Is Video Taping A No-No?

Warm greetings, board members! I'd really appreciate any advise you may have on this subject. I am an ex-performer myself, now living in Tennessee. But, twice a year I come to NYC for my "Broadway fix". Eleven glorious days and at least as many shows. I almost always "stage door" after the show, always with a still camera, and sometimes with a video camera. I've done this twice-yearly "Broadway fix" for the last 21 years and until an incident with Carrie Fisher at the "Wishful Drinking" stage door have not had any trouble with either photographing or video taping. Before Carrie came out, one of her people came out to say she would not "pose" for photos and would only sign items pertaining to her show. She came out; I started video taping. About three minutes later, the guy who came out to "instruct" us walked over to me, put his hand over the lens of my video camera and said, "No video"! I apologized, adding he didn't mention anything about video cameras. While I do respect the wishes of the celebrities, it is my understanding that in a public setting, such as a public sidewalk, anyone has the right to video whatever they wish. But, this incident started a thought process that, perhaps, video taping is an unspoken "no-no" in the protocol of the "stage door". Some time later, I was video taping Patti Lupone at the "Gypsy" stage door. When she got to me, I let her know she had moved me to tears in the "show down" between Mama Rose and Gypsy. She signed my souvenir program, but did not look at me, and did not speak to me, even to say "thank you" as she had with numerous other compliments. These two situations are what led me to open this thread. Again, any advise would be greatly appreciated. All the best to all of you.....

Good lord, Allan, use some paragraph breaks!

And generally speaking, videotaping at the stage door is creepy. Don't.

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Updated On: 4/25/12 at 11:24 AM

Weird and creepy yes, but not illegal. Same as with the paparazzi. They're not breaking any laws photographing and videotaping celebrities out in public, which is where they are when they're outside of the theater.

Queen Lupone is too wonderful and important for the lowly minions who spend $150 to see her live. Don't take her snub personally. She's the ultimate diva, and every bad connotation that comes with the word.

allant - I have stated before I have done the stage door thing quite a few times with my wife and daughters. If you ask most performers if they would mind having a picture taken with you, they are most gracious and will do it. (my wife and I have not been in picture but take it of our daughters). I don't think anybody has ever turned my daughters down. I agree with others that videotaping may not be illegal but it is creepy.

Updated On: 4/25/12 at 12:56 PM

Thanks for the definition of "normal," yankee. I'm glad you're on top of that.

I disagree that a performer should leave via a different door if he or she does not wish to sign or be photographed. The public should be respectful of the performer's wishes.

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madbrian - I don't know for sure but I think most performers leave thru another exit because they don't want to appear "rude" and pass by all the fans waiting and say they are not signing. Yes, they can do anything they like and are under no obligation to sign autographs. Usually, the guy at at stage door will let people know if a certain performer is not coming out after the performance.

I always say I like agreeing with you, Joey.

Joan Crawford knew this and she was the last true star. If I was going to see someone I admired and wanted my picture with them, if i was snubbed, I would be like &^%%* YOU and I would not be going to see them again.

The best thing I've read today.

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Performers "owe" NOTHING to fans except a good performance.

"Owe" is a creepy word. Nobody "owes" anybody anything, unless it is lent.

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Taryn - yes it is the nice thing to do and as I have mentioned I have never met anybody at the stage door entrance that was not very nice, maybe I have been lucky. I don't know about you but I have never seen athletes or performers outside of Broadway sign autographs and take pictures after a game/performance. I think Broadway performers are most gracious to take time to do this to thank fans and IMO this should not be taken for granted. (note *** not saying you are taking them for granted)

I sometimes will go to the stage door to say thank you. It's funny, but I swear I've seen some of the same people that I remember from other stage doors. It's like they have to remind the performer that they've seen them in other shows. In this case, a man had to call Louis Hobson "Doctor" since he played doctors in Next to Normal and in The People in the Picture. They probably are facebook friends with them and think that they are actually friends with the actors.

It'd be a hoot if Smash could have a little bit on the show about creepy stage door patrons, and maybe bit where they feature the vultures who are out looking for tickets before a final show, or an opening.

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