Backstage - a bit long and grumpy.

[Baron Dacre]

I have a question.

My apologies if this seems overly snarky, but let me introduce myself explain what happened this weekend:

I am a member of Queen's Court at Southern Faire in California. I have been working "Southern" since 1998 and have been a member of several of the faire's performance groups (including a children's interactive theater company). I have been the assistant director of the Gentlemen Adventurer's (what on serves for Southern as what Bristol terms a "fight cast") and the Men's captain of Court.

In order to *earn* my pass I went through an audition process (I memorized a monologue from Shakespeare, and was tested on improv), attended several rehearsals group rehearsals throughout this year and last. I learned speech, dance and manners.

Before the start of faire I took a number of classes required of me, helped build our our set (Court Glade) and rehearsed.

I wake up on Saturday and Sunday at 6:00. Drive 1/2 hour to site.

I help set-up glade. Moving furniture and seating, setting rugs. Then I dress in a court outfit I myself have provided and paid for.

I have several duties as a cast-member, I do out of pure joy and because I am scheduled to for it. I process from the back to front of faire several times.

(Did I mention for all of this I receive a pair of comp passes for my family and lunch, but I love what I do)

So you see how I got my pass, so *hopefully* you'll understand why the following incident upset me.

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I have just gotten to Court's backstage from Queen's Show and Progress. This part of Progress goes from the back of faire to main stage (which is approximately 1/4 of the way in from the front). I carried Sword of State on this leg. Southern's Sword is made of steel and brass, is sheathed in a scabbard made of wood, red leather, decorated in brass. Did I mention that it weighs around 10 pounds and should be carried at chest level or higher? :-D

So after putting the Sword away and getting ready to lie down to relax my aching back, I noticed that several people were walking with a girl in costume, this is backstage. The people were in shorts and t-shirts carrying plastic cups with faire logos. (Patrons).

I left my group area (our dressing area and prop storage is separated from the rest of backstage by a fence) and asked them to show me their passes (We have been told by management to do this). The one girl in costume explained that "Oh... I work here".

I reminded her that this is our backstage area, *OUR* private area and she shouldn't be bringing people back here.

As I walked away they started mocking me, (this is one of the few things that I drive me nuts!)

I went over to security and pointed them out. After an otherwise great day, (My GF and I who play married did a gig that introduced a really nice young man to someone!), it sort of threw me of kilter.

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My question is this: (since as I said been working faire since '98 and I'm out of touch with the "other side of the curtain")

Why do people feel the need to go backstage? It's dirty, there is very little magic there! All that is back there is a bunch of tired castmembers resting. To me, it is the same as going backstage at Disneyland then complaining you saw Mickey Mouse with his head off!

(... And thanks for letting me vent!  )

[The Rabbi]

First of all dont blame you in the least for venting you have worked hard to earn that right to the backstage area and this is where private time is achieved. There are those who think getting backstage provides them with bragging rights and for these people I have little to no respect. then there are those who see backstage as being truly magical and who do not care if mickey has his head on or not because they appreciate the hardwork and dedication of the man/woman inside the costume. Rules are meant to be bent tweaked and twisted but only when they do not interfere with the privacy or harming of others. I for one do not find "I work here" to be a substantive answer. Ask yourself this had she answered differently say "These are my friends or family and I needed a few moments of down time to visit with them" would you have been as upset? Being tired and grumpy how did you approach them? Mocking is rude and i understand being upset but were they worth having an otherwise good day ruined. I sir applaud your dedication and truly hope that this is just one bad moment that does not repeat itself. Befor you let a bad moment screw things up try and take all things into consideration and if need be turn it over to security dont give them the oppurtunity to ruin a good day.

[Auryn]

After having worked as a concert producer for 4 years I seriously do not understand people's fascination with the backstage of anything.
At the very least its like you said, tired people taking a break.
I think what you did was right and its exactly what I would have done.
That girl, even if those had been her family members, had to no right to bring anyone backstage that was not a cast member. You really mean to tell me she couldn't wait a few hours to get off of work to visit them, or asked permission to be excused for a little while (in case someone argues that they were out of town friends that arent there for long blah blah blah).
That kind of rule isnt meant to be tweaked or bent.

I agree, don't let it ruin your day, but I also agree with what you did, its exactly what I would have done, and if she had been snotty like that to me I would have taken it one step further and the next day contacted management.

[Auryn]

I forgot one other thing, that kind of rule, is also to protect liability.
If her friends got hurt because they got into something they shouldnt have.

What if her friends have sticky fingers and gave themselves a five finger discount??

[Rowan MacD]

  Thanks Auryn.  I was just about to mention that last!   
  IMHO, back stage areas should be reserved as a private 'performers only'  place where the performers relax and can have a reasonable hope of security for their frequently expensive props.  If the girl wanted to visit with friends she can do it elsewhere.  It's not just her area.   
   Too many times I have heard of mugs, garb etc. disappearing from the break areas because they were badly policed or just too close to where the general public can see what's in there.   It's bad enough that sometimes you can't trust your fellow performers, but the opportunistic thief just passing through is somewhat avoidable.
   The 'Employees Only' area should be for staff only.

[DonaCatalina]

I don't blame you for being put out. Most fairs state that 'backstage' is for cast and employees only, no exceptions.
Some violations of that policy have resulted in dismissal of cast members, expulsion of vendors, etc. at various fairs.
I know at Scarby one member of the Royal Guard was expelled for violating that policy. So yes, it should be taken seriously as a rule. I personally have no more wish to go backstage than I would want cast members invading my room while I was dressing.
But I think the Rabbi is correct that there is an annoying group of people who think having been backstage gives them bragging rights.

[raevyncait]

"I work here" is NOT a valid reason, IMHO, to be wandering about backstage with anyone aside from other workers/cast, and, honestly, my pass is always on my person, and if asked to produce it, I will gladly do so.

I've worked, at least part time, 3 seasons at Scarborough, either selling CDs or in a shoppe. I kept a few things backstage (an actual stage,) when I was selling CDs, including a cooler with water for the band, a few snacks, and any of my purchases that would fit in a small space. Only perhaps 3 times in those 2 seasons did anyone who did not have actual business back there ever accompany me, they always waited for me in the seating area or sitting on the edge of the stage. The few times that they were backstage with me it was less than 5 minutes, and only to grab a bottle of water or spray on a little sunblock in the shade. Working in the shoppe this season, I would never dream of going behind any shoppe besides the one in which I am working, unless specifically invited AND accompanied by the owner/manager of the shop I was behind.  There is only one shoppe that is directly connected to ours in the back (we back up to the creek and are the 2nd shop from the bridge by the bakery), and I don't even go over there, because I don't belong there. When I have friends who come to visit, I will visit with them outside the shoppe, and not in the back because I don't want to cause anyone else to think there might be something interesting back there & try to get somewhere they shouldn't be.

The first year or so I was active in the IWG, we had a hostel on site, which was provided to us through the generosity of a shop owner, in conjunction with festival management, as well as the shops in the immediate vicinity, as it was located "backstage" behind one of the shops.  This afforded us a bit of privacy in case we needed clothing adjustments, as well as providing us a reasonably secure place to store a few things we didn't want to carry around or schlep out to the parking lot before the end of the day. We all understood that we had the access through the grace & generosity of the shop owner & neighbors, and that it did NOT give us a pass to wander about the entire area back there, and it certainly didn't entitle us to go anywhere else backstage.

[Merlin the Elder]

The "bragging rights" is/can be a pretty strong impetus for some. Like Auryn, I've done a bit of concert producing myself. If the person was indeed a cast member, she should have known better to start with. If she "just" worked there, she should be fired. You did exactly what I would have done in the same situation.  I hope security backed you up on the issue.

As you said, the mocking part is probably the most irritating of all. I don't know why people insist on being such insufferable jerks. I don't mind someone disagreeing with me, but by damn, they'd better respect me.

[angusmacinnes]

I have put on many different type events and backstage was never a place for the paying customers.  You did what was correct and I will echo Merlin here, if the girl truly worked there she knew the rules going in and should be dismissed.  IMHO.  Also backstage is like you say dirty and full of tired cast members plus it is usually a dangerous place too. 

[Anna Iram]

I was invited backstage at a faire I was visiting while a villlager took a smoke break. I have to admit I loved seeing the.inner workings of the show. It's hard to explain..not that it made me feel important...just a liftng of the veil I suppose...but anyway,  I honestly felt like I had stepped on toes. Not that those that ran into me there were not gracious to me, but I knew I should not be there. Had someone questioned why I was there I would have been embarrassed and apologized for my goof, not sneered at them.

[Lady L]

I bought my shop in 1998. Every year, I have had patrons/customers/mundanes try to go in my shop's back room. It isn't a big back room, just where we have our clothing, extra merchandise, a cooler, we take naps back there, change clothes, etc. There is a heavy curtain over the doorway and the doorway is way in the back, right next to my selling stand. Some people have walked through there when one of us was changing, eating or napping. I was shocked!

There were also people behind my shop, who took pics of the backstage area and posted it on FB, including the back of my shop. 

Do I need a sign that says "private/keep out"?

[Cofeeguru]

I don't get it..why do people think it's any different from an "Employees Only" area in a regular store?  Then again, I've had people not respect that sign either, so I shouldn't be surprised.

Knowing me and my lack of tolerance for fools, I'd give them one warning and then call security. It's thoroughly embarassing to be escorted out of someplace, and no less than they deserved.

[SirRichardBear]

I've been invited "backstage" mostly to help carry things in and out many times I always make sure that I get in and get out staying only long enough to do what I've been asked to and not hang around.  Respect the need of privacy for the cast even if I consider many to be friends.

[Jade Sapphire Emerald]

I have two bands (friends) at a faire that my fiance and I help them carry everything back and will sometimes go and grab their food and drinks. One of the gentlemen is a bit older and has been having back issues so sometimes I give him a small massage...But they have their own personal back stages. It's not a huge back stage area, and if they say no, we leave. If there is anyone else back stage, we leave. I've been in theater and choir for years and never understood people wanting to just stand around back stage just to "see it." Though the underground systems of Disney I've heard are pretty cool...

By no means do we every just hang around the back stage to hang around.

[LadyStitch]

I'm a theater tech, and most theaters there is not much back stage to begin with.  Unless you have a reason to back there, there isn't a reason to see anything.  I know the thought of "how is it made" kind of thing, but really it is not fun back stage during a performance.  Having someone back there that doesn't have a reasonis dangerous, for everyone.
Sets are dangerous, people trying to get things done, don't need you in the way.  And sticking your nose into dressing rooms is an invasion of privacy.  We have people who take everything but their actual costume home at our theater because so many tech's and other performers come through.  You never know who might pick something up they shouldn't.  It drives us batty that someone picks up something off a table thinking it is garbage only to find out it was a cruital specially made prop.

The ONLY time I was allowed back stage at one theater was because there was a bad car wreck on the highway getting to the opening night for a show the PP was in.  We barely had time for him park, get inside and get dressed.  We had to park in the back of the theater. He let me in through the back door. I carried his stuff to the door of the dressing room, handed it to someone to put in his chair, and the stage manager kindly showed me the safest way out of there.  I was there for a momment because I was needed, then I got the heck out of dodge!
I dont' care if you work there, you have been a performer at the location for years, or your first show, or the spouse of the lead actor/tress.  If you are not part of the production at that momment, don't go back stage!