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Post by wickedgrin on Feb 7, 2019 11:31:30 GMT
I staged door a few times when I was younger (many years ago!) and the cast I met were lovely, but I haven't done it since.
I have a few actors who are personal friends - some of them genuinely enjoy the attention and others don't. Some are quite shy in person.
If I bump into actors accidentally (in the street, train station platform etc.) rather than stare awkwardly I will always grin and say "hi, I enjoy your work" or "I enjoyed your performance in such and such". I have found that they seem delighted to be acknowledged in this way and either just say "thanks so much" and I move on or they engage me in further conversation. However, I always try and end the encounter first and let them get on with their day. I have to say they have always been delightful.
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Post by MrsCondomine on Feb 7, 2019 12:00:52 GMT
This whole thread has me singing "Taylor the Latte Boy" as creepily as possible.
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Post by sophie92 on Feb 7, 2019 12:04:35 GMT
I used to ‘stage door’ a lot more than I do now, because now I just find it quite awkward (I think because I’m not a teenager/early 20s anymore). Now I only go if I particularly want to thank someone for their performance, or if I’m seeing something where I know someone in the show.
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Post by basi1faw1ty on Feb 7, 2019 14:42:11 GMT
Ah yes, stage dooring. I've already said my piece on the subject really. I'm pro-SD, as long as participants behave with proper decorum. I've found all actors I've stage-doored don't mind it, and some even bask in it.
As I've gotten older (and hopefully wiser) however, yeah, I'm might step back from it a bit.
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Post by daisy24601 on Feb 7, 2019 15:14:59 GMT
It's not an unusual concept, that's why there are paid meet and greets for big artists. This is essentially that on a much smaller basis. Of course they aren't paid for it so you have to be aware they might not want to stop and don't owe you anything, but wanting to meet a performer you like doesn't make you cray-cray.
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2,339 posts
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Feb 7, 2019 19:35:01 GMT
I thought stage doorers were low paid actors massaging the ego of the agents big stars?? You live and learn
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Post by hannechalk on Feb 7, 2019 20:58:15 GMT
I thought stage doorers were low paid actors massaging the ego of the agents big stars?? You live and learn I've massaged many a thing in my lifetime but never an ego. And also not at stage door. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2019 22:14:33 GMT
To be honest, the only show that I really stage door for is Wicked, and recently, it’s actually been a respectful, calm environment. Especially compared to other shows. Before you all inevitably call me out for being an obsessive stalker, I only visit London about twice a year, with several months gap between visits. It’s not as if I’m there every night, unlike some folk who shall remain nameless.
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2,022 posts
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Post by distantcousin on Feb 8, 2019 11:06:25 GMT
I don't really like stage-dooring because no matter how kind the performers are, I always feel like it's a really weird and artificial encounter. I like having books signed by authors though (and have occasionally cornered playwrights and composers to get their signatures on my books), so I get the impulse. It's just about having a moment of connection where you get to say "I appreciate you", they get to say "I appreciate your appreciation", and the autograph is both a souvenir of and a tangible goal for the meeting (imagine if we didn't do autographs, and stage-dooring was literally just about having a brief awkward conversation with no clear "well, you've signed that, that's a good indicator that our interaction has concluded, let's get on with our nights" moment!). You don't have to understand it yourself, you don't have to want to do it yourself even if you do understand it, you don't even have to therefore condone the people who take it way too far and just won't let the moment come to an end, but it does happen and it does mean something to the people who do it. Live and let live, unless they're taking it way too far, in which case live and let live unless you have an opportunity and/or some standing to say "you are making people uncomfortable, please dial it back".
I'm similar. I'm very much part of the Doctor Who fandon and whilst I enjoy the Q & A panels at events. I find the signing sessions a bit excruiciating, and unlike people I know, don't hold much appeal. Especially for a lot of the old actors from the classic series who barely even do any acting work anymore. What is there to pick their brains on in a character they haven't played on TV since the 60's, 70's or 80's.
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2,022 posts
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Post by distantcousin on Feb 8, 2019 11:07:23 GMT
Ah yes, stage dooring. I've already said my piece on the subject really. I'm pro-SD, as long as participants behave with proper decorum. I've found all actors I've stage-doored don't mind it, and some even bask in it. As I've gotten older (and hopefully wiser) however, yeah, I'm might step back from it a bit. What drives you to do it? Genuinely interested. |
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Post by distantcousin on Feb 8, 2019 11:09:39 GMT
DO people think the unstoppable rise of Celebrity Culture in the 21st century has spilled over in West End actors? (most of which aren't celebrities and suspect many of them don't want to be...)
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Post by hannechalk on Feb 8, 2019 11:22:43 GMT
Ah yes, stage dooring. I've already said my piece on the subject really. I'm pro-SD, as long as participants behave with proper decorum. I've found all actors I've stage-doored don't mind it, and some even bask in it. As I've gotten older (and hopefully wiser) however, yeah, I'm might step back from it a bit. What drives you to do it? Genuinely interested. I know you weren't asking me, but in my case it's usually the same show, and it's a quick hi and thank you, or because I'm meeting one of them for a drink. It just rounds off the show for me, I've known some of them for years, and they always seem genuinely pleased to see me, greeting me with a hug and a kiss. If they're in a rush, I don't keep them up, but regularly they stop to chat. If there are a lot of family/friends of the cast I usually stand back a bit, but still they come over. They've also come out specifically for me when they heard I was outside or if they've seen me through the window/open door. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2019 13:49:34 GMT
Certain stars do have fans who have followed them for years - look at Cliff's fans. David Essex when he was in musicals often had groups of women who'd been fans of his since early 1970's turn up. The hard core Rocky Horror fans usually do several venues on a tour.
People who follow specific genres say Dr Who may SD a certain actor who has been in an episode and they want a DVD signing.
By Hell the Les Mis Stage Door will be fun!
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Post by raider80 on Feb 8, 2019 15:18:39 GMT
Stage door at the Les Mis concert show is going to be... interesting.
You've got Michael Ball for the mum's and Carrie Hope Fletcher for the children. Security is going to have to wear riot gear if one or both decide not to come out that night.
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Post by basi1faw1ty on Feb 8, 2019 18:21:12 GMT
Ah yes, stage dooring. I've already said my piece on the subject really. I'm pro-SD, as long as participants behave with proper decorum. I've found all actors I've stage-doored don't mind it, and some even bask in it. As I've gotten older (and hopefully wiser) however, yeah, I'm might step back from it a bit. What drives you to do it? Genuinely interested. Well at first it was just express my appreciation and to get a little extra souvenir in the form of an autograph or two to round off my visit. Recently though, instead of autographs, I've stage doored a certain actor just to say hi and to catch up for five minutes or so (I always seem to be greeted with a "hello!" and a hug whenever I see them so as far I can tell they doesn't seem to mind my visits). If they're busy or have to be somewhere, I'll go away. Common sense ofc. |
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Post by stuart on Feb 8, 2019 23:05:34 GMT
I went to buy tickets for a few upcoming shows at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow on my lunch the other day and I noticed two older gentlemen standing near the stage door with bundles of programmes for different shows. On my way out the theatre, I noticed that there was a lady standing, chatting, laughing and happily signing the bundles they had. It was Jodie Prenger who was on her way in for a matinee. She seemed almost jovial with these two punters who had clearly been waiting on her turning up.
Not often you see someone wait at stage door before a show, is it?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2019 23:15:06 GMT
Have to admit after the last couple of days of activity in this thread I did find much of the first 5 or so minutes of All About Eve highly ironic!
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Post by shady23 on Feb 8, 2019 23:20:17 GMT
I went to buy tickets for a few upcoming shows at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow on my lunch the other day and I noticed two older gentlemen standing near the stage door with bundles of programmes for different shows. On my way out the theatre, I noticed that there was a lady standing, chatting, laughing and happily signing the bundles they had. It was Jodie Prenger who was on her way in for a matinee. She seemed almost jovial with these two punters who had clearly been waiting on her turning up. Not often you see someone wait at stage door before a show, is it? I regularly see older guys outside stage doors before shows clutching folders and bundles of programmes but mainly glossy photos and old dvds etc. that people in the show have been in. I always assume they are dealers who sell them and who do not have tickets for the show. It's worse whenever there is a "name" in a show. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2019 14:49:51 GMT
Dealers will usually have photographs or occasionally a DVD. Autograph collectors of a certain fanbase lets say Dr Who will likely want DVDs signed or have a photo signed by many cast members.
An older autograph collector who is now well passed retiring age and I don't see around much used to get completions on stuff from years ago. He had a still from the Jazz Singer remake which Lord Olivier had signed and he'd never got Neil Diamond on it. He heard a tip off where Neil would be when he was on tour and was told "Mr Diamond won't be signing" by his security. But when Neil saw the photo which Lawrence had signed at least 25 years previously, he was happy to sign it as he figured it was unlikely to be sold on.
I keep a mental note of "names" I may have not got on a certain programme and if I'm going to see them in something else, might put the older item ion the bag to try and get it completed if I'm going to SD on that day. Actors have never seemed to have an issue with this as it is a play/musical they did etc.
When Kerry Ellis did a signing after her concert in B'ham a couple of weeks back several people had programmes from a show a few months back where she didn't appear afterwards as she wanted to get home to her boys. This time she'd been kind enough to do a signing so was happy to sign a few odd things when people hadn't got her before.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2019 16:38:55 GMT
Actors have never seemed to have an issue with this as it is a play/musical they did etc. Yes, that's been my experience too - Cynthia Erivo and Rachel Tucker both kindly signed old Playbills for me when I saw them in London, having not stage doored in NY, Kerry Ellis signed one of her CDs at the Wicked stagedoor during her return run, and Idina signed some Rent stuff for me when I saw her in concert. |
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Post by cheesy116 on Feb 9, 2019 19:00:33 GMT
I went to buy tickets for a few upcoming shows at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow on my lunch the other day and I noticed two older gentlemen standing near the stage door with bundles of programmes for different shows. On my way out the theatre, I noticed that there was a lady standing, chatting, laughing and happily signing the bundles they had. It was Jodie Prenger who was on her way in for a matinee. She seemed almost jovial with these two punters who had clearly been waiting on her turning up. Not often you see someone wait at stage door before a show, is it? I know of the exact 2 guys you're talking about (I work in the theatre). They're there quite often, I see them at least once a week waiting for signatures. There's another young boy of maybe about 18-21 who stands at stage door several days a week and also a lady who brings a different pet with her each time from a cat to a budgie... the craziest being a gerbil on a lead. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2019 19:32:51 GMT
Les Mis was totally chilled today. Just myself and two others waiting, and all the actors were lovely and took time to stop and sign.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 10, 2019 8:56:23 GMT
danb referred to the “screamerati” already being present at Waitress which doesn’t bode well for the stage door antics. But what is the source of this? Why have they latched on to Waitress? KMP isn’t well known here and I’d never heard of Sara Bareilles until Waitress either (but I’m dreadfully out of touch). Where’s the fan base coming from for this?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2019 9:25:53 GMT
danb referred to the “screamerati” already being present at Waitress which doesn’t bode well for the stage door antics. But what is the source of this? Why have they latched on to Waitress? KMP isn’t well known here and I’d never heard of Sara Bareilles until Waitress either (but I’m dreadfully out of touch). Where’s the fan base coming from for this? Some of them may have drafted in from Heathers due to Olivia Moore's casting, and perhaps Dreamgirls? (Nicole R.D. and Marisha) Is KMP the next CHF? |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2019 9:28:33 GMT
Not often you see someone wait at stage door before a show, is it? Admittedly, I do this sometimes when I know that a performer won't come out between shows and I am going to a matinee. e.g. Wicked with Elphabas. I did it for Callum Francis in KB as well, as it was his last day on tour, and I got told that he didn't come out between the two shows when in fact he did. (again, I only went to the matinee). But I don't really like doing this as it can be slightly awkward. |
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