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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2018 10:13:43 GMT
I've seen some things at stage door. While I'm probably considered a crazy, I do the gift giving every once in a while. (No microwaves or jewellery, just a bar of chocolate here or there) The worst thing I've done was a complete accident, wandering around Edinburgh on Wednesday to see the Wicked tour and seeing members of the ensemble out and about and accidently smiling at them. I appreciate they probably thought it was weird, I hope it came across as friendly 😂 It was nice when they smiled back. Urgh I did the exact same thing 😂. After the matinee I went to, I ended up meeting Nikki in the Tesco Express opposite the theatre and she probably remembered me as the crazy person waiting at stage door pre-show.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2018 10:39:35 GMT
At least these obvious autograph hunters- usually middle-aged males, usually wearing anoraks from September to June, usually holding clipboards- can be dealt with in a minute or two, and they’ll be more than satisfied with any bit of scrawl the actor’s prepared to scribble on whatever’s offered...
Far worse for the actor, I reckon, is seeing that ‘familiar face’, time and time and time again, and feeling that they’ve got to make polite conversation with them, and all the time having to smile.
I mean, once you’ve met your hero once, and told them how great they were, what more can you say...?
I find the whole ‘frequent fans’ thing far more questionable to be honest.
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Post by bellboard27 on Jul 1, 2018 11:10:25 GMT
I think if I was an actor I would just write "f*ck orf, love Elaine Paige" on each photo and DVD cover. I wondered who you might be in the real world. That's another mystery solved.
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Post by kathryn on Jul 1, 2018 12:42:50 GMT
I believe the prevalence of ebaying autograph hunters is why a lot of actors ask who an item is to be signed for - it’s much harder to sell on something when it’s got someone’s name on it!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2018 14:22:37 GMT
I believe the prevalence of ebaying autograph hunters is why a lot of actors ask who an item is to be signed for - it’s much harder to sell on something when it’s got someone’s name on it! That’s another breed altogether: the sort that buy autographed toot off ebay and frame it. Or worse, buy it already framed...
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Post by The Matthew on Jul 1, 2018 15:29:38 GMT
I think it was on the old forum I told the story of going to a book signing and one person turned up with a copy of every book the author had ever written, in a stack not much shorter than the person carrying it. I can't remember now whether she shot him a look that said "Seriously?" or actually said it out loud, but she was obviously unimpressed.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2018 15:54:30 GMT
^ Well that rules Harper Lee out...
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Post by theatreian on Jul 1, 2018 17:02:34 GMT
I also think it rules Barbara Cartland and Enid Blyton out!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 1, 2018 17:08:12 GMT
It’s all imposition in varying degrees isn’t it. From the people collecting autographs for commercial reasons, to the person wanting a selfie with a star, to the person wanting a chat with a favourite actor for the 10th time is there really much between them from the actors perspective? They’re all people requesting/demanding attention when the actor fulfilled their part of the bargain when the curtain came down. I think it’s tricky logic to say “well it’s ok for ME to impose because I’m nice, but don’t let beardy in his anorak do it because he’s creepy”.
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Post by aksis on Jul 1, 2018 17:45:39 GMT
I enjoy visiting the stage door and hunt for autographs (if I have visited a show) I do have a few actors I have seen more often and I do bring gifts to some. Usually stuff from my country as they seem to enjoy that. I even had an actor sending me a message once, when I send him a tweet I enjoyed the show, why I was not at the stage door after the show as he would have loved to catch up. I do love watching maddness at the stage door too.
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Post by kathryn on Jul 1, 2018 20:04:39 GMT
It’s all imposition in varying degrees isn’t it. From the people collecting autographs for commercial reasons, to the person wanting a selfie with a star, to the person wanting a chat with a favourite actor for the 10th time is there really much between them from the actors perspective? They’re all people requesting/demanding attention when the actor fulfilled their part of the bargain when the curtain came down. I think it’s tricky logic to say “well it’s ok for ME to impose because I’m nice, but don’t let beardy in his anorak do it because he’s creepy”. To be fair, I see artists all the time say that they love being told that their worked touched someone, that it reached an appreciative audience and didn’t just disappear into the void. Being an actor can be a tough old gig sometimes, involving lots of rejection and criticism, and for theatre actors there’s often not a huge amount of financial reward, so I can understand how the odd fan at the stage door saying they loved your work could make someone’s day. Certainly more so than someone who is only there to make a quick buck out of you. It’s just - like most things - best in moderation.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2018 20:50:33 GMT
Lots of people constantly stage dooring in London are e-bay dealers, there are some autograph collectors who never go and see a play.
I actually got into going to the theatre from doing a bit of autographing so have a foot in both camps. I may occasionally get something signed at a play or musical I haven't seen but I probably see 95% of shows I graph at. For shows I don't see, it's often an odd completion I want on a programme etc or it might be at say RSC if I've seeing one show and maybe completing programme of the other show or going to see it in a few weeks time.
I've met a lot of collectors who think they are entitled to a signature but never see a show, don't know what a certain performer looks like. Wednesday matinees seems a popular day for them all to do the ins. Sometimes I've joined them if I'm seeing the show and then after the matinee I may be completing a programme but I'm the only one there. Performers have commented to me "At least you've seen it" or "Where did the rest of them go" etc.
I used to multiple stage door if I had days in London if there were big names there, I'd certainly see one show but might check out times of other shows and grab a programme for them. I'd always do my research about who signed and who didn't. I never did crazy stage doors but more niche performers I may like. Now I don't do London anymore as SD's seem to get crazier although the names in the West End aren't as big as they used to be IMO.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2018 21:48:31 GMT
I mainly do stage door for Wicked and other musicals (e.g. Les Mis, Kinky Boots), but never National Theatre productions or plays. I saw War Horse and DID want to head to stage door to congratulate the actors on a good show but I wouldn't know who was who because the programme didn't have headshots in it, just scattered photos of the actors in rehearsals throughout the book.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2018 22:17:38 GMT
I mainly do stage door for Wicked and other musicals (e.g. Les Mis, Kinky Boots), but never National Theatre productions or plays. I saw War Horse and DID want to head to stage door to congratulate the actors on a good show but I wouldn't know who was who because the programme didn't have headshots in it, just scattered photos of the actors in rehearsals throughout the book. As someone who likes to get programmes signed, the NT ones have always been one of my pet hates too.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2018 22:20:01 GMT
I mainly do stage door for Wicked and other musicals (e.g. Les Mis, Kinky Boots), but never National Theatre productions or plays. I saw War Horse and DID want to head to stage door to congratulate the actors on a good show but I wouldn't know who was who because the programme didn't have headshots in it, just scattered photos of the actors in rehearsals throughout the book. As someone who likes to get programmes signed, the NT ones have always been one of my pet hates too. And along with the lack of headshots, the pages are very Sharpie-unfriendly with their black colour (for WH anyway) and lack of space between actors' bios.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2018 22:26:22 GMT
Totally agree, often an actor may sign the photograph of them and not their biog, so it is also hard to know who you have and haven't got especially with a large cast.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2018 23:17:39 GMT
Totally agree, often an actor may sign the photograph of them and not their biog, so it is also hard to know who you have and haven't got especially with a large cast. It’s a shame though because the War Horse programme is gorgeous, it just doesn’t give the performers enough recognition.
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Post by callum on Jul 2, 2018 0:44:23 GMT
A similar experience happened when I went to a movie premiere a few months ago -- I was around the area and wanted to see Oprah in the flesh so went for a wristband for the A Wrinkle in Time premiere. Was very lucky to get in the pens and a decent enough position for the carpet for an autograph/selfie and made friends with other fans around me. However there was a really large group of men that fit bas1l's description with huge folders of headshots for the entire cast. Proper big burly bearded men!
Although La Winfrey did not grace our direction, the PR people at the premiere were doing lotteries for tickets to actually go in and watch the film with a lengthy cast Q&A beforehand. The autograph hunters won the lotteries and shouted 'nah we don't want it mate! we couldn't give a sh*t!' -- so they happily passed the winning chance to go in and see the film and be a few feet from Oprah over to me and the friends that I'd made!
I am extremely grateful to them for giving me the chance to have such a fabulous experience, yet I am always surprised that people can have the time and patience to do stage doors and premieres etc purely for economic reasons to sell on the signed merchandise and not out of fandom for the person they're waiting to see.
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Post by shady23 on Jul 2, 2018 5:42:43 GMT
Getting autographs is basically their job!
It does get infuriating as it is always the same people and they take up spaces at the stage door before people who have actually been to see the show have come out. If there is a "star" in the show you can be the first one out the theatre but all the room is gone.
They're certainly not limited to theatre either, any celeb in London and they are there. I find it hard and boring to wait when I am a fan of someone, never mind if you are not a fan.
Plus who even buys these autographs? They are so easy to fake and you can't prove they are real.
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Post by Sam on Jul 2, 2018 7:52:38 GMT
As someone who likes to get programmes signed, the NT ones have always been one of my pet hates too. And along with the lack of headshots, the pages are very Sharpie-unfriendly with their black colour (for WH anyway) and lack of space between actors' bios. I've got gold and silver sharpies that will show up on anything. Bought them because I wanted my dance bags signed and they're black.
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Post by ensembleswings on Jul 2, 2018 16:24:49 GMT
I enjoy visiting the stage door and hunt for autographs (if I have visited a show) I do have a few actors I have seen more often and I do bring gifts to some. Usually stuff from my country as they seem to enjoy that. I even had an actor sending me a message once, when I send him a tweet I enjoyed the show, why I was not at the stage door after the show as he would have loved to catch up. I do love watching maddness at the stage door too. I'm also someone who goes to see certain actors in multiple different shows and I too have had messages/tweets asking me why I hadn't popped round to stage door afterwards and caught up with them. It's happened with two different actors now and I'll admit it was a real surprise, I never went round as I assumed I'd just be annoying them by going and showing my face again when it'd only been a few months since I last saw them. I love visiting the stage door after a show and getting my programme signed if I've enjoyed the show or want to see a particular actor, but I think I'd feel too awkward to stage door if I haven't seen the show, or even stage door before the show had started. I agree watching everything unfold round by stage door is a fun pastime in itself
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Jul 2, 2018 16:42:08 GMT
I don’t get autographs but i’ve engaged with companies initially on a basis of appreciation and then through professional links. One leads to the other, really. I like the work and share it with students, then engage them for workshops and, when possible, programme their shows, occasionally even contributing ideas in return. . Often students do the same and invariably get a good response as people are keen to share their experience and insight, maybe even work experience or similar.
As long as you have an interest in the work then you rarely get a negative response. Those using you for profit, however..........
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2018 18:34:36 GMT
I swear to god, sometimes the Wicked stage door makes me ashamed to be a fan of the show. There have been people giving cast members ridiculous, expensive presents (such as microwaves - some stalkery psychotic girl bought Rachel Tucker a microwave!), people pushing and shoving to stand in front of the door, people yelling at cast members to get their attention and chasing them up the road to the tube (even the poor ensemble members and swings aren’t safe!) and shoving programmes in people’s faces instead of politely asking them to sign. If you know what the Wicked programme is like, you’ll know it’s a huge A3 brochure and is quite heavy. Not ideal for cast members to constantly have to reach out to scrawl their name.
Also, Willemijn Verkaik’s fangirls started singing to her in German once!
It reminds me of American stage doors because there’s an actual queue along the barricade, and it’s literally next door to the theatre.
I’m dreading to think of what it will be like for a huge cast change.
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Post by welsh_tenor on Jul 9, 2018 18:58:49 GMT
I swear to god, sometimes the Wicked stage door makes me ashamed to be a fan of the show. There have been people giving cast members ridiculous, expensive presents (such as microwaves - some stalkery psychotic girl bought Rachel Tucker a microwave!), people pushing and shoving to stand in front of the door, people yelling at cast members to get their attention and chasing them up the road to the tube (even the poor ensemble members and swings aren’t safe!) and shoving programmes in people’s faces instead of politely asking them to sign. If you know what the Wicked programme is like, you’ll know it’s a huge A3 brochure and is quite heavy. Not ideal for cast members to constantly have to reach out to scrawl their name. Also, Willemijn Verkaik’s fangirls started singing to her in German once! It reminds me of American stage doors because there’s an actual queue along the barricade, and it’s literally next door to the theatre. I’m dreading to think of what it will be like for a huge cast change. Ok, but with all due respect are you not piecing together stories you’ve heard from others and creating a world that isn’t quite as bad as you’re painting it for Wicked!? The programme isn’t A3, it’s not heavy and 9 times out of 10 people stand politely at the barriers - I’ve been to many “last nights” and everyone just queues, it’s a buzzy atmosphere but there’s no shoving or pushing! I’m pretty sure having read your Wicked posts that you’re a relative newbie to the show and have certainly not been around since the Ellis/Tucker days of stage door? Don’t badge us all with a brush you’ve not actually experienced!
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Post by kathryn on Jul 9, 2018 19:30:49 GMT
Yes, do take these sort of stories with a pinch of salt - people love nothing more than to exaggerate about bad fan behaviour at stage doors and other events, and before you know it very minor transgressions have grown out of all proportion in the retelling.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2018 19:35:39 GMT
Wicked stage door can get busy especially during cast change over periods but it isn't as crazy as it used to be from what I've heard.
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Post by kimbahorel on Jul 9, 2018 19:36:52 GMT
The times I have been to Wicked SD I have never seen it crazy as people say it is. The last time I went Samantha Thomas was on as Glinda and there was about 20 odd people at SD. Turned out it was all her family & friends. When she went they all did leaving me and 2 other people.
That's what people say about Les Mis when Carrie was there. But in the few months I went to the show while she was in the cast. The closest it got to busy was her last day in the show.
I always will say the worst SD I ever saw was the first show I ever went to. Birdland. There were ton of mainly woman hounding Andrew Scott. A lot of them were hugging him and touching him without his consent.
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Post by martello736 on Jul 9, 2018 19:43:46 GMT
I swear to god, sometimes the Wicked stage door makes me ashamed to be a fan of the show. There have been people giving cast members ridiculous, expensive presents (such as microwaves - some stalkery psychotic girl bought Rachel Tucker a microwave!), people pushing and shoving to stand in front of the door, people yelling at cast members to get their attention and chasing them up the road to the tube (even the poor ensemble members and swings aren’t safe!) and shoving programmes in people’s faces instead of politely asking them to sign. If you know what the Wicked programme is like, you’ll know it’s a huge A3 brochure and is quite heavy. Not ideal for cast members to constantly have to reach out to scrawl their name. Also, Willemijn Verkaik’s fangirls started singing to her in German once! It reminds me of American stage doors because there’s an actual queue along the barricade, and it’s literally next door to the theatre. I’m dreading to think of what it will be like for a huge cast change. These are a decade's worth of accumulated stories, not a reflection of every single night. You can attribute the worst offences to such a small number of people you could probably count them on one hand. Wicked stage door is mostly a lovely place, as are the majority of stage doors. Wicked has been running in London for 12 years, and over 4500 shows, considering its consistently large fanbase it's actually done very well. I also don't know of anyone ever chasing after a cast member before, perhaps calling their name as they walk past, but not the horrors you're describing.
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Post by welsh_tenor on Jul 9, 2018 20:40:53 GMT
What they said ⬆️
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Post by ensembleswings on Jul 9, 2018 20:45:30 GMT
I've been to the stage door of Wicked probably about 20 times over the past two years but I've never seen it to be anything more than around 20/30 people waiting politely behind the barriers. In my experience ensemble members don't stop as they don't think anyone is interested in them signing, so yes I've seen people occasionally call out to them in order to get there attention and ask them to sign their programme or whatever but never chasing them down the street or into the station or anything.
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