MightyRecruiterA well-written usher job description is essential to your hiring process. Ushers work in performance venues and assist patrons with finding their seats. They greet customers, take tickets and provide help to patrons with disabilities.
Ushers should have at least a high school diploma or an equivalency certificate. They also need to have a solid understanding of customer service skills. Most of the specifics of the job can be learned upon hiring.
You should also aim to find someone who has strong oral communication skills and listening skills. Ushers work on their feet for most of their shift, so that is a consideration as well. Learn more about what to include by looking at the usher job description template here.
Usher Job Summary
Do you have a passion for the performing arts, or are you mesmerized by the experience of seeing a live show in a theater? If so, our venue is looking for you to join our team as an usher. In this role, you will be the first line of communication between our organization and the audience members who patronize our shows. You will be responsible for ensuring each ticket holder finds the correct seat and the audience is primed to get the full benefits of live theater and dance. You’ll enjoy free front-row access to some of the hottest performances in town as one of our staff members.
Job Responsibilities
- Welcome audience members to the venue upon entrance and assist them with finding the precise location of their seats according to their ticket information
- Use a scanning device or other handheld tool to ensure the ticket presented is an authentic credential for the specific performance scheduled
- Resolve any conflicts as needed when audience members are in disagreement about the location of their seats or when another patron is in the wrong ticketed section
- Aid patrons who have disabilities or other special needs in finding an appropriate seat or section for them to enjoy the show comfortably
- Answer audience member questions when asked about the content of the show or give advice about other spots nearby for food or lodging
- Enforce all venue performance rules throughout the live show, such as no flash photography, no recording, limited entry and exit and no access to restricted areas
- Follow all emergency procedures regarding venue evacuation and know the location of all exits throughout the building
- Maintain a professional appearance with a company-provided uniform to represent the venue in a positive light
Job Skills & Qualifications
Reqiured:
- High school diploma or its equivalency
- Able to stand for long periods of time
- Strong interpersonal skills and friendly demeanor
- Excellent customer service skills
Preferred:
- Experience working in a performance arts venue setting
- Ability to work weekends and nights
Usher Job Responsibilities
When writing your usher job description, remember that the formatting is often nearly as important as the content. You should organize the job responsibilities section as a bulleted list with between six and eight bullet points. This should make it the longest part of the job description, with the most substantial information about the position. Finally, the first word of every bullet point should be a strong action verb. This technique allows readers to envision themselves in the position. Some especially strong verb choices for the position of usher are in the example entries below.
The usher job responsibilities section affects the opinion readers have of the position. Your goal should be to entice candidates into applying by making sure the daily task expectations are perfectly clear. Implement the standard writing techniques demonstrated in the following example entries to strengthen your usher job description as much as possible:
- Collect tickets from patrons, and tactfully turn away those who have not purchased admittance
- Assist patrons in finding their seats, ensuring all guests adhere to the assigned seating
- Locate lost articles, moving them to the lost and found, and direct owners of lost items there
- Interact with patrons, answering inquiries and providing assistance
Usher Job Specifications
One of the best ways to write the job qualifications and skills section in your usher job description is to separate the information into two bulleted lists dedicated to mandatory and preferred qualities. Your biggest goal when writing is to avoid receiving either too many applications from unqualified candidates or no applications from talented ones. This part of your posting controls this aspect. Providing two lists of bullet points simultaneously discourages those who do not meet your requirements while offers more flexibility for those who do.
Before you begin writing your usher job specifications, it is a good idea to make sure you have a firm understanding of what your company’s expectations are. If a certain quality is a deal-breaker, you need to know in advance. Remember that this section should be the shortest in the usher job description, so you do not need to include more than the essential qualifications.
These sample entries include both kinds of requirements to help you write your own:
- Previous working experience as an usher preferred
- Experience working in the service industry considered a plus
- Excellent interpersonal communication abilities required
- Good attention to small details and strong perception skills
- Problem-solving, critical thinking and evaluation capabilities
