*The following are the general job descriptions for each of our usher jobs. Not all events will have all the jobs.
Some events may have additional jobs or there may be revisions to certain job descriptions.
Ushering is one of the MOST important jobs in a theater! It is a job of SERVICE and SAFETY. You are tasked with taking care of our AUDIENCE! You are the FACE of Maui OnStage as you perform your job duties. The audience sees and interacts with YOU first before the show even starts!
All ushers need to be at least 15 years old, warm, welcoming and have a desire to make sure audience members are happy and SAFE at all times.
In general, we require 4-6 ushers per event. Some events may require more. There are a variety of usher jobs. Not all will be needed for each event. The usher sign up will list which jobs will be needed for a particular event.
USHER JOB DESCRIPTIONS
1. Door Person – This person stands in the theater doorway, greets audience members and answers any questions. You will direct ticket holders to Seating ushers should they require assistance to their seats. During the show, you will be monitoring the audience for safety and assist audience members if needed. During intermission, you will open and stand by the front door, greeting audience members and answering any questions. At the end of intermission, make sure all patrons are back in the building and close the door. After the show, you will be monitoring and assisting audience members to exit the theater safely. You will then walk through the aisles of the theater, picking up Usher Seating cards and trash left by patrons.
NOTE – This person must be very cheerful, be able to stand for up to an hour at a time, be able to hear well and speak loudly and clearly.
2. Ticket Scanner – This person stands in the theater doorway, greets audience members and scans their e-tickets with a (provided) mobile scanning app. You will direct ticket holders to Seating ushers should they require assistance to their seats. During the show, you will be monitoring the audience for safety and assist audience members if needed. During intermission, you will open and stand by the front door, greeting audience members and answering any questions. At the end of intermission, make sure all patrons are back in the building and close the door. After the show, you will be monitoring and assisting audience members to exit the theater safely. You will then walk through the aisles of the theater, picking up Usher Seating cards and trash left by patrons.
NOTE – This person must be very cheerful, be able to stand for up to an hour at a time, be able to hear well and speak loudly and clearly. This position requires the ability and manual dexterity to operate a mobile device with a pre-loaded scanning app.
3. Seating Person – This person stands at the top of the entry ramps, greets audience members and assists them to their assigned seats. You will need to wait in the entry ramps for 15-20 mins after the show starts to assist the House Manager with any late arrivals. After which, you may sit in your designated seats. During the show, you will be monitoring the audience for safety and assist audience members if needed. During intermission, you will stand at the top of the entry ramps or at the bottom of the ramp by the stairs to the stage, if needed. After the show, you will be monitoring and assisting audience members to exit the theater safely. You will then walk through the aisles of the theater, picking up Usher Seating cards and trash left by patrons.
NOTE- This person must be very cheerful, be able to walk back and forth/up and down the ‘Iao Theater’s aisles for up to an hour at a time, be able to hear well and speak loudly and clearly. This position requires accuracy in locating the proper seats quickly as well as being able to see in lower light conditions.
4. Concession Table Person – (*This job is almost always specifically for the One Night Only (ONO) Series.) This person sets up, distributes and puts away the tub(s) with mini-water bottles and ice. This involves going into the downstairs concessions area, getting the tub(s) and filling it with ice and mini water bottles. Bring the tub(s) upstairs along with 2 large towels and setting it on the table in the lobby. The tub is set on one towel and covered with the other. Distribute water before the show and during intermission (if applicable).
If there is an intermission: After the start of the show, the concession table must be moved to the center of the lobby, the tub(s) refilled with mini water bottles if needed and covered with a towel to stay cold. Someone MUST stay outside with the waters during the first half of the show. Most times this can be the Box Office person, but if for some reason they are unable to, then the Concession Table Person will need to stay outside during the first half of the show. During intermission, distribute water bottles to audience members. After intermission, the tub(s) with ice and leftover water bottle must be QUIETLY taken back downstairs. Leftover water bottles are to be put back into the refrigerator, place the tub(s) of ice into the triple-bay sink. PLEASE DO NOT DUMP THE ICE OUT INTO THE SINK DURING THE SHOW! Put towels into the dirty towel container on the shelf opposite the triple-bay sink. Table outside is to be wiped down and put into the Box Office.
If there is NO intermission: After the start of the show, the tub(s) with ice and leftover water bottle must be QUIETLY taken back downstairs. Leftover water bottles are to be put back into the refrigerator, place the tub(s) of ice into the triple-bay sink. PLEASE DO NOT DUMP THE ICE OUT INTO THE SINK DURING THE SHOW! Put towels into the dirty towel container on the shelf opposite the triple-bay sink. Table outside is to be wiped down and put into the Box Office.
After the show, you will be monitoring and assisting audience members to exit the theater safely. You will then walk through the aisles of the theater, picking up Usher Seating cards and trash left by patrons.
NOTE – This person must be very cheerful, able to lift and carry a tub with water bottles and ice up and down the concessions area steps, able to stand for an hour at a time, be able to hear well and speak loudly and clearly. *Due to the extra duties involved, this person WILL miss parts of the show.
5. Concessions Helper – (*Wailuku Coffee Company is the current concessionaire for Maui OnStage. Maui OnStage no longer runs its own concessions. While this position MAY be listed for an event, there is the possibility that Wailuku Coffee Company may have enough people and a helper may not be needed that day. If this is the case, this person may be switched to another job.) This person will assist Wailuku Coffee Company with the preparation, sales and clean up of concessions before the show and during intermission. This person MAY need to handle money.
NOTE – This person must be very cheerful, able to lift and carry pots of coffee, boxes of snacks, etc. This position requires the ability to stand for an hour at a time, be able to hear well and speak loudly and clearly. *Due to the extra duties involved, this person MAY miss parts of the show.
6. Bus Greeter – This person in charge of moving Da Artsy Bee sign back and forth from the loading zone. You will greet and assist the patrons getting off the bus and direct them to the Door/Ticket Scanners or the Check-In Table. During intermission, come outside to the lobby and help monitor audience members and answer questions. About 10 mins before the end of the show, come outside and move the sign out of the loading zone to make way for the bus to arrive, stand by the sign and assist the patrons getting back on the bus. If needed, do a walk through the theater announcing “Anyone for Da Artsy Bee? Artsy Bee leaving now.” You will need to wait outside until all bus riders have left which could be up to 3+ bus trips. After the last bus has left, put sign back into Box Office.
NOTE – This person must be very cheerful, be able to stand for up to an hour at a time, be able to hear well and speak loudly and clearly. This person will also need to be able to lift and carry a large sign weighing over 20lbs. In case of rain, appropriate footwear and a jacket that can get wet should be worn as this position requires being outside. Umbrellas will be provided for you and to hold over patrons as they arrive by car or exit/enter the bus.
7. Check-In Table – This person assists the Box Office person with checking in audience members while seated at a table in the lobby. You will greet patrons, ask them their last name, find them on a list, advise them of their seat assignments and point out which door to enter the theater. You may need assist in scanning patrons’ e-tickets using a mobile device. You will need to wait at 15-20 mins after the show for any late arrivals. During the show, you will be monitoring the audience for safety and assist audience members if needed. During intermission, you will stand at the top of the entry ramps or at the bottom of the ramp by the stairs to the stage, if needed. After the show, you will be monitoring and assisting audience members to exit the theater safely. You will then walk through the aisles of the theater, picking up Usher Seating cards and trash left by patrons.
NOTE – This person must be very cheerful and welcoming, be able to hear well and speak loudly and clearly. This position requires the ability and manual dexterity to operate a mobile device with a pre-loaded scanning app. This position requires the ability to locate names quickly on multi-sheet list of 100’s of names and accurately convey seat assignments. This position requires SPEED and ACCURACY.
USHER REQUIREMENTS
1. Check in 1 hour before curtain at check-in table in the lobby outside.
2. Wear black pants and a white shirt. (*This is very important! In case of an emergency, audience members need to be able to spot an usher quickly!)
3. If you have a MOS usher/board member badge, pls wear it. If not, you will be given one to wear for the show.
4. Bring a small flashlight. If you do not have one, you will be provided one to use for the show. (*ALL ushers should have a flashlight on them in case of an emergency!)
USHER SEATING
Maui OnStage provides designated usher seating. The seat locations have been specially chosen for audience monitoring purposes and quick access to exits in case of an emergency. They are all marked with an ORANGE Usher Seating card. See Luana, Heather or the House Manager for the assigned seats. Please do NOT arbitrarily sit in different seats without double checking with the House Manager first.
Note: The ushers in the 2 seats closest to the stage are required to open the 2 side exits in case of an emergency
MORE USHER INFORMATION
Don’t be a No-Show: As soon as you sign up for an usher spot, be sure to write it down on your personal calendar. A few days before the event watch your email for a reminder from Sign Up Genius.
If you are unable to make an event, contact the Box Office as soon as possible. 808-242-6969 [email protected]
Parking is limited here in Wailuku due to the municipal lot being closed. Street parking is available on Market and Vineyard streets as well as the community lot on Wells Street. Do NOT park in the stalls marked Reserved behind the ‘Iao Theater as these belong to the Pono Building and you will be towed. There are 3 Accessible stalls near the theater: 2 in the small lot on the side of the theater, 1 on Market St in front of Kipuka Sq.
Thank you all for considering to usher here at Maui OnStage! We know ushering is a little different now than how it was in the past. We sincerely appreciate your time, efforts and understanding as Maui OnStage returns to having full seasons once again.