The Ticket Tearing Technique

So you’re probably thinking, what is the life of an usher at a contemporary performance theatre such as the greenroom, really like? It’s great, lots of time off, the summer to yourself, get to see shows and get paid. The added benefits of a home away from home, regulars who you sort of know and don’t know; performers whose show you remember or don’t. Names lots of names, that don’t always link with the image of a face, but that may just be I brain. (Sorry if you have suffered at my blank questioning “hello, don’t I know you” face) And most importantly, my social life is sorted, as I tend to work Fridays and Saturdays. I rarely need to worry about the answer to “what are you doing this weekend?”

Sounds pretty easy? Its not, ticket tearing techniques themselves are an artform. It’s not enough to look at the ticket with head bowed reading the small print, tear the stub off, return the bigger stub, and randomly reach for the next one. No, an usher must make eye contact, smile, check the glass is plastic; the ticket is right, say “hello” with a smile “enjoy the show”, reach for the next ticket and hold on to the little stubs. This doesn’t even include the ushering people out of the theatre quickly without being too bossy technique, standing by a door without looking threatening or bored techniques, or the dreaded but thankfully occasional “would you mind filling out this questionnaire” techniques.

This week I’ve been practising all of the above as Emergency is upon us, our yearly instalment of new performances from emerging performers. For us ushers one of our more hectic weekends of performances. 40+ shows in four or 5 different areas and one show starting every twenty minutes, queues for this show intermingling with queues for the other shows, emptying the theatre spaces in record time, and a fair amount of “go here, do that, tell so and so” randomness.

So hopefully we’ll see you coming to watch some shows, by new performers before they hit the big time. Its all free, starts Friday evening, ends Sat night. I’ll be the one in the black polo shirt that says staff, come and say hello.

conor a

http://emergencymcr.posterous.com/

http://www.greenroomutd.org/scheme/emergency

For an usher at the greenroom the end of summer is marked by fire training which heralds the beginning of a new season of shows, and the end of having my Friday nights free. This will be my sixth year at fire training, and over the years I’ve picked up a bit of knowledge about what happens at the greenroom. Like three years ago, the buzzwords in contemporary theatre seemed to be “lack of pre-tense”, I wasn’t sure what it meant then but over the 3 years I think I figured out and I think last year’s programme of shows saw it emerge in the performances. A season of shows which spoke to me directly as an audience member more than any previous year. And this season’s programme of shows looks exciting and challenging. Last year, the phrase Super-Modernism started to be whispered in the passageways. A quick search on Amazon will only bring up books about architecture. So I reckon we have a few years before it filters into contemporary theatre practice and onto the stage of the greenroom. Hopefully by that point, I may have some idea about what it means.

Hopefully, over the next few months, this blog will give you an usher’s eye view of the goings-on at the greenroom. Reviews of the shows, where possible interviews with the artists and the company’s; if I hear whispers of what is new and up-and-coming in the world of contemporary theatre. I will try to keep you informed in a “Bluffers Guide to the greenroom” way. I am not an authority on theatre practices. I’m just a bloke who rips your ticket and makes sure your safe. And with your safety in mind, i am of to sit in one of the big comfy  red chairs and learn about contemporary safety practices.

Talk to you soon

Conor A.