Has anyone ever volunteered to usher at New World Stages?

[rmusic11322]

Posted: 5/8/10 at 3:47pm

How was the experience? I'm thinking of doing it in the summer just for fun. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks! If you don't know what I mean, I posted a link.
http://www.newworldstages.com/volunteer.html

[Pianist3912]

Posted: 5/9/10 at 2:59pm

I'm volunteering at 39 Steps tomorrow, and have volunteered at Avenue Q and White's Lies before.

GREAT experience. Extremely nice house staff, and a great way to see a show for free!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/9/10 at 5:48pm

Can you give us an idea about how far in advance you hear back from them? I'm thinking of volunteering, during an upcoming visit, probably in August, but would like to have time to plan around when they could use me.

[rmusic11322]

Posted: 5/9/10 at 9:05pm

Pianist3912: If there were any seats available, were you allowed to sit in them? Also, what did you mainly do? Did you give out Playbills, sit people to their seats, ect.?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/9/10 at 9:11pm

Since New World Stages now allows patrons to drink in their seats, the volunteers have to mix the drinks and bring them to the seated patrons. They don't take the orders, though.

[Pianist3912]

Posted: 5/9/10 at 11:28pm

The last two times, I have not been asked to touch a drink. I've been at the house entrance giving out playbills and directing people to their seats. The head usher has just put me in an empty seat to watch the show, as well.

[rmusic11322]

Posted: 5/10/10 at 3:00pm

Being that I'm a minor, I doubt I'll be touching any drinks. Well, now I'm convinced - I'll start picking out dates to see the show. :)

[jolly1]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 12:11pm

Hey Rmusic,
How did the ushering go for you? I am considering signing up as well but I won't be in the city until July so I don't know if I am inquiring to early or not? What was your experience like? Thanks!!

[broadfan327]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 1:19pm

I ushered for the Freud show a month ago. All I did was stood at a corner of the theater for half an hour before the show and made sure no one put anything on the stage, then helped clean up the theater after the show for ten minutes. For July it is way too early.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 1:24pm

It's very easy to do. The head usher will give you a quick description of the theatre numbering if you don't know, you'll stuff Playbills if needed, and then you'll hand out Playbills and direct peeps to their seats. Depending on the show, they may ask you to stand by an exit during intermission, but otherwise, they'll put you into a seat and you can enjoy the show. You'll have to do a little clean-up post-show.

No ushers mix drink, lest anyone take that comment seriously.

[jolly1]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 1:33pm

Thanks for the information! Sounds like a good opportunity. I hope I make the list. I guess I should email them about 3 months out then? Any clue on what would be the best time frame to do that? I don't want to get lost in the shuffle by inquiring to early but I also don't want to be too late.

[winston89]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 1:35pm

I ended up doing it twice ( a week a part) for both Rent and then Avenue Q. Rent was fun in that it was me with someone else. Furthermore, it was also Emma Hunton's first show as Maureen so we got to see some of final quick run throughs of a couple of things prior to letting the audience in.

For both shows, I did stuff playbills and I showed people to their seats when the house opened. And, at intermission I stood in one of the exit doorways and made sure that people didn't take pictures ( something that happened a lot at Avenue Q) and just make sure that they didn't go through the door.

Clean up was easy. You just went through all the rows and picked up playbills left on the ground.

I sent the email at the end of December for times at the beginning/middle of January if that is helpful in terms of when to send the email.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 1:51pm

"Since New World Stages now allows patrons to drink in their seats, the volunteers have to mix the drinks and bring them to the seated patrons. They don't take the orders, though."

Just in case anyone actually believes the above, it's a lie.

[jolly1]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 1:59pm

Thanks for clearing up the drink orders. I was very doubtful. Good thing because I am a serious klutz.

Thank you for your experience Winston! It sounds like it is really easy and fun. I thought there would be more demand for positions than that! Good to know.

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 12:40pm

I am sure Dollypop was joking about the cocktails. NWS has cocktail people that take the orders and deliver them to the patrons in the theater.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/9/12 at 1:06pm

"Thanks for clearing up the drink orders. I was very doubtful. Good thing because I am a serious klutz."

My pleasure, Jolly1!

[jds2001]

Posted: 2/11/12 at 10:02pm

I'll just add that I did Avenue Q on Friday night and just did what the above people mentioned - stuffed Playbills prior to the house opening, once the house opened I stood at one of the house entrances, handed out Playbills and directed folks to their seats. At intermission, just stand at one of the exits and make sure people don't take pictures, etc.

The show was completely sold out, so I sat behind row P against the wall.

ETA: They generally reply to email VERY quickly and schedule you fairly quickly. I've never been scheduled more than a month out (except for Voca People, which is not even starting til the 16th. I'm doing that on the 27th)

I've also done Freud's Last Session, Rent, and MDQ there.

Updated On: 2/11/12 at 10:02 PM