I'm definitely of two minds on this subject. Anyone who knows me or who has seen my fan pic page is aware of my love for a nice snapshot. Silly arguing aside this is something that I'm glad to see people thinking about and discussing. I'm about to preach about not being a creepy "stage door stalker". This might seem hypocritical since I have a crap-load of fan photos, but you'll notice that there is almost nobody I have more than 1 photo with. And I do agree that this is the prevailing line between OK and creepy- OK is meeting and taking pictures; creepy is feeling the need to do so over and over again. See a show as many times as you like, but do you really need a photo of the same actor on each of these occassions? Leave them alone so they can give a little energy to the people who have just seen it for the 1st time.
I started doing the stage door thing when I lived 3000 miles from NY and only got to see Broadway performers I admired maybe 5 times a year when a good tour came around or when I could get on a plane to the east coast. When that "once-in-a-lifetime" chance did come around, a photo was always a great thing to be able to take from it. From then on, a stagedoor photo became THE souvenir I sought to collect everytime I saw a show. It's a lot more fun than saving playbills or buying shirts and evokes better memories than an autograph. So in that way I think there is absolutely some value in getting a photo with a tired stranger who is probably faking their sincerity (they are professional actors after all).
Knowing that the actor in all likelihood wants nothing more than to get home, I've always been brief and appreciative of their taking the time to let me compliment them. Just a nod or a handshake was great, a photo even better. If they initiated a conversation or were especially nice, it would absolutely make my week, but it was never expected. As such, feelings didn't get hurt if someone was dismissive or a bit rude. There was no delusion of forging any sort of friendship with these people and no assumption that they owed the fan more than just doing their job well.
The problem that exists on the other side of the issue- people not being able to keep their enthusiasm in control, not having a realistic perception of what they are supposed to be gaining from the stage door experience, and not knowing where to draw the line. Those are the factors that separate appreciation from obsession. They ought to appreciate their fans, but their fans need to respect their right to not be at work anymore!
I look at a fan pic as a keepsake of a memorable experience, rather than letting stage door be the experience itself. IMHO it's never appropriate to stage door a performance if you weren't actually in the audience. There are more of these people than anyone realizes. If you habitually try to be on time for the END of a show, that's a big red flag. Let the stage door be a place for those who have just had a shared experience. What good is a keepsake from something you weren't a part of? That's like sneaking into a stranger's wedding in order to be in their family portrait.
As for the Broadway Flea Market celebrity table, the more the better! I ran into a few people who had literally gone thru the line every single hour. Weird sure, but all for a good cause.
This rant isn't directed at anybody in particular, I'm sure everyone here is lovely. I just skimmed through this whole thread and was reminded of the scary fans i've met over the years at various stage doors. I was hoping they had all grown out of it, but I suppose I've just been at different shows than they.
"The last train out of any station will not be full of nice guys."
- Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
"I wash my face, then drink beer, then I weep.
Say a prayer and induce insincere self-abuse,
till I'm fast asleep"- In Trousers
