What makes a Renthead?- Page 3
What makes a Renthead?
BEKA531
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#50re: What makes a Renthead?
Posted: 5/31/05 at 11:07pm
haha joelll. he had to come up at some point.
i miss lifecafe.com. 
Becky
Broadway Star Joined: 5/14/03
#51re: What makes a Renthead?
Posted: 5/31/05 at 11:10pm
i miss lifecafe.com
Same here. However, he turned over the domain to the real Life Cafe, so it's kinda fitting.
kitkatgirl54
Leading Actor Joined: 5/19/04
#52re: What makes a Renthead?
Posted: 5/31/05 at 11:16pm
oh, didn't somebody steal a bunch of money? who was that?
what about,
pete & ali's site
sonic yearbook (just found it! http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Alley/9624/)
god the band
MLC (mustard lovers club?)
people calling marcy's listed number in the phone book so she had to get it changed
Updated On: 5/31/05 at 11:16 PM
MatureDignity
Broadway Star Joined: 10/31/04
#53re: What makes a Renthead?
Posted: 5/31/05 at 11:28pmOkay, I'm in the Sonic welcome letter, how embarassing, now I'm going to disappear from this thread!
kitkatgirl54
Leading Actor Joined: 5/19/04
Leading Actor Joined: 12/31/69
#55re: What makes a Renthead?
Posted: 5/31/05 at 11:35pmLoving this idotic piece of crap makes you a renthead.
#56re: What makes a Renthead?
Posted: 5/31/05 at 11:57pm
Them be fightin' words, Captain.
Again, you and your tastelessness.
#57re: What makes a Renthead?
Posted: 6/1/05 at 12:01amI would also like to state for the record that I never really did stock a cast member. I was kidding. ya know... cuz' I'd have to actually be in New York to do that, and I'm not. but, I will be in New York starting tomorrow...
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#58re: What makes a Renthead?
Posted: 6/1/05 at 12:01am
I think being a RENThead is being a part of a group of people that truly love the Broadway musical RENT. I think that it has to be more in the inside what you feel about RENT and the love you have for it, and I think that you have these certain anxieties about RENT the movie and what it might do to your favorite Broadway actor's careers. And you have a countdown started somewhere... just kidding, it's much more that you truly love the show and you are such a big fan of the show and everyone that took part in it that you are moved by the performances given by the actors.
--korenglish
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#59re: What makes a Renthead?
Posted: 6/1/05 at 12:01am
I've seen it. I've heard it. I wasn't awed or anything.
And, btw, I have taste. They're different from yours.
#60re: What makes a Renthead?
Posted: 6/1/05 at 12:03am
I meant that the comment was tasteless. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Really, what's the point of your post? 
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#61re: What makes a Renthead?
Posted: 6/1/05 at 12:05am
hmm I think we found someone who isn't a RENThead Emcee... 
--korenglish
#62re: What makes a Renthead?
Posted: 6/1/05 at 12:05am
I will also agree that "renthead" has taken on a bit of a negative connotation especially since, as I said, at least for me, I was treated horribly by a few of them... I won't say their names, but I'll PM them... 
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#63re: What makes a Renthead?
Posted: 6/1/05 at 12:10am
I guess sometimes when you are really passionate about something you might end up sounding forceful to someone who doesn't always have the same opinions as you might have.
--korenglish
#64re: What makes a Renthead?
Posted: 6/1/05 at 12:11amI think a lot of the phenomenon is based around this need to "prove" your love for it, or to show that you love it so much more than the next so-called RENThead. Fandom, a lot of times, is a competition... it's frightening.
LightMyCandle
Stand-by Joined: 11/21/04
#65re: What makes a Renthead?
Posted: 6/1/05 at 2:40am
Yeah, I like RENT I guess.
<-- User name
I've seen the show an obscene amount of times and have met several of the cast members; Jeremy Kushnier most recently. I know the whole soundtrack, background, blah blah blah. I've even tried to recruit friends of mine to my level of addiction and was successful to the point of burning many copies of the soudntrack for them.
And I do second what luvtheEmcee said about fandoms. Claymates (Clay Aiken fans) come to mind. Scary bunch. As far as what makes a RENThead, I think it's just a deep appreciation and understanding for Larson's message. The number of Rent Playbills, the cast autographs etc are all nice (very nice) but it's definetely more than that.
I think it all comes down to how a person feels about the show, how they feel when they listen to the music and all that.
i'm a tough act to follow because when i'm done i take the microphone with me.
MasterLcZ
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/12/03
#66re: What makes a Renthead?
Posted: 6/1/05 at 8:12am
You contribute RENT fan fiction (score extra points for multi-chapter stories) to this site:
OK, RENT stories I can see. WICKED I can see. But CATS?!
Broadway Fan Fiction
"Christ, Bette Davis?!?!"
mikewood
Broadway Star Joined: 4/7/05
#67re: What makes a Renthead?
Posted: 6/1/05 at 9:16am
Yeah, I think true Rentheads have to have seen the show like 3+ times, have the Rent book, etc. >>>
uh, seven times, got the book.....oh man!
BLAH BLAH BLAH
#68re: What makes a Renthead?
Posted: 6/1/05 at 9:19amWell, at least some people get what I said. Thank you, LightMyCandle.
ashley0139
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/3/05
#69re: What makes a Renthead?
Posted: 6/1/05 at 12:18pmI consider myself a RENThead. But I disagree with the "having to see the show a certain number of times". I've seen it twice. Because I don't live near NYC and the tour's only come here once. I saw it when it came to my city and once in NYC. You can't say someone's not a RENThead because they don't have access to seeing the show that many times. Just my 2 cents.
"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife
JHartnow
Featured Actor Joined: 11/24/04
#70re: What makes a Renthead?
Posted: 6/1/05 at 12:54pm
Although it is subjectional as to what constitutes a RENThead, here are a few things that I'll always remember since seeing and working with the show since it's off-broadway days:
• You know what kind of fabric the Support Group platform stairs are lined in • You've stood on Mimi's catwalk and seen the embedded glitter on the stairs • Anthony singing "CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES, C'MON!" during CONTACT • You know that Mimi's OUT TONIGHT blue hologram lurex pants material is imported from Italy at $80 a yard • The fact that Anthony cried on stage during every performance (especially during SOL B, with Angel's empty spot aglow in white) with kleenex in one coat pocket and a bottle of water in the other • You know the story behind the plaid pattern on Roger's pants, and why they're made from women's coats imported from France • The claps Anthony sent up to Jonathan after every show • Adam's spit bucket • You know why there is a padded beam backstage (behind the base wall door) that Mimi runs out of during GOODBYE LOVE • You own a pair of Mimi's custom giraffe print boots (these cost roughly $1200 per pair, and the heel's arch is specifically designed to "lock" into the "Out Tonight" bars) • You remember Wilson's original Pussy Galore shower curtain dress...in which they changed out the images nearly every performance with ripped, torn and cut newspaper and magazine clippings...
And the list could go on and on and on and on...
-John
Updated On: 6/1/05 at 12:54 PM
Kato2
Swing Joined: 4/22/05
#71re: What makes a Renthead?
Posted: 6/1/05 at 2:55pm
Kitkatgirl, I TOTALLY remember that! Ha ha, thanks for the memory.
I agree to some degree with JoeGillis. Having been a "RENThead" (or obsessive fan, call it what you will) during that time, I completely understand what he's saying. However, I don't feel that way anymore, and I don't think most of the people who were around then do either. There's still a certain amount of love for the show and Jonathan, and the original (and 1rst replacements) cast, but RENT isn't what it used to be. It's just not.
While I think it's great that people have experienced and loved the show since (it's one of those shows that either you connect with or you don't; and if you do, it's harcore...), as a whole I don't think that the term RENThead really applies at all anymore. It's impossible to be a RENThead in the way true, original RENTheads were in the 90s...and I say that because it was a unique experience -- being in NYC, sleeping outside all night, waiting in the line, sitting front row with the OBC, getting to know the OBC and their replacements, getting to know all the other wacky people in the line, eating, breathing, and sleeping RENT...the vibe was unique to THAT time.
I would never begrudge anyone their love and devotion to any show, but I really just don't think the term RENThead is appropriate anymore.
kitkatgirl54
Leading Actor Joined: 5/19/04
#72re: What makes a Renthead?
Posted: 6/1/05 at 3:07pmyeah i don't want to deny anyone of their fandom, or claim a word or anything or even say 'oh you weren't as big a fan, you didn't like the show as much', b/c that is ridiculous, but it really was different back then and that's that. there was an entire group of these people who carted around massive photo albums with dozens of pictures of them with each cast member, all the props they'd collected, 6 'roger guitar pics' around their necks, sleeping out every weekend, and when lotto started, coming every few days to help get someone tickets. it is because of rent that all the other shows do lotto now, and it has made theater affordable for the fans. it was this entire culture, and from the few times i've seen the show recently, that culture was missing. it's some college students and tourists just like it is at every other lotto ... not that there's anything wrong with that, but back in the day, it was a community. you go there and without even making plans, you know who is going to be there. thanks kato2 for reminding me of that.
#73re: What makes a Renthead?
Posted: 6/1/05 at 3:58pm
I kind of agree that the term Renthead is being overused (I don't refer to myself as one), but I think everyone's perception of the meaning has evolved over time.
Yes, the majority of current Rent fans never saw the OBC perform, never lived in the line, etc. That's because when the OBC was leaving, I was only 12 years old and hadn't even heard of Rent yet. Not being able to experience that shouldn't make you any less of a Rent fan.
So maybe I missed the original Pussy Galore shower curtain dress (which sounds awesome, btw) because I was out shopping for a training bra. I think that many Rent fans refer to themselves as "Rentheads" because they don't understand the history behind it, and I'm glad that y'all are sharing your experiences, because it sounds like an amazing time. But unless there's another catchy name for an obsessive fan of Rent in today's world, people are going to continue to use it.
Like a firework unexploded
Wanting life but never knowing how
Wanting life but never knowing how
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