What makes a Renthead?

Since we have to wait until the official trailer is up before we can discuss it, I thought we should still keep a fun Rent thread alive.

One thing that always bothers me is when someone hears the soundtrack for the first time and then starts calling themself a Renthead. In your opinion:

What do you think really makes someone a true Renthead?

For me, I think it is not only knowing all the words, but doing the research to totally understand the background of the show and the characters, and all the references made in the show.

... or if you can sing Native American tribal chants backwards through your vocoder while accompanying yourself on the electric cello! lol.

Seriously though I'm interested to hear your thoughts.

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Updated On: 5/31/05 at 09:12 PM

I don't think that a true RENThead necessarily has had to see the show like so many times because some people who live no where near Broadway or a touring cast don't have that option. However, definitely knowing the story of RENT, Larson's message, the music, etc I think is what makes a genuine fan.

I think this discussion is going to get very silly, but I'll put in my brief two cents. I don't think there should be a set list of "rules" for being allowed to say you like something. Surely there are different levels of committment to these sorts of things, but I think that, especially with RENT, being a fan is a pretty personal thing, because I think everyone finds something different in it to love. It's not about how many RENT t-shirts you own, or how much time you and your psychotic friends spend singing along to the CD, but I think it's more about feeling some sort of connection to that musical. That's personal; nobody can define it for you.

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what makes a rent head?
- having seen the play in well over triple digits
-seeing the tour when it pops into your town or anywhere in a 50 mile radius
-second acting it :) wink wink
- standing outside the nederlander w/ you ears pressed to door to hear an intense "goodbye love"
-having the whole obc sign your official rent book
- going to the opening of the rent "store" at bloomingdales
-seeing the angel tour in boston opening night - pre manley pope
-being at every closing night of every obc member
-being at every opening of the 1st replacement set
-recalling specific events such as freddi burping in anthony's face right after she sings "i'm feeling nautious"
-knowing the every move to out tonight
- sitting in the front row,taking the "bag" of crack off the stage post curtain call after sleeping in front of the nederlander pre lottery :)
-freaking out when glitter comes out of any given mimi's hair while everyone just looks at you like wtf!!!

umm i can go on and on for hours but that my friends are element's of a rent head oh yea who can forget jimbo's site !

something else that bugs me -- when they call it a SOUNDTRACK. the movie soundtrack isn't out yet, only the CAST RECORDING for the musical.

anyway, i consider myself a renthead because i'm obsessed with the show, know every line, every song, jump at any slight information about the movie, alumni, and the show itself, and have listened to the CR more than 600 times since 1997. also, i've been a fan since the VERY beginning. lastly, i appreciate, understand, and stand by jonathan's enduring message.

Ah, all the rentheads I have known in my life...

kitkatgirl, glad you can finally make a profit off those silly renthead years :0)

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