Usher Jobs...

[jess20882]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 1:26pm

Does anyone on this board know how to go about getting a job as an usher for a Broadway show? I need to make some extra income and thought it might be a fun way to do it... Or even a job as someone selling merchandise at the theatre... Thanks!

[ashley0139]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 1:30pm

I know to usher you have to be in the union (the usher union) but I don't know much about it.

[SDav 10495]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 1:32pm

Here's an old thread:

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=901303

Basically, some say it's very difficult and that you need to know a producer or some higher-up; others say it's not quite so difficult as that. But it sure ain't easy, because you do need to join the union and pay dues. Roundabout has a volunteer usher program, but that's the only such thing I can think of on Broadway.

Updated On: 10/9/06 at 01:32 PM

[jess20882]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 1:38pm

ahh ok, thanks guys!

[snazzier]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 2:39pm

You are better off trying to get a job working merchandise. Although I know that the line for Hairspray is particularly long right now.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 3:36pm

Playbill.com usually lists merchandise/coat check/bartending jobs at the theaters.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 4:13pm

There's a position avilable on playbill.com right now for The Grinch Stole Christmas. Auditions/interviews are Thursday.

[jess20882]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 4:18pm

Yeah I saw that one, thanks. I unfortunately have a regular job during the week, I'm just trying to find something where I can make some extra money - I feel like, when I read that listing, they needed someone for more of a committment than I can make right now...although that WOULD be fun!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 4:19pm

You're not going to find one that will let you take Wednesday afternoons off.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 4:20pm

For ushering, they rarely ever hire people to only work a few shows. They generally want a committment of at least 6 shows. So many people work merchandise that I think they only get two or three shows a week.

[jess20882]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 4:21pm

Unfortunately, I think you're right Believe me, if I could take Wednesday afternoons off my current job to usher instead, I would!

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 5:31pm

which is why you will want to be hired as a substitute usher. the upside is is working shows around your work schedule. the downsidw is getting no work from time to time.

the other usher threads should include info on how to get hired.

[feinstein9]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 5:48pm

also, if you're a sub usher you don't have to join the union, but there *is* a limit to how many shows you can do. off-bway is easier. it pays less, but there's no union and generally the schedules are more flexable.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 5:48pm

*raises hand*

Not getting any work right now.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 5:56pm

you can work 30 shows before having to join the union--full time or sub.

[dreamz]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 8:22pm

For a Jujamcyn house you can go apply for work at there office on 44th street. You can also go to the union located on 45th street between 10th & 11th Avenue and let them know you are interested. I think the address is 525 W. 45th its on the 2nd floor.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 8:43pm

Does all this information apply for people wanting to work as ushers for Broadway in Chicago or Broadway in Boston?

[dreamz]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 8:58pm

The information is for Broadway/ New York City

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 10/10/06 at 7:35am

When I first moved out here, I had very much the same interest and questions about how one gets a job at a Broadway theatre. Still a student, I felt that ushering would be an ideal way to make some cash and spend lots of time in Broadway theatres while still having my days open for classes/sleep/etc. During the 1st year I attended a lot of shows and asked around a lot, basically finding that you do need to be in the union to usher on Broadway, but in order to join the union, you need to have worked in those Broadway houses. It's a similar catch-22 as with AEA and most situations where unions are invovled. Now a few years later I've been very fortunate to have wound up with a nice fulltime gig at a great Shubert house, but it's still hard to really say how best to go about it. For my part, it came as a result of some lucky breaks, good timing, trying not to burn too many bridges, and paying my dues for awhile with less than ideal off-broadway pay and working shows that I didn't love.

I'd say that the key is to keep your eyes open for postings on Playbill and Craigs List, and just try to get your foot in the door. If you want to work fulltime, the union is unavoidable. You wind up paying a rather hefty initial fee, then a quarterly fee of less than $40. But getting into the union is pretty much your gateway to finding sub work and becoming known by the various chief ushers/house managers who might remember you when they need someone to join the staff. In the end it does have a lot to do with luck and who you meet along the way, but if you can do 8 shows a week and are consistent, you should get some work. I got my 1st gig by answering an ad to usher at Dodger Stages, which is non-union and doesn't pay as well as Broadway, but did give me some great experience and a reason to get that Fireguard Certification. A few month later I simply answered an ad to usher at the Hilton, which employs a huge usher staff, is one of the few Broadway houses not owned by the giants (Shubert, Nederlander, Jujamcyn) and was at the time hiring non-union members. I had to join Local 306 after working there a few weeks, but- as I said- you need to do that if you want to work with any kind of regularity. The union is a good source for finding sub work in the Nederlander houses as well as Lincoln Center and a few others. The Shuberts and Jujamcyn tend not to hire through the union, but both have small windows throughout the year where you can apply directly to usher for their companies. Jujamcyn is probably your best bet, as they seem to hire more frequently. Unfortunately they only have a handful of houses. Other options to look at are the Roundabout and MTC (which pay a little bit differently and have some different policies than their for-profit counterparts). Try calling their individual ofices and asking if they are currently taking apps for new ushers.

From what I've seen, it might be easier to get into selling merhcandise or concessions. I've never worked in either area so I don't know how competitive it is, but I do know that unions aren't involved and that these jobs are usually run through outside companies such as Theatre Refreshments and Dewynters. If anything I think their hiring practices are a bit more conventional and predictable than with ushering. It all comes down to how many shifts and hours you are able to devote each week. If you can't do Wednesday matinees, it is considerably harder to get work in any capacity.

Updated On: 10/10/06 at 07:35 AM

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 10/10/06 at 12:33pm

It's not nearly the same Catch 22 that AEA seems to be (though people obviously get in, so it's not that hard). I got hired at Jujamcyn as a sub usher. Then I joined the union. No problem.

The initiation fee for ushering is not what I would call hefty when you consider how much AEA and other union initiation fees are.

But that post is very informative--one of the best pieces of advice in it being that gaining NYC experience may be highly important and that it can be a hard job to get. It does help to know someone--even another usher in that organization.

[jess20882]

Posted: 10/10/06 at 12:57pm

well thanks for all the advice, everyone, you've been a good help. i'm going to keep looking online to see what i can find.
if anyone reading or responding to this thread happens to BE an usher at a broadway theatre and knows of any possible open spots, please PM me and let me know!
(i have worked in the business before...i was a child wrangler for a broadway show that is now, unfortunately, not running anymore...)

[cello_dude]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 2:44pm

Hey... just wanted to give you some info... i work as an usher for Broadway in Chicago, so right now i usher "Wicked" "The Pirate Queen" and "Altar Boyz".... its really not that hard to get a job with BIC you print out the application on line and send it in. Its a pretty cool job. you are required to work a minimum of 4 shows a week, 2 of wich have to be mattine or weekend shows. the only bad thing is that you have to stand the entire time. for an 8:00 show we get there @ 6:30 to stuff playbills then you get ur job asignment i.e. "tickets" "aisle 2 in", "Mez aisle 11 in" and you have to basically stand the entire show. but you dont have to pick up playbills or anything like that. In NY you are hired I believe through the orginization i.e. Schubert, Netherlander, Disney. But you need to have previous ushering experiuence if you want to work a broadway house

[Fosse76]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 3:03pm

"In NY you are hired I believe through the orginization i.e. Schubert, Netherlander, Disney. But you need to have previous ushering experiuence if you want to work a broadway house"

No, you don't. Also, Disney would only apply to the New Amsterdam, since that's the only venue they own. Also, on Broadway, the head usher can hire you directly as a sub, and if an opening happens, as a permanent usher. You don't necessarily have to go through the organizations themselves.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 3:12pm

There's a job for Usher in CHICAGO; but I understand he's too ill to do it.

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 10/13/06 at 4:59am

I'm not totally clear on what AEA's policies are currently. I simply meant it in the sense that you need to be in the union to perform at a certain level but you can't join the union without working in some capacity first. The other similarity is that you can skip the red tape and join out of necessity if you are hired cold. The fees aren't too bad if you work somewhat regularly. It's just a bit much for the occassional sub to have to pay.