Do you think actors are obliged to appear/sign at the stage door? — Page 3

I have been in situations where I was in shows where people came to me either right after to tell me that they enjoyed my work or even a couple of days later. I must say that depending on what I am doing it can either be rewarding to hear and cool to hear or it can also be annoying.

When I was in Carousel for example, it was kind of cool to be stopped by someone who saw the show and thank me for an enjoyable night out when I was on the subway home. In college, it was great to walk around the campus having kids who I didn't know stop me and thank me for a job well done. It is rewarding. But, of course, that is the amateur level.

On Broadway I am sure things are different. Like it has been mentioned here before, the fans that come out to the stage door and wait are totally different then years past. As BrianS said, all it takes is a facebook friend request to get a fan to think that they are BFFs with a given performer. So, I am sure they are cautious about doing it. I remember stage dooring Xanadu during the time of Kerry Butler's stalker and she was out there with a private body guard who walked behind her from person to person and then walked her to the subway. Nothing like that would have happened with Merman or at least in that time on Broadway.

Theatrediva, you knew coming in here that this was a thread asking a question that was asked before. Clearly you have an issue if you come to A bitch and moan about something rather then taking the high road and just ignoring it if it is a question that you feel is asked over and over again. And, B insult me for no reason whatsoever.

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Updated On: 4/19/10 at 03:50 PM

"to answer your question about me waiting at the stgae door when Van Der pol came out. When the guy next to me said "good job" or something of that nature to her, she responded with an attituded filled "yeah whatever" "

Still doesn't answer the question, Winston. Did she actually say "yeah, whatever?". What does attitude-filled mean? I'm looking for specifics. Did she roll her eyes, move away too quickly, give the guy a dirty look - what specifically did you consider rude? So much of this sort of thing is all in the perception, sometimes mistakenly so.

"How many different ways can you ask the same question? It's still the same question! "

Diva, I honestly don't think anyone has asked my specific question. When I did a search, the questions commonly asked are who is nice and who isn't at the stage door, and again, that's not what I'm asking. I could have been more specific in my subject line, but I didn't have enough room to add "and if you thought they were rude, please explain what it was about them that was rude". I could have been clearer in my original post, perhaps. What qualifies as rude? I don't think anyone has come close to asking that. You yourself have admitted that you sometimes have trouble with the search function, but if you can point me towards a thread that discusses that, I would appreciate it.

Otherwise, Diva, what really is the point of continuing to post in this thread to complain about it, other than to harass me - and Winston - and even jokingly suggest that punching someone in the throat is okay when everyone knows by your own words that you prefer mace and tazers?

Again, thanks to all who have responded. I've gained some interesting insights.

"I don't need to sit here and look for all of the other threads that have asked this question, because there have been loads of them. And it always gets the same answers. Those of us who think that an actors job is done when they leave the theatre, and those of you who need to get something signed."

Thanks for your response, Diva, but I don't believe you've read the thread. Your above response clarifies that. The extended question on the thread was what those who do expect a appearance/signature/photo consider rude behavior, which is a question I don't believe has been asked before. I keep getting vague answers like the actors weren't enthusiastic, that they seemed cold, that they looked like they were forced to or didn't want to be there, that they had an attitude or brushed people off, and while that may not be ideal behavior, none of it sounds rude to me.

In any case, from my very first post, it is clear we're on the same side of this issue (though I don't advocate violence), so why are you on my case over this? You yourself have admitted accidently starting dupe threads, so why should this bother you enough to post about it? Especially as I still don't see this as a duplicate thread.

This is the part that you keep ignoring:

"The extended question on the thread was what those who do expect a appearance/signature/photo consider rude behavior, which is a question I don't believe has been asked before."

Now, given your stance, that question doesn't apply to you, but it does to others. Your only purpose on this thread now is to repeat yourself and harass me. I would appreciate it if you'd stop. If you think the thread is repetitive, do us both a favor and please ignore it.

"This is the part that you keep ignoring:

"The extended question on the thread was what those who do expect a appearance/signature/photo consider rude behavior, which is a question I don't believe has been asked before."

That's a different question inside a thread titled "Do you think actors are obliged to appear/sign at the stage door?"


If you don't want other peoples opinion, why are you asking questions on a public board? You really need to look up the word ‘harassment’ before you use it.

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"You really need to look up the word ‘harassment’ before you use it."

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"Harassment is words, conduct, or actions directed at a specific person that annoys, alarms, or causes a lot of emotional distress for no legitimate purpose."

You have succeeded in annoying me, Diva, by repeating the same things over and over, for no legitimate purpose I can tell other than for your own amusement, and addressing said repetitions specifically at me even though I've asked you to stop. I am now politely asking you that unless you have something new to contribute to the thread, to please take this up with me via PM.

Updated On: 4/19/10 at 07:32 PM

ghost,

It's not my fault, nor do I care, about how you feel.

You aren't that important.


Are you 'harassed' every time something on a chat board bothers you?

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Updated On: 4/19/10 at 08:43 PM

I don't stage door for every show I go to, but when I do its because I had a pleasant experience at the show. A nice stage door experience just adds to that memory. I don't feel cheated when someone doesn't come out, its just exciting waiting to see who is coming out. It is also a nice feeling to let an actor know that you enjoyed their performance. In a way, it makes me feel more connected to the show. Especially if its something you can talk about with them. (One of my favorite conversations was back in May of last year--before the psychos at the N2N stage door. Had a lovely conversation with Aaron Tveit about the interpretations of his character.
It also must be nice for the actors to hear from people that you did your job well. (I know I get a kick out of it when I hear it from my students!)
I've never encountered a rude performer at the stage door. But I can see how some might construe performers as rude when they don't get what they want out of them. At the La Cage SD on Saturday matinee, Kelsey Grammar could not have been any nicer. He signed, was genuine in thanking people when they told him that he did a wonderful job and wished him well with opening night. However, there was one guy next to me who must have asked 3 seperate times for a picture. He politely said that he had to go eat dinner and didn't have time for pictures, but the man kept asking. Finally he just said "Look man, I have to feed my kids, sorry".

Some people are just not happy with what they get.

Looking for an actor before the show at the stage door is almost universally frowned upon, Winston, and I'm surprised that Rudetsky condones it. Maybe he was talking of earlier days and knows better now.

Often an actor might be running late or is otherwise harried, and in any case, that's their time to warm up and get ready for a show. Some actors are already heading into show mode on their way to the theater, and don't want to be distracted. Before a show isn't a bad time to drop off a short note, though, if you intend to stop at the stage door after. There's no guarentee, but most actors do check their mail/notes on the way in, and will be more likely to recognize you as a result on their way out.

How would you feel if you were trying to get home after work and had to spend and extra half hour writing your name on things or posing for pictures with strangers?

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winston, I'm well aware there's a difference between the attitude of today's fans. Your posts in this thread reflect it. I don't doubt that demanding fans like you have shot themselves in the foot and ruined it for everyone.

That doesn't change the fact that legendary actors could stagedoor at the height of their careers while the 20-something actors today are "too tired".

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Diva, your point makes no sense. If they don't feel like dealing with the fans, they have every right to use another exit. They're smart enough to know that if do they use the main exit, fans will be waiting, in which case it's the responsibility of the performer and the fans to be civil. I hope you're joking when advocating physical violence.

-"Hi, I loved the show and you did a great job. Would you please sign my playbill and pose for a picture with me? Thank you."
-*throat punch*

Yeah, that's an appropriate response. /sarcasm