How does one become an usher?- Page 2

[CurtainPullDowner]

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

Practice.

[MyFavoriteBrunette]

Posted: 9/26/17 at 2:02am

This is a great post and thank you to Islander Fan for the extra information.  I've worked a in beauty sales for 24 years; 21 of them at Saks Fifth Avenue.  I've always enjoyed my job very much but it's been getting harder and harder to keep business up in a brick and mortar store when online shopping is what people prefer to do (even me!).  The pressure from management to sell, sell, sell and surpass the annual sales goal in the dead of summer when people generally are away spending money on vacation has been a challenge.  I've been a medical leave for about 3 weeks and going back to work next week...and dreading it!   Have been home wondering what to do to reinvent myself careerwise.  Ushering crossed my mind, since I love theater and appreciate every flashlight shone on a patron with a cellphone out!  

Which brings to mind a question about that.  Are those tools supplied by the theater?  Or are you told which kind to buy? Because if I had a choice, I'd use a mini Mag Light.  But sometimes I feel a laser pointer is more appropriate for one with a phone out so they think their phone will be shot out of their hand!  Ugh!

Updated On: 9/27/17 at 02:02 AM

[JSquared2]

Posted: 9/26/17 at 11:53am

MyFavoriteBrunette said: "This is a great posT and thank you to Islander Fan for the extra information. I've worked a in beauty sales for 24 years; 21 of them at Saks Fifth Avenue. I've always enjoyed my job very much but it's been getting harder and harder to keep business up in a brick and mortar store when online shopping is what people per ever to do (even me!). The pressure from management to sell, sell, sell and surpass the annual sales goal in the dead of summer when people generally are away spending money on vacation has been a challenge. I've been a medical leave for about 3 weeks and going back to work next week...and dreading it! Have been home wondering what to do to reinvent myself careerwise. Ushering crossed my mind, since I love theater and appreciate every flashlight shone on a patron with acellphone out!

Which brings to mind a question about that. Are those tools supplied by the theater? Or are you told which kind to buy? Because if I had a choice, I'd use a mini Mag Light. But sometimes I feela laser pointer is more appropriate for one with a phone out so they think their phone will be shot out of their hand! Ugh!"

 

As others have said, even if you get to work 8 shows a week (which would be very unlikely for someone just starting out), you'd be earning around $480/week pre-taxes.  if you can live on that in the NYC area --- great!  For most people it's either a 2nd job or supplementary income (many ushers are (obviously) receiving social security). And no --- you don't get to "accessorize" your work tools with fancy laser pointers!  LOL 

 

[Boq101]

Posted: 9/26/17 at 6:21pm

Not to rain on anyone's parade who thinks ushers just get to watch the show, but there's a lot of that time making sure the glint in row D isn't a phone light. Maybe it's the cup for their drink, or it's their glasses. Maybe the three drunks in the mezzanine won't shut up during the show. Say an actor saw a phone out and told stage management. You've now got to babysit the dude in B105 just in case it comes out again,

Most ushers I know have second jobs.  And I wouldn't count on the "headset" person to be free to just watch the show after walk in. Chances are they are doing a plethora of other things in the office or around the theater while the show is happening. 

[Robert16]

Posted: 9/26/17 at 11:11pm

Checkout the Jobs section on Playbill.com. I applied for positions at The Public and Ushered a Summer at Shakespeare In The Park also found Ushering jobs at BAM and on Broadway. Recently saw Ushering opportunities on Playbill.commfor Disney a Theatrical and thevRoundanout - Good Luck!

[MyFavoriteBrunette]

Posted: 9/27/17 at 3:10am

JSquared2 said: As others have said, even if you get to work 8 shows a week (which would be very unlikely for someone just starting out), you'd be earningaround $480/week pre-taxes. if you can live on that in the NYC area --- great! For most people it's either a 2nd job or supplementary income (many ushers are (obviously) receiving social security).And no --- you don't get to "accessorize" your work tools with fancy laser pointers! LOL

Thanks so much JSquared2  I'm working on paying off some debt and looking at lesser paying work.  What I've learned is more money you make-more pressure put on you.  So it's time for me to look at quality of life.  Shoot!  No laser pointers!  LOL!  

 

[MyFavoriteBrunette]

Posted: 9/27/17 at 3:21am

Boq101 said: "Not to rain on anyone's parade who thinks ushers just get to watch the show, but there's a lot of that time making sure the glint in row D isn't a phone light. Maybe it's the cup for their drink, or it's their glasses. Maybe the three drunks in the mezzanine won't shut up during the show. Say an actor saw a phone out and told stage management. You've now got to babysit the dude in B105 just in case it comes out again,

Most ushers I know have second jobs. And I wouldn't count on the "headset" person to be free to just watch the show after walk in. Chances are they are doing a plethora of other things in the office or around the theater while the show is happening."

 

Absolutely understood.  It's like people think that because I work at the beauty level of Saks that I'm playing with make-up all day and shopping.  NOPE!  It's a customer service job and alllllll about the customer and how much money can you siphon out of a customer!  Oh! and handling customer issues graciously (returning a $200 jar of Creme de La Mer that was scooped clean and replaced with PONDS...really??? You ordered it online like that?!?!)  

So many young and hopeful come to work thinking this is gonna be a dream job--that they can be creative with make-up and play all day but the bottom line is companies don't care if you know how to apply make-up or not.  Their question is can you sell.  You must sell!  Even though customers will come in as a glorified showroom to purchase later online.  The sales pressure is a rude awakening. Especially for those on straight commission.

Ushering should be viewed as the same.  No, it's not about seeing free shows because it isn't.  One has duties while the show is happening.  It's all about the patron and the comfort of patrons when others are being disruptive to the theater experience.  And needing to be assertive when needed in those situations.

 Thank you for everyone's input!

Updated On: 9/27/17 at 03:21 AM