Iowa Western Community College Foundation

Thank you for your interest in ushering for the Arts Center at Iowa Western. As an usher, you are often the primary contact that our patrons have with the Arts Center and your patron interaction will help form their relationship with the Arts Center. We appreciate your dedication to our community and the performing arts. Usher Duties: 1. Types of events • National Performance Series – This is the Arts Center’s public ticketed performance series. • Youth Series – The series provides professional educational programming, free to area elementary schools. • Iowa Western Community College events –IWCC’s band, choir, and theater departments all perform on our stages. Occasionally, ushers will be involved with assisting for these performances. • Rental Events – Includes dance studio recitals, dance competitions, lectures, music competitions, etc. 2. Time Commitment • Volunteer shifts will be approximately 4 hours long. Some may be slightly more, some will be less. Volunteers should arrive at the time indicated on their schedule, usually 75 minutes before a show. 3. Dress Code It is important for our ushers to have an easily recognizable uniform look so that patrons can identify them in times of need. All ushers will be issued an usher badge to be worn during their shift, and returned following the shift. Usher dress consists of a white collared shirt/blouse and black non-denim pants/skirt. Other acceptable additions are black suit/sportcoat, black dress, black sweater, etc. The dress is black & white, business casual or better. 4. Usher Responsibilities a. Attending Pre-show meetings to learn assignments and policies for each event b. Taking Tickets c. Seating patrons d. Assistive listening system (distribute devices) e. Elevator operation f. Address situations that arise, including: - Duplicate seating. - Late Seating. - Seating patrons in the dark. - Flash photography/recording policies - Food and drink policies g. During the show Once the show has begun, the House Manager may release the ushers to go in and watch the show, pending available seating. At intermission, please resume your assigned duties. h. Post performance All ushers should return to their assigned post before the end of the performance. At the end of the performance, ushers should prop open the exit doors. - Smile and thank the patrons for their attendance - Prevent patrons from entering stage or backstage areas - Police the seating area, removing any trash or items left behind - Be sure to return name badge and flashlight to the office and check out