RENAISSANCE THEATERWORKS USHER INFORMATION

To leave a non-urgent message for the House Manager, please call :  414-273-0800 x303

Usher Qualifications

Ushers must be able to negotiate stairs and walk briskly.

It is an Usher’s chief responsibility to help patrons find their seats quickly and efficiently.  Renaissance Theaterworks seeks Ushers with pleasant personalities who can interact well with patrons and can handle difficult situations with calm and grace.

It is understood that Ushering is a volunteer position and that there is no compensation for Ushering.  In appreciation for your assistance, Renaissance reserves two house seats at each performance for the Ushers to use if they wish.  It is understood that there may be rare occasions in which all seats must be released to paying customers. 

Commitment

Signing up for an event indicates a firm commitment to that event. Please keep a record of the shows you have signed up for. Once you have signed up, we depend on you to be there. However, we understand that emergencies do occur.  Please call the House Manager at:  414-559-3595 ASAP if you are unable to work a show you have signed up for, or if you will be late due to an emergency situation.

Report Time

Punctuality is a must.  Report time is normally 45 minutes before the curtain time (e.g., 6:45 p.m. for a 7:30 p.m. show). Report times may vary.

Tardiness and No­Shows

If an Usher accrues 2 or more unexcused late arrivals or no-shows, he/she will be notified and removed from the Usher list.

Appearance

Dress neatly but casually. Please refrain from wearing heavy perfume and jewelry that jangles. If you require reading glasses, please bring a pair with you as you need to be able to read the tickets.

Upon arrival

Let the House Manager know you have arrived.

Hang up your coat and stow your belongings in the House Manager Booth.  Put on an “Usher” badge.

The House Manager will begin the briefing as early as TEN MINUTES after the report time. Please give the House Manager your full attention, as the briefing covers:

• Usher assignments
• Show description, length and intermissions
• House count, wheelchair seating and latecomer seating   
• Policies for children, photography, etc.
• Any other special information pertaining to the event that evening

You may also be asked to help with specific tasks, e.g., program stuffing, prior to the house opening. 

The Start of the Evening

Smile!  When you Usher for Renaissance, you become one of our “ambassadors.”  A good attitude is the most important tool an Usher can possess.

You may indicate which assignment you prefer (seating or ticket tearing, etc.), however, please be prepared to perform any task the House Manager may assign you.

ALWAYS offer to take the patrons all the way to their seat by saying, “May I show you to your seat?”  When possible put the patrons’ chair seats down for them; doing so decreases the likelihood of confusion and/or reseating of patrons. If they decline to be taken to their seats, smile and assist the next guest.

When reading a patron’s ticket, be sure to verify the section, date and time of the show before showing patrons to their seats.  Sometimes ticket holders for the Cabot Theatre end up in the Studio Theatre and vice versa.  If this happens, direct the patrons to the correct theater.  If there is a serious seating or ticket problem or complaint in any area of the theatre, contact the House Manager or Renaissance Staff on duty to handle the situation.

All Ushers should remain at their posts until the House Manager instructs them to take their seats. The House Manager will tell the Ushers where to be seated.

During Intermission

If asked, please help the House Manager by standing at the base of the center aisle and the opening of the vom so that patrons do not wander onto the stage.

The End of the Evening

Smile to patrons as they exit the theater, thank them for coming and invite them to come again.

After patrons leave the theatre, all Ushers should check the seating area for items left behind. Please pick up any programs, wrappers, papers, etc.  If there is gum on the floor or seats or any spills, please inform the House Manager. Give any items, e.g., hat, gloves, left in the theater to the house manager.