Stage Dooring Hints & Tips

'With cats, some say one rule is true; don't speak 'til you are spoken to. Myself, I do not hold with that; I say you should ad-dress a cat, but always keep in mind that he resents familiarity. You bow, and taking off your hat, ad-dress him in this form; Oh Cat.'
—  Cats the Musical, The Ad-Dressing of Cats
I've been trying to hone my stage dooring techniques since 2006 - and if there's one thing I've learnt for sure it's that there's no such thing as a 'perfect' stage door experience; something will always go wrong, you will always say something stupid you regret later, or miss a member of the cast because you were looking the wrong way. But, having said that, there are always ways of giving yourself an advantage and making sure your experience is still a positive one, with as little as possible going wrong. So here's just a few hints and tips to help you get the most out of your experience; they range from preparation to stage door etiquette, and although nothing here is a rule, I promise you all of these tips have been things which have helped me at one point or another during my stage door adventure, and I hope they will help you too if you decide to go stage dooring next time you're at the theatre.

1. The best piece of advice I could give anyone planning on stage dooring? Always find stage door before the show.

If it’s the first time you’re going to a theatre, and you’re planning on stage dooring after the show, leave yourself time before the performance to work out where the stage door is; it’s not always as obvious as just walking around the theatre! Nine times out of ten, stage door will be obvious, but some stage doors aren’t that clearly labelled, can be down alleys or steps or can only be reached easily from one side of the theatre, and there’s always a chance of construction work obscuring your view. Sure, stage door might be obvious and you'll find it in ten seconds...but you could not check at all and end up circling the theatre for half an hour after the show! It’s always a case of better safe than sorry!

2. Plan, plan and plan your trip!

Seriously, you'd be surprised how much can go wrong if you don't have a plan! Going on a trip to a theatre in London or in a city that isn't your own can be complicated, and even if you know what you're doing, you always have to be sure to keep track of train or bus times, tickets and what you need for stage door. Most importantly, you need to know what time you need to be where and know what you need for that day so that you can write it down and write lists of the things you need, it'll help you process things and get them set clearly in your mind. If you’re going to a theatre for the first time, give yourself plenty of time to be lost, to look for stage door, to get to grips with train or bus times and establish what time you will need to leave stage door in order to not end up stranded or having to pay for another ticket to get home. Don’t ever leave yourself in a situation where you’re half-an-hour away from curtain-up and not sure which way to walk to get to the theatre, it'll stress you out and spoil your experience of the show, whilst also annoying those already in the theatre when you come in late and distract them from the performance! Equally don't miss your train home for the sake of trying to get one more actor to sign your programme; leave yourself plenty of time to get back. If you are travelling by train, always be sure you know before you go what exactly your tickets allow you so know whether you have any flexibility or not when it comes to time. Always make sure that you have the basics covered (tickets, camera, phone, etc.) because as long as you have a checklist of those things then nothing extremely bad will happen to you, and anything that does happen you will likely be able to plan around. Nothing is more important about having a good stage door experience than avoiding letting any unnecessary stress ruin all the good memories of the show and its cast.

3. Make a daytripping 'Survival Kit'.

For any theatre/stage door trip to run smoothly, there will always be certain essentials and handy things to have on hand - these will no doubt vary from person to person, but no matter what your essentials may be, I find it always helps to avoid forgetting anything if you've got a pre-prepared survival kit, especially if you have a long journey ahead of you, for example if you're travelling down to London to see a West End show. My stage door Survival Kit consists of a compact hairbrush & mirror, hair bobbles and/or grips (depending on the hairstyle I've chosen for the trip), lip balm, lip gloss, concealer, a pack of mints, travel pass/ID case, a pen, a camera, a wallet for important papers (maps, hotel bookings, theatre tickets, etc.) and, finally, I usually carry a bottle of perfume, just in case I end up sitting next to the guy eating a Subway on the train (you'd be surprised how many times that has actually happened to me, but maybe I'm just unlucky!) My kit is always kept in a nice little toiletries bag which I rarely fully empty, unless it's to empty it out into a clutch bag for an evening show. In the interval or before the performance I will touch up everything - hair, make-up, perfume - just to make sure I'm ready to go the minute the curtain comes down, and the lip balm is often then moved into a coat pocket if it's winter, because the cold gets my lips every time so it's damage limitation as I know I could be out in the cold a while at stage door! Having all these things in a 'kit' takes out some of the stress; if they're all in one place then it makes it easier to find them and quickly touch-up your make-up and hair, and having a place where you know your tickets and travel passes are makes it less likely that you'll find yourself in a panic, scrabbling round in a bag in a dark theatre or train and hoping you haven't lost your ticket home or for the show.

4. Give your favourite performer some notice if you're going to a show and hope to see them.

If you’re going to a show hoping to see a specific performer who knows you from their previous shows, it’s often a good idea to try and let them know you’re coming. When they know you’re there they can sometimes look out for you during a show and they’re also likely to make an effort to look for you at stage door. This is especially useful if you’re in for a matinee, as performers who don’t usually leave the theatre between matinee and evening might make the effort to come down and see you if they know you’ll be waiting. Writing ahead is the best way of doing this, as writing to performers at the theatre is simple - just address your letter: '[Performer’s Name] (Cast of [Show’s Name]) c/o [Theatre’s Name]’ and the people at stage door will always pass the letters on for you. If you don't feel you know a performer well enough to write ahead, pre-show stage dooring is an alternative.

5. Pre-show stage dooring is all about the timing (and a little about respect.)

If you want to go to stage door before a show, leave yourself plenty of time. For a show like Cats, where the make-up and costumes are so complex, you may need to be there two or more hours before the show is due to start. Liz and I usually arrived for Cats around the two hour mark, but even that early some people would already be inside the theatre. For other shows though, where the make-up isn't so intense, an hour to an hour and a half is usually enough for you to see people arriving. It's important not to expect too much when pre-show stage dooring, however. Whilst the theatre is a fun, day-off activity for us, it is still the actors' JOB and they need to be there on time, sign in and prepare themselves to put on a good performance. Don't expect more than a brief chat, and only ask for a signiature or photograph if they don't seem in a hurry. If they say they can't stop, don't be offended; they are human, they oversleep/run late/have things to do just like we do and you have to respect that, even if means you don't get the time you want with them.

6. Matinee stage dooring can be very tricky, but don't be disheartened and remember to be respectful!

Stage dooring after a matinee can often be tricky, and if you have tickets for a matinee, don’t expect to be getting the autographs of the whole cast in your programme very easily. For Cats in particular, because of the make-up, a lot of the cast prefer to stay in the theatre in between shows and, unless you ask someone to fetch a specific cast member for you or put a call-out out for them, you might not see exactly who you want to see. If you can only do a matinee then be bold and ask someone if you want a specific performer. Some cast members will always appear, it all just comes down to their personal preferences. Make the most of who you get and don't be rude or pushy about trying to get someone to come down; the time between matinee and evening is a time for the performers to relax and catch their breath in the middle of their difficult two-show days and if they'd rather sleep than talk you can hardly blame them after you've just seen them give their all to give you an enjoyable two-hour-plus show.

7. Beware of stage door's more chaotic nights.

During the week, stage door can often be a very quiet place, with no-one but the cast around. However, there are other nights when stage door can seem like the busiest place on earth! Shows with celebrities or famous West End productions will be busier than most, but the most chaotic stage doors will actually often be on tours during a show's last night in a city. Touring casts are often in total chaos on the night of a show leaving a theatre; they will be loaded down with suitcases, waiting for taxis, giving lifts to other cast members, needing to get on the road as they're driving back to their homes or desperately trying to make last trains/buses out of the city. And on top of all that rushing, the tour’s techies and roadies will be trying to load the set/costumes/props/etc. onto the lorries to get them on the road to the show's next city in time. Try not to get in the way and be as respectful as you can of the fact people have to go, but don’t be shy to pipe up with a polite ‘Excuse me, could I have a photograph with you/could you sign this for me?’ as someone passes you. Most will stop and quickly sign something or have a photograph, if they notice you in the chaos and they’re not in too much of a rush. Just thank them even more profusely than usual afterwards and let them on their way as soon as you can. Other chaotic stage door nights include Fridays and Saturdays - a lot more people go to the stage door on these days as it's the weekend and often people are more willing to let their children get their programmes signed when there's no school to worry about the next day. Also, for the cast themselves, Saturday night usually marks the end of the performing week, so they often have plans for post-show/end-of-week drinks, or may have put back birthday celebrations from the week to that night. Try your best to combat the chaos, stand back from the crowds and be patient - being last in the queue is actually a lot better, because you don't have the pressure of ten other people wanting you to hurry up, so you can talk to the performers a little more and feel more relaxed about getting a photograph. As always, just try to be as respectful as you can of letting the performers be on their way, though, because end-of-week drinks are definitely a well-deserved reward for them after eight shows a week/two show days!

8. Try and pick a good position to wait in.

It may sound ridiculous, but a good spot at stage door can make the difference between getting an autograph and not. Usually, the best place to stand at stage door is just to the left or right or the door, close to the theatre wall. It sounds terrible, but you need to block the performers' path if you want to stop them rushing off into the night after a show. Stand in a spot where you can see cast members before they're about to head either way down the street - you can't cover both directions so you need to get them before they pick one! If stage door is crowded, getting a spot close to the door can be next to impossible, but this isn't actually a bad thing! If you stand right back instead, directly opposite the stage door and wait patiently, then when performers do come out you simply let them work their way around the crowd. Once the initial group all have their signatures and photographs, there will be more time and less of crush for you to chat and get the photograph and signature you want without the chaos surrounding you. This will make you and the performer feel more relaxed and will be a much more pleasant, less frenzied experience so you can really, properly thank them and congratulate them on your performance without having to shout over ten other voices.  Stage doors with steps down to them are gold-dust! If you stand at the top, they provide you with an early warning system for when a performer is coming and, if you’re still trying to work out if someone is in the cast or not, they give you more time to compare them to their headshot! Glass doors are similarly helpful for this.

9. Patience is a virtue. Especially at stage door.

Patience is key. Especially in shows with heavy make-up or complex costumes (such as Cats.) If you’re absolutely certain you haven’t seen your favourite performer, then it's unlikely they slipped out before you got there and there’s a good chance they’ll still be inside the theatre. Wait it out, it usually pays off. I've held out and held out a few times and been rewarded with the exact person I was waiting for - the 2013 Cats tour's Bill Bailey got a lovely surprise when I did a little dance for joy after he was the last to appear one night at the Manchester Opera House!

10. Always be polite and remember that basic human kindness costs nothing.

I cannot stress to you enough how important this is! Politeness, gratitude and consideration will go miles and miles, at stage door and in life! What you have to keep in mind is that the actors are just doing their jobs, and sure, from the outside it looks glamorous and exciting, but it's still work to the actors and it is hard and tiring. Please, thank you, excuse me, sorry to bother you - they're so simple, and so easy to say, yet they will go a long way. Even the most stressed-out, bone-tired performer will soften at basic, human kindness like that. Rudeness at stage door is unkind and unnecessary: treat them with respect because they deserve it, offer kindness and it will probably be returned to you. If you're understanding and polite, they're more likely to want to be around you and to want to talk to you, and that way everyone involved gets a better stage door experience. They will have good days, bad days, and days when getting through a two hour show is all they can bear - even just a simple 'thank you for your performance tonight' or a compliment about the show can turn an actor's day around.

11. Remember: actors are human beings too - they are remarkable human beings, but it's not their job to entertain you once the curtain goes down and they shouldn't be under pressure to feel differently.

This isn't a hint, this is a rule! A golden rule!! In a lot of ways it links to what I was saying about being polite and respecting the actors: it costs nothing, but it matters. Once an actor has left the theatre, they are technically off-duty, they are not required to give up their free time to talk to you at stage door and you need to understand that. Actors are people, they have good days and bad days and you have no idea what might be going on in their life away from the theatre - if they tell you they have to go, respect it, if they don't seem as bubbly or talkative as you were hoping then don't be rude or angry about it, be understanding of the fact that they are exhausted and have their own life and emotions going on! Two hour shows, rehearsals, and sometimes two shows in a day would exhaust anyone, and being expected to keep up the smile even once the show has ended is just too much some days - be understanding and compassionate. Really they are not required to give up their time for you, especially when you owe them so much thanks and gratitude for the joy their performance has just given you, try to remember that! Offer a smile to an actor who's rushing off and clearly doesn't want to be bothered, but also be grateful when someone does give you their time, don't ask for too much, and everything you do ask for, ask for it politely. I know it's hard to believe these beautiful, magical people can hurt and get tired, but they can. Do the whole world a favour and make sure to compliment them on their performance, pick a favourite moment or detail to tell them about, keep these wonderful human beings smiling because they are doing a service to the world by keeping magic and wonder in it, the least they deserve is for people to help them know how important that is.

12. Don't lose hope just because you're struggling to recognise anyone.

Headshots can be deceptive, and people sometimes look very different at stage door to how they did up on the stage (especially after a make-up heavy show like Cats), but try and persevere because you will often be able to at least partially recognise someone from their headshot, even if it takes you a while. Try and give yourself a head start by studying the programme before the performance and during the interval, it really does help. Often, you can just tell someone who is in the cast. A lot of theatre people have a look and an aura about them that's hard to pinpoint or describe, but it's something I've come to really pick up on over the years and it's definitely a real thing because other people I know who have been to a lot of stage doors say the exact same thing; there's something about these wonderful people! Their eyes, their voices, their mannerisms, the way they speak and dress, the bags they carry - it's hard to explain but if you make an effort to look for people who just seem that little bit different or special when you're at the stage door, you'll probably find you get a high success rate and you'll probably develop a sixth sense for spotting theatre people pretty fast. If you’re really really stuck as to who is who? Try to find some other people waiting and hover near them so you can see who they ask to sign their programmes. If you're lucky, you might be behind some regulars at that show's stage door who know the cast already (people often waited behind Liz and me at Cats' stage door.) If you talk to someone waiting who evidently knows the cast, they can also point out cast members to you if you ask, or, if you have managed to get one cast member's autograph, see if they’ll point anyone else out for you afterwards; Liz and I asked Dean Maynard to help us on our first night outside Cats and he was more than happy to, he even offered to take our programme for us so he could get the rest of the cast to sign it at the next show and we could come back and collect it the next day. Another good trick is to listen to what the performers call each other and try to match the names up with programme entries to see who is who.

13. Don’t be afraid to ask! (Politely!)

If you're looking for someone in particular, then 99.9999% of theatre people are more than happy to check who is still in the theatre for you and tell you if someone has already left. Similarly, if you're finding it really difficult to tell who is who, let a cast member you have picked out know and they may help you spot people or even point you out to other cast members. When asking someone in the cast to point other people out to you, though, remember they've just been part of the show too and don't  be rude by cutting straight to asking for someone else, show your appreciation for all the people in the cast you're lucky enough to meet! Usually, though, the cast really are happy to help and will be very sweet about it, and asking for help certainly proved invaluable to Liz and me in our early days at Cats’ stage door. I personally hate putting out call-outs for performers, but somehow it feels much less like you're bothering them when you get one of their fellow cast members to put in a word for you! Performers are usually touched that you care enough to seek them out. If you spend a lot of time with a specific tour or cast then the chances are you will build up enough of a friendship that they will quickly spot you at stage door, and even cast members you don't often speak to will know which members of the cast you are hoping to see and the will put a word in for you without you having to ask - and even if you do ask, they'll probably guess who you're looking for before you say their name.

14. Give credit to the unsung heroes and show them what they do matters. Little-known characters. Ensemble. Swings. Understudies.

Don’t just go for the principal cast and no-one else. Some of the best moments I’ve had at stage door have been when I’ve surprised an ensemble member or a ‘minor’ character in a show by knowing exactly what they did during the show and complimenting them on it. My favourite character in Cats, for example, is Carbucketty, and so many people don’t even know which one he is; when I told the 2013 Carbucketty that he was my favourite, he said it had made his day. All the ‘kittens’ in Cats appreciate it when you know who they are and what their character did in a show, and it’s the same for ensemble members in other shows; they work just as hard – sometimes a little harder – than the principal members of a cast, but often get very little recognition, and you can really make someone’s day at stage door just by letting them know you noticed their efforts. It just so happens that a lot of my favourite Cats characters are the under-appreciated ones, so it's a total coincidence really that I've spent so much time talking to these hidden diamonds of various casts, but it's something I'm glad for as it's given me even more appreciation for what they do than I already had. Never, ever fall into the trap of being rude or snobbish about what they do just because their part seems small to you; the show would simply not run without them and they give everything to their performances despite being sometimes overlooked a little by audiences - be that person who makes someone's day by showing a little respect and gratitude for all their talent and hard work, or at the very least don't be one of those people I've sometimes heard saying (within earshot of the performer!) "Oh, it's only....." as though they're unimportant! It's ignorant and wrong to assume that because someone's part is not named, or their character doesn't have a song, that they are somehow less talented or interesting. Also, don't forget that understudies and swings need your love and support even more, perhaps. If you recognise someone who was an understudy that night, or a swing who went on for the performance, then be sure to let them know you noticed and enjoyed what they did - it often means even more to them as very few people remember who was on as an understudy by the end of a two hour show and they don't get as much credit at they ought to; swings and ensemble members who are understudies have to know multiple parts and must be able to perform them all to a high standard, sometimes at a moment's notice - it's crazy that there are people in the world who actually feel disappointed when they 'only' see a swing or understudy perform, please do not be one of those people! It's a tough job and a lot of them do it incredibly well and with an amazingly great attitude.

15. Be ready when you ask for an autograph or photo.

Have your camera/pen/autograph book/programme/etc. ready – performers are quite often in a rush and there is nothing more embarrassing than keeping them waiting whilst you sort yourself out. I should know, I’ve been caught out so many times on that front! So much so that Dean Maynard still remarks to this day that he’s impressed when I get a photo right first time! (And I so rarely manage to get it right first time when it's Dean - I think he's put a curse on me just so he can have the fun of teasing me - don't you fall into the same trap, have that camera ready!!!)

16. Gifts and cards are lovely, but beware of overkill.

Gifts are a good way of really, properly thanking a performer and letting them know how much you enjoyed them in the show. I know that might be a personal thing, but I always feel that the joy theatre people give to me through their performances deserves to be recognised, and they deserve to have something to keep to remember that they're appreciated, even on their bad days. Just a card or a note to say 'thank you' can mean the world to a performer - good luck cards when they go into a new show can really cheer them up and remind them that, even though they're starting from scratch, there are people out there rooting for them, and companies like Paperchase offer great ranges of blank cards with pretty and funny designs that echo the "You're amazing" "You're a star" sentiment and would be perfect to decorate a performer's dressing room space. When it comes to gift giving, little and personal is often better than giving something throwaway or giving something which is too much and might make the person you're giving it too somewhat uncomfortable. Liz and I often did drawings, but you don’t have to be that dedicated, just think up something quirky, original or personal – original ideas stand out and can really put a smile on someone's face. A small, personal, show-themed gifted can be a great way of giving them a memento of their time with a certain show and homemade cakes always go down well - no one can consume sugar like a cast working eight shows a week! Just don't show up with a new gift every single time; it goes back to trying to find a balance of giving them treats without going over the top and making them feel weird or uncomfortable, or even worse like you're trying to put pressure on them to give you even more of their time or attention.

17. Don't be shy. Do be enthusiastic.

Regardless of everything else, that's the golden rule, and if you follow it then you'll be fine no matter what! And that's coming from a naturally shy person!! Almost everyone I've met at stage door has been more than happy to talk and really happy to hear about how much I've enjoyed their show, even genuinely interested in what my favourite songs and characters are. They like to talk to you, but you have to let them know you want to talk first! So smile and talk and then everything else will fall into place.

18. Try not to overthink. Relax, smile and be yourself.

Above all you just have to remember to smile and enjoy every moment - you don't want to spoil a good memory by spending too much time worrying about some silly little thing or over-analying everything you do and say instead of  just appreciating the fun of it all and taking the chance to just have a laugh and a bit of excitement in the moment. The theatre is a special world and it's wonderful to be a part of it, even if it's only for a little while. The shows can take your breath away, and the people who are in those shows are talented and friendly and can often have some fantastic stories to share with you if you just speak up and tell them you enjoyed the show. If you waste too much time on worrying about whether you're doing the right things then you'll only end up missing out on the fun; don't overthink it and just enjoy every moment because stage door is truly a magical place! So; good luck everyone, happy stage dooring - now go off and make some memories!
'So this is this, and that is that, and there's how you ad-dress a cat...'
- Cats the Musical, The Ad-Dressing Of Cats
One final piece of advice? Beware the post-show, post-stage door comedown! As ridiculous as it might sound, there is an adrenaline rush involved in stage dooring; between the build-up and planning, the rush from the show, the dash to get round to stage door, the picking of a spot and the waiting, a lot of tension and excitement builds up and the crash from that can hurt! Be prepared to not know what to do with yourself the day after a trip to stage door, or even when you get home that night. I have spent a lot of nights, still sitting in high heels and a dress on my bedroom floor at 3a.m. with no clue what I felt like doing, though it certainly wasn't sleeping!  Theatres and shows are crammed full of magic, and going to stage door after a show magnifies that, because stage door can be filled with laughter and memories, and it can even be a bit of an adrenaline rush as the anticipation builds over whether or not you’ll get to see your favourite performer. The morning after can feel sad and empty (and oddly still and quiet) in comparison – try to cherish the memories. Frame the photographs and make them into collages, or write up everything that happened on a blog or in a diary. And yes, if you’re still sitting in your fancy theatre dress and shoes at 3am, that’s fine! If you can still smell the theatre in your hair a little bit, don’t forget to smile every time you get a waft of it! You're not the only one I promise! Just remember; you wouldn’t feel so sad that it's over if you hadn’t just had a truly special experience.