Pre-Show SDing at A Chorus Line?- Page 2

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 8:28pm

Maybe I don't have to stop and sign autographs, but I do spend much of my weekend grading papers and planning lessons. Every job has burdens that we have to deal with. It just goes with the territory of one's chosen profession. We just have to deal with it and be as gracious as we can!

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 8:30pm

What! I used to always swoon over my teachers before class started. Finally one day the lady said to me, "Get away! I got stuff to do!" I was heartbroken and dropped her class never to return.

She just lost a fan. I mean student.

(Seriously, I agree with Yankee. But it is a different environment than the post-show dooring. I would say, let them be before the show.)

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 8:31pm

I've said this before so many times and will say it again - just because a few performers CHOOSE to sign at "1 minute to call" doesn't mean that they WANT to sign at the time. I don't deny that some of these performers get off on any possible attention they can get, but I doubt most performers are thrilled to be signing autographs both before and after the show. Since we can't judge their feelings simply based on whether they seemingly have a happy face about the matter, I think it's polite to follow standard protocol and simply ask for autographs post-show. Yes, there are extenuating circumstances once in a while, but nine times out of ten, the people waiting before the show for autographs are looking to either avoid the post-show crowd or, in some more twisted cases, searching for a way to get more attention from the performer.

[Show Off]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 8:54pm

Okay, I get it. Pre-SDing = not always nice. From what Yankee has said it doesn't seem like they will mind. If they're in a rush, I won't bother them. But if they show up earlier and don't look in a hurry at all, I will stop them for a minute. Not a huge deal, I'd think they'd be happy to have fans? And I never asked anyone if they wanted me to or not, all I wanted was the time. Thanks for your concern but I'm going to be respectful of them anyway.

[BDavis0092]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 9:14pm

Ah but you are wrong. You do grade papers and plan lessons; and yes, you do have to deal with it. That is not so with actors. Infact, they do NOT have to deal with it. It is not their job to sign autographs. It is your job to grade papers. If you didn't have to grade papers on the weekends would you?

[changinandhow]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 9:28pm

Maybe if you make another post saying the SAME THING once again, the person you're arguing with will suddently agree with you.

Or you know, maybe not. She had a question about what time to arrive, not whether you all thought she should go or not.

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 9:42pm

What would I do? You have to be kidding....

[parislover87]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 9:47pm

Chorus Line has the nicest cast ever... you could go to their houses and they'd still greet you with a (concerned) smile

[BDavis0092]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 9:51pm

You wouldn't grade papers if you didn't have to?

[emo_geek]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 9:59pm

They'll like the gift...unless theres like a bomb inside. So it's not rude...unless you give them a bomb.

[BDavis0092]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 10:01pm

I'd stay away from food as well. They usually don't eat it.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 10:14pm

Most are unable to accept live animals at this time.

So, the big question is, WHAT are the gifts? And have you thought about what will happen if a cast member you have a gift for is walking in with a cast member you don't have a gift for? How horrible will that poor person feel? Especially if they play a character who gets doesn't make the line, night after night, week after week.

[Show Off]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 10:20pm

Well then I'd just have to buy them a box of food with a bomb inside.

[BDavis0092]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 10:23pm

Then strap the box onto a little dogs neck and give it to them.

[scot]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 10:33pm

Most actors like being recognized?
Try "recognizing" Lea Salonga or
Nathan Lane...
or Betty Buckley...
or Patti LuPone...
or Idina Menzel...
or other "principle" types.

I've not felt the need to
bother actors before a show
but I have witnessed these
5 listed here go almost postal
when approached for a picture
or autograph while walking to
their stage door.
Lea Salonga pre-show...yikes!

[Show Off]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 10:39pm

Glad none of them are in ACL

[mikem]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 7:26am

Scot, what did Lea Salonga do?

[bwaydoc]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 11:52am

Just like to add my two cents worth. In Seth Rudetsky's "Q Guide to Broadway" I believe he mentions pre-show stage dooring as a way to meet the performers if you don't want to deal with the crowd after the show. As a Broadway performer himself I don't think he'd encourage this if he thought it was rude or a nuisance.

[KQuill]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 11:54am

I would say most actors do. And even if they don't...i don't understand how naming 5 very big-name people that don't supports that theory...

[scot]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 9:21pm

Well the 5 I named weren't
intended to "support a theory"
as it was just my own personal
experience that makes me think
twice about a stage door pre-show.
I do though think that some of
the egoes and diva'ish personalities
are obnoxious.
Scot

[KQuill]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 6:48pm

I decided to revive this thread here for a minute just because I kind of came to a conclusion about pre-show stage dooring.

I think that if you are a huge fan of the person and really want to meet them, pre-show is a great idea because it will be more personal. But if you just want to meet someone you are familiar with, or get an augotograph or whetever..it's just better to wait. I think pre-shows go bad for the reasons mentioned above and on other threads..but also because you really can't half ass a pre-show unless the performer is really nice.

Anyways, just my opinion - not hard and fast rules and of course there's exceptions.