Tipping ushers at Broadway theaters?- Page 3

[avab802]

Posted: 5/15/07 at 10:56am

I ushered at Heinz Symphony Hall in Pittsburgh when I was in college, and I was tipped on occasion. The ones I remember were actually older people who needed a little extra assistance getting to their seats. I always appreciated it because I was a poor college student working for minimum wage, lol.

[Marty45]

Posted: 7/20/18 at 2:23pm

Ushers are not supposed to find you better seats without Management's approval.  No one is obligated to tip anything or anyone anywhere.  But it is nice.

 

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 7/20/18 at 2:29pm

...why did you bump this thread from 11 years ago

Updated On: 7/20/18 at 02:29 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/20/18 at 3:06pm

muscle23ftl said: "In other countries you must tip them. But in NYC. I have never done it. It's still sad that they make so little money, I wish they raised their salaries along with the ticket price increase."

And it is usually people from other countries that tip ushers here. I found that to be the case when i was an usher.

 

Edit: fixed!! Lol

 

Updated On: 7/20/18 at 03:06 PM

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 7/20/18 at 3:16pm

I read this as "Tripping ushers at Broadway theatres" and I was expecting a very different thread. Lol.

[smidge]

Posted: 7/20/18 at 3:18pm

uncageg said: "muscle23ftl said: "In other countries you must tip them. But in NYC. I have never done it. It's still sad that they make so little money, I wish they raised their salaries along with the ticket price increase."

And it is usually people from other countries that top ushers here. I found that to be the case when i wasan usher.

Wow! You gotta watch out for them foreigners!

 

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 7/20/18 at 3:26pm

BroadwayNYC2 said: "...why did you bump this thread from 11 years ago"

Because the 11 year old Starlight Express thread had gone off the rails.

[SweetLips22]

Posted: 7/20/18 at 3:37pm

I still remember on my very first visit to Paris and going to a theatre, I was shown to my seat and the usherette[?] stood there with her hand out. I was sitting down when I realised she wanted something put into it. I fumbled around in my pocket and gave her a single piece of loose change-not yet knowing the currency which she actually threw back at me. I was mortified.

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/20/18 at 3:52pm

smidge said: "uncageg said: "muscle23ftl said: "In other countries you must tip them. But in NYC. I have never done it. It's still sad that they make so little money, I wish they raised their salaries along with the ticket price increase."

And it is usually people from other countries that top ushers here. I found that to be the case when i wasan usher.

Wow! You gotta watch out for them foreigners!

 

LOL I fixed it! Thank you for your warning! I am in tears laughing over my typo though!!

"

 

[haterobics]

Posted: 7/20/18 at 4:54pm

Like cow tipping?

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 7/20/18 at 7:03pm

It's never occurred to me to tip because the interaction is usually so fleeting even if the usher walks me down the aisle. And I usually decline assistance since I know the big houses here in SF pretty well and can easily find my seat.  

There was one time I tipped though. I flew down to San Diego for the day to see the Hunchback premier at La Jolla Playhouse. If you're unfamiliar, LJP is tucked away on the sprawling UC San Diego campus and often not an easy place to get cabs. I had to dash to the airport after the show. I asked the usher how difficult is it to for cabs. She casually said "Don't worry about it, I'll call you one." I gave her my name and seat number -- she didn't write anything down -- and she hurried off to help the next patron. While exiting I wondered how difficult this was going to be, knowing this lais-sez faire usher was probably sitting in the office with her feet up. 

Hardly! She was waiting at the top of the aisle, called me by name (formal no less: "Mr. H_____", and personally escorted me out the door through the crowd and down the sidewalk where a black sedan was waiting. She wished me a pleasant flight home, genuinely invited me to return for other productions, and sent me on my way. I've never felt more like a rock star! 

Her efficiency and respect for my timing made the whole thing happen so quick, it didn't even occur to me until I was tipping the driver at the airport that I should have tipped the usher. Next day I sent a letter lauding her -- and the production, which despite the obvious and generally agreed-upon flaws, I loved -- and enclosed $5. I hope she received it. 

And yes, I made my flight with lots of time to spare thanks to her. 

 

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 7/20/18 at 8:51pm

I love people who bump very old threads and respond as if everyone in the thread has been checking the board daily for the past 11 or 12 years just waiting for the next person to reply.

[SweetLips22]

Posted: 7/20/18 at 9:22pm

Whatever makes you happy.

Love any stories relating to theatre--old or new.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 7/20/18 at 9:34pm

SweetLips22 said: "I still remember on my very first visit to Paris and going to a theatre, I was shown to my seat and the usherette[?] stood there with her hand out. I was sitting down when I realised she wanted something put into it. I fumbled around in my pocket and gave her a single piece of loose change-not yet knowing the currency which she actually threw back at me. I was mortified."

SweetLips22, This response is for you since I am kind of off topic.  My first time in Montreal, I was at an all nude strip bar and tipped the dancer the correct  equivalent of a $1 in Canadian money.  He threw it right back at me, like it wasn't enough.  (US it's standard) I was mortified, but I put it right back into my pocket and stated to him "your loss".

Updated On: 7/21/18 at 09:34 PM

[SweetLips22]

Posted: 7/20/18 at 11:07pm

Oh ArtMan thank you for the memories of a male strip club that was somewhere off Broadway where many a dancer practiced their art before/after and no show time. I don't remember what I tipped as we don't have[or didn't then] have that sort of entertainment in Australia though I did thoroughly enjoy the meet and greet sessions after each show.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 7/21/18 at 9:09am

"When I first started going to the theatre I would tip a dollar to the ushers. Over time I found that they would be more and more surprised to get a tip. Then I reached a point where I couldn't really afford it anymore, and to be honest I had forgotten all about it until this thread. 

I think another thing that's happened is that it's more common for the ushers to not actually show you to your seat but hand you a Playbill and gesture and say "Down there, row D, three seats in." There were times back when I would still keep a dollar handy that I would decide to hang onto it when I found I wasn't actually going to be shown to my seat (not that I mind that, I just don't think it's the kind of service that deserves a tip if they don't have to move). "

Tipping an usher is the proper thing to do at sporting event when they actually bring you to your seat. I recently saw Yankee game in Baltimore and gave the usher $2 for bringing my wife and I to our seats and he even wiped the seats to make sure nothing was on them.  I had never heard of tipping an usher at Broadway show because for the most part they do as you stated and just gesture to you where your seat is located.