Concert Operations Jobs

Thank you for your interest in the Operations department. At this time, our positions have been filled.

 

House Staff (Usher)

Wage: Base: $14.00/hr; Federal Work-Study required

Supervisor: Reports to the Concert Operations Manager; shift supervision and evaluation overseen by House Managers and Head Ushers

Functions: In Bienen School of Music and satellite performance venues, facilitate a positive patron experience, which includes guest hospitality and safety, visitor inquiries and concerns, ticket collection, and program distribution; provide operational support for student recitals; and assure compliance with venue and school policies in designated spaces.

Location: In-person shifts at Northwestern's Evanston Campus in Bienen School of Music performance venues

Hours: Hours of employment are in effect every week of the academic quarter, including reading and exam weeks. Generally, concert shifts occur in the evening seven days a week and occasionally during the day on weekends. Students are expected to be available for a minimum of two shifts each week (8-10 hours). Schedule availability is collected every two weeks to allow students greater flexibility and ensure proper coverage of open shifts. Substitutions are permitted if conflicts arise.

Dress: Ushers are expected to present themselves in a professional manner and adhere to a black-and-white dress code when working performances, including student recitals. Each individual is responsible for maintaining fresh and orderly clothing, as well as clean and appropriate shoes.

Responsibilities:
Public Contact: Very high level of contact with patrons
Monetary: None
Cleaning, Physical Labor, and Maintenance:

  1. Light cleanup of venues before/after performances
  2. Moving of materials or equipment up to 50 pounds
  3. Occasional moving of keyboard instruments

Specific Duties:

  1. Represent Northwestern University, the Bienen School of Music, and the Concert Management Office (CMO) by providing a high level of service to and/or supervision of patrons, volunteers, outside contractors/vendors, and performing artists
  2. Oversee and ensure the safety and security of patrons, performers, staff, faculty, and facilities
  3. Collect tickets, distribute programs, and direct patrons to appropriate seating
  4. Ensure the comfort of all patrons by preserving a quiet atmosphere during performances, by monitoring late seating of patrons at appropriate intervals, and by paying attention to environmental conditions that could affect the concert experience (e.g., temperature of the venue, quality of sound, obstructed sightlines)
  5. Provide information and/or assistance to patrons who require additional accommodation or support
  6. Work autonomously on behalf of the CMO to support recitals in designated performance spaces, and in all venues; ensure compliance with venue and school policies by patrons, performers, students, and faculty
  7. Check auditorium for lost items and trash objects following performances and secure venues following student recitals
  8. Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

  1. Demonstration of a patron-focused mindset and a willingness to deliver high-quality service at all times
  2. Ability to remain level-headed and calm in a crisis situation and when assisting dissatisfied patrons
  3. Capacity to interpret venue policies and enforce regulations
  4. Demonstration of an orderly and professional appearance and demeanor
  5. Strong interest in presenting the arts to the public
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House Manager/Head Usher

Notice: These positions were previously separate; as of 2022, they are now combined into one position.

Wage: Base: $15.50/hr.; Maximum: $17.80/hr

Supervisor: Reports to the Concert Operations Manager

House Manager

Supervises: Head Ushers, House Staff (Ushers)

Functions: Supervise personnel, general operations, and production activities in Bienen School of Music venues as assertive and reliable proxies for Concert Management Office (CMO) full-time staff; assure compliance with venue and school policies in designated spaces; and ensure the patron service experience meets high-quality standards for performing arts presenters.

Location: In-person shifts at Northwestern's Evanston Campus in Bienen School of Music performance venues

Hours: Hours of employment are in effect every week of the academic quarter including reading and exam weeks. Generally, work shifts occur during weekdays from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. and weekends 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Hours are occasionally extended to accommodate performances and public events, and other coverage hours are published in advance. House Managers are expected to be available for a minimum of three shifts every two weeks. Schedule availability is collected every two weeks to allow students greater flexibility and ensure proper coverage of open shifts. Attendance at training sessions may be required.

Dress: With the high degree of responsibility and authority associated with the house manager position, it is expected that the individual will dress in a professional manner, especially when performances are scheduled.

Responsibilities:

Public Contact: High level of contact with patrons, performers, faculty, staff, and students
Monetary: No direct contact; cursory supervision of Box Office staff Cleaning, Physical Labor, and Maintenance:

  1. Venue setup and cleanup, occasional emptying trash
  2. Moving of materials or equipment up to 50 pounds
  3. Occasional moving of keyboard instruments

Specific Duties:

  1. Represent Northwestern University, the Bienen School of Music, and the Concert Management Office (CMO) by providing a high level of service to and/or supervision of patrons, volunteers, outside contractors/vendors, and performing artists
  2. Oversee and ensure the safety and security of patrons, performers, staff, faculty, students, and facilities
  3. Train and demonstrate duties for new Operations employees, as a group and one-to-one
  4. Work autonomously on behalf of CMO to oversee performance and rehearsal spaces used by the Bienen School; make decisions with a very high consequence of error; and interpret and enforce venue and school policies
  5. Supervise concert operations and up to 30 student employees functioning ushers, stage managers, technical crew, and box office staff simultaneously in up to seven venues: Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, Galvin Recital Hall, Ryan Opera Theater, McClintock Choral and Recital Room, Regen- stein Master Class Room, Alice Millar Chapel, and Cahn Auditorium
  6. Communicate effectively and work collaboratively with university administrators, faculty, staff, visiting artists, artist managers, patrons, and students
  7. Work closely with rental organizations and their staff to facilitate successful performances by managing patron hospitality and coordinating operations for front-of-house, backstage, and technical areas
  8. Facilitate designated elements of artist hospitality (e.g., assigning and staging dressing rooms, artist transportation), and provide first-class support for visiting artists
  9. Complete training for certification in the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) and the administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in emergency situations
  10. Execute comprehensive building and performance venue opening/closing procedures to assure high security of designated spaces
  11. Coordinate with University Police and Facilities Management, as needed, to achieve objectives stated above
  12. Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

  1. High-quality service as a CMO employee for no fewer than three academic quarters prior to the starting quarter of service and demonstrated readiness to assume an active leadership position
  2. Demonstration of a patron-focused mindset and a willingness to exhibit that attitude at all times
  3. Ability to remain level-headed and calm in a crisis situation and when assisting dissatisfied patrons
  4. Understanding of other CMO student staff positions associated with presenting concerts and events
  5. Proven track record of leadership and fairness in working with peer employees
  6. Capacity to interpret venue policies and enforce regulations
  7. Strong interest in presenting the arts to the public

Head Usher

Supervises: Head Ushers, House Staff (Ushers)

Functions: In Bienen School of Music and satellite performance venues, facilitate a positive patron service experience, which includes guest hospitality and safety, visitor inquiries and concerns, ticket collection, and program distribution; assure compliance with venue and school policies
in designated spaces; and establish and enforce high-quality standards for student employees consistent with professional performing arts presenters.

Location: In-person shifts at Northwestern's Evanston Campus in Bienen School of Music performance venues

Hours: Hours of employment are in effect every week of the academic quarter, including reading and exam weeks. Generally, concert shifts occur in the evening seven days a week and occasionally during the day on weekends. Head ushers are expected to be available for a minimum of two shifts each week (8-10 hours). Schedule availability is collected every two weeks to allow students greater flexibility and ensure proper coverage of open shifts. Attendance at training sessions may be required.

Dress: With the degree of responsibility and authority associated with being a head usher, it is expected that the individual will dress in a professional manner consistent with the category of performance being presented.

Responsibilities:

Public Contact: High level of contact with patrons Monetary: None
Cleaning, Physical Labor, and Maintenance:

  1. Venue setup and cleanup, occasional trash removal
  2. Moving of materials or equipment up to 50 pounds
  3. Occasional moving of keyboard instruments

Specific Duties:

  1. Represent Northwestern University, the Bienen School of Music, and the Concert Management Office (CMO) by providing a high level of service to and/or supervision of patrons, volunteers, outside contractors/vendors, and performing artists
  2. Oversee and ensure the safety and security of patrons, performers, staff, faculty, and facilities
  3. Work closely with rental organizations and their staff to facilitate successful performances by supporting patron hospitality and front- of-house operations
  4. Work autonomously on behalf of CMO to oversee concert audiences and supervise house staff in performance spaces used by the Bienen School, and make decisions in conjunction with house managers that interpret and enforce venue and school policies
  5. Train and demonstrate duties for new members of house staff, as a group and one-to-one
  6. Complete an evaluation of each usher at the end of concert shifts using established expectations and guidelines
  7. Complete training for certification in the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) and the administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in emergency situations
  8. Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

  1. High-quality service as a CMO employee for no fewer than three academic quarters prior to the starting quarter of service and demonstrated readiness to assume an active leadership position
  2. Demonstration of a patron-focused mindset and a willingness to exhibit that attitude at all times
  3. Ability to remain level-headed and calm in a crisis situation and when assisting dissatisfied patrons
  4. Proven track record of leadership and fairness in working with peer employees
  5. Capacity to interpret venue policies and enforce regulations
  6. Demonstration of an orderly and professional appearance and demeanor
  7. Strong interest in presenting the arts to the public
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