Ushers responsiblities – the Fortune Theatre trust

Volunteers help keep the Fortune Theatre running.

We have many volunteers, each making an invaluable contribution to our organization.

Volunteers within our organization function in three primary arenas. Our most extensive program is for volunteer ushers, the people who greet and care for our patrons at every performance. We also use occasional office volunteers to assist with large mail-outs and interns at both the high school and university levels will also find opportunities at the Fortune Theatre.

Ushering

Volunteer ushers are the Fortune Theatre's single most direct link to our patrons. Ushering is a great way to support the theatre and see our performances at the same time.

Many of your questions about ushering are answered below.

Your Mission – You Represent Us

We consider our ushers to be part of our public relations team. It is the smiling faces of our volunteers that greet our patrons on the frontline at each performance, and so it is imperative that our volunteers remain focused on first-class customer service. We will work hard to take care of our volunteers, keeping them well-informed and well-trained. And in exchange, we ask our volunteers to give their very best to the Fortune Theatre and our patrons.

The Perks

Volunteerism is its own reward, no doubt, but a few extra perks never hurt anyone. We genuinely appreciate and value the time our ushers give to us, and in exchange, we promise to do our very best to provide you with an entertaining and gratifying experience.

Specifically, our ushers enjoy the following:

• Complimentary Admission to the Fortune Theatre's performances – See the shows you work for free. In exchange for your time before the show, during the interval, and immediately after the show, you get to enjoy some of the most extraordinary and truly compelling theatre in the region.
• Discounts – Volunteer ushers enjoy special discounts on tickets for virtually all of our productions through your Members' Society membership.
• Meeting People – People of all ages and from all walks of life usher at the Fortune Theatre, and all share an abiding devotion to theatre and the arts. The same is true for our patrons. With so many fascinating personalities coming through our doors for every show, sharing a good conversation and discovering common interests is as easy as saying "hello."
• Getting Inside – Ushering gets you inside the world of professional theatre. See how things work from the inside-out and meet the people who make things happen.

Description of Duties

Although all of our performance volunteers are broadly categorized as "ushers," ushers perform a variety of duties at the Fortune Theatre. Those duties vary slightly but they can be generally divided into the following categories:

• Ushers greet patrons, confirm date & time on tickets, tear stubs, sell programmes and give general directions. They also guard against certain food items and drink in glass entering the theatre. In case of fire, ushers will lead patrons to the designated assembly point after receiving instructions from the Stage Manager.
• Head Ushers serve pre-made coffee other beverages and snacks to patrons. They also handle money and listening devices and are responsible for set-up or clean-up. Head Ushers also have responsibility to their assigned areas.
• Walking the House – most ushers (unless assigned other specific duties) are also asked to walk the house following the performance to look for lost-and-found and other discarded items.

Time Commitment

Ushers usually make a commitment to work for one or two particular performances per production run during the season.

For the show:

Head Ushers are asked to arrive at the theatre one hour and fifteen minutes prior to curtain time for their assigned performances. Theatre Ushers who have responsibilities before the show, at interval and immediately after the show are asked to arrive 30 minutes prior curtain time.

After checking in, ushers may be asked to perform assorted pre-show duties. Once ushers are assigned positions, they are asked to remain in those positions until the show begins. Ushers should also report to their assigned positions at interval and following the show. When the performance ends, ushers help clear patrons and walk the house for lost items before checking out. This usually takes about 5 – 10 minutes. Lost items are to be left at our reception box office area.

During the show itself, ushers may watch the performance and monitor the audience for disruption such as excessive noise from patrons.

Safety

Torches are available from the Head Usher and must be kept in the Usher's possession during a performance in case of emergencies. Seating patrons safely is an important part of the usher's duties.

First Aid

First Aid kits are located in the Green Room and in the kitchen next to the bar area.

Admittance

Patrons can only be admitted into the auditorium once you have received clearance from the Stage Manager.

Dress Code

When volunteering for a performance, ushers must always come neatly dressed in black and white. The general uniform is black on the bottom, white on top. All black is also acceptable.

Jackets and ties are not required for gentlemen, but they are certainly very welcome. Either skirts or slacks are acceptable for ladies.

Administration and Mailings

The Fortune Theatre sometimes requires volunteers in administrative areas of the theatre. For instance, we often need help with preparing large mailings such as our newsletter. Occasionally, there may also be on-going projects, special events, and other activities with which volunteers may be involved.

Administrative volunteers are generally needed on weekdays during regular business hours. Some event/activity volunteers may occasionally be needed at other times of day.

Internships/work experience

The Fortune Theatre views internships/work experience as an outstanding educational experience. During this time students have the chance to work closely with theatre professionals in a variety of departments within our organization.

We offer opportunities for students at the high school and university levels to participate in both short and long term internships. If you know of young people who may be interested contact manager@fortunetheatre.co.nz

An enormous Thank you!