Has anyone ever volunteered to usher at New World Stages?

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!

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.?

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.

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!!

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.

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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.

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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.

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

My pleasure, Jolly1!

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