OVERVIEW
Part American palace, part industrial shed, Park Avenue Armory is dedicated to supporting unconventional works in the visual and performing arts that need non-traditional spaces for their full realization, enabling artists to create, students to explore and audiences to experience epic and adventurous presentations that cannot be mounted elsewhere in New York City. Park Avenue Armory provides opportunities for employees to enrich and develop their love of the arts while contributing their specific skills, expertise, and talents.
SUMMARY
As members of the Front of House Staff, ushers work as a team to ensure a comfortable and safe experience and are a go-to resource for all patrons. Ushers may rotate through several roles, including greeting patrons and providing directions to seats, scanning tickets, distributing programs, and, in case of emergency, directing patrons to exits while remaining calm. The Front of House team is under the direction of the Director of House Management and is supervised by the on-duty House Manager during performances and events.
Ushers are typically scheduled for 4-hour shifts at a time, and hours can vary according to the event or performance schedule and may include daytime, evening, weekend, and holiday shifts. This is a part-time, as-needed position, and weekly work is not guaranteed.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Welcome patrons to the Armory in a friendly and professional manner while providing expedient customer service.
- Check and scan tickets, distribute programs, and direct guests to their seats.
- Respond to patron concerns and special needs, reporting issues and safety concerns to the House Manager.
- Enforce house rules, such as entry, egress, food and drink policies inside the theater, late seating, photography policies, and health & and safety guidelines.
- Direct guests to the restrooms, refreshments, and exits as needed and provide accurate information about the event or performance upon request.
- Notify the House Manager and/or security staff of emergency situations immediately as they occur.
QUALIFICATIONS
- A welcoming, professional demeanor, collegial, and comfortable with flexibility.
- Ability to actively engage patrons in a courteous manner and anticipate patrons’ needs.
- Demonstrate a willingness to quickly learn and implement new front-of-house procedures, including updates to health and safety protocols as needed.
- Habits of consistent reliability and punctuality.
- Fireguard F-03 certification is required. Must be willing and able to assist with emergency evacuations and maintain knowledge of all venue fire and emergency evacuation plans. Pay is $18/hour under the condition that a Fireguard certification is held and maintained.
- First Aid, CPR, and AED certification is a plus.
- Ability to use ticket-scanning devices, read and interpret ticket information, and distribute programs.
- Ability to stand for varying periods of time.
EXPERIENCE
- Relevant customer service experience or experience as an usher in a similar professional venue is preferred.
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
Research shows that women and people from underrepresented groups often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the qualifications for a role. If much of this job posting describes you, then please apply for this role.
Park Avenue Armory provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, alienage or citizenship status, marital status or domestic partner status, genetic information, genetic predisposition or carrier status, gender identity, HIV status, military status and any other category protected by law in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, lay-off and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment.
