How To Not Be Creepy At Stage Door- Page 4

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 11/14/10 at 12:47pm

Your posts are offensive to those actually afflicted with social anxiety disorders.

AEA, of course they don't have to give a reason. So why are you all inventing reasons for them?

[misschung]

Posted: 11/14/10 at 1:27pm

Plus, people have no common sense. If an actor looks tired, isnt made up or is wrung out have decency and don't ask them for a photo. Most people are so self serving and oblivious to anyone else's needs.

Exactly. I think respect breeds respect in most cases. Yes, there will always be crazy, creepy fans who just don't take no for an answer. And no, there is no small print on the bottom of your ticket entitling you to a personal meet n greet after the show. But honestly, if meeting a few people who have waited to tell you that they enjoyed your performance (and past performances) elicits that much anxiety, then maybe they're in the wrong profession. Suck it up.

On the flip side, actors are people and they have bad days. It wouldn't bother me if an actor said they weren't feeling well or had to go, or whatever, but just be civil about it. The whole diva persona gets old.

[PopAria]

Posted: 11/15/10 at 1:25am

I remember my first stage door experience in 2009. I was new to Broadway, and Next to Normal was HOT. So I stayed after the show and got the opportunity to speak with Alice Ripley. I asked her a few questions and that's it. Made my way through the crowd down to the subway...
1 year later (and a lot of BWAY shows later) stage-dooring isn't as special as it was when I was new to Bway. I think for newbies it's great and fun and always thrilling to say you saw so-and-so in person. But after a lot of exposure to actors and actresses here in NYC I've become more and more immune to the emotions and feelings of being star-studded (until I meet Madonna or Britney Spears). That's why I think tourists and younger (younger in experience, not in age) audiences should be forgiven, they don't know any better. They haven't been exposed to real-life actors and actresses, and city life isn't part of their life.

Let them live life and learn from their own experiences. Then they'll look back and say "OMG I can't believe I called Bebe Neuwirth "Lilith" and told her how much I loved Fraiser." All Bebe wanted to hear was how good Addams family was.

[artscallion]

Posted: 2/1/11 at 2:34pm

Whatever you do, don't make the mistake of gifting them a vest you made from the skin of the last actor you...enjoyed. I'm still living that one down!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 2/1/11 at 3:12pm

Reading back through this thread, some of the people who have claimed to be normal, have turned out to be a little cray-cray themselves.

[CONAries]

Posted: 2/1/11 at 3:48pm

In general I'm Pro Stage Dooring, I think the main factor is to stay respectful to the artist and there work, remember they are NOT your friend and have no desire to be so!

When it comes to talking, some actors will come out, smile and say "thank You" and then just move on, I generally treat this with the same reply, a short thank you and let them have there break, but you do get actors talk to you and ask questions (though I have noticed this happen less as I get older) in which case I try to give short sweet replies, and ask general questions in return (mainly about there career or the show) theres ALWAYS the cringe moment when you over hear someone ask "so where do you live?"

HOWEVER, my main annoyance, if a performer chooses NOT to use the stage door, RESPECT this, there job has ended by this point, and any favours they grant by signing are PURELY favours, if they want to get home with some piece and quiet... ruddy let them do so!

(If anyone is interested in a comparison, West End stage doors are alot more relaxed than Broadway, with most shows not using barricades etc. and the star performers are sometimes even shocked to see someone waiting for them!! Broadway does seem more organised, but this does give the feel that it is set-up for fans to wait, and therefore obligatory for the stars to sign! Maybe this whole set-up has caused the craziness developed on the streets of New York!!!)

[littlegreen2]

Posted: 2/1/11 at 4:50pm

I love the stage door but it has gotten really out of hand... There is a lot of screaming and chanting at shows where it's not really appropriate...but there are a few actors who very obviously milk and encourage it, so I don't think the audience is entirely to blame in some cases.