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Post by iwanttix on May 3, 2024 12:03:18 GMT
I agree with what others have said - sometimes the shows with no 'stars' are the worst ones. As soon as you get a famous person in it the stage door is pretty much guaranteed to have some security or organisation. I love a stage door and the last few years have been really impressed with the Pinter and Savoy. Both have a large area to set out barriers and they have security in place to tell people ahead of the actors coming out what is and isn't acceptable.
Shows without a stunt cast or big name tend to just have a general hanging around kinda feel - groups of people waiting and jumping in when various cast members come out. If someone comes out with their heads down, not making eye contact etc then it's clear they don't want bothering. I remember years ago there was an actor I loved but I wasn't at the stage door - I was sitting in the foyer when said actor walked out quickly and disappeared in the other direction. Actors have every right to nip out a different exit if they want to avoid the stage door madness entirely.
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Post by anthony40 on May 3, 2024 12:11:11 GMT
They do need to do something about stage door, particularly for younger audience fanperson attracting shows as this issue comes up time and time again. (Personally I’ve literally never seen the appeal but appreciate a lot of young fans seem to love it. The boundaries inevitably get blurred though for the problematic minority….) This all started with Wicked didn't it? Or was it Rent? The "Rent-heads"? Did the internet engender these sort of cultish show fanbases, even pre-social media? Hmm, partially. There are general autograph hunters, or this who want a poster of image of the said celebrity, or even a piece of merchandise that they wat signed to flog at a heavily inflated price on websites such as eBay etc. |
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Post by distantcousin on May 3, 2024 12:13:29 GMT
I remember when Lesley Sharp did The Rise & Fall of Little Voice years ago, - my friend and I were dying to meet her (as we adore her as an actress) but I was told by the Stage Door person that she routinely left via a fire exit as she didn't like meeting people at stage door(fair enough).
Everyone else hanging around that evening were girls waiting for Diana Vickers, who was fresh off The X Factor at the time.
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Post by moorhunhe on May 3, 2024 12:36:51 GMT
First time I did stage door was because one of the performers in the show, was someone who I admired many years earlier.
So having a chance to meet him that evening was just a cherry on the cake, kind of thing for me.
I've always been a loner (bullied, so no friends), and I take a lot from music/shows and specific things like a song (by a certain performer sometimes) can pull me through a really hard time, and put me in a much better mood for many days when I'm feeling down.
So being able to have a little chat with him was just such a boost for me.
I however always pantiently wait my turn.
When seeing "The starry messenger" with Matthew Broderick, security came outside to say how it's going to go, and then Matthew came out and security just stood and watch how it all went super crazy and not going by their own rules.
Which was such a shame. Because when Matthew reached us, some guy behind me completely pushed me out of the way and had loads signed instead of the "you can only have your program signed from the show and nothing else!".
Whereas with "Plaza suit", the security guy was very clear, and you just got that feeling from him too that if you do something wrong, he will come into the crowd, pick you up, and remove you, lol, and ONLY the program from the show would get signed.
Though, after everyone had theirs signed, some people stayed and while both Matthew and Sarah were walking back, they then did sign other things, but gave priority to the people with programs.
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2024 14:29:40 GMT
Priority to programs and tickets and especially people who have been to that performance makes sense. Security would likely take the "star" back inside if people don't obey what they have been requested to do.
A lot can depend on where the stage door is situated as the more space you have the easier things are to organize.
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Post by BVM on May 3, 2024 15:13:10 GMT
I agree with what others have said - sometimes the shows with no 'stars' are the worst ones. As soon as you get a famous person in it the stage door is pretty much guaranteed to have some security or organisation. I love a stage door and the last few years have been really impressed with the Pinter and Savoy. Both have a large area to set out barriers and they have security in place to tell people ahead of the actors coming out what is and isn't acceptable. Shows without a stunt cast or big name tend to just have a general hanging around kinda feel - groups of people waiting and jumping in when various cast members come out. If someone comes out with their heads down, not making eye contact etc then it's clear they don't want bothering. I remember years ago there was an actor I loved but I wasn't at the stage door - I was sitting in the foyer when said actor walked out quickly and disappeared in the other direction. Actors have every right to nip out a different exit if they want to avoid the stage door madness entirely. Very much so as these are generally the fan girl shows where they “befriend” the less famous far more accessible cast. Carl Man said &Juliet SD was a free for all and chaos. |
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Post by BVM on May 3, 2024 15:14:15 GMT
They do need to do something about stage door, particularly for younger audience fanperson attracting shows as this issue comes up time and time again. (Personally I’ve literally never seen the appeal but appreciate a lot of young fans seem to love it. The boundaries inevitably get blurred though for the problematic minority….) This all started with Wicked didn't it? Or was it Rent? The "Rent-heads"? Did the internet engender these sort of cultish show fanbases, even pre-social media? Wicked I think was the one that took it to the next level! Think the internet helped but then social media let it run out of control! |
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Post by hannechalk on May 3, 2024 15:38:40 GMT
Put this in 'Bad Behaviour' last night:
Was at 'Tim Rice: My Life In Musicals' at the Liverpool Playhouse.
Afterwards I went to stage door, and two twits were waiting for Sir Tim with items to sign. They were actually partially blocking the door, so no-one could leave without them checking who it was first.
One of them kept badgering staff and crew.
They initially completely missed the fact that Sir Tim's chauffeur drove his car to the front of the theatre to pick him up there, and didn't get their autographs. 😂
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Post by clarefh on May 3, 2024 16:58:28 GMT
I guess it depends on the performer / star / person whether they enjoy the stage door experience. Personally, I find it all a bit odd - job done, time to go home, off for a bite to eat etc. But then I've always tended to compartmentalise things. Many thrive on the adulation, whether on stage or in the audience. In the end, it comes down to respect and boundaries. As for monetising it? Hmmm... "I bought you so let me now have my pound of flesh..." Ewww. Have to say I also find it a bit odd. Partly informed by the fact that some years ago my then partner became moderately well known for a period due to his sport. It was properly eye opening just how presumptuous people can be - we’d even have people pulling up a chair in a restaurant and trying to join our meal (also astonishing how much stuff was offered or comp’ed!), you’d be in the middle of conversation or shopping or whatever and get stopped for an autograph. The weirdest aspect was people would behave as if they knew him, when of course we’d never met these people in our lives! Also for me I couldn’t get my head round people asking for the signature of someone who was just a regular person who put the bins out etc. So I can totally see how for some performers it must be really difficult - although as others have noted possibly many enjoy it or see it as partly part of the job now? I know my ex enjoyed it at the time most of the time - he is super sociable and not averse to an ego boost! |
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2024 17:36:36 GMT
I think with the rise of the selfie probably more people get stopped. Do many carry a pen and paper with us but vast majority have a phone nowadays.
Wicked had barriers up fairly early in the run so that has always been fairly well controlled and as the rump of the hardcore fans get older things become calmer. It is when shows become cult classics or suddenly get a fanbase that things can go crazy or when a star gets a big role. Matt Smith wasn't that well known before Dr Who and say he was in a play when he got cast suddenly he'd have become a must get for the show's fans and autograph dealers. The same could have happened to Ncuti but he may have been higher profile when he was cast in the role.
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Post by hannechalk on May 3, 2024 19:53:15 GMT
I don't have my picture taken with people, I'm ye old-fashioned pen (gold sharpie) and paper (programme). 😀
I don't go for 'my pound of flesh' - if a performer comes haring out of the door in great haste I don't stop them.
Nor when they come out on a Saturday carrying four bags - if they don't put the bags down, I don't ask for an autograph.
If they come out hidden in a hoodie and a hat pulled down with headphones on, I let them go.
If they're happy to sign, I'm happy.
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