Stagedooring a show I didn't see? - Page 2

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/28/17 at 7:45pm

That is still not calling anyone out.  I didn't even voice my own opinion - whatsoever.  No one even told him NOT to do it: HE ASKED FOR OPINIONS, and the op got a variety of them -- and he can do whatever he wants with them. 

 

Good god.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 1/29/17 at 12:21am

taliax353 said: "I'm going to New York in the spring, and Im trying to take the advantage of hopefully meeting some broadway stars. One of them I really want to meet is Gideon Glick. I'm not able to watch Significant Other, and I feel like it would be pretty rude if I just stagedoored and asked for a picture, but I'm not sure. Are there any other ways I could meet him? Or should I just stick with stagedooring?

I can get into my personal experience, but in general, I think it's fine. I've seen people do it before. If you're really nervous about it, maybe tweet at him or contact him through some other form of social media and ask if it's alright. 

 

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 1/29/17 at 3:09pm

"You stated in your earlier post that "it is considered rude by many people".   Whether someone wants to stagedoor a show they didn't see is their business. Not yours...or anyone else. If the actor doesn't want to sign for the person then it is up to the discretion of the actor.  It's none of the business of any one else.  Whether or not you, JBroadway or Yankeefan are not guilty of the actions I listed, is not the point. "

I will echo dramamama 's response, nobody told the poster not to do it and we just offered our opinion. 

[Huss417]

Posted: 1/29/17 at 3:17pm

How long did Anne Baxter hang out around the stage door? :)

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 1/29/17 at 4:56pm

Anyone who is silly enough to hang around a stage door deserves to get, or not, whatever they can.

I'm with SweetLips. I don't really see the appeal of stage dooring and I think all the hullabaloo about the intricacies of it are silly.

If you wanna meet Gideon go meet him! Maybe don't advertise you didn't see it though so a Queen won't crucify you.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 1/29/17 at 5:24pm

Mr. Nowack said: 

If you wanna meet Gideon go meet him! Maybe don't advertise you didn't see it though so a Queen won't crucify you.

 

"

Great and funny response!

[kjck89]

Posted: 1/29/17 at 6:18pm

I've been at a couple of stagedoors where the actors will only specifically sign playbills/memorabilia of the show but this is pretty rare. I've also met fellow stagedoorers who didn't see the show and it's completely fine! I really don't think the stagedoor staff/security will say anything and there's no harm in trying! For me I usually stagedoor because it's a great cherry on top after seeing a show and I've also had some amazing conversations with the actors about the play/musical. But again, you're visiting New York so I say go for it! :) 

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/29/17 at 7:02pm

As I said, it's not who else minds. The security at stagedoor, the cast, the other patrons on line. They don't know that you didn't see the show, so why should they care? It's all about how you feel about it yourself. If you're ok with doing something that you have a feeling might be wrong, then have at it.

[craig238]

Posted: 1/29/17 at 7:57pm

Go for it - there is nothing 'wrong' with doing it. I have done it numerous times and a few times have even told the 'actors' I was getting an autograph from that I did not see the show but wanted to say how much I enjoyed something else they had been in and both times they said THANKS for stopping by. Just do it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 1/29/17 at 9:18pm

"I've been at a couple of stagedoors where the actors will only specifically sign playbills/memorabilia of the show but this is pretty rare.

 

I believe Idina Menzel was one of them when she was in "If/Then".

[ebontoyan]

Posted: 1/29/17 at 11:08pm

yankeefan7 said: "I believe Idina Menzel was one of them when she was in If/Then"

We had a different experience with Idina. One year we were getting out of Les Miz and got us smack in the Pippin stage door.  There was a Pippin actor signing right in front of us.  My friend gave him the Les Miz playbill, he looked at it and gave it back and said "Oh this is not our show!" We finally made to the Les Miz stage door and got our autographs and pics.  As we were leaving, we saw Idina next door at the If/Then stage door.  So we fell in line and when she got to us we gave her our Les Miz playbills and she graciously signed them and we had pics taken with her.  We did tell her we travel to NYC 3-4 times a year to see shows.  To the OP, I think it's fine to go to the stage door if you haven't seen the show, especially if you're from out of town. 

 

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 1/30/17 at 5:38pm

"As we were leaving, we saw Idina next door at the If/Then stage door.  So we fell in line and when she got to us we gave her our Les Miz playbills and she graciously signed them and we had pics taken with her."

 

Very nice. I thought I read it on this board that she was not going to sign stuff from "Rent", Wicked" and "Frozen".  

[SamIAm]

Posted: 1/30/17 at 6:39pm

For those who are serious theater patrons, it is considered in bad taste to visit the stage door if you haven't seen the show, though it has become common practice. Since the stage door is meant for the actors to meet the audience, it isn't really fair but, having said that, there are lots of people who do it, so I would leave it to you to decide how you feel about it. 

In talking to an actor friend of mine I was told that he really wants to spend what little time he has at the stage door with those who were in the audience so another way to look at it is that an actor will only spend so much time signing and taking pictures and I think I would feel bad taking the time that might belong to someone who actually saw the show. 

Updated On: 1/30/17 at 06:39 PM

[lotiloti]

Posted: 1/31/17 at 4:04am

For goodness sake, don't demean yourself. They are  just actors, doing their job.

.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 1/31/17 at 7:52am

"So, OP, I guess the question you have to ask yourself is "Am I serious theater patron?"

Please submit a 500 word essay to Sam describing your theatrical experiences. He will read it over and will let you know if you're a "serious theater patron."

Unfortunately if Sam decides you are a "serious theater patron" you shouldn't do it since it is considered in bad taste by your peers. 

If Sam decides you are not a "serious theater patron" then you should go ahead and do it. Everyone will just chalk it up to your ignorance. "

 

You do really need to read the entire post. Sam offered his opinion and told OP that it was his decision, why do you have such a problem with people stating opinion. I agree with him that actors want to get home and why delay them with people who did not attend the show.? Yes, the world will not come to and end if a few extra people are on line but personally I would not do it.  Silly me, I thought the stage door thing was for audience of the show not for every autograph seeker. To the OP, just do what you want and does it really matter what nameless people say on a Broadway board?

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 1/31/17 at 8:43am

"It is the pretentiousness of assuming that there is such a thing as a "serious theater patron" that irks me. 

I have no problem with someone stagedooring a show they haven't seen. According to Sam I am not a "serious theater patron."

I was trying to be helpful. It's a term Sam used. I'm not sure of its definition or requirements, but apparently he is. 

I just wanted the OP to avoid the disgraceful label I now carry of being a "nonserious theater patron."

 

Ok, I understand and agree with your point about "serious theater patron".  It is very snobbish and implies some theater people are better than others.

[LarryD2]

Posted: 1/31/17 at 8:47am

I've worked in a lot of theaters over the years, and been around a lot of stage doors. I don't see anything wrong with you politely asking Glick for a photograph if you didn't see the show.

Most if not all actors expect that people are going to wait for them at the stage door. Many view it as part of the gig, although of course it technically isn't (and shouldn't be expected of them). As others have stated, you're not going up to someone having dinner with their family or trying to pick up their dry cleaning. 

Usually, the actors who want to avoid the stage door altogether will find a way to get out of the theater through a different exit. In my experience, the only actors I've seen who have really refused to sign anything/take pictures, or who will only sign items related to their shows, have been very famous actors who don't want to deal with the autograph sellers who show up at the stage door with a stack of glossies they intend to put on eBay. No offense to Gideon Glick, but I don't think that's a problem he encounters. I don't know him, but I imagine he would be happy to meet someone who's a sincere fan. 

In short, just go. Be polite and courteous. You should be fine.

 

[SarahNYC2]

Posted: 1/31/17 at 10:09am

Such an interesting thread-maybe because I don't get going to a stage door. However I can't see why it really matters. I mean maybe someone can't afford the show, or maybe they saw the show on a day when they couldn't go to the stage door but came back another day. I mean when it's all said and done-I would think most are there because they value the actor and want his/her autograph. And I would think seeking them out at the stage door is nicer than going up to them in a setting away from the theater. At least at the stage door the actor is making the choice to engage with fans and a fan knows that he/she is not disrupting the actor doing something. 

I mean unless you come with a stack of pictures/playbills/etc I would say go for it.

[Rainah]

Posted: 2/1/17 at 1:11am

Wow, heated thread. Ok, my two cents

I think it's fine as long as you're respectful.  I would say

- Understand that actors may not come out that night, or any night, and that is fine! Stagedooring is a gift actors give their fans. Doing a show is exhausting, and stagedooring can often end super late (Last Feb when I stagedoored it the Hamilton stagedoor was ending around 1-1:30am, and everyone was taking at least 30-40min signing. It's quieter now, but that's still a lot)

- make sure everyone has access, including passing playbills forward and swapping spots with someone for a minute so they can get a pic

- Just in general don't be a dick? Don't be drunk, don't harass security, don't creep on the actors. I would 100% rather have people who were respectful and appreciative but didn't see the show than awful people who did. I've stagedoored beside those people before and it's the worst.

[Rainah]

Posted: 2/1/17 at 1:15am

yankeefan7 said: "I believe Idina Menzel was one of them when she was in "If/Then"."

Seconding someone else - I personally saw her sign a wicked poster at the If/Then stagedoor. In fact, it was the only thing she signed that night. (She was feeling sick and security passed on the message that she wasn't signing at all. One poor guy had a wicked poster he'd gotten signed by Kristen in 2003 and had literally been waiting a decade to get Idina's signature on it. Everyone agreed, we made a plea on his behalf she she signed it on her way out the door it was very lovely to see everyone come together.)

[talklessblogmore]

Posted: 2/1/17 at 9:46am

It's possible, it's not something i'd do often though. I would try getting a playbill, people throw them everywhere. Try seeing the show, waiting at the stage door after actually seeing the show is 10000x better than just waiting without seeing it. 

Also it's not guaranteed that he'll come out. Alot of actors dont come out. 

If you do wait, be respectful!! Don't push people, and i'd try not to block people waiting if I didn't see the show. Good luck!