Cirque Usher Training
Jul. 29th, 2004 02:36 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jbsegalSo, as I noted in the posted-via-phone-browser note of 7/23 (http://www.livejournal.com/users/jbsegal/89483.html ), rule one of Cirque is: Show up on time.
I know there were 3-4 people who almost were permanently turned away for not showing up for training on time, and there may have been more who didn't manage to talk their way out of it.
cue
The 1st test seems to have been that of finding the correct entrance. It would've been obvious had I driven in that way, but coming in from the other end of Suffolk Downs and parking fairly near the front gate, it's not really surprising (in retrospect) that I (and everyone else, it seems) had to walk around half of the circus grounds to find our way to the correct entrance.
After the initial checkin and discussion of what dates we're not available, we went to have ID pictures taken.
We then hung out more and waited.
Eventually, we were led across the back side of the lot, through what would later become the front-of-house into the Tapis Rouge - the red carpet lounge for those forking out extra for the deluxe food-drinks-desert-drinks-bonus-gift-best-seats package.
Intros from a few Adecco folks and then from the Cirque staff followed. The head of security (who started as an usher 5? years ago) gave a rundown of what not to do... Don't forget your badge. Don't steal. Don't bother the talent. Don't go anyplace that you're not working (at which point he noted that this would probably be the only time we saw the inside of the Tapis Rouge). Don't take pictures inside the big top. More or less: Don't be a jerk.
Then the head of Box Office And Ushers said hi. Then the 2 Head Ushers started a back-and-forth presentation about things. Be positive. Be helpful. Promise nothing. Turn any problems with tickets over to the box office. No tips. Listen. You are the face of cirque. You are the people who will be seen most by the patrons. Make us proud. There was also a discussion of a 7-point service agenda that really seemed to only have 5 points.
Dress code is black - shoes, socks, pants and shirt. A vest (to be returned) will be provided.
We then split up into 2 groups. My group started out heading to the big top, which was still under construction, light focus, and so on.
We were given a rundown of the layout of the space - From stage right, doors 7, 5, 3, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, stage left. Seating sections 205, 203, 201, 200, 202, 204, 206 and 103, 101, 102, 104. Rows AA, BB, A-G in section 1, H-S in section 2. There'll be (a various number) of folks at each door. Your job is to get people to their seats. People will make this difficult. They'll take themselves to the wrong seat. They'll have tickets for the other show that day, or for that show the next day, or for next week... or for another city altogether. EVERYONE should look at the tickets and make sure they're for the current show, that they're heading in the right direction, that they sit in the right place, because you know when 2 people are trying to sit in the same seat, that seat WILL NOT be on the end of the row, it'll be in the middle.
Everything that's wrong with a customer's day will be your fault. Smile, nod, and know you'll never see them again.
Send them on their way with a smile and a Thank You For Coming.
Don't let them sit during the No-Seating segments of the show. Don't body-check them if they ignore this, though. Carlos (the head-usher doing this part of things) notes that his greatest moment of job-happiness is seeing, as an act ends, the applause starts and the lighting shifts, all the patrons who've been waiting to be seated being lead to their seats simultaneously.
You'll get to know the show really well. You'll know the music cues. You'll know which cue means lunch and which is get your ass back from lunch. You'll know when your break is, and so on, from the sound of the show, even if you're outside.
Carlos says he'll know all of our names by the end of the run. He'd like us to know the people we're working with on any given day - 1-3 other names - so we can give status reports as requested.
Oh, and on 2 show days, 2 inside ushers will also work as barkers.
Eventually, we're turned over to the other head-usher for the outside half of the tour/training. There are 8 outside ushers... 2 at the front gate (Welcome! Go this way for doors 1-3-5-7, that way for 2-4-6-8 or to the box office...), 2 ticket takers at each of this and that way, and 2 others that I don't remember what they do. Here are the bathrooms and the outside (small) concession stands. Here are the handicapped entrances - being so close to back stage, all handicapped patrons are escorted in.
On very hot days, the outside crew can wear shorts (black) and white tshirts. Umbrellas are provided if it's raining.
This is backstage. You're never coming back here again, so enjoy it now. Here's repair and fabrication. Here's the artistic tent - rehearsal, costume, backstage. Hope your curiosity is satisfied.
Here's the kitchen truck. You may partake on 2 show days. Here's your tent. Yes, it's a 10x10 pit behind the security truck, but it's yours. It has the lockers and water coolers and time clocks.
Ok, take a break. During this time, you should meet some of your fellow workers, as you'll be introducing them to everyone else in the next part.
Finally, we reconvene in the Tapis Rouge. Introductions ensue. I introduce Maeve, who's been living in Boston for 20+ years, is an elementary school teacher looking for a new school while spending the summer working various "interesting jobs". She's never seen Cirque before, even on TV/Video.
A fair number of the people here have worked for Cirque before, on previous times in Boston, or sometimes elsewhere. Some have had other family members work for Cirque and recommend the experience. Some are just out of work and looking for some money. Hey, Cos: Someone from FLUTTR (Kara, I think, but maybe Valarie) is working there, making extra money for their upcoming German odyssey.
And then there are 'followers', who travel with the show doing Usher stuff city to city. I need to talk to one of them and see how they live on that salary when on the road.
Finally, we're given the 1st week schedules (which cover one show). I'm not working. It's very disappointing, actually. I should find out by tomorrow (ok, I'll be calling them if I've not heard anything by the afternoon) what the coming week's schedule looks like.
All in all, not the most intellectually challenging task I've ever undertaken, but I'm sure it'll present its own interesting growth opportunities...
I know there were 3-4 people who almost were permanently turned away for not showing up for training on time, and there may have been more who didn't manage to talk their way out of it.
cue
The 1st test seems to have been that of finding the correct entrance. It would've been obvious had I driven in that way, but coming in from the other end of Suffolk Downs and parking fairly near the front gate, it's not really surprising (in retrospect) that I (and everyone else, it seems) had to walk around half of the circus grounds to find our way to the correct entrance.
After the initial checkin and discussion of what dates we're not available, we went to have ID pictures taken.
We then hung out more and waited.
Eventually, we were led across the back side of the lot, through what would later become the front-of-house into the Tapis Rouge - the red carpet lounge for those forking out extra for the deluxe food-drinks-desert-drinks-bonus-gift-best-seats package.
Intros from a few Adecco folks and then from the Cirque staff followed. The head of security (who started as an usher 5? years ago) gave a rundown of what not to do... Don't forget your badge. Don't steal. Don't bother the talent. Don't go anyplace that you're not working (at which point he noted that this would probably be the only time we saw the inside of the Tapis Rouge). Don't take pictures inside the big top. More or less: Don't be a jerk.
Then the head of Box Office And Ushers said hi. Then the 2 Head Ushers started a back-and-forth presentation about things. Be positive. Be helpful. Promise nothing. Turn any problems with tickets over to the box office. No tips. Listen. You are the face of cirque. You are the people who will be seen most by the patrons. Make us proud. There was also a discussion of a 7-point service agenda that really seemed to only have 5 points.
Dress code is black - shoes, socks, pants and shirt. A vest (to be returned) will be provided.
We then split up into 2 groups. My group started out heading to the big top, which was still under construction, light focus, and so on.
We were given a rundown of the layout of the space - From stage right, doors 7, 5, 3, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, stage left. Seating sections 205, 203, 201, 200, 202, 204, 206 and 103, 101, 102, 104. Rows AA, BB, A-G in section 1, H-S in section 2. There'll be (a various number) of folks at each door. Your job is to get people to their seats. People will make this difficult. They'll take themselves to the wrong seat. They'll have tickets for the other show that day, or for that show the next day, or for next week... or for another city altogether. EVERYONE should look at the tickets and make sure they're for the current show, that they're heading in the right direction, that they sit in the right place, because you know when 2 people are trying to sit in the same seat, that seat WILL NOT be on the end of the row, it'll be in the middle.
Everything that's wrong with a customer's day will be your fault. Smile, nod, and know you'll never see them again.
Send them on their way with a smile and a Thank You For Coming.
Don't let them sit during the No-Seating segments of the show. Don't body-check them if they ignore this, though. Carlos (the head-usher doing this part of things) notes that his greatest moment of job-happiness is seeing, as an act ends, the applause starts and the lighting shifts, all the patrons who've been waiting to be seated being lead to their seats simultaneously.
You'll get to know the show really well. You'll know the music cues. You'll know which cue means lunch and which is get your ass back from lunch. You'll know when your break is, and so on, from the sound of the show, even if you're outside.
Carlos says he'll know all of our names by the end of the run. He'd like us to know the people we're working with on any given day - 1-3 other names - so we can give status reports as requested.
Oh, and on 2 show days, 2 inside ushers will also work as barkers.
Eventually, we're turned over to the other head-usher for the outside half of the tour/training. There are 8 outside ushers... 2 at the front gate (Welcome! Go this way for doors 1-3-5-7, that way for 2-4-6-8 or to the box office...), 2 ticket takers at each of this and that way, and 2 others that I don't remember what they do. Here are the bathrooms and the outside (small) concession stands. Here are the handicapped entrances - being so close to back stage, all handicapped patrons are escorted in.
On very hot days, the outside crew can wear shorts (black) and white tshirts. Umbrellas are provided if it's raining.
This is backstage. You're never coming back here again, so enjoy it now. Here's repair and fabrication. Here's the artistic tent - rehearsal, costume, backstage. Hope your curiosity is satisfied.
Here's the kitchen truck. You may partake on 2 show days. Here's your tent. Yes, it's a 10x10 pit behind the security truck, but it's yours. It has the lockers and water coolers and time clocks.
Ok, take a break. During this time, you should meet some of your fellow workers, as you'll be introducing them to everyone else in the next part.
Finally, we reconvene in the Tapis Rouge. Introductions ensue. I introduce Maeve, who's been living in Boston for 20+ years, is an elementary school teacher looking for a new school while spending the summer working various "interesting jobs". She's never seen Cirque before, even on TV/Video.
A fair number of the people here have worked for Cirque before, on previous times in Boston, or sometimes elsewhere. Some have had other family members work for Cirque and recommend the experience. Some are just out of work and looking for some money. Hey, Cos: Someone from FLUTTR (Kara, I think, but maybe Valarie) is working there, making extra money for their upcoming German odyssey.
And then there are 'followers', who travel with the show doing Usher stuff city to city. I need to talk to one of them and see how they live on that salary when on the road.
Finally, we're given the 1st week schedules (which cover one show). I'm not working. It's very disappointing, actually. I should find out by tomorrow (ok, I'll be calling them if I've not heard anything by the afternoon) what the coming week's schedule looks like.
All in all, not the most intellectually challenging task I've ever undertaken, but I'm sure it'll present its own interesting growth opportunities...