Brendon Urie to Stop Stage Dooring- KINKY BOOTS

[asoftplacetoland]

https://twitter.com/brendonurie/status/891499717800185856

http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Brendon-Urie-Will-No-Longer-Stage-Door-Following-Broadway-Performances-20170731

Can't say I blame him. 

[CorkySt.Clair]

Yes, all of stagedooring horror stories are so unfortunate, a few entitled fans ruining a nice practice for everyone. It's already been discussed a little bit here: http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1101651&dt=74

[Rainah]

Very sad that it had to come to this, but not surprised at all. Stage door culture has gotten pretty ugly, and I say this as someone who does it when I get the chance. People need to get over their entitlement.

[LYLS3637]

It's worth sharing again. When people are disgusting, they deserve to be called out at every opportunity. 

[EthelMae]

He is so right to do this. Insane to put anyone through a scene like that after a performance or any other time.

Unfortunately this incident doesn't surprise me considering the horrendous behavior IN the theatres these days.

[SarahNYC2]

I don't blame him. I was walking to Schmackary's after seeing a show and the crowd for DEH and Kinky Boots was insane.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again-as someone who has been going to shows for over 40 years I don't get this stage door craziness. I don't remember when I was younger anyone going to the stage door.

[EthelMae]

I went to stage doors back in the 70's but they were smaller crowds and polite crowds asking for autographs on their Playbills not every other piece of memorabilia and going nuts taking pictures.

[Broadway Joe]

I don't blame him for stopping this either, people shouldn't be rewarded for bad behavior it's just a shame that people have to ruin it for the ones who are well behaved. 

I've only done the stage door thing a handful of times for actors I really like and it was never any of this madness. Bryan Cranston still had the best setup that I've seen, security made us line up in a single line and said have your show related stuff only ready and cameras. There was maybe 25-30 people and Bryan stood at the front of the line and went through until every one got a photo and an autograph.

I'm not saying everyone should do it that way cause obviously some stage doors have way too many people but it was the best experience I've seen all around. Fans were patient and gracious and Bryan couldn't have been happier to do it. 

[comets]

Years ago I stagedoored for the Julia Roberts play Three Days of Rain (at the height of her success and also starring Paul Rudd and Bradley Cooper)  and it wasn't as crazy as the reports from DEH and Kinky Boots. I even managed to get a photo and autograph. 

[CorkySt.Clair]

Yeah, Hamilton last June was actually pretty nice, everyone was very courteous (save for like one person) and we even made some friends waiting!

[CurtainPullDowner]

He's gonna get Hate Mail from that crazy lady and her daughter from EVAN HANSON.

[CorkySt.Clair]

No, not Diana what's-her-name! She'd probably have the gumption to say that she'd seen Kinky Boots 27 times and was appalled that Urie would be so rude as to not enjoy navigating a throng of screaming teenagers for 20 minutes :P

[Margo319]

This was already talked about in the other Brendon Urie thread so no need for another.  I'm glad he gave no warning to stop behaving like a$sholes and just declared it a thing he was no longer doing.  

[Rainah]

Broadway Joe said: "I don't blame him for stopping this either, people shouldn't be rewarded for bad behavior it's just a shame that people have to ruin it for the ones who are well behaved. 

I've only done the stage door thing a handful of times for actors I really like and it was never any of this madness. Bryan Cranston still had the best setup that I've seen, security made us line up in a single line and said have your show related stuff only ready and cameras. There was maybe 25-30 people and Bryan stood at the front of the line and went through until every one got a photo and an autograph.

I'm not saying everyone should do it that way cause obviously some stage doors have way too many people but it was the best experience I've seen all around. Fans were patient and gracious and Bryan couldn't have been happier to do it. "

 

That sounds really nice honestly. I'd love to see something organised like that again, so much better for the actors. Or at least have security run down some basic etiquette, and shoo people off if they're drunk/particularly belligerent  

[Itonlytakesajourney]

It's disgusting that he even has to do this at all. The stage door should be a place where you go to get signed playbills/merchandise, photos, and maybe strike up a convo with the actors if they're willing. The crowds for Kinky Boots are INSANE, all of the screaming Urie fans will leave you deaf. I'm glad he's stopped stage-dooring, maybe it'll teach his 12 year old fanbase to be more respectful.

[Margo319]

^^ God, let's hope so.  But honestly?  I think it will just make them complain MORE now because these days every single person has a platform to bitch.  

[Itonlytakesajourney]

^ Ugh let's hope they don't start an angry twitter boycott (I wouldn't be surprised after The Great Drama of 1812), but from what I've seen, people on social media seem to actually respect his decision, which we all can appreciate. 

[asoftplacetoland]

Margo319 said: "This was already talked about in the other Brendon Urie thread so no need for another.  I'm glad he gave no warning to stop behaving like a$sholes and just declared it a thing he was no longer doing."

There were two mentions of it in the other thread. Figured it deserved a thread of its own. Especially since the other thread is more dedicated to his performance. 

 

 

[NYadgal]

This was already talked about in the other Brendon Urie thread so no need for another.  I'm glad he gave no warning to stop behaving like a$sholes and just declared it a thing he was no longer doing.  

I hadn't read the other thread, so am happy this has a thread of its own.  

It's a different, and specific, point.  

I hope other shows and actors follow suit.  It's spun out of control.   

 

[Jarethan]

SarahNYC2 said: "I don't blame him. I was walking to Schmackary's after seeing a show and the crowd for DEH and Kinky Boots was insane.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again-as someone who has been going to shows for over 40 years I don't get this stage door craziness. I don't remember when I was younger anyone going to the stage door.

 

Interesting you should mention that.  The first time I saw stage dooring that was big enough that I even noticed it was for Angela Lansbury in Mame.  There was such a large crowd that I ended up staying myself.  It was only about a month after the show opened, and I seem to remember that someone had a copy of the Life Magazine cover to be signed.  It also helped that the audience had left the performance in euphoria, having 'discovered' both new musical comedy star Angela L AND Beatrice A on the same day (Yente is not Vera).  

The next time was 5 years ago, amusingly with Katherine Hepburn in Coco.  Amusing because they stood on both sides of the street and she was in that car in about 3 seconds.  Eyes straight ahead, make it is 3-2-1.  

Didn't see any for years after that.  Don't remember when they started in a sizable way, but I do remember that my wife's friend wanted to get Richard Chamberlain's autograph 30 years ago when he was in Blithe Spirit.  So we waited.  Geraldine Page walked right out the stage door and not one person asked for her autograph.  Richard Chamberlain was bombarded...by about 20 people.

My, how times have changed.

 

PS -- I'd blame Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, and Julia Roberts.  I read about the former two, I saw the latter one.  I had left a show at the Music Box or Imperial.  When leaving, you couldn't get across the street because people who had not even seen the show were literally standing in the middle of 45th St. stopping traffic hoping to get a snapshot of Julia.

[HogansHero]

anyone without a perverse sense of self-entitlement realizes what a loathsome and unfair practice this is. I hope others follow suit so this expression becomes archaic and the practice becomes an embarrassing relic. 

[VintageSnarker]

@Jarethan Thank you for sharing your stories. I found them very entertaining.

For shows with star casting, I wonder if they could just sell some extra signed merchandise the way they do for the BC/EFA fundraising. Not with an announcement at curtain, just at the merch booths, for a little extra since they're signed.