STAGE DOOR ETIQUETTE — Page 2

"Have a care for what you say while you?re waiting in line. Gossiping/trash-talking the actors is never a good idea because you don?t know who might overhear you. Keep in mind that most of the people at stage door are avid fans (most of them young) who look up to these actors and idolize them. Or even worse, you could be standing next to someone who actually knows the performer. Just keep a lid on it until you get to the car. If you make some kid cry or get punched in the no-no?s, you?ll definitely regret it."

This happened to me once. This brat was going on and on about a friend of mine. What a jerk he was, etc. He hadn't signed because he wasn't feeling well and he snuck out rather than face the fans. Boy, did I set her straight. Nobody disses my peeps like that - especially when they, literally, have no idea what they're talking about.

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You've just been wearing a wig for hours. Your hair is, literally a mess. Do you want to go out and pose for pictures without putting on a hat?

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Because you are supposed to look presentable when you go to the theatre.

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In terms of physical contact, I've never asked for a hug (or a kiss). The actors are usually used to seeing me so much that it's the first thing they do when they see me. :p

"In terms of physical contact, I've never asked for a hug (or a kiss). The actors are usually used to seeing me so much that it's the first thing they do when they see me. :p"

I wasn't going to post this because I would have been attacked but the same thing happens to me. Well I most likely will be attacked now for saying that...lol.

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I wasn't going to post this because I would have been attacked but the same thing happens to me. Well I most likely will be attacked now for saying that...lol.

HA!

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I think that there are worse things that can go on in the theatre then not dressing the way others deem fit. Hell, I wouldn't mind sitting next to someone in a garbage bag as long as they are silent, don't eat during the show, don't take out their phones and play with them etc. I honestly don't think that how you dress matters considering that your in a dark building for two and a half hours. And yes, while the actors may see you it isn't like they are going to be able to notice you by the guy with the red shirt on in row D.

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Well for some people, it's a big night out at the theater. I've definitely seen people in dresses and suits and stuff like that. Since I'm more of a regular theater goer I tend to dress more casually and usually stick with nice jeans or pants and a nice top. I don't think dressing up is required for every show and certainly not for the stage door.

If people want to dress nicely for the theatre, that's great. :)

If people want to dress nicely for the theatre and/or sneer at me because I'd rather be comfortable, that's not so great.

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"enormous baggy sweatpants with "JMU" written down the leg and shoved into dirty Uggs"
Thats JMU for you... pretty much all the girls dress like that on a daily basis wherever they go, thinking it looks attractive. Don't know why thought...

When this topic pops up from time to time on the board, it's rather disturbing to see how some people have absolutely no concept of common sense and how to behave to a complete and total stranger?

You wouldn't go up to a total stranger and hug them, expect an immediate "friendship," or anything like that. So, why would you do that to a performer whom you admire?

Certainly, most people are ok at the stagedoor, but I've seen quite a few crazies. Just because you have seen a person's show a few times, doesn't give you license to think that they owe you anything, aside from a good performance.

There's no law in any Actor's Equity or Non-Equity contract that states that any performer has to come out of the stage door and sign autographs, pose for pics, etc. That's the icing on the cake.

Updated On: 4/18/09 at 12:56 PM

"As for dressing up? When I went to New York with my theatre group, my drama teacher basically said to us, "You're going to a Broadway show. You're not wearing jeans. Wear something nice." Usually, I wear anything from pair a of black pants and cute top to a skirt and blouse or a stylish dress. (Depending on how the weather is and what kind of show it is)."

really? my theatre teacher actually told us we didn't have to dress up, but if we wanted to to make a night out of it, we could. Now, I've never gone in sweatpants(and honestly, I wouldn't even attend class dressed that way), but I would usually wear dark pants and nice T-shirt because I'm usually coming to the theatre after a long day of work, school, or spending time in nyc hanging out. I mean, I suppose I could bring clothes to change into, but no one's really given me a hard time about how I looked.

" If you look nice someone might tell you. It happened to me just recently. A very good-looking, but married, actor told me I looked nice. He wasn't trying to pick me up - just pay me a compliment. And you know what...I DID look nice and it was sweet of him to say so. You never know who's going to admire you if you put some effort into your appearance. "

I've actually had that happen to me, when I was only wearing black pants and a nice T-shirt. They said I looked cute and they liked my clothes and it made me happy. I have dressed up nice for the theatre, but that was when I had someone driving me into the city and my tickets were already purchased, etc.

As for asking for hugs, I could never get up the nerve to do it, and I think it's kind of awkward for the actor because what if they didn't want to hug you? I know they could just say no, but I would imagine it would be awkward. I always hate it when people I'm not close friends with expect me to hug them every time I see them. And as for bringing gifts, I really can't afford to do it, but as others said, I think it would be a little weird.

really? my theatre teacher actually told us we didn't have to dress up, but if we wanted to to make a night out of it, we could. Now, I've never gone in sweatpants(and honestly, I wouldn't even attend class dressed that way), but I would usually wear dark pants and nice T-shirt because I'm usually coming to the theatre after a long day of work, school, or spending time in nyc hanging out. I mean, I suppose I could bring clothes to change into, but no one's really given me a hard time about how I looked.

Mine was big on theatre ettitique, so he wanted to make sure all of us knew that we had to look and be on our best behavior.

I'm not saying his way of thinking was right, but it's influenced how I usually dress when I attend a show. Unless it's a high school production or college show, then I'll usually wear a nice pair of jeans and a t-shirt.

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