[Allie]

Just wanted to open this up. I have friends, who shall remain nameless, that work in shows on the West End. Do others, who are also in this position find that they become constantly harrased either on Facebook or in person or via Twitter come to think of it, just because you just happen to know the person.

I'd be interested to hear people's viewpoints on this, and how their friendships with people who are in the industry get affected by this fan culture that seems to have appeared.

[blondezvous]

Interested to read this for two reasons... 1. I'm a freelance journo pitching a piece at the moment on what it's like knowing actors/theatre professionals as someone outside the profession. 2. I ran the website for a professional actress for ten years. I've never experienced anything like this, which I expect has a lot to do with her being one of few people I've ever met who, to my eternal chagrin and amusement, doesn't use Facebook or Twitter. In fact, every theatre professional I've met above the age of about 30 is a technophobe. I think it comes from not being brought up using computers and not having worked in offices.
With apologies for possibly stating the obvious, if it's specifically a problem on social networking sites, you can set Facebook/Twitter up so that your friends list can't be seen by others, which should hopefully eliminate this kind of hassle.

[Aranel]

I've never found it an issue at all. I live with someone in the West End and as a result know several others through him.
He is puiblically on Twitter and Facebook all the time. I have accounts on both but due to my work (police) and my respect for my own privacy(!) I have the highest security settings on both.

I don't hide the fact that I know people but I don't advertise it either.
I've never been approached or contacted by anyone who wants to speak to me because of who I know.

I enjoy the perks of having an 'inside window' into theatreland as it's completely unrelated to my job and I have always been a theatre fan. The occasional comps and parties are nice too!!

[lizziett]

With Facebook I can see the problem, unless a performer has specifically asked me to contact them via FB because they don't want me to have their personal e-mail address. Twitter I don't have a problem, especially if their profile isn't private and they actively engage with fans on there.

[MademoiselleMusicals]

Hey Allie!

I've met people through people, but I wouldn't call them friends? Someone I know is very fan-ish.....Even worse ... they are delusional which is what makes it more creepy and sad...And I feel uncomfortable too.

I have literally made contact with someone (get on like a house on fire) who happens to know a lead in a UK Tour....which I saw recently. After a discussion about fangirls which introduced us in the first place....I felt obliged to tell him to make sure his friend's profile was PRIVATE on facebook. Despite having a public profile for fans...his personal profile was still set to PUBLIC! INSANE! Gotta be SO careful with social networking...

Facebook is still really dodgy because of the whole privacy change recently. I agree with lizziett above, I do 'follow' people on twitter but only if they come across as not minding engaging with you...

[jaqs]

I get some messages on facebook asking me how I got a performer to add me and can as I ask the perfomer to add them.
Its a bit weird but easy to ignore. Nothing more than that.
But I'm just a normal bod without showbiz connections

[johartuk]

Just wanted to open this up. I have friends, who shall remain nameless, that work in shows on the West End. Do others, who are also in this position find that they become constantly harrased either on Facebook or in person or via Twitter come to think of it, just because you just happen to know the person.

I'd be interested to hear people's viewpoints on this, and how their friendships with people who are in the industry get affected by this fan culture that seems to have appeared.

It shouldn't be an issue as long as you don't broadcast the fact that you're friends with that person to all and sundry and make sure your facebook (or whatever site/s you're registered with) is set to 'private'.