Autographs....- Page 2

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 11:09pm

Yeah, I actually have never gotten an autograph via mail. The only ones I have are from the cast of CSI when I got to go to the set once (which was cool because I actually got to talk to them and I'm obsessed with that show...:-P) and the other one is also from the cast of CSI which I got for Xmas. :-P I was pretty damn happy about that. The conversations were much more memorable though.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 4:02am

Camera phones are the autograph of the 21st century.

Forgive me for quoting The OC, but it seemed appropriate here.

[Mamie]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 4:24am

A conversation would be wonderful - but who would want to talk to me? Just because I'd like it doesn't mean the actor would. I always assume they have much more important things to do with their time than talking to me. I've never been backstage before in my life so standing outside a stage door is my only alternative and I just don't think they'd want to spend any more time with me than they absolutely have to. So - I have autographed Playbills to keep my memories in!

[Spooky]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 9:27am

Who's to say you can't talk to someone while getting an autograph? Some of those conversations are like interview rhetoric and half the time some of these folks are just "acting" nice to you. An autograph is at least authentic.

[LilMissBway14]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 1:40pm

Thesbijean- I completely understand your point. I go to stage doors after shows simply because I can. I like having my playbill signed by the cast and I like writing to actors and should they send me a headshot back, that's nice of them and I put it on my wall. But I never ask for a headshot when I write to actors. But yes, a meaningful (even if it's short) conversation is worth a lot more to me also even though I like autographs too. =)

*Edit*= I also am a complete picture whore. I love being in pictures with actors after the show... as embarassing as it is to ask "can i have a picture with you?" it's worth it because I just love photos haha... Updated On: 3/1/05 at 01:40 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 1:48pm

I take tons of pictures. I'm a complete picture whore. I used to be really big on the autographs, but I'm trying to get out of the fangirling headspace. I mean, yes, if it's someone I really love, who I've never met before I'll ask for an autograph. But it rather dawned on me when I realized that over five years, I'd accumulated something like eleven occurrences of the same person's autograph that there had to be better ways to spend my time with him. Sometimes, though, for me at least, I find it easier to at least get started by being like "hey, you were great, would mind signing this for me?" I'm terribly shy, and have trouble finding the right thing to say. A lot of times, I just let that be the ice-breaker.

[Feodor Sverdlov]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 1:49pm

I have no concept of why someone would want an autograph of someone else. I wonder what Carol Burnett, the most famous of autograph collectors, would say?

[TGIF]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 2:21pm

I completely understand why conversations are more important and I agree with that, they mean more.

However, I look at my grandmother who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. She doesn't remember what school my mother went to or what she did 30 seconds ago. I've learned that sometimes memories don't last so I do my best to preserve the memories I have. I take pictures of everything! Not only of broadway actors but my family, my friends, my house, my room, my dogs, marquis, everything.

These pictures and autographs - for me - are not for the sole fact of having ink on paper. They serve as something to evoke memories and to help me remember why I love theatre so much. Hopefully in 30 years I can look back at a framed playbill and have it remind me of the first show I saw, or being able to meet my favorite actor/actress.

Everybody collects things for different reasons, some get autographs so they can sell them on e-bay, some do so because its proof they met someone, I do it to preserve my memories.

[AnothaPartofMe]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 2:39pm

I always am polite in waiting for them to sign- and ask if they would mind signing... unlike others who shove a Sharpie and playbill into an actor's face. Although, for Hugh Jackman, I was shoved into him, as the throng of 40ish women pushed against the barracade...

[Spooky]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 2:50pm

Autographs are also a good investment and in a way, historical.
I'm the proud owner of a letter from Katharine Hepburn, she wouldn't sign the photo I sent, but instead sent a note saying "it's such a lovely photograph, I would hate to ruin it by writing all over it..."
Having not had any opportunities to converse with her, that letter hangs on the wall alongside the photo and in 50 years my kids can look at it and get a glimpse into who Ms. Hepburn was.

[AndiV]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 3:04pm

i am in agreement about autographs...there was a time when i thought they were cool--but usually only on a shirt or hat or something. putting them on a wall or keeping them in a book doesn't mean much to me, personally. pictures are great...but i would trade both for a conversation.

now, the katherine hepburn letter...that's different...that was personal...and VERY cool!

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 3:14pm

Many times an actor will not have the time to talk while signing, but when they do it is great.

Outside of LSOH Rob Bartlett and some of the urchins stayed for a good 10 minutes AFTER signing just to talk.

After Shoshana Bean's first show as the OFFICIAL Elphaba she and David Ayers stayed and talked to everyone stage dooring. Compared to the hundreds who would stage door for Idina there were only 10-15 of us and both Mr. Ayers and Ms. Bean seemed SO surprised to see anyone.

[ElphieZ]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 4:20pm

I prefer a picture with the performer first, autograph second, conversation third. I like conversations...but chances are that performer will never remember what they said to you, perhaps even a day later. However, the one exception would be Alice Ripley. I met her years ago at her apt for a radio station and she remembered me years later...she was so gracious and kind that that was one conversation I have always cherished. So, really, I guess any encounter with any performer is fine with me! I'm thankful to get a conversation, autograph, OR photo!

[ElphieZ]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 4:21pm

By the way, this is a GREAT discussion! A new one that I've not seen on this Board for a while...so kudos to that!

[Broadway_Bound_Star]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 4:28pm

I have an autograph of Sutton Foster and Shoshana Bean, they both replied to my letter that I sent them.. and included an autograph when I didn't even request it. But when I went to see Rent and Evita,(THe tours) the whole cast signed my playbill.. it was exiting

But, to me it means a lot...

[trpguyy]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 4:30pm

I like getting autographs because it a) is a good way to start a conversation (if it's not crowded) and it helps preserve the memory. I look back over my Playbills and I can remember who each actor was, the role they had, even where I was standing when I got the autograph, all from one little "squiggle across the paper."
I don't mean to change the direction of this thread, but a few of you mentioned writing to Broadway actors and actresses? How do you get their address, do you just address it to the theater, or is there some sort of way to look it up?

[TGIF]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 4:32pm

Yeah you send it to the theatre.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 4:32pm

I think that you would just write to the theatre, care of whomever you are writing to.

[Broadway_Bound_Star]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 4:33pm

You send it to the theatres address, thats how I got all mine... And the address(For if you don't live in NY) Is usually at the website

[trpguyy]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 4:33pm

boy you guys are fast
thanks!:)

[TGIF]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 4:34pm

Actor's Name
c/o Theatre's name
Street name...etc.

[Broadway_Bound_Star]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 4:37pm

Sutton Foster has the direct address on her site... I guess she wants people to Mail her

[Galahad312]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 5:54pm

Oh I totally agree with you there. Theres no harm in the autograph at all. I had this school teacher who had an old friend from Broadway. The school teacher herself was once a broadway performer years earlier in her life. She surprised everyone when she invited her friend Julie Andrews to visit the school on what was a low key visit at the time.
I was lucky enough to have been one of the few students who got to talk to this very interesting lady. This was of course years ago for me but it`s still so nice to reflect on that incredible experience. Feels good that I can share this with everyone here.

[playbill_signer_05]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 6:16pm

I always ask for an autograph, if only to talk to the actor/actress a moment. It works well, because otherwise I don't really know what to say... hm... "Excuse me, miss, would you mind talking to me a moment?"

[Therese]

Posted: 3/1/05 at 7:40pm

I think all my thoughts have already been expressed by others, so I'll try not to repeat too much, but... I've never done stage door (well, never been to NY, for a start), but I'm another in the shy/awkward/not-sure-what-to-say camp, and I agree that, to me, a polite "would you please sign my Playbill?" would be the easiest way to break the ice, and might hopefully lead to a bit of conversation. Taking pictures would be great, too, but seems a bit more intrusive than asking for an autograph. LOL, this is why, if I ever get the chance to stage door Avenue Q (the only current show where my desire to stage door would outweigh my cowardice), I want to take one of my Q-Tip chums (::cough::QtKt::cough::) with me to help prop me up.