Stage door age limits

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 10/14/24 at 10:45pm

Was chatting with someone nearing 40 who was hoping to head down to see Jake Gyllenhaal this winter and was hoping to stage door.  Off the cuff I had made a comment about them having “aged out” of stage dooring. I’m curious peoples view? Do you consider there to be an age limit? Or  is it looked weird at some age? 
Truly I have not stage doored in a number of years but I don’t know that would never stage door again dependent if I really hoped to see/meet/get something signed by a particular actor.  
 

Thoughts?  Thanks

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/14/24 at 11:04pm

Let people have their joy.

I’m 30, been stage dooring since I was 13, and it’s a cool way to meet people in the show and share your admiration/have a chat. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve even made friends with many performers that just started off with a chat at the stage door.

When I saw DRAG: THE MUSICAL a week or so ago, the stage door crowd was primarily Gen X/Elder Millenial housewives from Teaneck who were living their best 90’s life screaming for Joey McIntyre. When I took my (then) 66 year old aunt to see HELLO DOLLY, she was enamored with meeting David Hyde Pierce. 

I don’t think age is the relevant factor. I think it’s your conduct and intention. Like, if you are acting like an entitled jerk and/or are taking space along the barricades with non-show stuff you’re looking to sign and sell (like that one heavyset guy with glasses I see everywhere carrying bags of posters and such), THEN I think you need to step off…

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 10/15/24 at 12:29am

quizking101 said: "I don’t think age is the relevant factor. I think it’s your conduct and intention. Like, if you are acting like an entitled jerk and/or are taking space along the barricades with non-show stuff you’re looking to sign and sell (like that one heavyset guy with glasses I see everywhere carrying bags of posters and such), THEN I think you need to step off…"

I have seen this guy at at least three stage doors in the past couple years! And he's not the most pleasant dude either...at least in my experience 

[LuckyDipster]

Posted: 10/15/24 at 4:55am

I'm 48 and I sometimes stage door with my mother who is in her 70s.  If a show or a particular performer is important to you, then I think it's perfectly natural to join in with the stage door fun.  We had some wonderful interactions with the BTTF cast back in January and, like quizking, we even made a friend.  I don't think there should be an age limit on fun so long as we're all being respectful and dignified.

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 10/15/24 at 7:12am

I am 25, but I don't think a limit should exist. You should be fine if you are willing to stand and wait patiently for 20-30 minutes after the show. I always enjoy the stage door to thank the actors who come out and show them appreciation for the show we just saw. Just always remember to be kind and respectful to the actors as they CHOOSE to stage door and be mindful that this is their personal time. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/15/24 at 8:40am

Good lord, a fan is a fan.

[Wick3]

Posted: 10/15/24 at 9:00am

There are no age limit rules so I think it’s ok.

How did your friend respond? Be careful since you may not have noticed it but it can be interpreted as an ageist comment.

[Lot666]

Posted: 10/15/24 at 9:11am

Theatrefanboy1 said: "I had made a comment about them having “aged out” of stage dooring...Do you consider there to be an age limit? Or is it looked weird at some age?...Thoughts?"

You asked for thoughts, so here are mine: I think you should mind your own business.

[Bwaygurl2]

Posted: 10/15/24 at 9:16am

If the performer/ show has an older fanbase, the stage door crowd will be older; I've seen plenty of people over sixty at a stage door.

[hicaesar]

Posted: 10/15/24 at 9:45am

What a strange comment to make.... when I have gone to stage doors I usually see all ages represented.

Should there be an age limit for broadway shows? If you are past a certain age you can no longer enjoy the show? 

If you can enjoy the show, you can also enjoy meeting the actors and getting your playbill signed. 

[SeanD2]

Posted: 10/15/24 at 10:06am

There should be an age limit and that age should be 0. Stage dooring needs to end. Nobody wants to be harassed by customers on their way home from work. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/15/24 at 10:19am

SeanD2 said: "There should be an age limit and that age should be 0. Stage dooring needs to end. Nobody wants to be harassed by customers on their way home from work."

Okay, grandpa. Let’s get you back to Shady Pines

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 10/15/24 at 10:22am

Well since it was an honest conversation he wasn’t really taken aback by my comment.  I guess my question came from see people like the one guy some had mentioned and some people feel that they’ve become “friends” with this Hollywood actor because they met them. And then having them sign merchandise from series or IP.  But I just wondered if there was ever an age limit even in the actors mind where they are like oh man.  
For me, generally speaking because I’ve bought windowcards at every show I’ve attended.  I would get OBC to sign them. And honestly I would probably stage door for Bernadette Peters or Alice Ripley. Or if some film stage that I really enjoyed was doing it.  I hear some people on here complain about stage doorers (albeit the stage door has become far more popular than they were even 15 or 20 years ago) I was just curious what others sentiment was   

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/15/24 at 10:27am

I haven’t stage doored a show in months, but I don’t feel too old to do it at this point. However, as I happened to be in the neighborhood that day, I swung by the BC/EFA flea market a few weeks ago to say hi to a few acquaintances / friends at tables late in the afternoon. I’d say that’s close enough.

Quizking is right, it’s not about your age, but rather how you behave when doing stage door. 

 

 

 

 

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 10/15/24 at 2:48pm

tbh when I first saw the subject line I thought this was going to be about a minimum age for someone without an adult or something. 

To answer your question directly, I think the only way you can "age out" is if you make that determination for yourself.  We've heard about how some stage doors can get more chaotic/crowded especially for certain actors and even amongst my own friend group of people mostly in their late 20s I have friends who just can't be bothered to deal with that anymore even when they're a big fan of the actor or show.  So they would joke about "aging out" of doing stage door just because it isn't worth the experience for them, but I think that's something for each person to decide on their own.  I've certainly never thought of it as solely a young person's activity.

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 10/15/24 at 8:31pm

chrishuyen said: "tbh when I first saw the subject line I thought this was going to be about a minimum age for someone without an adult or something.

To answer your question directly, I think the only way you can "age out" is if you make that determination for yourself. We've heard about how some stage doors can get more chaotic/crowded especially for certain actors and even amongst my own friend group of people mostly in their late 20s I have friends who just can't be bothered to deal with that anymore even when they're a big fan of the actor or show. So they would joke about "aging out" of doing stage door just because it isn't worth the experience for them, but I think that's something for each person to decide on their own. I've certainly never thought of it as solely a young person's activity."

This is my experience. Around 25, I thought “I’m too old for this” even though I’d had so many great experiences. Rushing out after (or something, admittedly, during) curtain call, stressing out about getting a spot, dealing with rude or pushy people, worrying if the person I wanted to meet would come out, sign, be nice, etc. I wouldn’t make that determination for other people but it was my personal decision.