leaving items at the stage door (or "i just want my freakin' baseball cap back"- Page 2

[Lorelai]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 1:10am

"Look kid, do you really expect to get the cap signed and returned [especially when you don't come back the same day) in a world where it's a major mental accomplishment for the average Starbuck coffee drone to get your over-priced latter order right?"


Allow me to repeat myself since you obviously didn't read what i said the first time. The idea to do this came from doing it in the past and being successful. Easiest way to try something, trial and error. Before you turn to get your Merriam Webster, have no fear, I will explain in simple terms using words that have no more than three syllables.

This was not the first time I did this. This tactic has been successful for me on every occasion so far. Saying that, one might be inclined to make an educated guess that it may be successful again. See how that works? Not too complicated, right?

I would think someone from NYC would be more tolerent and open to other ideas even if they conflict with their own...but there's always a few people who are slow in catching on to things.

So, in short, I'd rather be gullible and learn from my mistakes than a narrow-minded and self rightous person who finds enjoyment at the expense of others. If you don't have anything of substance to say, please just shut the hell up.

[etoile]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 1:30am

I've got to go with DefyingGravity2 on this one. If the item was that important than I would have made a special trip back to the theater - THAT NIGHT. I suspect the Tony cap was something more unique than items you have left at stage doors in the past.

How far back can any theater staff be expected to backtrack an item?

Life is filled with never ending learning experiences.

[marebare]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 1:31am

"Look kid, do you really expect to get the cap signed and returned (especially when you don't come back the same day) in a world where it's a major mental accomplishment for the average Starbuck coffee drone to get your over-priced latter order right?"
HEY I work at Starbucks...I resent that comment! lol. PS it's STARBUCKS and LATTE. hmph.

[bythesword84]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 1:33am

Either way, at least you tried. Its always a risk leaving something, but you can't say you didn't make an effort.

[KatePrinceton]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 2:08am

I think the main problem with your not getting your hat back is the fact that you left it at the stage door "a couple of months ago." You might have had a better shot at getting your signed item back had it been merchandise from the show (a souvenir program or a windowcard). Because it was a hat, it might have gotten misplaced, and two months later, who knows what happened to it.

I've had friends leave windowcards at stagedoors and gotten them back, three days, two weeks, and six weeks after they were left at the theatre. They were usually in a large bag with a name and contact information attached to the bag.

If you had your hat in a small bag with no contact info (even though there was a note on it), that's another way it could have gotten misplaced. You have a few weeks left, so if you decide to go back and look for your hat, good luck to you.

[Lorelai]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 3:03am

"I've got to go with DefyingGravity2 on this one. If the item was that important than I would have made a special trip back to the theater - THAT NIGHT. I suspect the Tony cap was something more unique than items you have left at stage doors in the past."

I left the baseball cap because, as I said, I was at another show when BFO let out.

While thinking about this, I remember that the time I left the baseball cap was when I was staying over in the city for the week while staying in a hotel almost directly across from stage door at the Imperial (even though my apartment in NJ is on the water and overlooks the city). I only remember this now because the note I wrote the letter on was on paper from my room I did try the stage door that night but, as I guessed, the stage door was locked. Then next time i went (two days later maybe?), the man who opened the door informed me that Mr. Jackman was going on vacation (a long weekend) so to check back later. This is how it's been since I left it there, I've stopped by at least 4 more times to inquire about it and nothing was there and since I would rather been seen as persistant as opposed to rude, I just kept checking every once in awhile.

"I suspect the Tony cap was something more unique than items you have left at stage doors in the past."

Not really. The only thing I ever worried about was when I dropped off a bunch of professional photos I was able to buy with the help of the Actors' Fund from Chess. Only because they were more expensive, for much more than the baseball cap (not to mean that I still would like it back) but to lose them would have been far worse, I suppose. I'll probably check one more time and then give up. I would have loved to get the hat signed but if I don't it's not the end of the world. I *did* make an effort so at least i know that. Worse things have happened, right?

[kec]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 7:19am

"Is leaving something at the door really that out of the ordinary? I've done it a couple times....I left my Playbill and a note for Christine Ebersole after 42nd Street and went back a few days later and she had not only signed it, but personalized and wrote a short note it as well. I've also done similar things with other people (sometimes asking for something signed but mostly dropping something off someone is exepecting) and it's never been a problem at all."

The only time I've ever encountered something like this was in London, when Michael Ball was in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. His Personal Assistant would often take items people wanted signed into Michael and he would sign them, usually personalizing them, as time permitted before showtime. The PA gave them back to the people after the show was over and Michael was gone. That apparently wouldn't have worked in this case, as I don't think Hugh's dresser makes himself known to the people outside.

The thing to keep in mind is that Hugh gets a lot of gifts and stuff at the stage door. Hugh hands them to the security people as he receives them, and security takes them inside. It may be that your cap got mixed in with some gifts, and if your note somehow got separated from the cap, it's possible that Hugh or someone in the theatre thought it was an anonymous gift.

[Lorelai]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 11:55am

"The only time I've ever encountered something like this was in London, when Michael Ball was in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang."

That's odd, when I saw it last summer, Michael Ball came out afterwards to sign programs and such. I only remember because I moved recently and found the program when i unpacked.

[kec]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 4:03pm

"That's odd, when I saw it last summer, Michael Ball came out afterwards to sign programs and such. I only remember because I moved recently and found the program when i unpacked."

Yes, he did sign things before and after. However some fans who wanted something personalized or had something special to be signed usually asked Michael's PA to take it in.