Ushering
Thank you for being part of L/A Community Little Theatre’s family. In order to provide our patrons a pleasant, welcoming and consistent experience here at Great Falls Arts Center, we’ve developed guidelines for the role of our ushers.
Expectations for Ushers:
Attire - All ushers are asked to wear white tops and black bottoms or a dressy combination, please.
Parking - Ushers are considered to be Crew and with the new parking lot, we ask that ushers park either at the very back of the parking lot or in the field across the street from the theater.
Arrival - All ushers will usually be asked to arrive 1 1/4 hours before the show’s start time. For evening performances, arrive at 6:15 PM. For matinee performances, arrive at 12:45. The House generally opens one half hour prior to the start time. There may be special shows that require earlier arrival.
Post-show Clean Up - All ushers are expected to help with post-show clean-up including put seat ups, vacuum, empty trash, check bathrooms and anything else that needs to be picked up or cleaned.
Seating for Ushers - You will be able to watch the show for which you are volunteering from the back of the theater. Seating may be limited for some performances so seats are not guaranteed but folding chairs may be available.
Job Descriptions:
There are various jobs available throughout the hour to hour and a half prior to the doors opening, at intermission and following the end of the show. Ushers may be asked to help clean the house before and after the production, put inserts in the playbill, maintain the Will Call table, collect tickets at the door, usher - helping patrons find their seats, run concessions, attend the entrances to the theater during intermission - ensuring no food or open containers enter the theater.
Potential Assignments:
Will Call (or pre-sold tickets):
As Will Call, you are the first person our patron encounters. Smile, interact and be welcoming. In this assignment, you’ll prepare the will call box provided by the box office. Tickets are usually placed in alphabetical order. You will remain in the lobby, greet and ask a patrons name and provide them with their tickets as they arrive. After the show, please be available to help clean the house (put seat ups, vacuum, empty trash, check bathrooms and anything else that needs to be picked up or cleaned).
Tickets:
You will be stationed at the door to scan tickets. You will scan ticket barcode and direct the patrons to your left or right, depending on their seating assignment and direct them to an usher. Please take time before the house opens to familiarize yourself with the seating arrangement in the theater. After the show, please be available to help clean the house (put seat ups, vacuum, empty trash, check bathrooms and anything else that needs to be picked up or cleaned).
Ushers:
You will stand at the entrance of the main house providing playbills and seating people according to their ticket seating assignments. Please take time before the house opens to familiarize yourself with the seating arrangement in the theater. Also, check to see if any extra help is needed with the concessions at intermission. You are also there to answer any general questions a patron may have. Also, please note any complaints and be sure your House Manager is aware in order to let the Usher Coordinator team know. After the show, please be available to help clean the house (put seat ups, vacuum, empty trash, check bathrooms and anything else that needs to be picked up or cleaned).
Concessions:
Just before the show starts, please set up as much as you can so the food is ready to go at intermission. Please sit where you can get can easily get up five minutes before intermission. Please be very quiet during this process. During intermission, you will sell cookies and water for $1.00. Everyone will work the cash box so just help people as they approach the concession counter. At the end of intermission, the food will need to be put away. Please return the cash box to the box office. After the show, please be available to help clean the house (put seat ups, vacuum, empty trash, check bathrooms and anything else that needs to be picked up or cleaned).
Check list for ushers:
Before show
-
Check in with head of house
-
Put on your name tag, please!
-
Put seats up in the house
-
Check floors of the house for litter
-
Check & clean lobby area and entrance floors
-
Pick up garbage
-
Full trash bags to dumpster
-
Check with box office-stuffing and folding programs, if needed
-
bathrooms:
-
check/(wipe clean) sinks, mirrors, toilets, and floor
-
fill toilet paper, paper towel and soap dispensers
-
empty trash cans
-
-
set up “will call” box (person assigned to will call)
-
Set-up concessions:
-
water in cooler and cookies on napkins
-
Once the house opens:
-
usher hand out programs & seat patrons___________________________
-
usher hand out programs & seat patrons __________________________
-
usher hand out programs & seat patrons __________________________
-
usher hand out programs & seat patrons __________________________
-
Will Call: _______________________________________
-
Ticket scanner/Head of House: __________________________________
Head of house
a) Turn lobby lights off when signaled by the stage manager
b) Close bathroom doors and house curtains during the run of the show.
At the intermission: a) open the house curtains b) turn on the lobby lights
and turn off the lobby lights at the start of the 2nd act.
At the intermission:
Ushers at each entrance to remind patrons that all food stay in the lobby
1) ______________________________ 2)____________________________
Sell concessions
1) ______________ 2) ______________3) _________________
-
put away concessions
After the show:
-
Ushers at the house entrance doors to collect any programs to be returned/recycle.
-
__________________________ 2) ________________________
Other ushers:
-
put up house seats & collect garbage/ bottles
-
sweep between the aisles and vacuum the rugs
-
check bathrooms for cleanliness
-
garbage bags to the dumpster and replace garbage bags.
-
PLEASE return name tags