Worst stage door experience- Page 3

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 3:58pm

^ I remember seeing Hamilton at the Public as well and Lin just walked around/came out following the show and everything was calm, cool, and collected. Even back when I saw the show on Broadway in September last year, it was a sustained controlled situation and not an absolute mob scene like it is now. I watched in horror last weekend from Les Mis stage door as every time someone came out, the insane crowd would scream. Someone standing near me at Les Mis stage door grabbed Leslie as he walked by and I was just like - Can you not? 

Updated On: 6/19/16 at 03:58 PM

[denali.fire]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 4:23pm

Nathan Lane. 

[Comden Green]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 6:34pm

I know it's best if we avoid actor stories but I'm going to tell one anyway.  

Matilda.  I was in awe of Bertie Carvel.  After the show, I got in a spot to have my poster signed.  The crowd was positioned in a semi-circle.  I stood about halfway around the circle behind some kids.  Mr. Carvel came out the stage door and walked directly to our spot.  He began to sign all those around me.  I held out my poster - not intrusively, not in front of anyone, just so it could be seen.  He didn't sign it.  He continued to walk away from that spot to finish half of the circle.  That's ok.  I'll just wait until he comes back to do the rest of the group.  Or not, even, it's not that big a deal. 

He finished that group and walked directly back to where I was standing to begin the rest of the group.  He began to sign. I held up the poster. Not intrusively, not over anyone. Patiently.  But as he finished everyone nearby, he began to move away from me, signing others.  I was the only one there.  I had a poster. I was holding it out.  It was so strange.  I spoke up and asked if he would sign it.  He did.  

Ever feel invisible?  The only way I have rationalized it is that he felt I was too old to be getting autographs with all these young people.  I can't imagine any other faux pas I had committed.  I can't imagine how he could not have seen me there - twice.  And yet see every other soul standing there.   ??

I rarely do stage door anymore.
Updated On: 6/19/16 at 06:34 PM

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 6:50pm

Wasn't he at least polite to you about it?

[Comden Green]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 6:58pm

disneybroadwayfan22 said: "Wasn't he at least polite to you about it?

 

"I don't recall any emotion from him at all.  I decided to tell him that I came up from Virginia just to see him.  It was near the end of his time in the show.  He said, "I hope you weren't disappointed."  Which, at the time, I thought was a strange remark - to put a negative spin on it.  But, I suppose it wasn't that strange of a comment.  Of course I said that I was absolutely not disappointed.  

 

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 6:59pm

Updated On: 6/19/16 at 06:59 PM

[rush_over_me]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 8:41pm

It's a lose-lose situation for the actors

If they leave through a different exit, they are a$$holes

If they leave through the stage door, but don't smile and don't stop, they are a$$holes

If they leave through the stage door, smile but don't stop, they are a$$holes

If they stop but don't sign, they are a$$holes

If they sign but don't selfie, they are a$$holes

If they selfie but don't hug, they are a$$holes

....

 

Honestly, with all the lunatics running around, all actors should leave incognito and not mingle with crowds at the door 

 

 

[smidge]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 9:49pm

ClumsyDude15 said: "^ I remember seeing Hamilton at the Public as well and Lin just walked around/came out following the show and everything was calm, cool, and collected. Even back when I saw the show on Broadway in September last year, it was a sustained controlled situation and not an absolute mob scene like it is now. I watched in horror last weekend from Les Mis stage door as every time someone came out, the insane crowd would scream. Someone standing near me at Les Mis stage door grabbed Leslie as he walked by and I was just like - Can you not? 

No wonder Leslie wants to leave.

"

 

[Leaf Coneybear]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 11:19pm

I saw Hamilton in January, and honestly it wasn't terrible. There were about 3 "layers" of people and most were very considerate. I was next to a girl who had won the lottery (and it was her birthday) and was absolutely ecstatic. The only problem was the college boys who had the front row and hadn't seen the show, didn't know the actors, and were obviously just there to sell signed things on eBay. They wouldn't move over to let me speak to any of the actors (I was in the second layer) and they actually prevented me from getting some autographs because they kept talking and no one could hear or see me (I'm veerry short). Almost all the actors came out which was awesome but it's a shame it didn't see almost any of them. 

[Emma MK]

Posted: 6/20/16 at 1:26pm

My worst stage door experience was Daniel Radcliffes last night in How to Succeed. Id flown from England by myself to see the show, had somehow managed to get a rush ticket and was soooo excited. I zoomed out of the theatre and managed to get front row on the barrier on the side that was for people with tickets. He came out afterwards and signed half way down the line and the crossed over to the other side where people without tickets were stood. At this point the people behind were getting very rowdy and were pushing a lot. The security guy kept asking for people to step back as we were getting crushed in front and that he would take Daniel away if they didnt stop pushing. Needless to say they didnt stop pushing and he made sure that Daniel didnt come over to where i was stood He seemed lovely though and i have thankfully met him since then, but i was so upset that those people at the back had ruined my chance to meet him.

 

Also, having spent 3 nights sat in the Hamilton cancellation line last week, watching the stage door was just insane! And every night there would be autograph sellers just waiting outside the door where he comes out to bombard him with stuff, it was horrible to watch. I watched from the other side of the street as it was pretty scary. I did try standing at the stage door one night but gave up right before the show let out as even then it was super tightly packed and i get a bit anxious when people are so close to me.

 

Talking of getting anxious, at the stage door for Darren Criss in Hedwig, i had a 14 year old girl practically climbing my back to be able to see him and omg it made me soooo uncomfortable her being so close to me but i was too polite to say anything until i was on the verge of having a panic attack and then she let off a bit, but omg his fans are scary!

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 12:22am

Just curious... I thought people lined up for Les Miserables on the other side of the theatre, where Shuffle Along is, not where Hamilton is.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 2:09am

lotiloti said: "Worst experiences, are for the poor actors. Having to come  out and face the sad hangers on at the stage door. Get a life!

 

"

No need to knock others for doing something you don't enjoy doing. for a lot of people, stage dooring is a way to thank actors for their performance. For me I get to thank them, as a studying actor, I learn soo much just by watching them on stage. they are the role models and teachers of the next generation of actors and i'm grateful for their performance and want them to know that. Stage acting seems to be the most under appreciated of the three: Film, TV,Stage. They are under paid and don't get the kind of publicity, notoriety or expose that the other two mediums get. 

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 8:38am

Just curious... I thought people lined up for Les Miserables on the other side of the theatre, where Shuffle Along is, not where Hamilton is.

No, the Imperial Stage Door is on 46th and shares space with the Richard Rodgers. What they do is they put a barricade between the two to try and make it clear to those who are there for Hamilton they're on the right side of the barricade. However, it's become such a clusterf*ck that people think the two stage door lines are one line and come down to the Les Mis end with their Hamilton playbills/etc to be signed. 

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 1:48pm

When Debra Messing took my Playbill and proceeded to evacuate her bowels on the street and wipe with it. She then ran off.

[Comden Green]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 2:01pm

Bettyboy72 said: "When Debra Messing took my Playbill and proceeded to evacuate her bowels on the street and wipe with it. She then ran off.

 

"

Did she keep the playbill?

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 2:06pm

No, she threw it a child, like a chimp.

[Comden Green]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 2:14pm

Bettyboy72 said: "No, she threw it a child, like a chimp.

 

"

Color me horrified.   

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 2:20pm

Going to the stage door isn't what it used to be thanks to the internet, eBay etc. The actors know that too many people are trying to make a buck off their generosity and it has ruined it for the fans.

20 years ago I don't remember stage door crowds being as vile, rude and ruthless as they are now. It has genuinely made a favorite hobby of mine (getting my CDs signed for my personal enjoyment) into something I rarely if ever do anymore. Even the fairly organized Barnes & Noble CD events are a hit/miss. I'm sure if it were a Hamilton CD signing it would be a nightmare no doubt!

[Comden Green]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 2:37pm

Brian07663NJ said: "Going to the stage door isn't what it used to be thanks to the internet, eBay etc. The actors know that too many people are trying to make a buck off their generosity and it has ruined it for the fans.

20 years ago I don't remember stage door crowds being as vile, rude and ruthless as they are now. It has genuinely made a favorite hobby of mine (getting my CDs signed for my personal enjoyment) into something I rarely if ever do anymore. Even the fairly organized Barnes & Noble CD events are a hit/miss. I'm sure if it were a Hamilton CD signing it would be a nightmare no doubt!

 

"

I must say I'm skeptical that people actually buy autographs and would love some evidence of that.   I just can't picture a person treasuring an autograph of a person they've never seen.   - well maybe historical   A. Lincoln.  

And I guess I've been lucky and have never seen a disorganized mob.  Even at  nph/ hedwig folks were orderly and polite though not all were successful.  And I was only observing not seeking an autograph.   

I haven't tried Hamilton SD.   

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 2:45pm

People DO buy autographs. But what's vastly exaggerated here is the amount of people who actually sell them. From reading these posts you'd think there are hundreds of autograph sellers lined up at a stage door every night, when that's far from the truth. Maybe there's a few but who cares? Seriously - people buy and sell them online but it's hardly something that's going to pay for your kids college. In fact, I  just bought a signed window card a few days ago for a show that I've been looking for for a while. I bought one a few months ago of LETTICE & LOVAGE with Maggie Smith and the whole Broadway cast and I paid something like $40 for it. I just looked and there was another one that sold for $10 a few weeks ago. So maybe people spend stupid money for shows like HAMILTON on the rare occasion but if a Maggie Smith signed window card sells for just a few bucks, you know it's not a real "business".

So when people here say "It was so bad! There were so many autograph sellers!" - I'm sure the reality is there were just a ton of overzealous teens screaming for selfies.

[Comden Green]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 2:59pm

Thanks Jordan.   Very interesting and helpful.   And yes, I can see your situation. Makes sense.

As well as your conclusion that this is not a big business.   

[SamIAm]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 7:21pm

You waited 16 HOURS?  I find that very hard to believe. If you did, then that is obsessive. After 2 hours I would think you would understand that you weren't going to get your wish.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 7:49pm

SamIAm said: "You waited 16 HOURS?  I find that very hard to believe. If you did, then that is obsessive. After 2 hours I would think you would understand that you weren't going to get your wish."

 

Seriously? Not only was he joking, but you're not even the first person in this thread to take his joke seriously and then get corrected. 

 

[¿Macavity?]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 8:28pm

"

No, the Imperial Stage Door is on 46th and shares space with the Richard Rodgers. What they do is they put a barricade between the two to try and make it clear to those who are there for Hamilton they're on the right side of the barricade. However, it's become such a clusterf*ck that people think the two stage door lines are one line and come down to the Les Mis end with their Hamilton playbills/etc to be signed. 

 

"

Sounds like Les Mis needs a better baricade. (Bu-dum-tsk).

[starcatchers]

Posted: 6/21/16 at 9:15pm

I will not name the show, but I was shoved VERY hard while conversing with a well known performer who had just joined the company. She then turned to the woman who shoved me and went "Now you can wait." It was nice to see nasty behavior not being tolerated. 

Re: the Hamilton autograph sellers -

there seem to be a few who frequent. I stopped by the theatre to say hello to someone I knew a few weeks ago, and there were clearly some autograph hounds there. The staff seemed to know them, and left them to their devices.