They owe you absolutely nothing once the curtain comes down. They owe you a good performance, that's it. Can you imagine if every audience member thought like you did ... actors would have to sign over 1000 autographs a night."

... now there's an idea :)

You open the stage door and announce "Anyone want my autograph? $100. a pop!" That could prove to be lucrative :)

Seriously, no one should take such a brief anonymous (you) encounter personally. It's at the end of an often hard "day" of work. An actor may have many other things going on that you don't see at the stage door. I would never judge one on that basis. It's nothing personal!

I saw the Odd Couple with Matthew Broaderick and Nathan Lane a couple of years back. Matthew was just the sweetest person, stayed to talk to everyone, signed Playbills and was willing to stay for pictures. Nathan Lane was just being a queen that night. I told him he did a good job and he told me "like I haven't heard that before, thanks for coming to the show". I was hurt and I lost all my respect for him as a person that night.

When I saw GREASE everyone was nice. Laura and Max were both very nice, it's a shame they "don't do pictures" though since they are total nobodys who think they are somebodys. Laura isn't even the female lead in the show. Sad.

The only reasons I stagedoor are because I think a signed Playbill is a nice memento and I like being able to tell certain performers who I respect that their work is important to me and has made a difference in my life. I don't think there is anyone in the world who wouldn't want to know that the work they do affected another person.

In no way to do I feel that it is a performer's obligation to sign autographs, nor would I think any less of a performer who did not sign; however, there is no need to pull a "Ringwald" and just be senselessly rude for no particular reason. That is where I lose respect for someone. There is a difference between being exhausted and just being mean.

---

Updated On: 4/11/08 at 04:24 AM