You thought your ticket to your favorite Broadway show included a Meet and Greet? Well, that’s YOUR bad.
After having my life slain by Beyoncé’s “LEMONADE” last night, I was feeling very “Black Girl Magic” this morning…until I did my routine check of social media and saw Broadway blessing, Cynthia Erivo, defending a decision she made yesterday to choose self-care instead of greeting all of the fans eagerly awaiting her exit at the stage door after a performance of The Color Purple.
Really GodIsMySalvation_Comfort (I won’t even get into the hypocrisy there)?! THAT’S how you are coming?! Let me take a minute to say what Cynthia was too classy and respectful to say.
First of all, you humble YOURself.
These people don’t owe you a THING past that last bow on the stage because, contrary to what you THOUGHT, that is ALL the ticket you “paid good money” for covered. DAS IT! Anything more than that is a blessing to YOU! Why on Earth should she be obligated to come out and tell YOU “thank you” when she’s already given you what you paid for?
I have seen with my own eyes the power and the glory of this show. So, aside from the fact that it was a 2-show-day for her and all of the other actors, I know for a FACT you left that theater with far more than you paid for! She gave everything she gave to you in that performance twice in one day. TWICE! So how dare you have the audacity to come to social media and chastise her for what you FELT like you deserved as an AUDIENCE MEMBER.
WHO SAT IN A SEAT.
AND DID NOTHING. FOR TWO HOURS.
WHILST SHE SAVED YOUR SOUL.
We as fans have to learn how to rein in our “love” for these artists and realize they are human – extraordinary humans – but still humans. They get tired. They get sick. They get exhausted. And that $175 you pay for your ticket (you better not be showing out like this behind a rush ticket!) is not worth the risk of them doing permanent damage to their instrument (voice/body). That $175 would not cover their bills or provide for their families if they could no longer perform because they pushed themselves too far one night. There is a better way to express your deep disappointment in not getting to see or meet an artist. Take this young lady for example.
She wasn’t rude or disrespectful to Queen Audra and she was rewarded with a rare tweet back! THIS is how an interaction should go!
When news of your fave missing a show because they aren’t feeling well comes out you should be THANKFUL they have the good sense to rest up and take care of themselves! Heaven forbid a day would come that we could no longer hear Audra McDonald sing! No, really. FORBID IT HEAVEN!
To help prevent future misunderstandings, here are a few reminders on “Stage Dooring” for some and an education for others:
1. THE ACTORS DO NOT OWE YOU A STAGE DOOR EXPERIENCE!!! (This is the most important)
2. Be patient, respectful and kind.
3. Bring a permanent marker for autographs. (Google the playbill prior to the show. If it is mostly black, you may want to bring a silver marker)
4. Respect other fans that are waiting. Everyone is just as eager and excited as you are.
5. If your favorite artist does not come out, understand that they probably had a very good reason for not doing so.
So the next time you’re standing out in the cold and the rain waiting to get a glimpse of the person who just snatched your edges and saved your life with their performance, remember to be understanding and appreciative. If they don’t make it out to see you, there should STILL be love and respect.
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