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The most active theatre company in Cheltenham
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THE
PLAYHOUSE THEATRE, BATH ROAD, CHELTENHAM, GL53 7HG FRONT
OF HOUSE MANAGER DESCRIPTION OF ROLE AND DUTIES SYNOPSIS FoH Manager is responsible for the smooth running
of the evening from the audience perspective, and ensuring that all FoH staff
represent the theatre and company in a professional and helpful manner.
Duties include: - selecting and rostering a FIrst Aid team - selecting and rostering a FoH team - liaising with the DIrector/Prod Sec for any
information about the show that will affect the audience e.g. loud noises,
special effects, auditorium business - communicating First AId roster to the Production
Liaison Officer - ensuring that the FoH team is briefed on their
duties, and carry them out in a professional manner N.B. You will have in attendance a Representative
from the Playhouse Theatre Committee to give you guidance if you need it. SPECIFICS Liaison
with Show Director/Production Secretary Some weeks prior to the show the FoH Manager should
be contacted by or make contact with the above to check any special instructions
e.g. - if guns, strobes, pyros etc are to be used in the
show. FoH Manager should make and
put up warning signs at both the auditorium entrances. - any auditorium business so that Fire Watchers can
keep aisles clear etc - suitable or inappropriate late admission points
during the show in order not to have late-comers distract or interfere with any
"business" especially if taking place in the aisles with follow-spots
etc First
Aid cover
First Aid cover is a requirement of Health & Safety - only one first-aider
per performance is required. Normally
the FoH Manager organises the cover from a list of First Aid qualified people
from the membership. The committee
will provide this list for the task, unless already organised through an outside
agency (eg The Red Cross).
Whilst
they should be on the premises and have their FA equipment, there is no absolute
need for the First Aider to be actually in the auditorium during the
performance, although this is strongly recommended. Seats in row N (N5
& N6) are generally reserved for those from an outside agency, First Aiders
who are from the membership and who are doubling up as Firewatchers should sit
in the Firewatch side seats.
First
Aiders must be identifiable by wearing the supplied FA badges.
First
Aiders are to be offered interval drinks gratis. If theatre members are covering, they will additionally be
paid £10 per duty; if found from elsewhere (e.g. local employer) they will have
been offered a free seat for a friend in lieu of any payment.
A
First Aid kit is available from the Box Office (if the First Aider does not have
their own) before the start of a performance, and should be left in the (locked)
kitchen overnight where Box Office staff will collect it the following morning.
Should
an accident occur, record it in the Accident Report Book kept in Stage Manager's
Corner. Dress
Code FOH badges are provided and to be worn by all FOH
assistants. (You should find these
in the yellow cash bag where they should be returned each night) A combination of black/white clothes is
recommended. No DJs (except at Gala
Performances), jeans or shorts. First Aiders must wear the supplied FA badges. Induction
loop system Take or refer enquirers to the Box Office for
assistance. Collect in any devices
after the performance and return them to the Theatre Rep. Wheelchairs
Four wheelchairs on either side of the auditorium are allowed - two on
either side of the auditorium.
Each person with a wheelchair should be accompanied.
Wheelchair users should enter the building via the crash doors if
seated on House Right. Alternatively,
for access to House Left (foyer side) use the wheelchair ramp (kept in the
electrics cupboard at the rear of the auditorium) for afixing to the main
entrance steps. The ramp is
equipped with bolts that must be engaged in the appropriate holes in the front
steps.
The disabled toilet is backstage beyond the dressing rooms and can be
accessed via the pass door. The
following is not allowed:
The public are not to go through the pass door to the dressing rooms.
The cast are not allowed in the auditorium or Lounge Bar in
costume/make-up unless it is integral to the show.
No drinks are allowed to be taken into the auditorium, whether in a
plastic glass or not. The only
exception is Old Time Music Hall where a waiter service is provided.
Casual watching in the side aisles by theatre/company members - this is
distracting to the paying audience
No Smoking in any area of the building FOH
personnel
They should be on duty 45 minutes prior to start of
show and correctly attired - please give them a badge to wear. All the team should be made familiar with:
- the Fire Drill
- their duties
- any restrictions over admission points for late-comers
- any special effects or auditorium business
- the interval and end times
Should comprise the following (some doubling-up of duties where
possible):
Two people by House Left (foyer side) and at least one person at House
Right (Lounge bar side) auditorium entrances to sell programmes, collect ticket
stubs (these can be thrown away at the end of the evening) and direct people to
their seats etc.
Two people on the Bar
At least one person at Coffees & Sweets serving hatch
Two people at either side of auditorium on Firewatch (one a First-Aider)
whilst show is in progress (they can also ensure that door curtains are drawn
before the show starts and be ready to open them for interval and end of show).
One person to sell ice-creams in auditorium during the interval
One person, usually the FOH Manager, must stay on Foyer side to check in
with Stage Manager re. 3-minute bells, also in case of late-comers, and to be on
hand whilst the Box Office check money and close up.
FoH Manager - or other personnel - should wait in the foyer for the first
10 minutes after curtain-up to deal with any further latecomers. The
Theatre Lounge Bar/Coffee Hatch should be ready to start
serving 45 minutes before show starts. Whilst serving drinks pre-show, encourage
patrons to order interval drinks. Before
the Show.
Please ensure that you know the programme price, the time of the
interval, and the time the show ends, so that you can check that the
clocks in Box Office & Members Bar are correct.
Lucky Draw Slips (if used) will be available ready to be inserted into
each programme. Please ensure that those filled in are collected, and return
them, along with the programme money, to the Playhouse Company Wardrobe.
Pick up float & keys from box office,
and the programmes & float from Wardrobe.
Open up the kitchen and bar, switch on coffee machine, and disperse the
float money to the bar till, coffee (wooden tray)
and ice-cream (wooden bowl)
Coffee/bar assistants to set everything ready in the kitchen, bar and
lounge - including ice from the club bar ice machine.
Brief your team on the fire drill, interval & end times, and their
duties. For FIre Watchers this
includes briefing in any late admissions embargos for this show,
any auditorium-based "business" e.g. so that they keep aisles
clear, any special effects that they should be aware of and/or that should be
communicated to the audience, reminders to ensure auditorium doors are kept
closed during the performance, internal & external doors opened at the end
of the show and guide people out, saying "Good night"
At 3 minute bell, check with Box Office if there are any paid-for tickets
yet to be collected
Check-in with Stage Manager (phone on auditorium table at foyer-side
entrance) at 1 minute bells at start of show and after interval/s Just
before interval:
Put out pre-ordered drinks on trays onto Lounge tables.
Ice-creams
to be collected from Lounge Bar freezer and put in tray (with price list) and
sold in auditorium. Unsold
ice-creams to be returned to freezer as soon as sales cease. It is suggested you use the Pass Door to enter the auditorium
with the ice-creams so as not to be caught in interval traffic!
Ensure that Firewatchers return to their places for the second half. After
interval
Clear
away and wash up (you can use glass-washer machine in members bar for glasses
but not for crockery - please wash by hand) returning everything to its correct
place.
Remember
to dispose of the used coffee filter/s, remaining kettle water and used/dirty
J-clothes
Bar
staff to properly re-stock
bar/coffee hatch from the Members Bar Store, checking availability of crisps,
sweets, ice, lemons, milk, sugar, coffee, tea etc.
Empty
bottles should be returned/crated to Members bar every evening.
Dirty towels go in the laundry bag kept in the Members Bar.
Take full rubbish bags from Lounge & Bar to Members Bar and replace
with clean bags. Problems/breakages Any problems, stock shortages, complaints,
breakages to be entered in the FoH Book and the Theatre Rep informed. If urgent, leave note for the Box Office. Cashing-up
Money
from the till/boxes should be bagged up (keep them separate) and placed in the
yellow bag.
Cash
from programme sales should be kept with the programmes during the week but
handed to the Treasurer or member of the Committee on the final night.
Switch
off the lights* and lock the kitchen and bar, place the keys in the bag with the
money and place in the Members Bar safe (Badges also go in here at the end of
the evening).
*Ensure
that the Lounge central lights are still left on (2 way switch - in kitchen and
outside) At
the end of the show:
At
least one FOH person to be in attendance to open the Foyer Door and the
crash doors, to see/guide people out, say goodnight etc.
Close
foyer doors and crash doors securely - see the Stage Manager to ensure
that one of you is securing the chains on these doors.
After
audience has left, check toilets and auditorium for bodies, running taps,
lost property, pick up rubbish such as sweet wrapper/ice-cream cartons &
programmes etc.
Put out most of the lights.
Collect badges from all FoH personnel and place in yellow cash bag in
safe. Matinιes
If
there is a matinee performance, please can your team tidy up any rubbish in the
auditorium after the performance, as the theatre cleaner does not come back in
to clean the theatre in the afternoon. Ref: CarolMeredith.11.01.06
Amended April 2010 Ros Loveluck
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© The Playhouse Company Cheltenham, UK |
