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Post by talkingheads on Apr 9, 2021 14:42:47 GMT
A post in the Constellations thread prompted me to think about this. In a post Covid world, at least for a long time, stage dooring will be outlawed, and I think that's fantastic. All it ever seemed to breed was toxicity, particularly amongst musical theatre fans.
Of course I have met actors at the stage door and it has been lovely, but it really shouldn't be part of an actors contract to spend sometimes in excess of an hour after a show signing autographs.
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Post by properjob on Apr 9, 2021 17:41:09 GMT
I have always assumed that having say 5 people wait for you at stage door every now and again is lovely but having 50 every night is somewhere from a real pain to an actual nightmare.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2021 18:05:42 GMT
I think it ending altogether is a shame for the genuine reasonable fan who just wants to say a personal thank you to an actor, especially the less well-known ones, and maybe get an autograph or picture for their personal collection.
It has over the years been ruined by self-entitled teenage fangirls (and boys) who don't know boundaries, obsessive fans and the autograph hunters, and I feel sorry for actors who have to deal with any of those, but I will miss the ability to just say a 30 second thank you in person for a performance I really appreciated.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 9, 2021 19:37:00 GMT
Ban. It. Forever.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2021 19:45:06 GMT
Agree I'm afraid. Last 10-20 years, literally no good has come of it! |
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Post by christya on Apr 9, 2021 19:59:29 GMT
I did it once or twice as a kid, but it was all a lot quieter. Now the only way I'm going round there is if I or someone I'm with know someone in the cast and we're meeting that specific person who is expecting us. And even then it's less likely the stage door and more likely "I'll sneak out of X exit and meet you for a pint". If the massive crowds at stage door become a thing of the past I don't think it would be a bad thing.
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Post by talkingheads on Apr 10, 2021 7:44:42 GMT
The only stage dooring I've ever done was to get a photo with a comedian. I never really understood waiting for an hour fior an actor to hurriedly sign then go.
Reminds me of when I went to see Julie Andrews. Sat next to a woman who'd waited for hours at the stage door before the show only for Andrews to walk past them without a word. Not saying Andrews was in the wrong, I think anything outside their contractual obligation to be at the venue is optional. Nobody is entitled to their time.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2021 8:42:32 GMT
Next you'll be telling me I'm not allowed to wait outside the staff entrance of Tesco to get a signature from my favorite checkout assistant or ambush the guy who gave me a slight smile when he handed me my Latte as he leaves work at Costa. Outrage.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2021 9:32:22 GMT
Afraid I'm going to have to agree; I really won't miss it at all. I've only done it twice and never again. The first time was alright as it was only a small group of people, but the second time was a nightmare. Pushing, shoving, screaming, threats to beat someone up if they tried to get to the performer before them. Definitely a practice with good intentions that slowly got ruined over time.
I'm a big fan of "you pay to see the show, not to meet the actors" and that simply clapping and showing your appreciation and gratitude at the curtain call or a brief tweet to their social media thanking them for their performance is more than enough.
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Post by danb on Apr 10, 2021 10:05:18 GMT
I can think of the handful of times I’ve stage doored, and it just isn’t a comfortable situation. The only natural exchanges I can recall were with Anthony Rapp & Adam Pascal at the ‘Rent’ stage door, with Rob Houchen (whilst waiting for my daughter to finish with Carrie at Les Mis) and with the lady that played the Freak in Prisoner Cell Block H. We tried to convince her to come for a pint and she did waiver for a while but remembered it was a 2 show-er the next day so politely declined. Anything else has been a crush and more like stage doors nowadays.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2021 10:56:33 GMT
I did stagedoor quite a lot pre covid but honestly, after a year and a half without theatre, I don’t even care about it anymore. I just want to see a show.
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Post by Mark on Apr 10, 2021 11:04:31 GMT
I used to enjoy it in New York, because I loved getting a signed playbill. The last one I have is from Karen Olivo a week before the Broadway shutdown. Rarely ever went in London because I was always in such a rush to get back.
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Post by inthenose on Apr 10, 2021 13:49:02 GMT
The actors (especially the more famous/easily recognised ones) I've worked with would much rather spend 15 minutes at a stage door "getting it done", than be approached at the local afterwards meeting their friends/family/partner. I have no problem with it, generally as some performers genuinely do appreciate the attention. As long as it's mutually enjoyable, fair enough.
Actually the worst bit about it for me is being mistaken for a cast member when I leave. So embarrassing. Doesn't happen often mind you, as crew are usually the last out.
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