Broadway Ushering

[TheaterBoy7777]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 6:03pm

I was wondering which Broadway shows use volunteer ushers for their shows. I know shows like Beauty and the Beast, Wicked, and Rent have ushers from the union. But I know Pajama Game uses volunteer ushers, does anyone know of others and what phone number do you call. I am hoping to see a couple free show when I go in a couple months.THANKS!

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 6:43pm

yeah, same question!
i would actually like to do ushering as a summer job, also.

anyone have any info on either of these questions?

[flaemmchen]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 7:12pm

I think Roundabout is the only theatre company that allows volunteer ushers on Broadway; the other theatres are union. This means that right now, you can volunteer usher at Pajama Game and will eventually be able to usher at Threepenny Opera. I think all you have to do is go to the theatres and sign up.

As for doing ushering as a summer job: most theatres are looking to hire ushers on a more permanent basis, so while you could definitely volunteer frequently over the summer, it'll probably be extremely difficult to get a paying ushering job just for the summer.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 7:12pm

I need the number for the Pajama Game. I had it, and lost it.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 8:45pm

Also, it's extremely difficult to usher on Broadway. You really do need to know someone. Your best bet is trying to get in as a substitute usher. I think for that you need to go through the union directly to do that.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 8:52pm

would knowing an actor or actress in the show count?
thanks for the info, guys! i think i will probably try more off-broadway as a summer job before I actually move to new york :)

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 8:54pm

Not really.

Knowing an Usher or a House Manager or a Box Office Attendant is what you really need.

[sassypanz]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 8:57pm

Most of the Broadway Ushers are MEAN. Sorry I had to let that out. Are the ushers told to be mean on purpose or what??

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 9:10pm

Ushers are not mean. They always appear to be absolute dolls (especially the cute ones!)

Updated On: 3/14/06 at 09:10 PM

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 9:45pm

Trust me, I have dealt with some nasty ushers.

I have a handicapped relative and therefore I knew it would be hard for him to get around the theatre so I checked where the seats are so I can take him there personally without a problem.

The Virginia Theatre requires you go up stairs to go to the Orchastra and so we climbed, and for him this was a struggle. So when we get to the first usher she says to follow her so we go. She gives a nasty ass attitude about him being a slow mover and keeps looking at the numerous people waiting.

I tell her that I thanked her for her help but I can find the seats myself and no longer require her assistance. Instead fo graciously stepping aside, she blasts me out saying that this is her job and I'm overstepping.

I could have handled things differently and said stop being a bitch and give me the stupid playbills, but yea. Thats my main mean usher story.

I have plenty more, but there are some nice ones. Like the hearing asistance woman at WIW, I talked to her throughout intermission about the themes of the show and of In My Life, which I didn't see but she worked. She loved it.

[PJ]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 11:27pm

Geek, I work at that theatre, and at least 2/3 of the ushers there are simply ruthless. They're all bitter, old maids. They get so angry over stupid things like that. Oh, and don't even dare come down to the lobby and not know precisely where the bathroom is located. My co-workers and I have concluded that they must think everyone who comes to see Jersey Boys has worked at the August Wilson in the past and know where everything is.
Updated On: 3/14/06 at 11:27 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 6:03am

I've been going to the theater regularly since 1963. I have NEVER had a bad experience with an usher. In fact, when I was recovering from minor surgery a few years ago, the usher saw I was having difficulty climbing stairs and she seated me in another area where there were no stairs to climb. I thought it was very sweet of her.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 6:14am

I think Roundabout is the only theatre company that allows volunteer ushers on Broadway; the other theatres are union.

Manhattan Theatre Club (Biltmore Theatre) allows volunteer ushers. I've ushered for them several times.

If you're looking into volunteer ushering, you should try some of the off-Broadway non-for-profits. Signature, Second Stage, MTC, Roundabout, Playwrights Horizons all rely heavily (if not exclusively) on volunteers to usher. Plus, it's a great way to see a show for free.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 9:00am

http://www.nymag.com/guides/cheap/ushering/

This is a great website that provides all the info. you need. While I would love to usher on broadway, ushering off-broadway has some perks as well. Its much more relaxed and layed back and you get to see some great unknown productions.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 2:30pm

ok... so is ushering a good job for people? didn't realize there were unions for this type of work... what's the pay like? and just because someone mentioned it... almost every usher i've seen are old people... what's with that?

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 2:40pm

Hey I just noticed that the New York Theater Workshop takes volunteer ushers. W hy dont all you crazy RENTheads who want to see the anniversary performance just volunteer usher for the performance?

[AlmostFamous]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 6:36pm

There is one usher who is like Hitler @ the Majestic
Sorry had to let that one out...

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 6:46pm

There are many rude, nasty, bitter ushers, and they always seem to seat me.

There is one in particular at the Eugene O'Neil theatre, who is always on the first orchestra aisle - she was for NINE, CAROLINE, and SWEENEY. She's an overweight, lisping hag that looks like she lives in a garbage can. She's NASTY.

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 6:47pm

Second Stage ONLY uses volunteer ushers. You can contact the HM by going to their website, Secondstage.com.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 6:49pm

ive never met an exactly mean usher, but they always give my sis and i cruel looks for walking too slow- hey, we like to look at the theatre and all when we're walking!
so i dont think its considered mean, though.

but wickedgeek, i am so sorry! that is one mean usher!!!

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 6:52pm

Well, I'll go the opposite way and mention I usually have very pleasant experiences with ushers. There was this wonderful usher at the Jacobs, who started talking to me...I think she was commenting on my shirt...anyway, when she wasn't seating people, she came back over to talk for what ended up being quite awhile. We talked about the different shows that had played there (she had worked there for years), and commented on some of the past shows, the present show, and told some really interesting behind-the-scenes stories. I actually looked for her when the show was over, though I don't think I found her.

Ooh, there was another really nice one at Chitty. We had watched their softball game earlier so she recognized us but she too talked to us a bit, about the show and audience reactions and such.

Actually, come to think of it, I think I rarely encounter rude, mean ushers. From some of these posts, I suppose I've just been lucky.

[keatonbynumbers]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 6:53pm

There are some ushers that are so sweet, I just love them. Probably because I look like such a kid (or... maybe I am a kid), but they always seem so concerned when I'm by myself. I've been seeing a lot of shows by myself lately and there seems to always be a nice old lady usher who keeps coming by and saying, "You okay? Wait, I'm gonna seat you somewhere else." They almost always move me up. I don't get that sort of treatment when I'm with other people.

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 6:55pm

Munk, I know exactly what you are talking about. Actually, most of the ushers at the Eugene O'Neill are bitter old fat bitches come to think of it.

[MaronaDavies]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 1:12am

I have a question for all of you that are calling the ushers "Hitler". What were you doing when they "yelled" at you?

Were you on your cell phone, snapping illegal photos, using a video camera?
Were you waiting patiently at the top of the aisle to be seated, or did you storm down the aisle?
Did you wait for the usher to hand you a Playbill, or did you try to snatch them from his/her hands or grab them from the sidelines?
Were you trying to bring drinks or food into the theatre?
Did you buy a standing room ticket, and then get angry when the usher told you that you simply couldn't sit on the aisle, obstructing traffic?

I go to the theatre every weekend (gotta love TDF!). Yeah, some of those ushers are miserable old battleaxes. However, more often than not, the patrons are just as miserable, if not more so. People get angry with ushers when they are simply trying to enforce the rules of the theatre. I have seen people yell at ushers because there are too many steps in the building or too few bathrooms. I've seen ushers turned into the bad guys when they're trying to get a rowdy school group to quiet down. I've seen people have the audacity to use their cell phones during the show, and then insult the usher who's trying to get them to cut it out. I've seen people with crappy tickets take it out on the ushers.

Frankly, I've never seen an usher "go Hitler" without reason. And those ushers that make loud announcements about drinks, photos or leaving the theatre? Do you expect them to go right up to you personally and hold your hand when they're busy seating hundreds of people?

No, I've never ushered, but I've been a flight attendant--another service oriented job where you frequently encounted customers who don't know how to behave like civilized human beings. I've gone through enough drama in flight to totally sympathize with ushers who have to put up with morons every single day.

You know what? People that work in service related jobs aren't there to be abused by you. Treat them with respect and maybe they'll return the favor.

"A person who is nice to you and rude to the waiter is not a nice person." --Dave Barry

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 1:29am

Marona--Bravo!