Role #

The House Manager’s role involves Health and Safety together with Public Relations: done well it insures the safety of the audience and contributes to the enjoyment of their visit to the Barn.

You will be ‘on duty’ and in the foyer throughout the evening to fulfil your role and deal with any unforeseen matters.   Please be polite, friendly and welcoming and use your judgment when necessary.

Please dress smartly and arrive at the theatre by 7pm.

Responsibilities #

BEFORE THE PERFORMANCE #

• Please dress smartly and arrive by in time to open at 7.00pm. We are required to have a minimum number of staff in place prior to allowing the public in.
• Please switch on all lights on arrival, where switches still exist. Some lights have been moved to movement sensors.
• Please wear your lanyard or badge.
• Take the FOH box from the Box Office – it should have all that you need to carry out your duties.
• On Stewards’ arrival, issue lanyards, badges, torches, rubbish bags and show interval/end times as listed on your checklist.
• Continue to carry out your duties by following the checklist on the clipboard in the FOH box.
• Remember to turn on the TV and play the DVD show reel (DVD player on floor in box office needs to be on too)
• Check with Box Office about ‘House Full’ notice and if any wheelchair users are expected.   If a wheelchair is expected, inform Stage Manager so that either C1 and C2 or C5 and C6 are taken out.  Helpers use C3 or C4.
• If staff do not turn up (list for current show in FOH box) chase or alternatively use an experienced Barn member to take their place in the appropriate seat (required for insurance purposes).
• Check that there is no unauthorised parking in disabled spaces – polite notice slips in FOH box to put on windscreens – you may have to do this several times.
• The fire alarm box is situated next to the men’s toilets.
• Should the alarm have errors. It is important to inform the Stage Manager and investigate any error message.
• Be prepared to help anyone needing assistance with a mobility problem.
• Check with the Stage Manager when the audience can be let in to the auditorium and the policy for latecomers.
• Whilst we prefer card payment, ensure you have floats for ice creams and coffee where customers only have cash.
• Once all duties are completed meet and greet, ensuring that new visitors to the Barn know where the bar, toilets and coat hooks are, and how the coffee and interval drinks systems work.
• Announcements normally start 15 minutes before curtain up
• The announcement system can also be used from the box office if you need to make any announcements to parts of the building.
• Stewards should take a door position when the auditorium is open
• Ensure that only drinks in plastic cups are allowed in the auditorium – obtain from bar.
• Check for any late arrivals, bar and toilets for stragglers.
• Ensure auditorium doors are closed.
• Give verbal clearance to the box for performance to start.
• Ensure latecomers’ phones are turned off

DURING THE PERFORMANCE #

• You are required to remain in the foyer throughout.
• Place metal posts in position in foyer to avoid queue jumping and to aid the formation of an orderly queue during coffee serving.
• Prepare the ice cream float/card machine and serving area.

 DURING THE INTERVAL #

• Depending on numbers, you may be required to organise help or assistance for the person doing the coffee. Stewards are aware that they should help when required.
• At the 5-minute call please ask Stewards to resume their door duty.
• Check bar and toilets for stragglers.
• Ensure auditorium doors are closed.
• Give verbal clearance to the box for performance to start again.

AFTER THE PERFORMANCE #

• Please ensure you say goodnight to the audience as they exit.
• Ensure Stewards have cleared rubbish from the auditorium and left it tidy.
• Leave any lost property in the plastic box under the pigeon holes in the Bar.
• Advise Wendy Bage of any feedback or problems by email.
• Ensure Stewards return their lanyards, badges, torches etc.
• Hand back your lanyard, badge & torch.
• Return keys to FOH box & return FOH box to the Box Office. (C1256Y)
• Close the Box Office door & ensure DVD player and TV are off
• Bar staff are responsible for locking up at the end of the evening.

You are entitled to a free drink; do reward yourself with one now before heading home.

If there is any feedback from the audience, however small, please ask the House Manager to pass it on to Wendy.

As you finish your duties, please don’t forget to hand your badge and torch back to the House Manager.

Evacuation Procedure #

If the fire alarm sounds you should evacuate unless told otherwise by the House Manager.

Details of the evacuation procedure can be found in the separate leaflet. Please read this carefully so you are aware of your responsibilities.

The safety of all persons within the building is the responsibility of the House Manager and the Stage Manager.

The House Manager and/or Stage Manager may call for the evacuation of the building or carry out further investigations prior to doing so. The House Manager may also stop an evacuation and silence alarms if they are confident of the cause.

Fire, Gas Leak, Bomb Threat and other scenarios requiring evacuation of the building. #

The control box staff shall be instructed to raise the main auditorium lighting to full and, if practical, close the main stage curtains.

The Stage Manager or House Manager shall enter the Auditorium instruct the stewards to open the fire doors and make an announcement. (at this point you should ensure both fire exit doors are opened wide and the curtains drawn clear.)

As a steward your task is to ensure the audience exit the auditorium safely and promptly. No one should attempt to collect any personal possessions.

Guide the audience to the grass area out the front of the building near Handside Lane.

Shout instructions to the audience clearly and forcefully ensuring they know where they are going.

Be aware of persons requiring assistance.
Do not at any moment put yourself in any danger, be aware of what is happening and ensure you are clear of the building in a timely manner. Once the auditorium is clear, report to the House Manager at the front of the building where the assembly point is located.

The House Manager shall contact the emergency services via the 999 system giving the Theatre address and contact name and Number.

The House Manager shall remain at the front of the Building and act as the main point of contact with the emergency services.

Other Emergencies #

Depending on the nature of the problem, they are left to the initiative of the House Manager and Stage Manager adapting the above to address the situation.

Defibrillator #

At the front of the building is a publicly accessible defibrillator. 999 can direct anyone in the area to use this if required.

The code for the cabinet is 159X