Job Responsibilities

• An usher serves as liaison betweens customers and theater management.
  
  An usher, who generally wears a uniform or has a specific dress code, provides general information about a venue to customers. She ensures that customers are seated properly. He hands out programs. He enforces policies regarding seating late-comers, recording devices, cameras and cell phones. She informs management of any customer issues. He assists in emergency situations.
  
  

Job Opportunities

• The successful candidate may use online job boards as a resource.
  
  Theaters, performing-arts centers and concert halls across the United States employ ushers. A person seeking this type of employment can apply directly to the theater, hall or center for which she would like to work. Available ushering opportunities are also sometimes advertised in the classified sections of local newspapers. Additionally, these roles may be posted on online job search boards such as monster.com, jobs.com and careerbuilder.com. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada (I.A.T.S.E) is the union that represents ushers. It provides resources and networking opportunities for those who are actively seeking employment in this field.
  
  

Qualitative Requirements

• The successful candidates must have exceptional interpersonal skills.
  
  To be successful as an usher, a candidate must possess a pleasant disposition and strive for customer service. Great interpersonal skills are critical, as he will be required to interact with customers of all demographics, treating them in an affable and courteous manner. He must be able to stand for long periods of time. He must be able to lift boxes. He must be able to read and decipher small print on tickets. He must be able to think on his feet.
  
  

Educational Requirements

• There are no formal educational requirements to be an usher.
  
  Usher post, both union and non-union, are typically part-time. There are no formal educational requirements to attain this job.
  
  

Average Compensation

• The successful candidate earns about $18k annually.
  
  According to Salary.com, in 2009 the average usher working in the United States earns an annual base salary of $17,562. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates the employment of ushers to increase faster than average within the decade of 2006 through 2016.