How does one become an usher?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/23/17 at 12:48pm

My cousin suggested I become one at the Shubert Theatre so I could see HELLO DOLLY 8 times a week for the rest of my life. I'm serious.

 

 

 

[EthelMae]

Posted: 9/23/17 at 1:22pm

I wanna be your assistant!

[Public User]

Posted: 9/23/17 at 1:36pm

You've certainly come to the right place!

[JIMG3]

Posted: 9/23/17 at 2:16pm

Dollypop said: "My cousin suggested I become one at the Shubert Theatre so I could see HELLO DOLLY 8 times a week for the rest of my life. I'm serious.


One becomes an usher by working as an usher. The first step in your case,  would be to apply to the Schubert Organization. Their offices are on 44th street, in the same building as Sardi"s restaurant 

If they're hiring, you'll be called in for an interview. If that goes well, you'll be put on their substitute usher list, but you will not have the choice of which theater you'd like to work in. Please be aware that you'll be required to join a union after you've worked for more than 30 days. 

Best of luck to you!
"

 

Updated On: 9/23/17 at 02:16 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/23/17 at 2:49pm

Thanks for the info

[ahhrealmonsters]

Posted: 9/23/17 at 4:52pm

Network! I was offered a gig ushering my favorite Broadway show because I struck up a conversation with one of the current ushers who recommended me to the head usher. This wasn't during seating/the show itself - I'd recommend not interrupting an usher during their shift, but if you happen to meet someone working at The Shubert (or any Shubert theatre), mention you're interested in the position. Ushering/FOH can be fun. It's also stressful because it's essentially a customer service position, but it can be a really good experience.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 9/23/17 at 6:31pm

Unless you are certifiably insane, they probably won't hire you. And no, there's no typo in this post.

[Cesare2]

Posted: 9/24/17 at 4:15am

If you are an usher at one of the for-profit Broadway houses, how many hours a week do you typically work?  How long is a typical shift?

[blaxx]

Posted: 9/24/17 at 4:35am

Cesare2 said: "If you are an usher at one of the for-profit Broadway houses, how many hours a week do you typically work? How long is a typical shift?"

It depends. If you were ushering for BKLYN: The Musical, the shift would feel like 12 hours long.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 9/24/17 at 7:51am

Cesare2 said: "If you are an usher at one of the for-profit Broadway houses, how many hours a week do you typically work? How long is a typical shift?"

Reporting time for ushers is one hour before curtain time. The rest of the length of the shift depends on the shows running time. The shorter the show, the happier the ushers. 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/24/17 at 8:10am

Fosse76 said: "Unless you are certifiably insane, they probably won't hire you. And no, there's no typo in this post."

 

If being hopelessly addicted to a single show for 53 years makes me insane, then I fit the bill...happily.

 

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 9/24/17 at 10:35am

As an usher I can tell you right away,that, even if you were hired by Shubert, you don't get to select the theatre they put you in. Generally speaking, if you're hired you start out as a sub. The length of time between doing that and having a permanent house that you always go to varies. I have friends who are ushers who came on board the same time I did and have a permanent spot, others have been working for far longer than I and are still substitute ushers. That part is a crapshoot. 

As for shifts, it's a rotation. Some stay for the entire performance, others get to leave after the first half hour. They rotate and act as if there's a show on Mondays as a way to reset the rotation. In other words, If I'm on the late shift, staying the entire performance on a Saturday night, then the next Saturday, I'd be on the early shift leaving after the first half hour. Ushers do get breaks, but when and for how long is up to the head usher. The usher supervisor who dose payroll for ushers, decides who is there and if she needs a sub to come in etc. The length of the show comes into play too. But, I had a friend who ushered at, The Humans and they still got a break despite the show only being an hour and a half long. 

You have to buy into the membership for Local 306, the union for ushers and pay dues every quarter. So, wth all that said, it's highly unlikely that you'd be able to usher Hello Dolly. Besides which, last I heard to my dismay, there's a hiring freeze right now for the Shuberts. Beauty of being an usher is that because it's all the same union I can work for both Shubert and Nederlander at the same time. Sorry for the long post but hope it's helpful. 

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/24/17 at 10:42am

Do all ushers have to be fireguarded?

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 9/24/17 at 10:44am

uncageg said: "Do all ushers have to be fireguarded?"

What do you mean by fireguarded? 

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/24/17 at 10:48am

Through the FDNY to be certified for evacuations, etc. Maybe just Head Ushers and HM's have to be? 

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 9/24/17 at 11:49am

Just curious what the pay scale is per hour.

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 9/24/17 at 1:45pm

uncageg said: "Through the FDNY to be certified for evacuations, etc. Maybe just Head Ushers and HM's have to be?"

That is not at all a thing by any means at least at Nederlnader.

As for pay, it's not done by the hour, it's done by the performance. You get X number of dollars per each performance you work. 

 

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 9/24/17 at 2:47pm

"As for pay, it's not done by the hour, it's done by the performance. You get X number of dollars per each performance you work. "

Ok, like I said I was curious what the pay for an usher was at Broadway shows.

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 9/24/17 at 3:38pm

It's on average 56 bucks per show 

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 9/24/17 at 7:52pm

"It's on average 56 bucks per show"

 

Pretty decent pay. I assume they have to be there by 7pm at the latest and are usually done by 11p.

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 9/24/17 at 9:33pm

We have to report an hour before showtime. So, if it's a show that starts at we have to be there at 8.

 

And, yeah we are generally there till 11 or so. We don't have to wait for the theatre to be totally empty, but say your stationed in the mezzanine for a show, you'd just have to wait for everyone to clear out of the section then you can leave. There are other theatre staffers that take care of clearing everyone out of the theatre, say, using the bathroom before they leave etc. I'd say that on average, if I'm working the entire performances, the process of people leaving their seats takes about 15-20 minutes. After that we go.

[OlliesDad]

Posted: 9/25/17 at 9:36am

Thanks for all of the info. I have 2 questions. Is there a uniform at most theaters? Also would ushering be a good job for someone who is retired?

[Wick3]

Posted: 9/25/17 at 10:02am

I'm more interested in applying to be the person who handles audio headsets or merchandise. I'm presuming most of the work is before and after the show (plus intermission) and that one can actually watch the show from the back. 

With being an usher, my understanding is you'll have to work during the show by making sure audience members are not recording anything or not disrupting the show. Is my assumption correct?

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 9/25/17 at 12:17pm

OlliesDad said: "Thanks for all of the info. I have 2 questions. Is there a uniform at most theaters? Also would ushering be a good job for someone who is retired?"

All of the theater orgs have their own "uniforms". Most include basic black pants..Nederlander ushers have a blue shirt and black vest, many others are all in black, each one is different.  

As far as it being a good job for those who are retired, it obviously depends on the person but yes certainly it can be. You have to be able to move around and deal with stairs all the time. That's the main thing with older ushers. Otherwise it can be a perfect job. 

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/26/17 at 12:29am

Practice.