Rude Stage Door Experiences- Page 2
Rude Stage Door Experiences
#25re: Rude Stage Door Experiences
Posted: 2/20/07 at 9:57am
Again, that's weird. I met him after one of his concerts and he seemed like he was getting really annoyed with a lot of his fans. When I talked to him, I said something about him being in Hedwig and he seemed really grateful for someone to know what he had been singing (he had done a few songs from Hedwig at the concert).
I don't know. Maybe he's just very fickle.
Updated On: 2/20/07 at 09:57 AM
TheresaG
Stand-by Joined: 8/31/06
#26re: Rude Stage Door Experiences
Posted: 2/20/07 at 10:01am
Sounds like most of these rude stage door experiences are because of stage managers, security, and over zealous fans. Doesn't sound like the actors are a problem, I know I've never had a problem with any of them.
About Constantine Maroulis, I thought he was very gracious with his stage door encounters at The Wedding Singer. I was there several times to the show and stage door afterwards and saw no rudeness about him. He's also been meeting and greeting with people in the lobby of "Jacques Brel Is Alive and Living in Paris" and been very cordial all the time. He might be a little quiet at times, but certainly not rude.
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#27re: Rude Stage Door Experiences
Posted: 2/20/07 at 10:17am
This didn't happen to me, but I witnessed it:
Many years ago, there was a fine Broadway play called FIND YOUR WAY HOME. It starred Jane Alexander and Michael Moriarity. At that time there was a mature man known as "Dave the Autograph Hound". He was standing outside the stage door when Alexander came out and he approached her with several things to sign. Although she graciously signed everyone else's Playbills, she refused to sign anything Dave held out for her. She told him (in very rude terms) that he'd been at the stage door that afternoon and had been there every night for the past week. She told him to leave her alone and she'd call the cops if he didn't stop pestering her.
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
millie_dillmount
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/04
#28re: Rude Stage Door Experiences
Posted: 2/20/07 at 10:18am
Regarding the Apple Tree stage door guy, by no means is his attitude acceptable, but just looking at things from his point of view...perhaps he thought you were going to have her sign the Grimmerie and sell it for tons of money on Ebay. And when he saw you weren't putting it away, he kept annoying you about it. I mean, is it rude? Yes, but he was technically doing his job.
My question is, did you have a big enough bag that you could've put it in? If you did, why didn't you just put it away instead of holding it out for further confusion? If you didn't have a bag, perhaps you could've put it between your feet on the ground if it wasn't wet or really dirty. He probably reminded you over and over again because he suspected you were lying and were going to actually have Kristen sign it.
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611
skingdom
Broadway Star Joined: 6/29/03
#29re: Rude Stage Door Experiences
Posted: 2/20/07 at 10:36amLeland O'Rourke told me to F@# off when I asked for his autograph. Incidentally i did.
PirateSmile
Understudy Joined: 9/10/06
#30re: Rude Stage Door Experiences
Posted: 2/20/07 at 10:36am
Can't speak to Wedding Singer, but at Jacques Brel, Constantine was a total gentleman, and very patient w/ everyone who wanted signatures, pictures, etc. After the initial din died down, he casually conversed with others who were standing in the lobby, not just the first "rush" of fans.
It's a hard show, emotionally, and I'm pleasantly surprised that he would have any energy left to greet fans. He could have just breezed out to his car, but he didn't. Robert was also friendly with his fans as well.
So, I guess I don't have a bad experience to relate. That's nice.
Here's to Patti And Tina And Yoko, Aretha
And Nona And Nico And me
#31re: Rude Stage Door Experiences
Posted: 2/20/07 at 10:43amIt's not his problem if someone wants to make money off of a Chenoweth signed item.
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird
To Kill A Mockingbird
lightguy06222
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/3/06
#32re: Rude Stage Door Experiences
Posted: 2/20/07 at 10:57amBwaydoc, thats VERY suprising! When i went to see The Apple Tree, Kristin was HAPPY to sign my Grimmerie! Her bodyguard had no problem with it, and neither did the stage door security guard. He was actually a hysterical guy, and we stood there chatting until people came out! He was really chill
#33re: Rude Stage Door Experiences
Posted: 2/20/07 at 10:58am
The Apple Tree stage door seems really inconsistent. When I went, there were a LOT of very fervent Kristin fans (maybe 70 people there), but there were no announcements of any kind except to keep the sidewalk clear, and Kristin was as nice as could be and signed whatever people asked her to sign (admittedly, I am not sure anyone asked her to sign more than one item, but she signed non-Apple Tree items). I guess it depends on who's on at the stage door that day, and maybe what Kristin's mood is like. The crowd was also extremely polite, which probably helped. (BdJ and Marc Kudisch were also incredibly nice and patient with the large crowd.)
"What was the name of that cheese that I like?"
"you can't run away forever...but there's nothing wrong with getting a good head start"
"well I hope and I pray, that maybe someday, you'll walk in the room with my heart"
myManCape
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/26/05
#34re: Rude Stage Door Experiences
Posted: 2/20/07 at 11:03am
As to the two main topics of this thread:
Constantine @ Wedding Singer- I did not find him to be rude. He seemed like he would rather be elsewhere then signing autographs and taking pictures with hundreds of screaming people. Maybe he wasn't happy, but he certainly was not rude.
Chenoweth @ Apple Tree - I've never had a problem with the stage door guy there. In fact he’s usually one of the nicer ones. You have to remember that this is his job. He doesn’t make the requirements up, hes directed by Chenoweth and her people as to what she will and wont do. If she wants to stand still and all the people come up to her, then its the stage door guys responsibility to make that happen. If she has said in advance that she will not sign items from other shows, it is the stage door guys responsibility to make sure that people dont come up to her with other items because if they do and she refuses to sign them then it could cause a problem. As for the pen, actors use their own pen for a variety of reasons, the main one being its much more convenient and faster to have 1 pen and sign for everyone. Other wise you waste time capping and uncapping the pens and some people dont have one so you stand around while they look to barrow one it all wastes time. Another reason is the possibility of germs from passing pens around. Actors profession is very dependent on staying healthy so why take the chance. A final reason is people often pass them open pens which they get poked with or it writes on their hand/clothing.
I really dont think you can blame a bad experience on the stage door guy. His job is to make the actors happy and to get them out of the stage door area quickly and safely. If they happen to be nice to the fans at the same time, good for you.
PS. Chenoweth did sign my OBC Wicked Poster. So these must be new rules about no items other than Apple Tree.
"Have they come yet?"
#35re: Rude Stage Door Experiences
Posted: 2/20/07 at 11:09am
Well, why didn't you put your Wicked Grimmeries away in a bag or something
muscle23ftl, I see your point but I'm an adult, not a kid, and generally someone only has to tell me something once for me to get it. He told me, I closed the book, which had been opened, and figured that was that. It was also incredibly cold, there were tons of people behind me and not a lot of room to move around. I understand if I had been belligerent about it and completely ignored him, but I acknowledged what he said and agreed to it. I feel like it's to the point where they automatically feel the need to put people in their place and keep them in line in order to protect the stars, when the majority of fans just want to have a pleasant interaction and are not there to mob anyone. A nice announcement stating what the "rules" were would have been enough. It's just unfortunate that we were there to enjoy a good show and were excited to meet Kristin and then it was ruined by the rude behavior of the manager.
I wish I could go back to college. Life was so simple back then. - Kate Monster.
"Who here feels like they have no idea what they're doing?" - George, Grey's Anatomy
"Who here feels like they have no idea what they're doing?" - George, Grey's Anatomy
#36re: Rude Stage Door Experiences
Posted: 2/20/07 at 11:14am
I think some actors are told not to sign other items from other shows that they were in; takes away from the show they arecurrently in. I don't always think that it is the actor/actress who just does not want to sign certain items, but it is that they can't/ I could be wrong about this, but we all really don't know what the real situation is behind it.
As for the Stage-Manager being rude, that is funny. I once went to a show and I had some what of the same experince and that person thought their were better than me, and when that person found out I acturally knew more "important" people in the biz than that person did, then it was like all of a sudden I was their new best friend. LOL...come on people, grow up! Yes it is tough biz, but come on if people did not get far in this biz then there will be nobody on stages, backstages, producing, directing and etc. Everyone would be complaining "OH man, I am not going far" LOL.
"Now the best way to learn the theater, always, is to be a stage manager"
-Stephen Sondheim
Updated On: 2/20/07 at 11:14 AM
millie_dillmount
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/04
#37re: Rude Stage Door Experiences
Posted: 2/20/07 at 11:14am
"I feel like it's to the point where they automatically feel the need to put people in their place and keep them in line in order to protect the stars, when the majority of fans just want to have a pleasant interaction and are not there to mob anyone."
You said it. Even though, from a fan's standpoint, fans are just there to have a pleasant interaction, it's the job of the bodyguards and stagedoor managers to protect the actors.
I've also been in crowds and still managed to put things in a bag. If you really wanted the stagedoor manager to stop saying something, putting it away would've solved the problem quicker. Even if you knew you were listening, the manager doesn't know your intentions, whether you are an adult or child (and there have been some weird adults at stage doors)...so when he says to put the book away, he means it.
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611
Updated On: 2/20/07 at 11:14 AM
#38re: Rude Stage Door Experiences
Posted: 2/20/07 at 11:25amI wonder what's changed since other people have had non-Apple Tree things signed at the door. I wanted to ask what the reason was behind it but didn't think that would go over well but obviously it's something new.
I wish I could go back to college. Life was so simple back then. - Kate Monster.
"Who here feels like they have no idea what they're doing?" - George, Grey's Anatomy
"Who here feels like they have no idea what they're doing?" - George, Grey's Anatomy
Mamie
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/26/04
#39re: Rude Stage Door Experiences
Posted: 2/20/07 at 11:31amA whole book could be written about people's experiences with the infamous Kevin Kennedy at the Imperial Theatre. He was always pretty good with me but I've heard some nasty tales from others who weren't so fortunate.
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mamie4 5/14/03
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mamie4 5/14/03
#40re: Rude Stage Door Experiences
Posted: 2/20/07 at 11:35amI find it funny that there weren't even hundreds of people in the theater, but more at the stage door for Constatine.
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird
To Kill A Mockingbird
myManCape
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/26/05
#41re: Rude Stage Door Experiences
Posted: 2/20/07 at 11:40am
Perhaps its a preference thing. I cant imagine its a contractual thing (some actors such as Ian McDiarmid in Faith Healer was prohibited by his contract from signing Star Wars memorabilia.) If Chenoweth had a bad experience signing other items (fan girls coming to the stage door everyday with Wicked items) she might have decided she had enough. Maybe she wants to make sure she is signing for the people who paid to see The Apple Tree, so she established the Apple Tree only rule.
When I got my poster signed I didnt exactly seek approval from the stage door guy. I had it in a bag, pulled it out when I got to her and asked her if she would mind, which she did not. So its possible the rule has been in place from day 1 and I just happened to get around it.
"Have they come yet?"
#42re: Rude Stage Door Experiences
Posted: 2/20/07 at 11:42amshe must've created that rule only mid-set because people were pelting her with Wicked stuff throughout the stagedoor process.
#43re: Rude Stage Door Experiences
Posted: 2/20/07 at 11:43am
I also have had very good stage door experiences with Constantine.
At the Wedding Singer, there was a baracade, but he went all around and signed Playbills and took tons of pics. I just asked for my Playbill to be signed and told him he was very funny. He thanked me. Even though there was a ton of people there, he took pictures with whoever wanted one and was very patient.
At Jacques Brel, he can exit through the bar at the Zipper, or he could have gone out the stage door and avoided everyone. He came out into the bar and signed and took pictures and talked with old fans and new fans. There were a lot of people there that hadn't even seen him in American Idol, but wanted to get their picture and an autograph. He has been really nice with the fans. He hasn't run off afterwards, either. He's hung around in the bar, talking with friends.
By the way, he is awesome in Brel. Only a few more days to catch this wonderful show with a fabulous cast.
Jekyll & Hyde back on Broadway! / Rock of Ages - 5 Tony nominations! Awesome!
myManCape
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/26/05
#44re: Rude Stage Door Experiences
Posted: 2/20/07 at 11:43am
On any given night there were at least a hundred of people at the stagedoor after Wedding Singer. Not to mention the 15-20 people that were there before the show everyday too.
"Have they come yet?"
wickedrentq
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/6/04
#45re: Rude Stage Door Experiences
Posted: 2/20/07 at 12:25pm
"That is soo unfair, going backstage and getting to see the set at HAIRSPRAY. When I went , I took some pictures of my friend and I inside of the theatre when the show was completely over, and an usher took away our camera and had the manager delete all of the pictures!!"
That's not rude--that's the law. Stages and everything on them and backstage are copyrighted--taking/having pictures of them is technically illegal. Many people do it anyway, and don't have their pictures deleted, but the usher and manager were simply following the law. You should be thrilled you got to go backstage in the first place.
"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli
galindagirl2
Stand-by Joined: 12/22/06
#46re: Rude Stage Door Experiences
Posted: 2/20/07 at 1:07pm
Wait...if I'm galindagirl...should I know what Grimmerie is?
Cuz...I don't...
#47re: Rude Stage Door Experiences
Posted: 2/20/07 at 1:23pm
When I saw THE APPLE TREE (second preview), Kristin signed my playbill and my CD covers for Wicked and You're A Good Man Charlie Brown. She also signed a bunch of copies of The Grimmerie, which many fan girls had brought. It sucks that her policy has changed, but I also think it's a Roundabout thing. The stagedoor managers/bodyguards for The Pajama Game weren't very nice either.
I plan on stage dooring Stairway to Paradise this spring and hopefully Kristin will sign my playbill, the Met playbill from her recent concert and the Steel Pier CD cover. I hope there isn't a huge crowd waiting...
#49re: Rude Stage Door Experiences
Posted: 2/20/07 at 1:30pm
everyone must remember that "This is their job, it's work for them, they do have lives. So if they blow you off one night, don't take it personally, they just might have things to do that night but every other night of the week they stayed and gave sigs."
PS. How valuable is your sig if everyone has it???
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