Actors not coming out stage door- Page 4

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 1:55pm

"Ghostlight, looking back in January, there were a few five degree nights as a low. So, you're right. However, this has not happened in the past few weeks, when the poster went to see the performance."

So your inaccurate, overly broad generalization is slightly less egregious than the posters inaccurate, overly broad generalization. Congratulations. You win! What do we have for her, Johnny?





Updated On: 2/22/14 at 01:55 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 2:16pm

LOL. Fisherman Bob, you're always so awesome on these boards.

I will never, ever expect an actor to come out after they do a performance. I will never chose to stand out in cold weather to see a performer, and become furious when they don't show up, talk to me, and take a ton of photos with me! I believe that's a pretty great prize, all on its own.

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 5:04pm

I don't think an actor should have to come out at the stage door. I mean, if the performer is already openly gay and it is a known thing, then that's OK. But otherwise, it seems to be an odd expectation that they have to do it at the stage door. If they want to, they will, but let's leave that up to them!

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 5:13pm

In defense of stage door people-they often have to be terrors. They get tons of s@#t if someone unauthorized gets backstage. They are in charge of knowing when every actor and staff come and go, often freezing with the door opening and closing.

It's chaos. The fact that they don't know you, you're not on the list doesn't mean they can start making calls for you. Sometimes they aren't even allowed to call the stars. It's like herding cats at the stage door.

I feel for them.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 5:22pm

Betty,
That is not what anyone has referred to. I don't think anyone here has stated that they expect the door man to not recognize you, not have you on a list and still call an actor, but rather situations where you ARE expected at the theatre, your name IS on the list and the doorman doesn't even both to look at the list to confirm or not, which I have personally experienced and have even seen my name ON the list. In those cases, I have stepped away and texted my friend backstage to meet me elsewhere because it really is not worth the bother.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 7:57pm

There are plenty of times my friends and I have been left waiting in the hallway for 15-20 minutes while every other older guest is escorted upstairs- even if they arrived after us, even to see the same actor. I doubt the stagedoor staff know all of them personally, and they were on the same list as I was.

Sure, they can get tons of s@#t when they let someone unauthorized backstage, but they can also get tons of s@#t when they treat the invited guest of an actor like some teenybopper simply because of their age.

So yes, in short, sometimes you do stagedoor for people you are friends or acquainted with because it's not worth dealing with stagedoor staff who act like they're the doorman at the pearly gates, not a Broadway theatre.

[bwayrose7]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 8:36pm

I've never been to a Broadway show (and yes, I'm bitter about that) but have seen my fair share of touring companies. And I've stagedoored several of them for about five years now. Most of the time, the actors I meet are extremely personable and seem quite pleased to hear a "thank you for a great show." On occasion, especially for shows with only a few people at the door, they've initiated full-scale conversations (for instance, I had a great chat with Christopher Sieber about Pushing Daisies, and got a little writing advice from Lin-Manuel Miranda). But I always feel bad for the actors who clearly just want to get out of the place and get trapped by rude fans. It's one of those situations that varies every time; there can't be a hard-and-fast rule about it.

So, from the perspective of someone in the "fangirl" demographic, I don't think actors "owe" fans anything, and I don't get mad when actors don't come out. Personally, I just enjoy getting to meet some really interesting people, even briefly, and to thank them for all their hard work.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 10:16pm

They give their best at the show; anything else is superfluous. They are under no obligation to appease a bunch of screaming fans who, in some cases, will put the program on e-bay for profit. A practice I find disgusting.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 11:02pm

Reading these tales I have learned something I never realized before and I want to share it with you all because it might help alleviate some suffering: Life isn't fair.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 7:16am

"I know people won't agree with this, but I feel if a star actor comes out of the stage door regularly, they always should, whatever the weather or whatever plans they may have following the show, even if they have to run out quickly and say to the crowd "I'm sorry, but I gotta run, I can't sign or take pictures today". I feel this way because when fans of that actor hear or read that they come out of the stage door regularly then the fan waits for a while after the show at the stage door, possibly in bad weather, to see that actor and it's disappointing when they waited for nothing. So I think it's kinda wrong for an actor to ditch fans who are waiting there to see him or her because the fans know he or she usually comes out of the stage door. I totally understand if an actor never wants to come out of the stage door, but if they are known to come out regularly they really shouldn't ditch one day and let down their fans who were waiting and expecting to see him or her.

Or at least have someone inform the stage door security guard that you won't be coming out tonight so they can let everyone waiting at the stage door know within a few minutes instead of waiting there in 10 degree weather or snow for 30 minutes for nothing because due to the weather that night the actor doesn't want to spend 2 minutes with the 10 people waiting for him or her, or even just say hello and say can't sign any tonight sorry."

AntV, no matter how you slice it, this post sounds entitled. I get you don't expect an autograph or to see someone "close up" every time, but just because someone has a habit of coming out the stage door doesn't mean they should offer an explanation on days they decide not to. Also, I understand fans will be disappointed when actors habitually meet fans after the show, then decide not to appear one day. And then these "fans" will go and bad-mouth said actor.

This is the problem with society nowadays. People, when given some "special treatment" once grow to expect it every time.

You keep defending yourself when anyone disagrees with you, but I can't read how "I totally understand if an actor never wants to come out of the stage door, but if they are known to come out regularly they really shouldn't ditch one day and let down their fans who were waiting and expecting to see him or her" sounds anything but entitled. Even with a disclaimer saying how you understand if there are actors who never stage door.

You even said you know many people aren't going to agree with your opinion, but you're responding as if you didn't expect people to respond the way they did.

[AntV]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 9:30am

millie_dillmount: The main thing I'm trying to say is the stage door should be the main exit where actors always leave from. Except for those actors who do not like crowds and always want to avoid them, then they would always use the side exit. If that means more actors decide to exclusively use the side exit and never come out to the crowd at the stage door, then so be it. At least then fans won't be waiting at the stage door for that actor and be disappointed when he or she used the side exit that night. But for those who come out of the stage door there need be no obligation for them to sign, take pictures, chat or whatever. They can do whatever they feel like that night, even if they never at all do any of that, but still don't mind seeing the crowd and giving a hello or wave. I just think with a system like that it will lead to less disappointed people when they didn't even get to catch a glimpse of who they waited for, or a bunch of young girls at Wicked disappointed after waiting when only one actor came out.

And I'm glad that you understand the disappointment when someone doesn't come out that night, some others here don't, and it's not just because one didn't get to see the actor, but that they spent all that time and suffered through the weather for nothing. And yeah people here say you decided to use your time to wait, well because we thought that actor would come out as they usually do. But I didn't bad mouth the actor, nor even mention who it was in my specific example or say I thought less of his work now or will in the future. I just think a big actor knows there will be people waiting to see him, even on a freezing cold or snowy day, suffering through that because they expect that he will come out like he does every other night. We can understand if it's too cold to sign or he has to be somewhere, but at least we saw him, which is better than nothing. As for those who say people will be more upset if an actor comes out and doesn't sign, well who cares what they think, they are the entitled ones. I knew people wouldn't agree with what I said because the common view is that actors can do whatever they want, but I just think they should try to avoid disappointing their fans who are waiting out there. And I expected responses like yours, but not responses that I received earlier saying how horrible of a person I am for having this viewpoint, which made me feel the need to defend myself.

And let me also address the pretend quote I used since it's gotten much attention. "I'm sorry, but I gotta run, I can't sign or take pictures today." That's just what I was imagining a big actor would politely say, they don't have to say that. They don't HAVE to give an explanation nor OWE an apology as some people implied I meant. But I can envision them saying something along that line, especially if they do sign often. Or when more actors don't sign as often and people stop expecting signatures at the stage door they'll just wave hello.

For a recent example: What if Zachary Levi who was known to draw big crowds at the stage door since he would come out after every show and sign or take pictures with his fans, one night didn't feel like doing it or had to be somewhere immediately following the show, what should he have done? Should he have came out of the stage door anyway and quickly said hello to the crowd, thank them and say he can't stay tonight? Or should he have took the side exit and left all his fans out there disappointed that he never even simply walked out for them to see him? I think it's clearly obvious the first choice is the better option for an actor to take. And btw, Levi is just an example, I have no idea if he ever did either of those two options. Updated On: 2/23/14 at 09:30 AM

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 10:22am

"But I didn't bad mouth the actor, nor even mention who it was in my specific example or say I thought less of his work now or will in the future."

Well I never said you specifically did, but I've read posts from people calling out actors for having a "reputation" for not greeting fans at the stage door.

"The main thing I'm trying to say is the stage door should be the main exit where actors always leave from. Except for those actors who do not like crowds and always want to avoid them, then they would always use the side exit."

This I disagree with and sounds absolutely ridiculous. I don't care how much you love or hate crowds and greeting fans. There shouldn't be some "rule" about where actors should exit the theater depending on their stage-dooring habits.

Yes, I'm sure big actors know that people may be waiting out in all different weather conditions, but that still doesn't mean they are obligated to greet fans or even give them an update on whether or not they are signing autographs that day.

The scenarios you are describing sound good to you, but in reality it wouldn't happen and I wouldn't expect it to. You say you understand that actors don't HAVE to greet fans but then follow up with absurd statements, such as there should be designated exits depending on how often someone stage doors.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 11:49am

I understand wanting to connect with your favorite performer if only to let them know how much you appreciate their performance, talent, etc. But performers are not obligated to come out of the stage door, sign your playbill or take a photo with you.

It is your choice to stand outside the stage door and wait but it is also their choice if they want to come out of the stage door and interact with the fans and if they choose not to then you should just respect that and get on with your life and not hold it against them.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 2/24/14 at 4:42am

Of course there is the argument that actors should take a little time to thank their fans. I mean, if it weren’t for us, they would not have careers. We are the ones who buy tickets to their shows. If we did not come to the theatre and see the show, they would be out of a job because the show would not be making money to pay them. This probably applies more to film and TV- as that’s where viewers count the most- if people don’t watch a show or movie, then that said show would be cancelled or the movie would bomb.
- Am I saying that I agree with this? I don’t know, but this is the argument I have heard from people. I personally don’t think it takes much time to just go down the line and shake hands with people. I have seen certain celebs do it (John Stamos at the Hollywood Bowl for example) and they make it through the crowd pretty fast. Even going down the line signing doesn’t take that much time if you aren’t stopping for pictures or really having much of a conversation.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/24/14 at 6:04am

Still doesn't make it a requirement. That's their personal time: 8x a week.

Sure, Stamos did it at Hollywood Bowl. He certainly didn't do it every night at Bye Bye Birdie.

That's another thing people forget about: a film or tv actor doesn't run into his/her fanbase everyday while working as a b'way actor would. They might be able to be more gracious at public events....b'way actors are "with" their audience every single performance.


However, MOST of the time, people don't go to a bway show for a specific actor. And those that do, often go to stage door multiple times. Which is what the problem is: "fans" want more and more and more. At first people are happy with just an appearance, then a signature, but it doesn't stop there...everyone wants a piece of them.

It's a no win situation for the actor.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 2/24/14 at 5:20pm

There can be a number of reasons for actors not to stage door. Their kid is sick and they have to get home, they're shy and don't like the hoopla, they're sick (or healthy) and don't want to shake hands, they're meeting family and/or friends and don't want to be late. Let's cut them some slack. It isn't always about being snotty. These people have lives, too.

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/24/14 at 5:28pm

^Or maybe someone just had a bad day and doesn't feel like making small talk with twenty strangers as their trying to leave work. Would you?

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/24/14 at 11:01pm

Just throwing this out there-

Would you consider people buying tickets to benefits concerts and events to meet their favorite actors to be any more or less entitled than the fans at the stagedoor?

For example, let's say I am a huge fan of Sutton Foster who desperately wants to meet her.

If I wait outside the stagedoor after the show, I am wasting her personal time, and I am an entitled brat for expecting anything. And if I am lucky, and I meet her and get a picture, I'm only doing it to show it off to people on Facebook and Twitter, or sell her autograph on eBay. Boo stagedoor.

Now, if I have the money to blow, let's say I buy a $10,000 table to a Roundabout benefit where she is performing. For that sum, I could probably drop a hint that I'm a huge Sutton Foster fan and would love to meet her that night. Sutton Foster would be escorted to our table by a Roundabout employee, where we could all meet her, tell her what huge fans we are, and get pictures in black tie to show off to all our friends. Same exchange as the stagedoor fan, but fancier. Yay large donation to Roundabout.

I've been on both sides of that scenario, to a degree. And you can replace money with connections, power, whatever. Yes, life is not fair, but is it right that we on BWW routinely bash the fans at the stagedoor, but don't have a problem with fans who can pay for the privilege? I personally can't begrudge Suzy Smith from Portland, who is upset she didn't get to meet Sutton Foster on her class trip, for wanting the exact same thing that Buffy Snooterson from Greenwich gets in spades.

Updated On: 2/24/14 at 11:01 PM

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 2/24/14 at 11:16pm

"Would you consider people buying tickets to benefits concerts and events to meet their favorite actors to be any more or less entitled than the fans at the stage door?"

When you buy a ticket to a benefit show, you have paid for that access. At the stage door, you are trying to get something beyond what you paid for (the show).

If you buy a VIP ticket at a concert or Vegas to meet the performer and get a photo, you aren't more entitled because you are meeting Barry Manilow, you bought a ticket TO meet Barry. So, you are getting the experience you paid for.

I mean, sure, in your example where Muffy sits at her table and says "Bring me Sutton Foster!" that is sort of extreme. When I've paid to go to a BC/EFA benefit, and the VIP after party, etc., everyone may be there, but you're on your own to say hi, etc. Of course, I never paid $10K. But at that point, once again, you're getting the appropriate level of access, since Sutton would also be there to give her time as leverage to help them raise money, so that is why she's there.

Updated On: 2/24/14 at 11:16 PM

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 2/24/14 at 11:34pm

^ Bingo.

[BwayGeek2]

Posted: 2/24/14 at 11:39pm

I don't know if anyone's mentioned it, but some stage doors get really crazy and I'm not surprised when actors don't come out... Certain fans (not all of them) get pushy and rude and I imagine it could be a really overwhelming situation for some actors. At The Best Man I saw a woman trying to take a picture with John Stamos when another woman pushed her way in to take a selfie with him without even asking him if it was okay...very odd.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 2/24/14 at 11:42pm

BUT I WANT A CELEBRITY GOLDEN CALF, DADDY!