Broadway Ushers — Page 2

"Richie and the whole gang of theatre staff at the Palace (from my All Shook Up days! ='( how I miss them)"

THE ASU staff was amazing. I totally agree.

I love the ushers at I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE!

Well, it's Off-Broadway, so it's a small theatre, but they are so sweet. On Tony night, my sister and I decided we go see a show thinking we'll have great seats, but it was completely booked but we still got something. The people next to us (which was DEAD CENTER) didn't show up so they let us move over. Plus, they are really nice when you ask for extra Playbills.

Just saying. They're really friendly there.

as an usher in a broadway house all I have to say is HAHAHAHAHAHAHa

ok im kidding I try ot to be mean to people cause A its a easy as hell job and yes people pay lots of money.

but weird issues do arise. Ive noticed the people that have comp tickets always cause the most probelms.

im kinda surprised to see so many kudos to the Palace house staff because god I hate going to that theatre. Maybe they just dont know what to do with a wheelchair but Ive been directed to my seat as if they were landing a plane (i mean this QUITE literally), had them bang on the door while i was taking more than 3 seconds in the bathroom and told where to 'park' myself at the stage door. growl.

At Chicago there was this old usher named George who wouldn't let anyone breath without his permission. If you tried to switch seats with another person in your group he would go "Excuse Me! Helloo! EXCUSE ME! Can I help you!" Same with anyone who tried to go to the bathroom, or go back to their seats or ask for a playbill.

I'm really surprised to hear that so many people have had problems with the ushers at Avenue Q. I've had nothing but pleasent experiences with their ushers. Back in August I saw Q on a Tuesday and the usher that showed me to my seat couldn't have been nicer. Then I saw the show again that Thursday (lotto) and I had the same usher. She had remembered me from two days pryer and we ended up having a very nice conversation before the show and again during intermission. And when I was in the City this June I saw the show again by way of lotto and I had the same usher once again. She was still just as pleasent to talk with and as nice as ever.

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^I was yelled at for asking.

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I did not like the ushers at The Broadhurst. I have found the nicest ushers to be at the Eugene O'Neill. Especially upstairs. This past June my best friend went to New York with me. I got all of our tickets and tried to make sure he had an aisle seat because he is very tall. When he got to his seat they told everyone that they could move down. (He was sitting upstairs) He told the Usher that he needed an aisle seat (There were none left) so she went to her manager and was told to give him a box all to himself. That was very nice.

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Most have been terrific in that they have just done their job. Nothing more, nothing less. However when I was last in NY to see a show, I was directed to my seat without a playbill. I asked for one only be be met with "You will have to wait I am busy". I asked another usher who gave me one without fuss.
About 10mins later the rude usher came back and told me I had the wrong tickets for the seat I was in:

"Oh the seat you directed me to yourself?" I replied.

"You have to move sir this is not your seat according to the ticket as this gentleman should be there." said the Usher

"But my ticket says H102 and this seat is H102. Look, same seat, same ticket and even the same day", said I, "could you not check the other guy's ticket again?"

"Where did you purchase the ticket from? It might not be valid", said Usher

At which point the other gentleman pointed out that he was meant to be two rows behind me, same number. I guess one does not have to have intelligence or manners sometimes to do that job. A shame, as most have been terrific.

Remember, we are all products of our experiences. For every horrible usher story, there is a horrible patron story. There was recently a thread about egregious theatre behavior by patrons. The ushers could probably start a thread about us. I think it's safe to say there are great ushers and abrupt ones. The abrupt ones probably have some war stories involving a cell phone, a patron seated incorrectly or some other annoyance. Let's just try to walk a mile in the usher's shoes. It's a tough gig. Theatre patrons can be a tough crowd. :)Abusive behavior from an usher can be reported to house management and handled professionally. Like the crazy old dude who got booted from the theatre.

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bigbill, you should have reported him. Even if a patron is rude, an usher, or anyone else, has no right to curse at you. He could have lost his job for that.

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"Having said that, I do feel ushers sometimes have a bit of a thankless task. It constantly amazes me how much of a meal people can make of finding their seats. If a show hasn't started and you can decipher numbers and letters then surely you don't need someone to lead you by the hand? Ushers should be there to help sort out 'double bookings', prevent bad audience behaviour and seat latecomers as unobtrusively as possible IMHO."

Having ushered, it is amazing at the stupidity of people. I mean, really, how difficult is it to find your seat? I think one of the main problems is that a large portion of ushers on Broadway have been there for decades, and are witnessing more than most the drastic change in behavior of audience members. Much of the change in behavior doesn't sit well with them, and most of the change doesn't sit well with any of you either. So imagine seeing it eight shows a week and then recalling the behavior from thirty years ago.


"I have no idea why some of them form the opinion that they are morally superior to the patrons who DO pay their wages - "

Patrons do not pay their wages. The theatre they work for does. The cost of your ticket goes to the production. The production pays the theater rent, where staff fees also come from. However, those ushers would be paid whether or not the show is paying rent to the theater. But even so, an indirect payment of wages does not make you that person's employer. And, don't forget that ushers are in a union, and it is very difficult to fire union employees.

Updated On: 7/25/06 at 11:13 AM