what do you think of show groupies???- Page 8

[onedesire]

Posted: 12/29/05 at 9:16pm

Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa. AsLongasImSingin, you have no idea what that was about, do not go passing judgement.

That being said, I was going to say how uncomfortable I am with the term "groupie" being thrown about as well. Maybe it has expanded its defenition, but for a lot of people, including myself, it still carries the weight of "will have sex to be in company of famous people". And no one, not even the most insane Broadway fans, would sink as low as to do that.

[AsLongasImSingin]

Posted: 12/29/05 at 9:20pm

Was it the eve of her wedding? If it was some wild bachelorette party night out and she was being silly wearing a bridal veil...that is an explanation that completely makes sense. I'm serious...if that's what was going on, great, let her have her fun.

I'm just saying, as an outsider, it looked incredibly weird. Not cute, not funny, weird. Just making an observation...maybe people shouldn't act like that in a public place if they don't want people passing judgement on them.

Not trying to be snarky, just stating my opinion.

[onedesire]

Posted: 12/29/05 at 9:25pm

Well I'm sorry that it looked weird to you. It was an inside joke between her and the performer. As far as I could tell, he was not uncomfortable with it.

[SirLiir]

Posted: 12/29/05 at 9:29pm

This topic sure has grown! Though I do not understand why this has become a post about defending yourselves and your show habits. The fact that we post at this site alone makes us 'groupies', 'fans', 'lovers' of theater. Aren't we all in the same boat? No need for personal attacks. Just because I have seen DRS 8 times does that make me better than anyone who hasn't. Its just my personal preference. More power to you if you like a different show.

WRQ, I have had a smiliar situation except it was myself who lost an older brother. Theater is a wonderful salve for emotional pain. It's pure escapism. I would never never never knock anyone who chooses to spend their money on shows because it makes them feel better. Denying them that pleasure is like saying, "Go eat chocolate instead' or "cry alone in the corner"
"Theatre (and love) Heals". Plus, many of us have made wonderful friends from this hobby, haven't we? What can be wrong with that?

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 12/29/05 at 9:42pm

insomniak, you could also donate your computer to charity and instead of wasting your time posting online about some luxury like theater, you could be volunteering at a soup kitchen.

Your "food, shelter, clothing and air" is a bit hypocritical. As others have said, you know nothing about how people here spend their money, except for the theater tickets you read about. You mentioned your friend on welfare, why aren't you helping them out financially? I guess your internet access bill gets in the way of helping the less fortunate. I guess this is just another "pot meet kettle" discussion.

But you're so over talking to us people, so I guess you'll never see the flaws to your argument.

Updated On: 12/29/05 at 09:42 PM

[carymetorent2]

Posted: 12/29/05 at 10:45pm

Ok, I may be setting myself up for attack. But that girl with the wedding veil ... was me.

And no, I was not getting married. The performer was Kevin Kern - a swing in Altar Boyz, it was his last night in the show and we had a running joke ... I once joked that I was his secret wife and he ran with it. I didn't ... my friends made a birthday video for me and he recorded a message calling me his wife and telling me he missed me. It was a running joke and for his last show, he declared we had a proper wedding picture and even insisted we hold hands ... I am gonna post that picture - that story still makes me smile as it wasn't my idea, but his and he loved joking about it.


I can see how that would look weird to others, but hey, like I said, you don't know the full facts and stuff. And that he claims is his "wedding face" ...

Heck, you all could still think its weird.

But I still like you because you said Kevin was attractive .... you have good taste lol ... he is also one of the kindest men on the planet.

And I just have to interject another thing .... yes, most of the time, people are slightly delusional and think there is more to a relationship with an actor but there is. But there is that small 10 percent who really do have friendships with certain actors and developing them through supporting them at their various shows.



Wedding picture

Updated On: 12/29/05 at 10:45 PM

[jasobres]

Posted: 12/29/05 at 10:49pm

I think every kind of groupie is sick. Fans are okay, but groupies...ewwww!! Whoever sleeps with an actor is no friend of mine.

[Jane2]

Posted: 12/29/05 at 10:52pm

You had to go and post that huge picture and make it impossible to read this thread!!!!You of all people know better than that.

[carymetorent2]

Posted: 12/29/05 at 11:02pm

eeek sorry :bows head in shame: Its fixed :)

[SirLiir]

Posted: 12/29/05 at 11:23pm

Cute.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 12/29/05 at 11:34pm

First...I work 35 hours a week. I earn money and pay taxes. Let me stress I EARN the money. It is my money. If I want to see Hairspray for the fourth time this month, I will. Your situation is not my problem. You can't see more than a few shows a year? That's not my problem. I see about 8 shows a month, and during BC/EFA I ALWAYS drop about $5 into the basket. I have in the past donated my time to various theatres in Chicago. I moved to New York specifically to see a show. It is my right, as an American to make that choice. I can afford to do it. So I will. I didn't earn my money to give it away without something in return. I have a boring monotonous job. If I made more money, I would be more generous. But I don't. I spend maybe $200 a month on the theatre (I rarely pay full price). That's not a lot of money. I have clothes (and always buy more), I eat (a little too much), I can breathe. If you don't like it, too bad for you. But you aren't going to sit there and tell me what to do with MY money. But, I will say this: I NEVER go to stage doors, I NEVER ask for pictures or autographs, etc. I love live theatre. But I am not friends with actors. It is their job to entertain me, and I think the people who cross the line really should take a step back and remember that. People don't become friends with the Starbucks cashier they see everyday, why do they think Broadway actors are any different?

[EVIE]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 12:34am

ooooooh wickedrentq, I looove it, "passionate supporter". I am then a passionate supporter of Les Miserables. Seen it over 20 times in various cities and countries, but I've never done the stage door thing...too shy.

[thespian geek]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 1:09am

That time after Kevin's last still makes me giggle everytime I think about it, especially the "wedding photo". Oh man... Kevin Kern. <3 Hahaha.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 1:11am

I think this thread has gotten too complex for its own good. I totally understand where insomniak is coming from in that, rather than seeing a show that you're bored with 20 times, you could do other things or donate that money to charity. But people go to shows for all sorts of reasons, and no one is going to shell out money for a theatre ticket if they don't enjoy some aspect of the production. If that aspect happens to be a particular performer, what's the problem with that? As long as you avoid being a stalker and/or basing your entire existance around seeing a show, I say to each his/her own.

As Americans, we waste tons of our time and money on luxuries and entertainment. There are people who are otherwise living in poverty who have cable television. I don't think that you can point to people who happen to spend their money on a theatre tickets rather than some other form of entertainment and say that they're being wasteful. $25 at the least for a ticket to a show seems like a lot of money to me, but on further evaluation that's roughly the price of seeing two movies (which I do frequently). Even if people weren't spending hundreds of dollars on repeat visits to a show, the odds are that they wouldn't be donating that money that they saved to charity, even if you think that they ought to. I don't think that it's show groupies in particular that should irk you, it's the general hedonism of American society. I take part in it, and I'm aware of that. Nearly everyone does, on some level.

On the other hand, I do hope that those who are in a position (location-wise and financially) to frequent the theatre appreciate that opportunity and realize that that's not a possibility for the majority of people. Neglecting to realize that is where I think people get into a more spoiled mentality. If you have the means to see shows multiple times, go for it, but always appreciate the experience.

[rd2ruin]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 1:34am

I just have to say, for the record, that if a soul is moved by a beautiful piece of bread, an eloquent speech, a weepingly sad song, a moment in time where things just make sense, sometimes in the dark, in a theatre where you can escape the weight of the world and find that place that brings hope and happiness into your life, is not only important to growth, but crucial to what you take with you when you leave such a moment. It can bring about charity, goodness and a lightness of heart, that one might not have otherwise felt. Who's to say how anyone finds that release. That blessed place can inspire a warmth that brings it's own special rewards. All this talk about how you spend your money and that anyone can judge the importance of that, is crap.

Can the priveledge be abused? Certainly. In this country, at this time, good intentions come masked in all kinds of disguises. But condemnation of what someone believes is a plight, judgement of the way one chooses to live their lives is an abomination, ignorance of the variety of of the human condition is crimminal. Look inward to find the truth. This board has become just so P.C. it makes me want to vomit. Stop pointing fingers already. Stop trying to condense something that is so varied for each individual, because you then are appealing to the lowest common denominator and that is the worst injustice of all.

Here endeth the lesson.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 1:42am

Well said.


Did you join just to post that?

[rd2ruin]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 1:48am

I have survived WITHOUT all of the material objects like signed playbills to make me happy. I do know the story, you've told it to me by saying you need theatre just as much as food.

Needing theatre is not the same thing as wanting a signed Playbill...where are you getting all this stuff from anyway?

[rd2ruin]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 2:13am

People don't become friends with the Starbucks cashier they see everyday, why do they think Broadway actors are any different?

Maybe one should take an interest in who is serving you your coffee everyday...

[rd2ruin]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 2:20am

on the west coast, delayed time, out to dinner, catching up from earlier in the day and reading all this stuff just got me steamed. *grins sheepishly*

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 2:23am

That is a good point. As soon as I read that, I realized people have become close with the people they saw behind the counter at Starbucks every day. A friend of mine evacuated New Orleans before the hurricane and said that even though all her immediate friends and family were safe, she still wondered about her "peripheral friends" were alright, like the woman that worked at her favorite coffee shop and the man that lived down the street that she always ran into when they walked their dogs. Just because you're not hanging out every weekend amd gossiping on the phone doesn't mean that you can't have a friendly relationship with them.

Anyway, I just think this is a bad comparison to the situation with Broadway actors.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 2:29am

oh geez... maybe i should have never started this topic... but i'm sure glad it reached 8 pages... i never would have thought that!

and like i said... i just threw the word groupie out there because it was the only thing i could think of... read my initial post and i was just inquiring what you thought of people who basically follow the show so much that they want to dress up and scream during the show

[Fosse76]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 10:08am

"Even if people weren't spending hundreds of dollars on repeat visits to a show, the odds are that they wouldn't be donating that money that they saved to charity, even if you think that they ought to."

This is one of the flaws that the RIAA had with the illegal music downloads. They claimed to lose all this money, but the fact is, they don't know that were it not for the illegal download, the downloader would have purchased the music. It's presumptuous and rude to tell people how to spend THEIR money. My Starbucks example was an example. It's one thing to have a friendly rapport with him/her. It's another thing to call him/her a friend when that is all you have. I see a lot of theater, and I actually see Barrett Foa walking down the street all the time. Not once have I ever stopped him or talked to him, though I'm certain he recognizes me. Why should I? I've never met him, I don't know him personally, and unless I'm friends with a person, I wouldn't want to be stopped, yet there are people here who would stop him on the street. I've seen Hairspray a bunch of times, and I occasionally see the cast as they leave (or arrrive) at the theatre. I know most of them recognize me. But I've never met them, never approach them or ask for autographs, etc. I think it's tacky. That was really my point. If you want to meet them and tell them they were great, fine for you. But some people, for reasons I cannot comprehend, want these people to be their friends. They should ask themselves this: if they weren't in the show, would you want to be their friend?

[Phantom2]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 10:55am

Fosse76- Why would you think they recognize you?

[Fosse76]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 11:04am

Some of them sort of *nod* knowingly. Even people you only see once or twice a week that you don't even know you will begin to recognize after a while. A person can generally tell if someone recognizes them, whether or not they've actually met them or even said anything to them. Plus, I tend to get roughly the same seat each time (that's mere coincidence though).
Updated On: 12/30/05 at 11:04 AM