Usher Pay On Broadway

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 2:05am

I was wondering how much ushers make on Broadway and if there are certain theatres that pay more than others?

[Just_John]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 4:55am

It is a union job, so they’re paid the same.  I think the not for profit theatres have their own contracts and pay less, though with NYs minimum wage being $15 an hour maybe it’s more now.  Google says the average usher is paid $25,430 a year, which sounds about right. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 5:04am

If you search, ypu should be able to find a relatively new thread on this topic as a former poster shared lots of info.

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 4:18pm

dramamama611 said: "If you search, ypu should be able to find a relatively new thread on this topic as a former poster shared lots of info."

 

Thank you for the good advice however search results turned up nothing using keywords like usher, local 306 and pay. I just wondered because a friend said that people prefer to work for the Shubert organization over somewhere like The Beaumont or The Friedman because the pay is so much higher. I would have assumed that all ushers get paid the same.

 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 5:05pm

SmoothLover said: "dramamama611 said: "If you search, ypu should be able to find a relatively new thread on this topic as a former poster shared lots of info."



Thank you for the good advice however search results turned up nothing using keywords like usher, local 306 and pay. I just wondered because a friend said that people prefer to work for the Shubert organization over somewhere like The Beaumont or The Friedman because the pay is so much higher. I would have assumed that all ushers get paid the same.

"

Min wage $15hr  ~ ATG-Ambassador Theatre Group I hear is a terrific group to work for (Hudson & Lyric)!

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 9:02pm

ATG screwed over a bunch of part time ushers who waited around for a year for Harry Potter after Paramour closed only to have to reinterview and then essentially got let go, screw them. 

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 9:02pm

I assume you get at least 4 hrs pay every performance, is that correct?

[Just_John]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 9:49pm

Half of the ushers leave once the show begins.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 10:37pm

Just_John said: "Half of the ushers leave once the show begins. "

But the pay is the same. Ushers get paid the same amount if they are on the late shift or early shift 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 10:55pm

Full-time ushers also get benefits(medical, dental, etc.).

[Fosse76]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 11:03pm

The current contract calls for ushers to be paid approximately $72 per performance in for-profit league houses. Overtime for any performance longer than three hours.

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 5/6/19 at 4:38am

ACL2006 said: "Full-time ushers also get benefits(medical, dental, etc.)."

I do not think that is true. The Local 306 Union is very weak in that regard and insurance is substandard. That much I happen to know. Most ushers have Obamacare. I had just heard that recently houses had gone up to 72 dollars a show and I wondered if it was true because it sounded like a very fair wage.

 

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 5/6/19 at 5:55am

I feel the need to comment on a few things since I usher on Broadway. 

First off, there are two categories of ushers on Broadway. Substitute ushers and permanent ushers. Permanent ushers have their own "home base" theatre, they are there eight times a week, week in, week out. And sub ushers are called in for those who call out. Subbing is hard because it takes a lot of networking since chief/head ushers can and often do play favorites. Simply because if they are calling in a sub to fill in for a shift(s) they want them to be good. Not an easy position to put yourself it, but after working for three years between various theaters I can get eight shows a week in total no issue at this point.

Yes, some ushers are there the entire performance, others leave after roughly the first half hour of the show. However, it is a rotation. So, say you were there the entire performance on a Saturday night, the week after you'd be on the earl shift then. Pay is the same regardless.

All ushers regardless of being a sub or permanent usher get the same union benefits. Not saying that they are high end fancy benefits, but they are there.

By virtue of being part of 306, I can work for any organization they cover. For example, I work as a sub for Nederlander, Shubert and NYC Ballet/ Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. The different non profit theatres have their own contracts with the union, and, from what friends from work tell me, because it's non profit their contract isn't as strong. 

And yes, there was a salary increase that was put into play very recently. It used to be roughly 56 bucks per show in terms of being paid. that recently moved up to 75. Once again, same for all ushers permanent or otherwise. This is all I can think of now, but happy to answer any questions one might have. 

[Wick3]

Posted: 5/6/19 at 7:22am

Thx for sharing islanderfan. I always hear ushers get jobs through family/friends/referrals. Do you feel that’s true from your experience?

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 5/6/19 at 7:54am

"And yes, there was a salary increase that was put into play very recently. It used to be roughly 56 bucks per show in terms of being paid. that recently moved up to 75. Once again, same for all ushers permanent or otherwise. This is all I can think of now, but happy to answer any questions one might have. "

Just curious the actual hours of the early and late shifts assuming most shows run around 2 1/2 hours.

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 5/6/19 at 12:14pm

75 dollars sounds like great pay! Someone said that the non profit theatres pay a lot less. How much do people get paid at the Beaumont, Freidman and Roundabout?

[Mike Barrett]

Posted: 5/6/19 at 12:55pm

I really would like to usher someday soon. For someone who doesn't know anybody in the industry, but has 3 years of customer service experience and is great with customers, do I have any chance? 

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 5/6/19 at 1:46pm

SmoothLover said: "75 dollars sounds like great pay! Someone said that the non profit theatres pay a lot less. How much do people get paid at the Beaumont, Freidman and Roundabout?"

Well, regarding the non profits, it's interesting. I did a shift at MTC and, many of the things ushers get that are standard everywhere else such as a break and an early shift late shift rotation aren't always there at the non profit houses. Furthermore, pay isn't as good either However, not sure the exact number I did my shift but decided to not go the non profit route anymore. Furthermore, on a personal standpoint as it relates to me getting shifts, I can get plenty of work without going the non profit route. 

@ Yankeefan, all ushers have to report an hour before showtime, 8 PM show gotta be in by 7 etc. If you're on the early shift you generally leave sometime between twenty min to a half hour after the show has started. If you're on the late shift you're there for the whole performance, leaving when the audience is gone. For example, if you're stationed in the mezzanine during the show and you're on the late shift, you have to wait for the entire mezz to clear out before you can go. Believe it or not, faster process than one might think. 

wick, while it is true that there's a lot of family ties as it were for usurping, I got my job by submitting a cover letter and resume to Nederlaner and got hired that way. But, I will say that they are trying to make it less and less a thing. However, there are a ton of ushers and as a result, not really something they can keep track of. I honestly believe that it regardless of the company, it sort of works, but feels like a trying in vein sort of thing for me. There are way too many ushers to keep track of all this from happening. 

 

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 5/6/19 at 2:00pm

yankeefan7 said: "

Just curious the actual hours of the early and late shifts assuming most shows run around 2 1/2 hours."

So for the most part, everyone is called in for one hour before showtime. (Some theaters are slightly earlier)        During that hour, you find out where you are working that night and then you stuff the playbills with any inserts for absent cast members. And then you seat the patrons. 

When the show starts, everyone is stil there for latecomer seating a short time into the show.  Then the full time staff is given a 15-20 break (estimated...depends on show) while the early staff is still there. When that break is over, the early shift is done and the late staff remain until the patrons leave. 

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 5/6/19 at 2:45pm

KathyNYC2 said: "yankeefan7 said: "

Just curious the actual hours of the early and late shifts assuming most shows run around 2 1/2 hours."

So for the most part, everyone is called in for one hour before showtime. (Some theaters are slightly earlier) During that hour, you find out where you are working that night and then youstuff the playbills with any inserts for absent cast members. And then you seat the patrons.

When the show starts, everyone is stil there for latecomer seating a short time into the show. Then the full time staff is given a 15-20 break (estimated...depends on show)while the early staff is still there. When that break is over, the early shift is done and the late staff remain until the patrons leave."

That's not accurate, well not fully. I will start by saying that there have been many theatres that I have worked at over my three years of being a sub. And, only one does breaks in the way you described it. 

Also, it is very important to point out that, when it comes to usher work and even dealing with the union, there's  zero difference between a sub and a full time permanent. So, the statement that only the full time permeant staff gets a break is not true at at all. 

So, most mezzanines on Broadway have two ushers on the late shift up there. One on each side. so, say I am working a show where I am stationed there one the late shift and the breaks are twenty min each. If I go on the second break, everyone leaves at the same time both those who are on the early shift and the usher going on the first break. Meaning, I am up there on my own till the usher comes back from break and then I go on break, he's up there alone and then I come back. it has nothin to do with full time ushers or being a sub usher. 

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 5/6/19 at 3:01pm

Islander_fan said: "KathyNYC2 said: "yankeefan7 said: "

Just curious the actual hours of the early and late shifts assuming most shows run around 2 1/2 hours."

So for the most part, everyone is called in for one hour before showtime. (Some theaters are slightly earlier) During that hour, you find out where you are working that night and then youstuff the playbills with any inserts for absent cast members. And then you seat the patrons.

When the show starts, everyone is stil there for latecomer seating a short time into the show. Then the full time staff is given a 15-20 break (estimated...depends on show)while the early staff is still there. When that break is over, the early shift is done and the late staff remain until the patrons leave."



Also, it isveryimportant to point out that, when it comes to usher work and even dealing with the union, there'szerodifference between a sub and a full time permanent. So, the statement that only the full time permeant staff gets a break is not true at at all.."

You misunderstood what I said. Or rather I wasn’t clear. Or a little of both. I didn’t mean full time vs part time subs. I meant full time with regards to those who were staying for the full show that day. I probably should have said early and late shift. My apologies for the confusion. It indeed has nothing to do with being a  permanent or substitute usher.  

I have also subbed in many theaters. As i started earlier, this was an approximate example to those who had no idea how it works. Every theater is indeed different within the same union rules. 

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 5/6/19 at 5:03pm

How much did they pay at the Friedman?

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 5/6/19 at 6:52pm

SmoothLover said: "How much did they pay at the Friedman?"

I honestly don’t remember it was close to a year ago and it was a shift or two so I honestly don’t remember the exact amount sorry.

[Wick3]

Posted: 5/6/19 at 7:33pm

Sounds like one of the pros of being a sub is you're able to go to different theatres and usher there (versus being permanent to your home base/theatre)

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 12:03am

Do ushers work side jobs? 75 per performance only works out to like 31k a year, so I'd assume many would do work during the day.

Is there upward mobility? Do ushers become house managers, company managers, etc?