Is Video Taping A No-No?

[allant]

Posted: 4/25/12 at 11:11am

Warm greetings, board members! I'd really appreciate any advise you may have on this subject. I am an ex-performer myself, now living in Tennessee. But, twice a year I come to NYC for my "Broadway fix". Eleven glorious days and at least as many shows. I almost always "stage door" after the show, always with a still camera, and sometimes with a video camera. I've done this twice-yearly "Broadway fix" for the last 21 years and until an incident with Carrie Fisher at the "Wishful Drinking" stage door have not had any trouble with either photographing or video taping. Before Carrie came out, one of her people came out to say she would not "pose" for photos and would only sign items pertaining to her show. She came out; I started video taping. About three minutes later, the guy who came out to "instruct" us walked over to me, put his hand over the lens of my video camera and said, "No video"! I apologized, adding he didn't mention anything about video cameras. While I do respect the wishes of the celebrities, it is my understanding that in a public setting, such as a public sidewalk, anyone has the right to video whatever they wish. But, this incident started a thought process that, perhaps, video taping is an unspoken "no-no" in the protocol of the "stage door". Some time later, I was video taping Patti Lupone at the "Gypsy" stage door. When she got to me, I let her know she had moved me to tears in the "show down" between Mama Rose and Gypsy. She signed my souvenir program, but did not look at me, and did not speak to me, even to say "thank you" as she had with numerous other compliments. These two situations are what led me to open this thread. Again, any advise would be greatly appreciated. All the best to all of you.....

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/25/12 at 11:20am

Yes, its wrong to video tape without permission -- and rude. It's not unlike taping a conversation.

As far as LuPone not thanking you, be grateful she signed at all...she's exhausted and just wants to go home. In all liklihood, she never even HEARD your comment as there are dozens of people screaming, all trying to be noticed.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/25/12 at 11:24am

Good lord, Allan, use some paragraph breaks!

And generally speaking, videotaping at the stage door is creepy. Don't.

Updated On: 4/25/12 at 11:24 AM

[Taryn]

Posted: 4/25/12 at 12:11pm

Technically the sidewalk in front of the Lortel isn't a public sidewalk, as they lease it from the city for the Playwrights Sidewalk. :P

But, in general, videotaping without permission is so creepy.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/25/12 at 12:13pm

Weird and creepy yes, but not illegal. Same as with the paparazzi. They're not breaking any laws photographing and videotaping celebrities out in public, which is where they are when they're outside of the theater.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/25/12 at 12:36pm

(did anyone imply it was illegal?)

[scott1120]

Posted: 4/25/12 at 12:40pm

Queen Lupone is too wonderful and important for the lowly minions who spend $150 to see her live. Don't take her snub personally. She's the ultimate diva, and every bad connotation that comes with the word.

[newintown]

Posted: 4/25/12 at 12:55pm

I admit that the urge to stage door mystifies me; that stalker-y need to stand in close proximity to a celebrity and pretend you've had a significant interaction with them.

It just strikes me as creepy.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 4/25/12 at 12:56pm

allant - I have stated before I have done the stage door thing quite a few times with my wife and daughters. If you ask most performers if they would mind having a picture taken with you, they are most gracious and will do it. (my wife and I have not been in picture but take it of our daughters). I don't think anybody has ever turned my daughters down. I agree with others that videotaping may not be illegal but it is creepy.

Updated On: 4/25/12 at 12:56 PM

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 4/25/12 at 1:04pm

newintown- If you are a normal human being, getting a autograph and complimenting a performer on their performance is not a bad thing. If the performer does not want to do it, they can leave the theater at another exit. Several years ago, I took my daughter to "Next To Normal" when she was doing a semester at NYU. The crowd at the stage door was not that big because it had only been open for about a week. Alice Ripley was incredibly nice. Took a photograph of her with my daughter and she signed both Playbills. We aked her a question about how demanding her role was and she actually talked to us for 10-15 minutes about the show before heading home. This was a great experience for us getting "inside" information about a show we loved and it was probably nice for Ms. Ripley to hear from people who attended the show.IMO - it was kind of like a "talk back" session.



Updated On: 4/25/12 at 01:04 PM

[newintown]

Posted: 4/25/12 at 1:07pm

Thanks for the definition of "normal," yankee. I'm glad you're on top of that.

[kevin5]

Posted: 4/25/12 at 1:10pm

i donot think it is rude to take pictures or videotape someone, as long as it is done respectfully. Celebrities need to remember it's the fans who make them, period. Joan Crawford knew this and she was the last true star. If I was going to see someone I admired and wanted my picture with them, if i was snubbed, I would be like &^%%* YOU and I would not be going to see them again.

[madbrian]

Posted: 4/25/12 at 1:11pm

I disagree that a performer should leave via a different door if he or she does not wish to sign or be photographed. The public should be respectful of the performer's wishes.

[Johnnycantdecide]

Posted: 4/25/12 at 1:13pm

Scott,

Have you ever met Patti? When I met her after one of her concerts she made a point to come out in the freezing rain and sign for everyone. And she was all smiles when she did it too and very gratious to us.

Two of my best friends went on another occasion and they where the only ones at the stage door. Pattis body guard (or whoever he was)) told them that Patti would not be posing for pictures. Patti basically told her guard to hush up and took a picture with them.

Stop painting performers in a bad light unless you have some proof to back it up.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 4/25/12 at 1:22pm

madbrian - I don't know for sure but I think most performers leave thru another exit because they don't want to appear "rude" and pass by all the fans waiting and say they are not signing. Yes, they can do anything they like and are under no obligation to sign autographs. Usually, the guy at at stage door will let people know if a certain performer is not coming out after the performance.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/25/12 at 1:23pm

I too vote for "creepy."

[newintown]

Posted: 4/25/12 at 1:24pm

I always say I like agreeing with you, Joey.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 4/25/12 at 1:34pm

Creepy.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 4/25/12 at 1:47pm

Joan Crawford knew this and she was the last true star. If I was going to see someone I admired and wanted my picture with them, if i was snubbed, I would be like &^%%* YOU and I would not be going to see them again.

The best thing I've read today.

[Taryn]

Posted: 4/25/12 at 1:52pm

Saying that performers aren't obligated to sign autographs or take pictures but, really, they should if they're nice, normal people, and they owe everything to their fans anyways, is just as entitled as saying they're obligated to do it.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/25/12 at 2:02pm

Performers "owe" NOTHING to fans except a good performance.

"Owe" is a creepy word. Nobody "owes" anybody anything, unless it is lent.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 4/25/12 at 3:22pm

Joey - OK, maybe I should have used another word besides owe. My point is that your pay your money to be entertained at the show and not for a autograph after the performance.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 4/25/12 at 3:29pm

Taryn - yes it is the nice thing to do and as I have mentioned I have never met anybody at the stage door entrance that was not very nice, maybe I have been lucky. I don't know about you but I have never seen athletes or performers outside of Broadway sign autographs and take pictures after a game/performance. I think Broadway performers are most gracious to take time to do this to thank fans and IMO this should not be taken for granted. (note *** not saying you are taking them for granted)

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 4/25/12 at 3:40pm

I think taking anyone's picture without permission is impolite, even though it isn't illegal. That being said, waiting for performers at the stage door has been a custom for at least two centuries, so I'm not going to jump to words like "creepy" and "stalkerish".

But I don't get the appeal myself. What could I possibly say to Patti Lupone that hasn't been said a thousand times before? What could she possibly reply that she hasn't been saying for decades?

I just don't see the point.

[GatorNY]

Posted: 4/25/12 at 3:46pm

I sometimes will go to the stage door to say thank you. It's funny, but I swear I've seen some of the same people that I remember from other stage doors. It's like they have to remind the performer that they've seen them in other shows. In this case, a man had to call Louis Hobson "Doctor" since he played doctors in Next to Normal and in The People in the Picture. They probably are facebook friends with them and think that they are actually friends with the actors.

It'd be a hoot if Smash could have a little bit on the show about creepy stage door patrons, and maybe bit where they feature the vultures who are out looking for tickets before a final show, or an opening.