Tips for meeting Brendon Urie at Kinky Boots
Guys, I met Brendon tonight after Kinky Boots and he’s so sweet and kind to everyone, and it’s totally not necessary (or okay!) to leave during bows or scream at him or anything like that. Here are some tips that I hope you might find helpful:
1. When you’re buying your tickets, keep in mind that the exit doors are on house right. That means that you exit from the main floor of the theater directly into the street and these 4 exit doors are on your right as you face the stage. Therefore, if you sit on the right side of the house, you will be closer to the exits. I left after they finished their bows and everyone left the stage and I didn’t even have to run to get to the signing line.
2. Of course, orchestra level seats are more expensive, but look for discount codes. Google “kinky boots offer code” or something like that and there might be some out there. I used one from Playbill that got me an amazing seat that was originally $299 for $117. Play the lottery. Of course, the theater is small, so most if not all seats have great visibility and acoustics.
3. Yes, there is a limited edition t-shirt that they only sell 100 of at each show, but in my experience, there were plenty of them. It’s $55. The line to get into the theater before the show stretched around the block and I got into it pretty late, but I still got a shirt. These shirts are only sold at the merch stand on the second floor, house left.
4. The women’s bathroom line is insane, so go directly there at intermission if you need to. It’s on house left in the lobby on the orchestra level and into a basement.
5. The stage door/signing line is directly to your left as you exit the theater. Don’t run or push people, the barricade is actually pretty long. In my experience, he went along the whole thing so it doesn’t matter where you park yourself around it. It also leads to his car and there is space on the other side there. He crosses over and gets to those people too.
6. If you’re in the first 2 or 3 rows away from the barricade, here’s what you do:
To get something signed, you don’t need to say anything at all, just hold out your Playbill or merch (don’t shove it in people’s faces!). They see it and they know why you’re holding out your Playbill. They also have their own Sharpies. Be patient, they will get to you. Talk at a normal volume if you want to say something, there’s no need to scream.
To get a photo, ask politely and concisely. All I said was, “Photo please?” and he said “Yeah, sure!” and posed with me. Don’t yell or bark orders at the actors omg, it’s rude and stressful and won’t even help you at all.
To get something else, think about your request?? I saw him hugging people in line, but obviously ask before you touch anybody. Also think about the fact that he may not have time to sign a bunch of stuff AND take photos AND hug you AND listen to what you have to say, so pick what you want most and be thankful for what you get. He actually doesn’t have to do any of this.
7. If you’re not in the first 2 or 3 rows away from the barricade, I’m sorry, but you’re probably not going to be able to get a photo or ask him stuff. Therefore, don’t push or scream, it’s completely pointless and will just make everyone else’s experience worse. However, you can pass up your Playbill to the people in front and tonight everyone was helping each other out by holding out a few Playbills at a time. Very important: don’t push on the people in front, because if the barricade tumbles, he’s leaving instantly. This is pretty obviously for safety. Just don’t do it. I’ve never seen it happen, but apparently it has. The barricade itself is super light so the people up front have to hold you back.
8. The wait time after the show was about 45 minutes tonight. You will be squished with a bunch of people, so don’t bother putting on a coat, it will be hot. Make friends with the people around you and get the other actors’ autographs meanwhile. They all come out before Brendon and they go down the line signing Playbills too. And they’re also very nice and happy to hear your (polite) compliments!
9. Don’t do these very obvious stupid things that people apparently did tonight anyway and made Brendon’s experience stressful:
Don’t climb his fucking car????? What the fuck? I actually saw people crowding around his car and trying to climb on top before he was in it? ???????????
Don’t act like an entitled little shit. You’re not entitled to anything, no matter how badly you want it. Ask. Be polite. Be kind. His wellbeing is more important than your photo, no matter how much you want that photo.
Don’t scream at him or anyone else, and don’t be rude. If you wouldn’t say it in a conversation with a human being you care about, don’t say it. Remember that he is a human being you care about. He knows you love him, you’ve been waiting for 45 minutes. He knows you want him to sign stuff and take photos, so hold out your stuff and your camera (again, NOT IN HIS FACE, and not without permission), but you don’t need to be yelling “sign this!” (esp. if you’re not asking: “please sign this?” is very different from “SIGN THIS!!”)
10. Try to take a breath and think about what you’re doing and behave like a decent human. I get it, you’re very excited, you might be shaking and nervous and overwhelmed. Take a breath. Exhale. In for 4 counts, out for 4, hold for 2. It’s understandable if you’re having trouble stringing a sentence together, but it’s not understandable if you let yourself be disrespectful and mean. You’re there because you love him and the show, so why would you want him to have a bad experience while he’s trying to be so kind to everyone? He’s so nice! Please be nice too!
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