Posted: 2/25/16 at 1:03am
This might be a stupid question but is it an hourly rate? A nightly rate? And do people who have been with a theater for a long time get pay increases or is it a set rate for all?
Posted: 2/25/16 at 10:25am
LOLOL. Don't even get me started on RRT staff and the lack of efficiency that place works with. The management of the theater as a whole is a bit shoddy, and it shows everywhere from PR, to line monitors to ushers.
Not blaming the ushers specifically, but the management is probably not helping them or creating an efficient system to relieve their distress.
Posted: 2/25/16 at 12:13pm
Jesus, literally all this article is actually saying is "the ushers at the Rodgers are pretty stressed" and yet a lot of the reaction here is kind of like "HOW DARE THEY COMPLAIN THOSE WHINERS." Everyone bitches about their jobs, especially if it's like busy season 24/7.
Posted: 2/25/16 at 12:20pm
PThespian is a little inaccurate in that response.
The usher staff receive a flat rate per performance. It does not increase every year. It increases based on the contract, which is generally only once or at most twice per contract period. I think the next rate increase is later this year. (ushers working a play were actually paid less than those working a musical, but I believe the most recent contract eliminated that disparity).
Ushers also receive overtime if a show runs more than three hours, but there is a grace period of 2 or 3 minutes before they can collect it. And it doesn't count the curtain call. Only the time the final act ends.
Ticket takers in a two ticket taker house make LESS than ticket takers in a one ticket taker house.
Posted: 2/25/16 at 1:01pm
Bunch of wussies. Try working 12hr days, 6 days a week doing physical work.
No, thanks. It seems to cause people to act like @ssholes with severe inferiority issues. I'd rather be labeled a "wussy" by the likes of you any day, even if it's not actually true by reasonable standards.
I was a part-time usher in addition to a full-time job and acting gigs for 10 years.
Posted: 2/26/16 at 12:26am
I agree that the article itself was probably based on nothing and it was more of a Hamilton publicity ploy. It is actually kind of a ridiculous puff piece.
Posted: 2/26/16 at 12:33am
I saw If/Then a few times at the Rodgers and do have to admit that the ushers were very rude and obnoxious and unhelpful...and that was pre-Hamilton
But, definitely the worst experience was at Studio 54 in December at Therese Raquin, probably the worst and most unprofessional I have ever come across, it was actually very infuriating.
Posted: 2/26/16 at 12:57am
May I ask which you are at?
Posted: 2/26/16 at 5:31am
Oh my God one time I went to the Imperial theatre to a show and an older woman house manager was berating one of the ushers in front of the patrons. I could not believe it. And she was not a dainty sort by any means. I thought, oh that poor woman, somebody really did her wrong when she was a wee little girl. I actually felt sorry for her.
On the other hand the house manager at the Beaumont is lovely, just the coolest woman....
Posted: 2/26/16 at 2:17pm
Jujamcyn ushers only rotate houses when their theater is closed. Or if they want to see another show in a Jujamcyn house. Its not done on a regular.
Posted: 2/26/16 at 2:31pm
Ushers get a raise every September don't know where you get your information from PThespian
Posted: 2/26/16 at 2:42pm
@z5 said: "But, definitely the worst experience was at Studio 54 in December at Therese Raquin, probably the worst and most unprofessional I have ever come across, it was actually very infuriating."
I saw She Loves Me this past Wednesday evening. I was sitting in the orchestra sides house right. During the entire first act, I kept hearing someone behind me constantly rummaging through plastic and paper bags. At first, I gave a couple quick glances at the suspect - woman sitting in the last row, aisle seat - hoping it would shush her up, but no. The next time, I gave her a long stare, and it turns out she was an usher! She was eating her dinner and what smelled like sweet rolls for dessert. Very annoying and unprofessional.
Posted: 2/26/16 at 2:56pm
Sadly, not surprised by this. That was definitely the worst I have come across three, they were all truly awful and distracting during the entire show, as well as mean.I would complain to Roundabout and let them know of your experience there that night, I;m sure you and I aren't the only ones who have had negative experiences at that theater.
Posted: 2/27/16 at 9:51am
dreamz said: "Jujamcyn ushers only rotate houses when their theater is closed. Or if they want to see another show in a Jujamcyn house. Its not done on a regular."
That's true of Shubert and Nederlander, too. However, it's not automatically done. And it's not guaranteed. And the Shuberts don't allow ushers to swap houses for a shift. If you want to see a show, you can sub in another house as long as your theater is dark (that said, I'm not sure how closely they monitor it, but no one does it).
Posted: 2/27/16 at 2:06pm
I've never known it to happen with the Shubert staffs I am familIar with. They only work other shows when they are dark...like working a Sunday evening or Thursday matinee. I've never known them to take off performances to work another house. This demonstrates the differences of the integrity and the work ethics of ushers.
Posted: 2/27/16 at 4:29pm
And like I said, ushers at certain houses have the integrity to follow policies more so than at other houses. And the Shuberts are looking to "clean house", just ask the five house managers that were just fired in September.
Posted: 2/28/16 at 2:22am
I hope that got rid of that House Manager at the Imperial. I don't think the Shuberts want a sarcastic Mrs. Danvers type representing them. Hopefully if they did replace her they found someone with charm and a passion for life.
Updated On: 2/28/16 at 02:22 AM
Posted: 2/28/16 at 2:31am
This is what my friend who is on tour with a very big production had to say about it....
"This makes me laugh. Honestly. The Rogers is what... 1500 seats? If that? As someone who deals (sometimes solo!) with sell out crowds and mob mentalities constantly in houses 2000-5000, I just have to laugh. Boo hoo. Be glad your house has a HIT that'll keep you employed long term without a layoff."
Posted: 2/28/16 at 4:34am
Can we maybe stop blowing out of proportion something that appeared on a gossip page?
And the whole "my job is worse than yours" argument is childish, too. Nearly every job has aspects to it that completely suck, which cause workers to complain.....you do it, I do it, so what?
Posted: 2/28/16 at 6:42am
If ushers can't prevent the auditorium from turning into a "complete mob scene every night.” at this particular show with this particular audience, I assume they should arrange some other measures?
Posted: 2/28/16 at 9:46am
dramamama611 said: "Can we maybe stop blowing out of proportion something that appeared on a gossip page?
And the whole "my job is worse than yours" argument is childish, too. Nearly every job has aspects to it that completely suck, which cause workers to complain.....you do it, I do it, so what?
"
JUST YES....
Posted: 2/28/16 at 10:35am
"I can assure you that every show loses its appeal by the 100th time you've seen it."
Exactly. Just think of how many good songs you probably don't like anymore because you have heard them over and over - lol.
Posted: 2/28/16 at 10:59am
PThespian said: "KathyNYC2 said: "dramamama611 said: "Can we maybe stop blowing out of proportion something that appeared on a gossip page?
And the whole "my job is worse than yours" argument is childish, too. Nearly every job has aspects to it that completely suck, which cause workers to complain.....you do it, I do it, so what?
I'm sorry if you interpret it as a "my job is worse than yours" discussion. I don't see it as that at all.
Look, I get a lot of respect at my day job because of the profession I am in. It is 1,000 harder than ushering is.
However, it bothers me when people think ushering is so easy and not worthy of respect. It is a difficult job. Is it the most difficult job ever? Of course not. Do other people on here have jobs that are more challenging because of the challenges they present? Of course. Hell I do myself!
All I'm saying is that ushering involves a lot more than seating people and giving them programs, and what we do is worthy of respect too. A lot of people like to tip us, which is always nice. Just a "thank you," however, goes a long way too.
I hate it when people are on their phone, or talking to each other, and they don't stop to say thanks or even acknowledge you exist when you seat them. To me that's a sign of total lack of respect.
I like ushering, probably even more than my day job. That's why I've been doing it for so many years. Make no mistake, though. It's not what you think it is at all.
"
JUST YES....
"
"
I was referring to everyone giving ushers in this thread a hard time because they have it "worse".
Posted: 2/29/16 at 7:45am
It's really laughable when you get someone basically saying, "hey, I'm more unfortunate than you, so you should shut the F up!" I mean, where does your logic go?
Posted: 2/29/16 at 7:48am
dramamama611 said: "And the whole "my job is worse than yours" argument is childish, too. Nearly every job has aspects to it that completely suck, which cause workers to complain.....you do it, I do it, so what?
"
This x1000!
What a silly thread.
Every job has difficulties. If you're that unhappy - quit.
