pjrails Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 "Curve" Ball As a technician it is not very often I go to see a show but last night I did and what an experience. We started off with lights in the bar going out and 5 minutes later coming on, technician's running around and talking on radios, lights in the bar going out again and coming back on, then approaching door 3 the lovely young lady saying "Sorry sir you will have to wait a moment we are having trouble with our lights they keep cutting out" and looking through the door no houselights and people sitting in the red glow of the House tab illumination.Power back on "Ok sir you can take your seat now, (looks at ticket) "Row C seat 10" I say, to save time, "Oh! We don't have a row C as there is an orchestra using the pit". So What I am I going to do?, after a few discussions over the radio She has it sorted and I end up with a seat.In a brand new multi million pound build theatre I have heard of teething problems like LX'es which I can understand but selling none existing seats, well, that sounds like a human, sorry I mean a 'computer' error.So why the posting? Just wanted to say a big "well done" to all the team at the theatre concerned (clue is in the title) with the performance and your problems pre show.The performance was excellent and very, very enjoyable and funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mushypeas Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Always is the case. No matter the quality of the stage performance or administrative errors, it's the people on the doors that make or break the punters' experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth A Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Actually double selling tickets and tickets for seats not there is quite common! Working in a ex Livenation venue - we always use to have issues with locally purchased tickets and at the same time Ticketmaster has allocated a ticket to the same seat. ! Happened many times. Though new - its 3 years old. So one would hope that would be solved, but these things do happen! Best one is when our theatre use to forget to allocate mixer seats and things.! Show arrives -mixer needed as per contract and everything, but the box office had forgotten to block off those seats. ! Sorta same thing! :) Any yes a smile form a lovely FOH team and a bit of honesty, goes a long long way to a happier experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomHoward Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Best one is when our theatre use to forget to allocate mixer seats and things.! Show arrives -mixer needed as per contract and everything, but the box office had forgotten to block off those seats. !Oh, this sounds familiar - as well as allocating the disabled access seats to able-bodied audience (as 'they're at the front'), and then asking if we can fit any more in when they get a late disabled booking.. We also had an eagle-eyed receptionist put the 'missing' Row I back in the seating plan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Front of house staff are rarely given praise when they're good, or ticked off when they're bad. What I mean is that much of their work is done individually, in a short timescale, so management really don't know what they say to people, unless they complain or praise, and sadly people always complain but seem reluctant to praise. I make it part of my job, when working as a company manager to get to know the FOH people, and report back good practice I see. It's rarely an age thing - but just an attitude to how they do their job. At my venue, where FOH training consists of how to count popcorn and make sure the sweeties are prettily displayed, actual communication skills are pretty weak with some. One fairly long term girl sells programs - but in reality she stands there and people give her money. They took a new girl on, who paraded around the aisles, waving them about and yelling programmes - get your celebrity, full colour glossy programmes here - street market style, and then when people asked how much, she said "a snip at only a fiver sir, would you like one or two?" She sold box loads, yet the other girl sold 2! At the end of the night the production manager gave the good one twenty quid for selling so many, and the other girl sulked for days - moaning that it was very unfair. How they deal with problems is really important. We had a fire alarm go off and on hearing the evacuation auto announcement, did exactly that - they evacuated themselves. Many FOH people are often performing arts students, and it shows. Dealing with the public is as important a skill as being able to rig lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth A Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 Can top that Paul - In a theatre once during a show - there was a gas leak!. .. full evacuation. . .. . forgetting the audience and the cast. Usherettes just walked out! - Volunteers!! But some I have to admit are really good !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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