meany center for the performing arts usher...
TRANSCRIPT
University of Washington’s
MEANY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
USHER MANUAL
2018 - 2019 SEASON
Table of Contents
Meany Hall History page 1
Customer Service Guidelines page 2 Core Usher Policies page 3
Employee Reference page 5
Safety page 14
Studio Theater page 24 Jones Playhouse page 25
Meany Center Staff page 26
Appendix Table of Contents
Tessitura Instructions Ticket Images Music Notecards Lost Ticket Meany Genteral Seating Chart Jones Playhouse Seating Chart Rental Stub Report MC Devo Reception Setup Evacuation Maps Post Show Reception Setup
Appendix A Appendix B-1 Appendix B-2 Appendix B-3 Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E Appendix F Appendix G Appendix H
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MEANY HALL HISTORY
The original Meany Hall was built in 1908 as the auditorium for the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific
Expo by architects Howard and Galloway at a cost of $181,000. The original building was situated
between Memorial Way and 15th Avenue, directly across from Suzzallo Library. Originally called
Auditorium Hall, it was used as the athletic arena during the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Expo. After the
exposition closed, the hall was used for student assemblies and for music and drama performance.
The seating capacity at that time was 2,595.
In 1909, the student newspaper, The Daily, started an editorial campaign to rename
Auditorium Hall to Meany Hall, in honor of history professor and Board of Regents member,
Edmond S. Meany. The Board of Regents resisted the name because no other campus building at
that time had been named for a living person. It was officially dedicated and renamed Meany Hall
on Professor Edmond and Mrs. Meany’s 25th wedding anniversary, Campus Day, May 1, 1914.
Edmond Meany passed away of a stroke in his campus office in Denny Hall at the age of 72 on
April 22, 1935. His portrait is hanging in the east lobby by the drinking fountain. Mount Meany in
the Olympic Mountains, Meany Crest on Mount Rainier, Meany Hall for the Performing Arts (UW),
Camp Meany (a Cub Scout camp on the Olympic Peninsula from 1939-1942 and now a part of
Camp Parsons), and Meany Middle School in Seattle are all named in his honor.
In 1958, a $75,000 renovation improved the lighting and sound of the interior of Meany.
This renovation also included structural reinforcements, although engineers predicted that it would
eventually have to be brought down. On April 20, 1965, an earthquake in Seattle rendered Meany
unsafe for occupation and it was condemned. The demolition of Meany Hall provided more
opportunities for campus planners to open up the space in what is now known as Red Square. It
was not until 1974 that a new hall for the performing arts was built, southeast of the former
entrance. The architects for the new building were Kirk, Wallace, McKinley & Associates, and it
was built for a cost of $7,122,884. That same year the grassy area adjacent to it was replaced
with the tiles of “Red Square”. In 1995, Meany Hall underwent a face-lift, which included new
exterior brick, roofing, auditorium seats, painting, lobby lighting and new carpet. In 2007, the
lighting system and electrical infrastructure for the stage was replaced.
The Meany stage has seen appearances by public figures have included Secretaries of State
George Schultz and Condoleezza Rice, South African activist Desmond Tutu, Secretary-General of
the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, 60’s counterculture figure Timothy Leary and Microsoft co-
founder Bill Gates. There have also been appearances by classical musicians such as Yo-Yo Ma and
Phillip Glass, as well as great Russian-American dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, choreographers such
as Merce Cunningham, Alvin Ailey, Trisha Brown and Mark Morris.
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CUSTOMER SERVICE GUIDELINES
The guidelines listed below should be viewed as baseline or minimum employee expectations and
a guide to the creation of customized service. The term “guest” or “patron” usually means
audience member, but can also include performers, clients, or others using the Meany Hall lobby.
1) First Impressions Matter Greatly
i. A professional appearance shows how much you care about yourself, your job, and the
people you serve.
ii. Posture, gestures, and facial expressions indicate to guests your availability to help.
iii. Tone of voice and the use of humor can contribute or detract from interactions.
iv. Start and end every contact and communication with direct and open eye contact.
2) Greet and Welcome Every Guest
i. Extend the appropriate greeting to each guest with whom you come into contact.
(Examples: “Good morning/afternoon/evening,” “Enjoy the Performance,” “Welcome,”
”Have a good day,” “May I help you?” etc.)
ii. Make guests feel welcome by providing a special differentiated greeting for each area.
(Like the front door or house doors.)
iii. Use gender-inclusive language to avoid assumptions and make everyone feel welcome.
(Instead of “sir/ma’am/mister/miss” or presumptive pronouns, use “people/folks,”
“they” as a singular pronoun, or a simple “excuse me.”)
3) Seek Out Guest Contact
i. It is the responsibility of every usher to seek out guests who need help or assistance.
Be observant and anticipate needs.
ii. Listen to guests’ needs, answer questions, and offer assistance.
4) Provide Immediate Service Recovery
i. It is the responsibility of all ushers to attempt, to the best of their abilities, to
immediately resolve a guest service failure before it becomes a guest service problem.
ii. Always find the answer for the guest or find another employee who can help the guest.
iii. Whenever possible, follow through with every guest service failure until it is resolved.
iv. Responses like “It’s not my job” undermine every aspect of customer service. Instead
of “I don’t know,” “allow me to find the answer.”
5) Display Appropriate Body Language At All Times
i. It is the responsibility of every usher to display approachable body language when
working - including active engagement in all assigned tasks, attentive appearance,
open posture, and appropriate facial expressions.
ii. This excludes yawning, slouching, leaning, arm-crossing, or postures that express
boredom or indifference.
6) Preserve the “Evening at the Theatre” Guest Experience
i. Always focus on the positive, rather than the rules and regulations (Example: “Would
you please finish your coffee in the lobby” rather than “You can’t take that in there.”)
ii. The lobby floor is not a place to discuss personal problems or job-related issues. If such
concerns are keeping you from positive customer service interactions, ask your
supervisor for support.
7) Thank Every Guest
i. Extend every guest a sincere thank-you at the conclusion of every interaction.
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CORE USHER POLICIES
AVAILABLE POSITIONS:
● Ushers – Approximately 22 seasonal positions, base pay rate of $15.45/hour, required
availability for 10 events per month.
● Lead Ushers – Up to 6 seasonal positions, pay rate of $15.95/hour, required availability
for 12 events per month. Promotion consideration based on job performance in late
January and late May.
● Assistant Student House Manager – Up to 3 seasonal positions, pay rate of
$16.45/hour, required availability for 12 events per month. Promotion consideration based
on job performance in late January and late May. Prerequisite: Lead Usher.
● Student House Manager – Up to 2 seasonal positions, pay rate of $16.95/hour, required
availability for 12 events per month. Promotion consideration based on job performance in
late January and late May. Prerequisite: Assistant Student House Manager.
DRESS CODE:
● Clothing worn should demonstrate an usher’s ability to serve patrons with grace, respect,
and personality. If clothing is worn that does not demonstrate that ability, or prohibits an
usher from assisting in an emergency, Supervisors may send an usher away without pay
until they are dressed in accordance with these policies.
● White shirt, black tie (depending on shirt’s neckline), black pants or skirt, black belt (highly recommended for clip-on radios), black or neutral hosiery, black flat shoes. No hats may be
worn. This dress code makes you easily identifiable to guests.
● Shoes worn should be those in which you could assist guests in case of emergency - high
heels and open-toed shoes are not suited to this purpose.
● Clothing should reflect a professional appearance – clean, ironed and in good condition.
● You will usually wear a house radio - plan accordingly and wear something belted so the
radio does not pull down on your clothing.
● Usher name tag (magnetic), worn on the right side of white shirt.
● Usher clothing may be stored in the Usher Room closet on a labeled hanger.
THINGS TO KNOW:
● The length of entire performance.
● The number and length of intermissions.
● The late seating policy.
● The “kids policy” for the event. ● When, where, and if: refreshments are served, the bar is open, and merchandise is being
sold.
● Whether the artist will be signing merchandise post show.
● When and where any receptions are held.
● Pre-show lecture or post show Q&A information.
● If it is a Meany Center Visiting Artist subscription renewal night.
● The location of the Meany Center comment box.
● The location of the Green Room entrance.
● The location of priority seating spaces (ADA spaces).
● How to operate the wheelchair lift.
● The event sponsor.
● For President’s Piano Series and the World Music Series (and occasionally other events),
two rows of seats are added to the front of the main floor (rows AA & BB).
● The capacity of the facility is 1206 plus 4 priority spaces (1253 with rows AA and BB).
● Meany Hall has no Row I or Row Q due to their similarities with other letters.
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EVENT DUTIES: ● Electronic communication devices are not permitted on the lobby floor. Ushers should wear
a watch so you can keep track of time and provide patrons with timing information when
asked.
● While you may be working with great friends, you are compensated for serving guests and
accomplishing tasks as assigned. Structure your communication with other ushers to
maximize availability, and remain in tune with your surroundings.
● When the house opens before the performance, if there are 2 ushers at a door (typically
doors A and D), station one usher inside the house to direct patrons to seats.
● During the performance, remain at your post. You must be able to see your assigned
door at all times. If you need to leave your post for any reason, request assistance from
the Lead Usher or House Manager.
● At least one usher must be standing at the open front door - not seated on lobby benches
so guest needs may be met immediately and the door can be closely monitored.
● Reading a book or other low-impact activity (like class work) is appropriate when the
performance is running, no patrons are in your area, and no other tasks are assigned to
you. Please delay such activities until late-comer seating is complete and always store
materials out of sight of guests (no laptops in the lobby).
● During intermission, remind patrons exiting the front doors that ticket stubs are required
for re-entry. Check ticket stubs when the patron re-enters.
● Check tickets carefully at the entrance doors - confirm that the event, date, and time are
correct, especially when multiple events take place (main stage and Studio Theatre running
simultaneously) or when an show takes place over multiple evenings.
● Lobby noise carries into the house. Keep the lobby and the usher room quiet, and take
special care when accessing equipment in the storeroom or when a patron is watching the
performance on the lobby monitors.
● One usher will always be stationed inside of the main house (and balcony, when utilized) to
ensure patron safety and assist with any issues that may arise. If possible, this position will
rotate so that no one usher is required to stand inside for an entire performance. House
Manager may assign additional ushers for larger-scale events.
● All ushers will open and close doors according to calls by House Manager (or Lead Usher)
and accomplish other duties as assigned.
● Following a mainstage performance, ushers assigned to doors A and D are stationed at the
base of the stage stairs and remain until the main floor is clear. Patrons are not permitted
onstage unless specifically permitted by the House Manager.
● Once patrons have cleared the house, all ushers assigned to house doors should “sweep”
the house for items left behind. Report found items to the front door as they are found with
description of object and its location, then take the item to the front door.
● Close inner and outer auditorium doors, and the front doors when assigned.
● Complete each door’s specifically-assigned closing duties.
● Ushers reset lobby post-show as needed for the next event.
● Know locations of restrooms, drinking fountains, emergency exits and seat number
patterns.
● Keep aisles clear of obstructions - including patrons standing or sitting in aisles or
wheelchairs obstructing walkways. All mobility aids not being utilized must be stored
behind the last row or stored outside of the house.
● Report anything in the house that needs attention to the Lead Usher or House Manager
(i.e. burned-out lights, malfunctioning doors, squeaky seats, etc.).
● Before leaving, all ushers must report to the House Manager to check out and complete
entry and submission in Workday.
● Do not chew gum on the lobby floor.
● Empower yourself to solve a patron issue before requesting the Lead Usher or House
Manager.
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● Be your own advocate: if something does not feel right, talk with the House Manager or
Lead Usher. We are a team and should invest in each other’s safety, wellbeing, success,
and growth.
EMPLOYEE REFERENCE
ASSISTIVE LISTENING SYSTEM: ● We use a RF (Radio Frequency) assistive listening system. The signal is transmitted over
radio frequencies to a personal receiver. The advantage of RF technology is that there are
no “line-of-site” issues and the technology can cover a wide area. For users with a hearing
aid that have tele-coil (T-Coil) capabilities, a personal neck loop can be used with the
personal RF receivers. The audio signal is transmitted via magnetic field to the user’s
hearing aid, therefore using the actual hearing aid as the receiver to the ear.
● Charging: The charging status uses LED lights
○ RED – battery is being charged
○ GREEN – battery is fully charged
○ YELLOW or ORANGE – battery is defective, let the HM know so new batteries can be
ordered.
○ Place the receiver into one of the charging compartments in the charging case.
○ Charging a completely discharged battery takes approximately 2.5 hours.
● Volume display: Adjusting the volume – turn volume control dial. It has no end stop so
you can turn it endlessly to the left or right.
● Channel display: All devices are tuned to Channel 1.
● Switching the unit on:
○ The receiver automatically switches on when you pull the earbows apart. The
display switches on. When you release the earbows, the receiver switches to
standby mode and then switches off after 2 minutes.
○ You can connect an induction loop or any pair of headphones with a 3.5 mm mono
or stereo jack plug to the headphone socket. To switch the receiver on: press the
ON/OFF button. To switch the receiver off: Press the ON/OFF button for 3 seconds.
When you unplug the headphones from the receiver or switch off the transmitter,
the receiver automatically switches off after 5 minutes
○ Charging case: switch the charging case on – set the mains switch to the position
“I”, the LED POWER lights up. (Cases should always be plugged in).
● Cleaning:
○ Before cleaning, make sure that all devices are switched off and unplugged from the
power supply
○ Use only a soft and dry cloth to clean the devices
○ To clean the earbuds – carefully pull the earbuds off the receiver. Clean the earbuds
with warm, soapy water and rinse them well. Dry the earbuds before putting them
back on the receiver.
● Check out:
○ Take a driver’s license or credit card as collateral and place in the small box next to
charging unit. Return ID when patron returns unit.
● Tracking:
○ A tracking sheet on a clipboard will be next to the charging units. When returning
the unit at the end of the night, fill in the sheet.
○ Ask the patron for any feedback and write in comment section.
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ATTENDANCE:
● Failure to report for work without sending a substitute is considered a “no-show.” ● A written warning is issued after one no-show.
● Two no-shows constitute two-month probation and all complimentary ticket privileges
suspended. Three no-shows are grounds for dismissal.
● A “late arrival” will be recorded when an usher arrives to work more than 10 minutes past call time. Two recorded late arrival constitute one no-show.
● Please call the usher room at 206-616-8739 or House Manager any time you are delayed.
BACKSTAGE ACCESS: Patrons are not allowed backstage or in the Green Room at any time. Refer insistent patrons to
the House Manager who will deliver any notes, flowers, etc. being sent to performers. Performers
usually meet people only at the conclusion of a performance, if they agree to do so at all. Patrons
are to wait outside the doors from the house to the Green Room. Guests are not allowed onstage
or backstage via the stairs from the house.
CALL TIME: The call time listed on the monthly schedule is when you must be in the Usher Room (Room 103),
dressed and ready to work. Enter the building through the Green Room door (through courtyard,
near Studio Theater entrance) by swiping your Husky Card for entrance. If you are late or
unavailable for your scheduled shift, always call Audience Services Manager, and if close to
call time, the scheduled House Manager or Usher Room phone (206-616-8739). Add these
numbers to your phone.
CLOSING THE HALL: ● The House Manager at each event will appoint a "Closing Captain" if there is no Lead
Usher.
● Closing duties assigned by door - each set of tasks hangs from the flashlight hook on the
back of each program stand.
● It is the responsibility of the Lead Usher or Closing Captain to ensure duties are completed.
● Make sure the key bag contains all four sets of keys and hand the bag to Lead Usher or
House Manager.
COMPLIMENTARY TICKET POLICY: All Front-of-House staff are required to have standard-issue tickets to see a show. No one is
allowed in to attend any Meany Hall or Meany Studio Theater event without a ticket.
● Usher must have met the availability requirements of the previous month.
● No comps are granted to ushers on probation.
● Only two tickets can be requested per event.
● No comps will be granted for an under-staffed event.
● Comps are granted on a space-available basis.
● Comp tickets are not available for any School of Drama events.
● You may purchase advance student tickets to any Meany Center Visiting Artists event at
20% of the regular price for Zone A seating (limit one per ID) and $10 student tickets
for Zone B (limit one per valid student ID).
● When Comps for Meany Center Visiting Artists, School of Music, or Program in Dance
are granted, they can be picked up at the Will Call desk on the night of the event. For
rental events check with House Manager or an usher at the front door. Bring photo ID
for Will Call pick-up. Comps for Rental events will be with the event’s House Manager.
● Comps may not be exchanged for other events.
● To obtain tickets:
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o Complete the pink Usher Complimentary Ticket Request Form a minimum of 5
working days prior to the event requested and return the completed form to the
House Manager or to Audience Services Manager directly.
o Confirm your request by calling or emailing Audience Services Manager a
maximum of two working days prior to the event (or by Friday after 10:00am for
a weekend event).
CHILDREN:
● Children under 5 are not permitted in any Meany Center or UW Dance Program events and
this policy is printed on the back of each ticket. Direct parties with under-age children to
the box office for further assistance.
● All School of Music performances allow children. Any in their own seat require a ticket;
babes-in-arms are free.
● Policy for rental events will be set by the client and communicated in pre-event meetings.
● When children are allowed, talk with the parents prior to seating about potential
disturbances. If a disturbance occurs and the parents do not take them out, courteously
ask them to leave the house until the child is once again quiet.
DOOR ASSIGNMENTS:
● When you arrive at your assigned house door, check that house is clean and ready, aisle
lights and flashlights are working, and inner doors are open with the outer doors closed.
● Principle tasks are: availability to all patrons, handing out programs, helping patrons find
their seats. Patron service is a priority, since patrons can retrieve their own programs from
stands.
● Remind patrons that:
○ No food or drink (except sealed water) may be taken into the house.
○ In most cases cameras and/or recording equipment may not be used in the house.
● Ushers are to remain at their assigned positions until dismissed or reassigned by the House
Manager.
● Each door has slightly different duties:
○ Door A: Has a set of keys for the alarms on the Emergency Exit doors, the Green
Room doors and the wheelchair lift. Ushers at this door should watch Green Room
door for unauthorized lobby entrances.
○ Door B: Know the location of the priority seating (ADA) spaces - always
accompany patrons using mobility aids to their seats. Check east lobby emergency
doors (near “egg sculpture”) to ensure they are latched and locked prior to lobby
opening. Know how to operate the wheelchair lift. Help with access to the
storeroom to authorized individuals. Distribute programs to latecomers watching
house monitor.
○ Door C: Know the location of the priority seating (ADA) spaces - always
accompany any mobility impaired guest to their seat.
○ Door D: Check west side emergency doors to ensure they are latched and locked
prior to lobby opening.
○ Doors E and F: Open balcony bathrooms. Avoid entering door E during
performance except at designated latecomer seating. Direct patrons to emergency
stairwell next to elevator in case of evacuation. Turn on balcony monitor prior to
show, and turn off after show.
○ Front Door:
■ Take tickets, retain the small portion of Meany Hall tickets, the small portion of
Ticketmaster™ tickets, small portion of Brown Paper Tickets or the pink copy of
Lost Ticket Checks (yellow copy to patron.)
■ For School of Music events, check Notecards and Faculty/Staff passes, VIP
and student passes (see Appendix B-2). Count the number of patrons using
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One-Quarter Notecards or Season Notecards using a clicker. For Faculty/Staff
passes, VIP and Student passes record the respective numbers on paper
separately. Notecards and student passes - admit one. Faculty/Staff passes
admit two. VIP – admit people listed on pass (could be more than one).
■ During intermission, check ticket stubs of patrons re-entering - remind
patrons to have their stubs with them for re-entry.
■ In case of emergency evacuation, call lobby elevator to main floor and turn
off.
■ In case of emergency evacuation, open the front doors first then direct the
evacuation of lower lobby. Check for mobility impaired patrons. Only
mobility impaired patrons and their escorts may exit through the double
doors next to lower lobby men's restroom into parking garage vestibule
(need 640 key for access). If the parking garage is deemed safe (for most
cases except earthquakes), escort the party into level C2, up the ramp to C1
then south to outside.
■ Know how to operate the wheelchair lift.
■ Responsible for a set of Meany Hall keys (stored in ticket column closest to
the stairs).
■ Work with Lead Usher and House Manager to distribute and receive Assistive
Listening Devices.
EARLY DISMISSAL: The House Manager will require a minimum number of ushers to stay through each event until the
house and lobby are entirely clear of patrons. Sometimes, at the House Manager’s discretion,
some ushers may be released early if their duties are complete. Assume that you will stay through
for all events. Ushers in the Studio Theater or Jones Playhouse typically stay through.
FLASHLIGHTS: ● Always take a flashlight to your assigned house door and return at the end of your shift.
● Flashlights are kept in a basket beside the radios in the usher room, with extra batteries.
● When escorting patrons, walk in front of them and shine the light on the floor beside you
as you walk.
● Do not lift the beam of light from the floor when in the house.
KEYS:
There are three sets of keys available—one for Door A (green), and one for the front doors (blue).
The third set is used by the Lead Usher (also blue). All key sets contain the following:
● #640 – disarms and rearms the alarms on the Emergency Exit doors next to the green
room; opens: usher room, usher room closet, storeroom, catering room, all exterior doors
to the building, exterior and house doors in the studio theatre. Locks and unlocks parking
garage doors and operates switches for automatic door openers.
● #1285 – opens: door from the lobby to the Green Room, the Box office doors, the Audience Services office, light booth door, and any door to the stage.
● #2252 - operates the wheelchair lift.
● #644 – opens: electrical panel closet in hallway to Usher Room (location for three
emergency survival kits), switch panel closet (2nd floor Studio Theater lobby) switches for
lobby lights, “paint locker” (near catering room) where coat racks are stored.
● Hex key or allen wrench – used to lock or unlock panic bars on exteriors doors and Lobby-
to-Green Room doors.
● Do not take keys into the house after the start of the performance.
● Return all keys to the Lead Usher or House Manager before leaving the building.
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LATECOMERS:
● Latecomers are seated only at suitable intervals set by the clients and Audience Services
Manager.
● The House Manager will inform the staff of the latecomer policy on the night of the event.
● House Manager or Lead Usher gives late seating cues via radio.
● Video monitors are available in the main lobby and the upper lobby - please encourage
latecomers with tickets for the balcony to watch the upstairs monitor.
● Once the house lights are down, patrons must always be accompanied inside with flashlight.
● Look at the latecomer’s ticket(s) in advance so you know where you are taking them.
LOST AND FOUND: ● Carefully sweep of the house and lobby after the audience departs and notify the front door
of any lost items. State description of the item and location.
● When the sweep is complete, give the found items to the Lead Usher.
● Found items will be kept for three months in the HM office. They will then be donated or
made available to staff.
● All found electronics will be sent by the Audience Services Manager to the HUB lost and
found. They make every attempt to contact the owner. If unclaimed after 60 days, they
clear the device of any personal info and reset to factory defaults before selling items
during their monthly lost and found sales.
● If an item is reported lost:
○ Write the patrons name, contact information, a description of the item, and where it
was lost and deliver to the Lead Usher.
○ Supply Audience Services Manager business card (located in stub column) and
instruct them to call with questions during business hours.
OBSTRUCTIONS: Strollers, tripods, car seats, skateboards, or any other large items that may obstruct patron access are not permitted in aisles (or in seats) inside the house. Please store mobility aids in the lobby, near their user’s ticketed door, and return during intermission and at the end of the performance. Note the patron’s row and seat number on blue tape and stick it on the respective walker. Store strollers and car seats in the lobby near their user's ticketed door.
PHONE USAGE: There is not a public pay phone in Meany Hall, Meany Studio Theater, or Jones Playhouse. If a
patron needs access to a phone, call the House Manager.
PRE-SHOW LECTURES:
● Doors A & D open early for the lecture - refer to the whiteboard in the usher room before
the show for details.
● All patrons attending pre-show lectures will enter the house through doors A and D and
may sit anywhere, but encourage them to sit toward the front and center of the house.
● Patrons using mobility aids may enter through doors B and C.
● One usher at doors A and D will use clickers to keep track of the number of patrons
entering the house. Record start and end times and clicker counts at both times.
● The balcony will remain closed during lectures.
● At the lecture’s conclusion, doors B, C, E, and F will be opened by a call from the House
Manager.
● Chamber Dance performances presented by Department of Dance and some School of
Music events may have pre-show lectures in the West Lobby.
● Door D usher counts attendees to West Lobby lectures.
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RADIOS:
● All ushers must utilize a radio and headset.
● All Front-Of-House radios operate on channel 2.
● Radio calls begin with the caller saying, “<caller’s name> to <receiver’s name>.” The
standard response is, “Go for <receiver’s name>.” House Manager’s announcements or
directions to all ushers do not follow this format. Example: “Ushers open all doors.” No
response is necessary unless you require clarification about the instruction.
● All radio communications should remain professional and brief.
● When you are finished using a radio, return it to its assigned charger cradle and ensure it
is charging. (red light)
● Return the headset to a hook in the usher room.
● Do not leave radios unattended. They should be clipped to your belt or clothing.
● If green light is flashing, the radio is scanning. Hold down top bottom on antenna side of
radio to turn scanning on or off.
SCHEDULING: ● Ushers are required to be available for at least ten events per month.
● A link to a shared Google Sheets document via Drive listing the shifts for the upcoming
month will be sent via email to all usher staff approximately the 18th of the current month
along with a due date/time for completion of your availability - usually within five days.
● Enter an “x” in the cell for each shift that you can work.
● The completed schedule for the current and tentative schedule for the upcoming month is
then posted at http://meanyops.washington.edu/people/staff. Links to the schedules are at
the bottom of the page.
● Know your own schedule and review it frequently - keep your personal calendar
up-to-date.
● Note: call times are not always the same.
● Schedule errors or questions should be sent directly to Lead House Manager ([email protected]) ASAP, with a cc: to Audience Services Manager ([email protected]).
SEAT MAP:
Familiarize yourself with the seating plan in order to accurately direct patrons to the correct door.
(See Appendix C.)
SHOW CANCELLATIONS:
● Inclement Weather – The UW typically remains open during times of inclement weather.
Essential and non-essential staff are expected to plan ahead and find alternative methods
of transportation in the event of snow or other severe weather conditions. If you are
unable to report to work because of inclement weather, you are required to notify Lead
House Manager and Audience Services Manager.
● Suspended Operations – Suspended Operations means all UW classes, activities, and
events are cancelled by order of the UW president due to an emergency situation
SMOKING:
The Seattle campus of the University of Washington is a non-smoking campus. Direct patrons
wanting to smoke to 15th Ave NE.
SWITCHING SHIFTS: ● If you cannot come to work for any reason (including illness), you must find your own
replacement.
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● An updated (and confidential) list of ushers’ names, e-mail addresses and phone numbers
is available in the usher room and sent via e-mail. To send a group message, use
● Another way to find a sub is via the Meany Usher Facebook page. You will be added during
Usher training and can use the platform to pick up, trade, or give away shifts as well as
generally communicate with other ushers.
● As soon as you have found a sub, email the name of your replacement, the event name,
and call date and time to Audience Services Manager at [email protected] and cc: Lead
House Manager at [email protected] and your replacement.
TABLES, COVERS, AND SKIRTING:
● Table Covers:
○ Black covers are on the shelves in the storeroom.
○ Be sure covers are clean when placed on a table and clean before folded and
stored.
○ There are clean bar rags under the sink in the usher room. When you are finished
with a rag, rinse it out and hang to dry on the hook to the left of the sink.
● Skirt Clips:
○ “Regular” - used for the serpentine tables for the Bay Laurel Bar
○ “Huge” - used on all plastic-topped tables
● Table Skirts:
○ Black, white, and red table skirts are stored on skirt hangers on a rack divided into
sections for different colors and lengths. Please hang accordingly.
○ The length of the skirt is indicated by one or two slashes marked at each end of the
webbing: 1 slash indicates “short,” 2 slashes indicates “long.”
○ There are marks near each end of the skirt indicating the first-fold line and a mark
indicating the centerline.
○ When dressing a single table, align the skirt centerline with the center of the table
front and work around to the back.
○ All skirts and table covers used by the Gallery Café are marked with a “G”. ○ The long black table cover for Gallery Café should be placed on the ALS shelf unit
when not in use.
○ When taking down equipment during a performance, store items under stairs until
the end of the performance and the patrons leave the hall then return to storage
room.
TAXI SERVICE:
Can use the Google Maps address for taxi cabs – 4040 George Washington Lane NE. Cabs can
access from either the 45th St. or 40th St. entrances to campus and drop off/pick up at the George
Washington statue. Car services (Uber & Lyft) – uses the GPS from the app on your phone to
pinpoint your location for pickup. When using to arrive at Meany – patron would have to give
directions such as enter campus at NE 40th St and 15th Ave NE, turn up the hill onto George
Washington Lane at the kiosk, drop me at the statue (top of the hill).
TICKET COUNTING:
● Sort ticket stubs for most efficient scanning, with all stubs facing the same way.
● Have two ushers scan tickets in the usher room: one usher scanning, then rotating so the
other usher completes the Lost Ticket Checks (LTCs), faculty, student passes and
notecards (SOM), and unclaimed Will Call tickets (obtained from the box office upon
closure).
● When all scanning and entering are complete, notify the Lead Usher who will double check
all manually entered stubs, and provide the house count to the ticket captain.
● Ticket captain prepares a stub envelope by writing the name of the event, date and time,
in marker and house count in pencil (circled) on the outside of the envelope.
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● Ticket captain places all stubs and LTCs in envelope. Do not close. Leave on the HM’s end
of the table in the usher room. House Manager or Lead Usher will print attendance report.
● Give all Will Call Not Picked Up to the Lead Usher or House Manager - don’t put inenvelope.
● Rental Events:
● Bundle tickets with rubber bands—no more than one hundred per bundle.
● Write the number on the back of each bundle and initial.
● Every bundle is recounted by a second usher and initialed by them.
● It is not necessary to count unclaimed Will Call. All unclaimed Will Call should
remain at front door for distribution to latecomers with Will Call tickets.
● Ticket Captain should:
○ Write total of all ticket stubs at the bottom of the column. This is the House
Count.
○ Sign and date the Rental Stub Report.
○ Prepare a stub envelope by writing the name of the event, date and time,
and house count (circled) on the outside of the envelope.
○ Arrange categories of ticket bundles. Place the Rental Stub Report and the
stub envelope next to the House Manager’s end of the usher room table. This
is for count verification by the Lead Usher.
TICKETS & SEATING:
(See Appendices B-1 & B-2 for sample tickets)
● Duplicate Tickets:
○ If you should encounter a seating problem, such as two patrons who apparently
have identical tickets, try to take care of it yourself first by making sure the date
and time of the performance as well as the seat numbers are identical.
○ For confirmed duplicate seating, priority order: 1. Lost Ticket Check (LTC), 2.
Meany hard copy duplicate ticket (ticket says DUP), 3. Regular Meany ticket.
○ Make sure patrons involved understand that you are calling the House Manager or
Lead Usher to help resolve the situation.
● General Admission Tickets:
○ If you are working a General Admission event, direct patrons to the best selection of
seats. Doors A & D have seats closest to the stage.
○ As your area in the house fills, keep track of available seating. As the house nears
capacity, admit patrons in small groups and direct them to known available seating.
Therefore, it is important you know where the empty seats are (example: “5
singles, 3 doubles or 2 triples,” etc. through Door __).
○ If you see an opportunity to move people within a row to create more free seats
together, do so. (“Would you please move over __ seats so we can accommodate
___ more guests?”)
TIMESHEETS & PAYROLL: ● All staff will record hours worked by using the UW’s Workday platform. ● Visit https://isc.uw.edu/workday-training/ for a list of trouble-shooting options, FAQs, and
training videos.
○ Record your time worked before you leave Meany Hall.
○ Time worked is rounded to the nearest quarter hour.
○ Enter the event code (provided by House Manager) in the UW Project section.
● There are two pay periods per month:
● 1st through the 15th (paid on the 25th of the same month)
● 16th through the last day of the month (paid on the 10th of the following month).
● UW requires all employees utilize direct deposit.
● Checks will be issued until the direct deposit set-up process is complete or you change
checking accounts (about two pay periods).
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● In case of paper check - You will receive it on your first shift after payday. Make
arrangements with Audience Services Manager if you require it sooner.
VIP LOUNGE:
The VIP lounge is on the north side of the mezzanine level (balcony) and is open during
intermission for Meany Center events.
● Ushers are responsible for setting up floor plan as mapped (food tables, bar, bistros,
orange table, VIP lounge sign, rope and stanchions).
● Find usher bin in alcove, place black linen over the orange table.
● Place the board member metal magnetic name tag board on the orange table using the
small table-top easel.
● Place any other signage (sponsorship, etc.) on the standing easel.
● One usher will welcome guests to VIP lounge during intermission.
● During strike, strike dirty linens to basket in alcove and return other items to usher bin.
SAFETY
CAMPUS SUPPORT:
● Report all emergencies or any suspicious activity to the House Manager immediately. Stay
with the people involved until House Manager and Lead Usher arrive.
● Husky NightWalk Program – 685-WALK (9255)
○ Dial 685.WALK (206.685.9255) at the time you are ready for the service.
○ After speaking with a Husky NightWalk staff member, go to the decided entrance
where the uniformed guard will meet you.
○ Stand safely inside the entrance and watch for the Husky NightWalk guard as they
will not enter the building to find the caller. Have your student, staff or other
identification ready.
○ For more details: http://police.uw.edu/aboutus/divisions/security/husky-nightwalk/
● Husky NightRide: https://facilities.uw.edu/catalog/nr
● Active shooter information (in addition to mandatory training):
http://police.uw.edu/aboutus/divisions/opst/crimeprevention/activeshooter/
MEDICAL EMERGENCIES: o Whoever encounters the medical problem, contacts the HM and LU via radio. Do not
leave the patient!
o HM will designate an usher to call 911 or will have one of the stage techs call from
backstage, HM will relate info as needed over the radio. (Cell phones can be used
but the call skips UW dispatch and often does not give a valid address). Instead of
calling 911 on a cell phone, you could call UWPD dispatch directly at 206-684-8975.
o A request can be made by the HM to the stage techs to hold/stop the show if
needed.
o Once first responders are on their way, the HM will send an usher out the front
doors to await their arrival, that usher is in charge of leading them back to the
patient, keep the HM informed about arrival. In the Studio, send one person to the
loading dock and the other to the front of Meany, that will cover both possible
places that the first responders may come from (always have your radio with you!)
o HM to get info on the victim through their companions if possible if not the patient.
UWPD and EMT’s will NOT give you this information because of privacy laws.
o HM to submit a report of the incident within 24 hours to EH&S via the UW’s Online Accident Reporting System (OARS). Under Additional Notification list Rita’s email
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o Response to onstage or backstage medical emergencies is led by the Stage
Technician in charge. They may ask FOH to meet medics at the front door and
escort to the patient. The Lead Stage Technician will complete the Online Accident
Report form.
FIRST AID KITS: • Locations:
o Backstage, down stage right (on the back of the door to the stage from the Green
Room)
o smaller kit (limited supplies such as band aids) in the usher room
AED: There is an automatic defibrillator machine in the main stage lobby near the front doors. All House Managers
and Lead Ushers have been trained in its operation. (see attached AED plan)
FIRE ALARMS: There are fire alarm senders:
● Lobby:
○ West end of lower lobby
○ West lobby at south exit doors
○ East lobby by main level exit doors
○ Next to the alarmed exit doors (by Green Room)
○ Foyer
○ East mezzanine (at head of stairs)
○ West mezzanine
● Backstage:
○ Downstage right
○ Upstage left
○ Green Room hallway (across from dressing rooms)
○ Northwest corner of scene dock
○ Next to loading dock door
● Studio Theater:
○ Upstage right
○ In the house next to south exit door
○ Second level of lobby
○ Third level of lobby next to Meany Hall offices
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS The pressurized water cans, the most common type of fire extinguisher in Meany, is silver and is
lighter than the CO2 bottle. The water extinguisher can be used on any fire except electrical fires.
For an electrical fire you must use the red CO2 bottles. Report all fires and use of any
extinguishers to the House Manager.
● Fire hoses (for use by trained firefighters) are placed:
○ Upper lobby mezzanine level
○ Upstage right
○ Upstage left
● Pressurized water cans are placed:
○ At each end of row P in the main house
○ Lower lobby east and west
○ South end of the west lobby
○ Main lobby by elevator
○ Under the stairs to the balcony
○ Outside green room
○ Upper lobby east (mezzanine level)
○ Upper lobby west (by elevator)
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○ Balcony at the west end of row GG
○ East end of row CC
○ Downstage right
○ Upstage left
● CO2 bottles are placed:
○ Light booth
○ Downstage right
FIRE
Procedure:
o If something is on fire, use the nearest pull station to activate the fire alarm then call 911.
Communicate the details you know.
o Use a fire extinguisher for small fires only. Before you fight a fire, make sure that you:
o Call called 911 or pulled the fire alarm.
o Have been trained to use an extinguisher
o Have an evacuation route planned
o If trapped by smoke or fire; stay low and try to cover your mouth with a wet cloth.
o Find a room where you can seal the cracks under the door and call 911.
o If near a window, open but do not break it. Wave or hang something outside to alert fire
personnel
o If your clothes catch fire; STOP, DROP and ROLL to smother the flames
o All fire alarm activations should be taken seriously. NEVER assume it is a false alarm.
Building occupants must evacuate when the alarm sounds.
Fire Alarm (Studio Theatre):
• Studio Stage Tech
o Studio Theatre stage tech grabs radio (Ch. 1) and proceeds on to Studio stage to direct
performers and crew towards nearest Exit. Stage tech visually confirms booth crew is
evacuating. Once audience is evacuating, Stage tech exits theatre, closing USL door,
exiting via West Stairwell exit (do not use elevator). At lower level, Stage tech verifies
Studio Dressing Room has been evacuated. Studio Stage tech exits the building.
• FOH Staff
o All FOH staff to switch to (Ch. 1) for communication.
o Users to take assigned evacuation station based on their show assignment and direct
audience from their areas out the nearest exit. One inside the house by the SL door,
one at the main door and the HM in courtyard.
o When house is empty, ushers to check inside house and restrooms, close SL emergency
door, close main house doors and ST lobby doors.
o Evacuate any WC/mobility impaired people last.
o All FOH staff check in with house manager at gather point for roll call.
• Go to your evacuation assembly point (George Washington Statue).
• HM and Stage tech to report to evacuation director or fire personnel.
• Do not re-enter the building until authorized by emergency personnel.
Fire Alarm (Meany Theater):
• Stage Techs on stage
o Stage Tech #1 locates bullhorn and radio (Ch. 1) and proceeds on stage. Directs
performers towards exit. Uses bullhorn to direct audience members towards nearest
exit. Stage Tech #1 moves on to Green Room, closing all doors along path, to direct all
towards nearest exit (do not use elevators). Stage Tech #1 exits the building.
o Stage Tech #2 grabs radio (Ch. 1) moves to Stage to direct performers toward nearest
exit, closing all doors along path to stairwell (Do not use elevators), down to lower level
hallway and dressing rooms, directing occupants toward exit. Stage Tech #2 exit the
building
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o Stage Tech #3 (FOH Audio) directs nearby audience members to the nearest exit as he
exits the building.
• FOH Staff
o All FOH staff to switch to (Ch. 1) for communication
o Ushers open audience doors & front doors
o House Manager will have bullhorn at front door to assist in directing audience traffic and
to make audience announcements once outside.
o Ushers to take assigned evacuation station based on their show assignment and direct
audience from their areas out the nearest exit (do not use elevators).
o When house is empty, ushers to check inside, front door usher checks lower lobby &
restrooms, mezzanine usher checks mezzanine bathrooms.
o Evacuate any WC/mobility impaired people last.
o Close all doors as staff exits to gathering point.
PLACEMENT OF FIRE ALARM SENDERS:
Lobby:
o West end of lower lobby
o west lobby at south exit doors
o east lobby by main level exit doors
o next to the alarmed exit doors (by Green Room)
o east mezzanine (at head of stairs)
o west mezzanine
Back stage:
o Downstage right (DSR)
o up stage left (USL)
o Green Room hallway (across from dressing rooms)
o northwest corner of scene dock, next to loading dock door
Studio Theater:
o Upstage right (USR)
o in the house next to south exit door
o second level of lobby
o third level of lobby next to Meany Hall offices.
PLACEMENT OF FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS:
Fire Hoses:
o Upper lobby mezzanine level, and on stage: USR and USL—used by trained firefighters.
Pressurized water cans:
o At each end of row P in the main house
o lower lobby east and west
o at the south end of the west lobby
o main lobby by elevator
o under the stairs to the balcony o outside green room o upper lobby east (mezzanine level)
o upper lobby west (by elevator)
o balcony at the west end of row GG
o east end of row CC
o DSR
o USL
CO2 Bottles:
o Light booth
o DSR.
The pressurized water cans, the most common type of fire extinguisher in Meany, is silver and is
lighter than the CO2 bottle. The water extinguisher can be used on any fire except electrical fires.
For an electrical fire you must use the red CO2 bottles
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EARTHQUAKE
BEFORE AN EARTHQUAKE:
• Take steps to lessen the effects of an earthquake. Inspect your workspace for any item
that could fall, spill, break or move during an earthquake.
• Move large and heavy objects to lower shelves or the floor
• Store breakables on the lower shelf
• Secure shelves, filing cabinets, tall furniture, equipment, etc. – bolted to the walls or floor
• Overhead lights, heavy artwork and mirrors need to be anchored
• Store emergency supplies
o extra clothing
o comfortable shoes
o food (non-perishable for 72 hrs)
o water (enough for 72 hrs @ 1 gallon daily per person)
o first aid supplies
o emergency space blanket
o hygiene or moisture wipes
o flashlight with extra batteries
o battery-operated and NOAA weather radio
o all supplies should be in a “grab and go” • Identify safe places indoors and outdoors
o Under sturdy furniture such as a desk or table
o Against an inside wall
o Away from glass that could shatter, heavy bookcases or furniture that could fall
over
DURING AN EARTHQUAKE:
• Stay indoors
• Drop, Cover and Hold
• Take cover under a desk, sturdy piece of furniture which will offer protection from flying
glass or other debris. Hold on until the shaking stops.
• If in an open area, move away from windows and crouch down/brace yourself against an
inside wall. Protect your head and neck.
• In a theatre or stadium, stay in your seat or get under it possible (or on the floor), protect
your head with your arms. Do not try and leave until the shaking is over.
• In a crowded room or public place, do not rush for exits.
• Do not use elevators
• If you are outside the following applies:
o Stay outdoors
o Move to an open area away from trees, buildings, utility poles and lines, or signs
o If you are in a downtown area, on a sidewalk near a tall building, get inside the
building’s lobby to protect yourself from falling bricks, glass or other debris.
o Greatest danger exists direct outside buildings at exits and alongside exterior walls
AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE:
• Attempt to restore calm (lead by example!)
• Check yourself and those around you for injuries. Provide first aid if trained. (Do not
attempt to mover seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of further
injury.)
• Evaluate to determine if evacuation is necessary
o Decision by Lead Stage tech and House Manager
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o If the building seems largely unscathed, stay where you are
o If there are noticeable cracks in the wall, windows are broken, or you can smell
natural gas (rotten eggs), then proceed with evacuation protocols
• Venue operations staff can make the decision to continue the performance or cancel.
o Announcement: Ladies and Gentlemen, your attention please. We are stopping the
performance at this time to evaluate the situation. For your safety, please remain
in your seats.
o Lead Stage tech evaluates backstage condition, HM evaluates Lobby & auditorium
condition.
o Recommend having a battery-powered radio available to tune in for emergency
broadcast information – AM 710, federally designated Emergency Broadcast Station.
o If determined that continuing the program is feasible, announce to audience when
you will resume.
• Evacuation
o Announcement: Ladies and Gentlemen, your attention please. We are stopping the
performance at this time and ask that you calmly evacuate the theater by walking
toward the nearest lighted exit sign. From there, the ushers will assist you in exiting
the building. Thank you.
o Follow standard evacuation protocol for your assigned area
o Collect your personal belongings to take with you.
o Look for persons injured or trapped (make note of number and location)
o Go to the evacuation Assembly Point
▪ Report to your supervisor that you are out of the building and report injured
or trapped persons and any obvious signs of building damage you observed.
▪ If possible, do not use the phone for local calls, except emergencies, during
the first 15-30 minutes after the earthquake. Overloading the phone system
with calls may delay the delivery of emergency assistance.
Once the audience is evacuated outside the building, our liability to the public is over, they are
released and free to go as they see fit. Once a building has been evacuated after an earthquake,
legally you are not supposed to re-enter until the building has been inspected by an ATC-20 team
and tagged.
Meany has disaster supply kits on hand (2 in M163 – admin area, 1 in Room 150B – backstage
and 2 in Room 104 – FOH).
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EVACUATION PROCEDURES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
The following guidelines have been developed to assist in planning for the evacuation of people
with physical disabilities.
o Be aware that there is no official Area of Refuge in Meany – Evacuate people with
disabilities to the outside if possible. Through the front lobby doors (north side of Meany)
for Meany Theater patrons and through the lobby doors into the courtyard for the Studio
Theater.
o Do not use elevators, unless authorized to do so by police or fire personnel.
o Staff should check on people with special needs within their section. Attempt rescue
evacuation only if you have had rescue training or the person is in immediate danger ad
cannot wait for professional assistance.
o Always ask someone with a disability how you can help before attempting any rescue
technique or giving assistance. Ask how he/she can best be assisted, and if there are any
special considerations or items that need to come with the person.
o If people with mobility impairments cannot exit, they should move to a “safe” area such as
an enclosed stairwell, an office with the door shut which is a good distance from the
hazard. Emergency personnel will evacuate patrons from these “safe” areas.
o Notify emergency personnel immediately about people remaining in the building and their
location.
o If people are in immediate danger and cannot be moved to a safer area to wait for
assistance, it may be necessary to attempt evacuation. This may entail carrying a person.
Determine the best carry option based on their input.
MESSAGES TO THE AUDIENCE
FIRE ALARM
Ladies and Gentlemen, the horns that you are hearing are the fire alarms. There is no immediate
danger. However, for your safety we must evacuate the entire building until the location and
nature of the problem ca be determined. Please go to the exit nearest your seat and follow the
ushers to safe areas outside the building. The performance may resume once it has been
determined there is no danger.
THEATRE EVACUATION
Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention please. Due to unforeseen circumstances we
must exit the theater immediately. Please locate the nearest exit and follow the instruction of
House Management. Please exit the theater immediately, moving as quickly and calmly as
possible. Thank you.
MEDICAL EMERGENCY
Ladies and Gentlemen, one of our guests is experiencing a medical emergency. Health
professionals are handling the situation and request that you remain in your seats unless
otherwise directed by an usher. The performance will resume as soon as the medical needs of our
guest are met. Thank you for your cooperation.
MEDICAL EMERGENCY (show interruption)
Ladies and Gentlemen, one of our guests is experiencing a medical emergency. Health
professionals are handling the situation and request that we interrupt the performance. If you
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need to leave the theatre, please cooperate with the ushers, who are keeping an aisle clear. We
will announce when the performance will resume. Thank you for your cooperation.
POWER OUTAGE
Ladies and Gentlemen, your attention please. We are experiencing a power outage and are
determining its possible duration. Please remain in your seats. We will advise you when we have
additional information. Thank you.
EARTHQUAKE
Ladies and Gentlemen, your attention please. We are stopping the performance at this time to
evaluate the situation. For you safety, please remain in your seats.
EARTHQUAKE EVACUATION
Ladies and Gentlemen, your attention please. We are stopping the performance at this time and
ask that you calmly evacuate the theater by walking toward the nearest lighted exit sign. From
there, the ushers will assist you in exiting the building. Thank you.
ACTIVE SHOOTER
• Active Shooter Defined – An armed suspect(s) who is discharging a firearm at civilians or
law enforcement or randomly firing into an area where it is reasonably expected that
persons could be struck by suspect fire.
• These situations require law enforcement to take immediate action to end the danger.
• The information below provides a set of guidelines for active shooter incidents on campus.
However, every incident varies, making it impossible to provide an absolute answer for
every situation.
• In a classroom, residence hall or office
o If you are in a classroom, residence hall room or office, STAY THERE. Secure the
door.
o If the door has no lock and the door opens in, a heavy door wedge should be kept
on hand and driven in as hard as you can, or use heavy furniture to barricade the
door.
o If the door has a window, cover it if you can. Depending on the shooter’s location,
consider exiting through windows. Have someone watch the door as you get as
many out the windows (ground floor) as calmly and quietly as possible.
o If the windows do not open or you cannot break them or you are not on a ground
floor, get out of sight from the door and stay low and quiet. Silence cell phones and
other electronic devices.
o If no police units are on scene, move well away from the shooter and find safe cover
positions and wait for the police to arrive.
o When officers arrive on scene, you should attempt to move toward any law
enforcement personnel or police vehicle when safe to do so while keeping your
hands visible to police. Follow the directions of the police.
o Do not leave the area entirely; you may have information regarding the suspect or
incident that responding police officers will need. Once in a safe place, stay there.
• In hallways or corridors
o If you are in a hallway, get to a nearby room and secure it. Unless you are close to
an exit, do not attempt to run through a long hallway to get to an exit as you may
encounter the shooter.
• In large rooms or auditoriums
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o If in a gym, theater or auditorium and the shooter is not present, move out external
exits and toward any law enforcement personnel or police vehicle keeping your
hands visible to police. Do what the police tell you!
• Trapped with the shooter
o If you are trapped in a room with the shooter, don’t do anything to provoke the them. If no shooting is occurring, do what the shooter says and don’t move
suddenly.
o If the shooter starts shooting, take decisive action: (1) freeze: stay still and hope
they do not shoot you, (2) flee: run for an exit while zigzagging (if appropriate), or
(3) fight: attack the shooter. Attacking the shooter is very dangerous, but may be
less dangerous than doing nothing in some cases. A moving target is harder to hit
than a stationary one, and the last thing the shooter will expect is to be attacked by
an unarmed person. Any option (freezing, fleeing or fighting) may result in a bad
outcome.
• Open Spaces
o Stay alert and look for cover, such as brick walls, large trees, retaining walls,
parked vehicles or any other object that may stop gunfire rounds from penetrating.
DE-ESCALATION Definition:
o De-escalation is the use of words and actions to reduce a heightened emotional and
physical state, in order to facilitate calm, rational interaction. (Always ensure that you,
bystanders and the subject are safe from immediate harm before attempting de-escalation.
Personal Space:
o Invasion or encroachment of personal space tends to heighten or escalate anxiety.
o Personal space is usually 3 feet.
o Do not touch a hostile person – they might interpret that as an aggressive action.
o Keep your hands visible at all times.
Protect Yourself:
o While de-escalating another person, you want to be in a non-threatening, non-challenging
and self-protecting position.
o Slightly more than a leg’s length away, on an angle and off to the side of the other person.
o Stay far enough away that the other person cannot hit, kick or grab you.
o Can you easily exit the area, if necessary?
Using Your Voice:
o A lowered voice level may set a tone of anger which could create fear or challenges.
o A raised voice may set a tone of anticipation or uncertainty which may promote excitement
or disruption.
o Speak slowly - This is usually interpreted as soothing.
o A controlled voice is one of calm and firmness which promotes confidence in both parties.
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o Humor may unintentionally offend someone and escalate the situation. Use humor
sparingly and always toward yourself.
o Always be respectful to the other person.
o Using “please” and “thank-you” - “Mr” or “Ms” indicates respect.
Ask For Help:
o Alert someone else as soon as possible. (No help will arrive until someone else knows your
situation.)
o Two heads are always better than one.
o There is safety in numbers.
o It will be beneficial to have a witness, if the situation deteriorates and someone is injured.
Road Map:
o SAFETY – Ensure that no one is imminent danger before attemption de-escalation.
o PRESENCE – We can best minimize fear when we present a strong, protective presence.
Establish a calm, poised and assertive presence.
o ENGAGE – Establish communication. We know when we’ve established communication
when the person makes eye contact.
o CONTEXT – Define a general, positive goal and establish ground rules.
o REFLECT – Active listening techniques support rational thought and reduce fear
(MOREPIES)
o GUIDE – Verify that de-escalation has occurred to the point that problem-solving is
possible
ACTIVE LISTENING (MOREPIES):
o M - Minimal Encouragers - “Uh-huh, Yeah, Sure”
o – Open-Ended Questions - “What brought us here today? How did that make you feel?”
“Then what happened?”
o R – Reflecting / Mirroring - “I lost my job and I don’t feel like living anymore.” “You lost
your job and you don’t feel like living anymore.”
o E – Emotional Labeling - “I have been working at the plant for 10 years and then they just
up and fire me!?” “You’re angry that they fired you.”
o P - Paraphrasing - “I lost my job, my partner left me, I am out of money and I don’t feel
like living anymore.” “ What I hear you saying is that you lost your job, partner, money
and you don’t feel like living anymore.”
o I - Use of “I” Statements - “I can listen to you when you stop yelling.” “I can talk to you
when you put down the stick.”
o E - Effective Pauses.
o S - Summary.
22
Last updated 8/13/2018
EVACUATION PROCEDURE
There are ground plan diagrams of evacuation routes in Appendices F & G. These diagrams
indicate where ushers should place themselves during the evacuation. Remaining calm during an
emergency helps others remain calm and stay safe.
● Mainstage general evacuation procedure:
○ The ushers open the audience doors and front doors
○ One Door A usher unlocks east lobby emergency door (on landing of stairs leading
to lower lobby)
○ Ushers place themselves in evacuation locations (See Appendices F & G)
○ One front door usher recalls elevator to main level and turns it off. Do not allow
elevators to be used.
○ THEN the audience is informed by either the House Manager or the technician in
charge to evacuate in an orderly manner (see Appendices F & G)
○ When the house is empty, ushers check their seating areas to make sure all people
are out
○ One front door usher checks the lower lobby to make sure all people are out
(including bathrooms).
○ One balcony usher checks the mezzanine bathrooms.
○ After final check, leave the building (and in case of fire, close inner and outer house
doors and all exterior doors as you leave).
○ The rendezvous location for evacuations is at the base of the George Washington
statue.
○ Report to the House Manager upon your arrival at the gathering point.
● Studio Theater general evacuation procedure:
○ Half the audience evacuates through theatre’s north exit door, out main entrance, up ramp to the right, then out the drive from the parking garage to outside. The
other half evacuate through the south exit door which leads immediately to the
outside. This door is on the house left side on the floor level—it is marked but gets
covered by house curtains. Check in advance.
○ Ushers stand at the bottom of the seating stairs and direct patrons to the exits.
○ Once house is empty, check under the seating platform to ensure that no one is
there, then leave the building by the closest exit (close doors behind you).
○ House Manager checks the bathrooms.
23
Last updated 8/13/2018
STUDIO THEATRE When ushering a performance in the Studio Theater, report directly to the House
Manager in the Studio Theater lobby. Do not go to the Usher Room.
Before house opens:
● Check in with Studio Theater House Manager when you arrive.
● Prepare programs for distribution.
● Review seating (unreserved, total capacity of 238). There are four open priority spaces
(ADA spaces). Two are located on each end of the front row, actual seats are taken out to
make room for mobility aid users by the Studio Theater technician.
● Reserve at least 8 aisle seats for latecomers.
When lobby is opened:
● Distribute programs when requested.
● Answer patron queries.
When house opens:
● One usher takes and tears tickets next to the house door.
● One usher hands out programs inside the house near the house-right stairs.
● Ensure no patron is bringing in food or drink (except for sealed water).
● Tripods, strollers, and other possible obstructions must be stowed in the lobby.
● Just before performance begins, spot available seating.
When performance begins:
● Close doors on House Manager’s call. ● Enforce late seating policy.
● Seat late patrons at pre-designated intervals by escorting patrons to available seats.
● Scan tickets and complete stub report in box office for House Manager to verify.
● Assist patrons as needed.
During intermission:
● Open and secure house doors.
● Discourage guests from going upstairs toward administrative offices.
● When bell rings, encourage patrons back into theater.
● Make sure no food or drinks are brought into theater.
After intermission:
● Close doors on House Manager’s call. ● Lock front access door at House Manager’s request. ● Enforce late seating policy.
● Assist patrons as needed.
● If there is a post-show reception, assist with set up.
After performance:
● Open and secure house doors.
● Ensure the house is clear.
● Sweep the house for lost items and remove all garbage.
● Close bathrooms and return flashlights and usher tags to the House Manager.
24
Last updated 8/13/2018
JONES PLAYHOUSE When ushering a performance in the Jones Playhouse, report directly to the House
Manager through the front lobby doors (4045 University Way NE). Do not go to the
Usher Room at Meany.
Before house opens:
● Check in with Jones Playhouse House Manager when you arrive.
● Prepare programs for distribution.
● Store personal items in the Green Room (at House Manager’s desk). ● Review seating (unreserved, total capacity of 183). There are two open priority spaces and
two companion seats, though one set is often covered by added sound booth. The elevator
to “M” level is the only route to seats without stairs. Two are located on each end of the
front row, actual seats are taken out to make room for mobility aid users by the Studio
Theater technician.
● Stretch stanchions across lobby vom entrances.
● Reserve at least 8 aisle seats for latecomers.
When lobby is opened:
● Distribute programs when requested.
● Answer patron queries.
● Direct patrons seeking Assistive Listening Devices to box office staff.
When house opens:
● One usher takes and tears tickets at east lobby stairs.
● One usher hands out programs inside the house at top of stairs.
● Ensure no patron is bringing in food or drink (except for sealed water).
● Tripods, strollers, and other possible obstructions must be stowed.
● Just before performance begins, spot available seating.
When performance begins:
● Draw curtains and close doors on House Manager’s call. ● Enforce late seating policy.
● Seat late patrons at pre-designated intervals by escorting patrons to available seats.
● Scan tickets and complete stub report in box office for House Manager to verify.
● Assist patrons as needed.
During intermission:
● Open and secure house doors and curtains.
● Discourage guests from going upstairs toward administrative offices.
● When bell rings, encourage patrons back into theater.
● Make sure no food or drinks are brought into theater.
After intermission:
● Draw curtains and close doors on House Manager’s call. ● Lock front access doors at House Manager’s request. ● Enforce late seating policy.
● Assist patrons as needed.
● If there is a post-show reception, assist with set up.
After performance:
● Ensure the house is clear.
● Sweep the house for lost items and remove all garbage.
● Close bathrooms and return flashlights and usher tags to the House Manager.
25
Last updated 8/13/2018
MEANY CENTER STAFF
Executive and Artistic Director Michelle Witt
Managing Director Rita Calabro
Director of Finance and Administration Scott Coil
Fiscal Specialist James V. Fesalbon
Accountant Yevgeniy Gofman
Director of Patron Services Rosa Alvarez
Assistant Director of Patron Services Liz Wong
Patron Services Associates Keeli Erb, Colette Moss
Patrick Walrath, Cathy Wright
Patron Services Assistants Kelli Hong, Kendall Massey, Lauren Widaman
Mariama Sidibe
Director of Marketing & Communications Teri Mumme
Interim Marketing Manager Cynthia Mullis
Graphics Production and Content Coordinator Rob Noland
Director of Artistic Engagement Elizabeth C. Duffel
Artist Engagement Coordinator Kaeline Kine
Creative Fellowship Coordinator Kristen Kosmas
Student Engagement Intern Charlotte Schoen
Green Room Assistant Colleen Kimsey
Director of Philanthropy Cristi Benefield
Philanthropy Coordinator Erin Candee
Grants and Communication Manager Alix Wilber
IT Administrator Gretchen Shantz
Tessitura Administrator Laura McKee
Technical Director Tom Burke
Head Carpenter Juniper Shuey
Lighting Supervisor Brian Engel
Sound Engineer Matt Sterrit
Studio Theater Stage Technician Doug Meier
Audience Services Manager Nancy Hautala
Lead House Manager Tom Highsmith
House Manager Noah Duffy
Student House Manager Duncan Greeley, Natalie Harrington
Lead Ushers Raine Myrvold, Levi Sy,
Griffin Withington
26
Tessitura Instructions
1) Login to the computer with your PPA username and password. Double click the
Tessitura icon located on the desktop.
a.
2) Then login to Tessitura with your Tessitura login and password (user group will be
Ushers)
a.
Either click the blue book icon or click on the GoTo menu and choose Season 3)
Manager. From the Season Manager menu choose Record Attendance
a.
5) Scan the barcode on the first ticket. This first scan will put the ticket number in the
right top box, put the performance into the header bar and ask to confirm that this is
the correct performance. Click Yes.
a.
6) From this point on, you can quickly scan the rest of the tickets and it will populate
the body of the screen with the seats. When you are done, click Close.
a. b. If you get this error, this ticket has already been scanned:
c. If you get a prompt telling you to scan a ticket and you can’t get past it, close
out the Record Attendance program and go back in and try again.
Entering Will Call Tickets Not Picked Up
7) Still in Tessitura, click on System Tables icon or choose System Tables from GoTo
menu:
a.
8) Double click on the chosen table LOST_TICKETS, SCHOOL OF MUSIC_PASSES, or
WILLCALLTICKETSNOTPICKED UP.
a. Click Insert every time you enter a new Will Call ticket. Click Save
after each entered ticket (you may get an error if you try to enter more than
1 ticket without saving). You must enter the correct date (but correct time is
not necessary). You can change an entry by putting your cursor in the field,
making your change and clicking Save. You can delete an entry by putting
your cursor in the field, clicking Delete and then Save. For the records to
properly show on the report, you must choose the correct Season and type
the correct Perf date and Ticket numbers.
b.
Entering Lost Tickets
9) For the records to properly show on the report, choose the correct Season, type the
correct Perf date and the correct Seat No as Row + Seat (with no space). If this is a
School of Music General Admission concert, enter GA (no space) as the Seat No.
a.
Entering Pass Counts for School of Music Performances
10)For the records to properly show on the report, choose the correct Perf date.
Running the Custom UW Attendance by Performance Report
11)The custom report will include Lost Tickets, Will Call Not Picked Up, School of Music
Passes as well as attendance counts is called the UW Attendance by Performance
report. Either click on the green Reports icon or choose Reports & Utilities from the
GoTo menu.
a.
a.
12)The first time you run the report you will have to fill out all required fields (below in
red), but after it will remember defaults and you will only have to change Seasons
and Performances. The Season will be WS Dance, Music&Theatre, Chamber, or
Piano or School of Music, School of Drama, Dance Program or DXArts for the current
year. Set Group By to By Price Type. Leave Price Types and List blank. The
Attended Status parameter should include all 3 options (Attended, No
Attendance, Partial Attendance). Hit OK to generate the report.
a.
13)The scanned tickets will show up under the Attended column. Lost tickets, Will Call
Not Picked Up, and School of Music Passes (if applicable) appear on the right side of
the report.
a.
14)To save– click Save (the floppy disk icon) and choose PDF, when the prompt comes
up choose Save and save the report to the appropriate folder in J:\MH Staff\Show
Files\. If you do not have access to this file, radio the Lead Usher for
assistance.
a.
Running Tessitura’s Attendance by Performance Report
15)To run the Attendance Report, click the green Reports icon or choose Reports and
Utilities from the GoTo menu.
a.
16)Double click the Attendance by Performance report. Choose the correct season from
the Seasons dropdown and the correct production from the Production Season
dropdown. If this production has multiple performances (like World Series Dance or
School of Drama), choose the correct performance. Include Resold = No. Group By
= By Price Type. Choose all 3 Attended Status. Show Constituent Detail = No. Click
OK to generate the report.
a.
b.
Sample Tickets 18-19 Season
Meany Center Visiting Artist Performance
Academic Shows
Appendix B-1
General Admission
Order Numbe
Patron ID #
Reserved Seating
Order Number
Patron ID #
One Quarter Notecard
60A01 06WD1
6QA01 06WD1
6'GA01 0• ... ·2566 qqqqqq3 I
.fltou 2lf1..- .. ·~- . . 2
#~--;-, --r '')' .. ,
t;;
SAMPLE TICKETS
- _"_,_~·-
Meany Theater UW World;-Series
Gener-al AdMission LOCA1J9N DOOR ROW SEAT
Meany lhf:at'er. UW World Series
u
-- Appendix B-1 --
More
SCHOOL OF MUSIC PASSES
Faculty/Staff Passes not shown--example posted on Usher Room bulletin board
School of Music ~UN·IVER St TY Of
''tl WASHINGTON
-- Appendix B- 2 -
lost Ticket Check DATE I <::;)'
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EVENT ~Meany """00OS1ud 10
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0 Penthouse ~«&~
P1AW lt/1~ ,,2. o ____ ISSUED BY DATE
LOCATION ~AIN 0 BALC
SECTION 4 ROW 1--
SEAT ?\ PRICE $ 3g
ADMIT ONE
STAGEMEANY THEATER Capacity 1206 to 1253 A
Based on Event Configuration c c
K
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PLAYHOUSE CAPACITY + 2 Accessllole
1r
U~ JONES SEATING
181 sea.ts
RENTAL STUB REPORT
Name of Event:_________________________ Date:____________ Time: _____________ Theatre:_____________
Price # of Stubs
Stub Count
Stub Total
Clicker # Number
Clicker Count
Total
Counted By: Verified By: Date:
Meany Center VIP0 4 8 16 32 48 FT.
Receptions Visual Scale
LOBBY DN ELEVATOR
UP
Prep
UP B
OPEN TO BELOW Bar
B
B
B
Food
TO W
Door F
BUP
B
Door E Check-in
table
UP UP
MENS RESTROOM
H2O RESTROOM WOMENS
TO BELOW OPEN
DN DN UP
H2O
MEANY HALL- MAIN LEVEL EMERGENCY & EVACUATION INFORMATION MEANY HALL- BALCONY LEVEL
~ ~ EMERGENCY & EVACUATION INFORMATION ~ ~ Evacuation
Assembly Point: George Statue
rn D.. <C ::! z -0
IL-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ ::J
MEANY HALL- LOWER LOBBY LEVEL 0STAGE
EMERGENCY & EVACUATION INFORMATION ~ tr=~=F~~~~=-~kr~~W
SCENE DOCK STUDIO LOWER LOBBY
1 ~mkw • THEATRE
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-~~ MEANY HALL
for l'he performing arrs
Main Lobby POST-SHOW RECEPTION 2008
0 4 lJ 18 32 48 FT. r-\-J~--,,_________,,........,1
vraua/ Scale