House Manager
A House Manager in the performing arts industry is the person responsible for overseeing all aspects of the theater or opera house's public spaces and audience experience during performances. They manage everything that happens "in front of the curtain," from coordinating ushers to handling audience emergencies. Think of them as the host of a very large party who ensures everything runs smoothly for guests. They're different from Stage Managers (who handle what happens on stage) or Operations Managers (who handle building maintenance). In some venues, they might be called Front of House Manager or Audience Services Manager.
Examples in Resumes
Supervised a team of 25 ushers as House Manager for major opera productions
Coordinated audience safety protocols as House Manager and Front of House Manager during sold-out performances
Managed patron services and emergency procedures as House Manager for a 2,000-seat opera venue
Typical job title: "House Managers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find House Managers
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you handle a situation where multiple patrons have medical emergencies during a performance?
Expected Answer: Should discuss prioritization, emergency response protocols, coordination with medical professionals, staff delegation, and maintaining calm while minimizing performance disruption.
Q: Describe how you would develop and implement a new customer service training program for ushers.
Expected Answer: Should explain creating comprehensive training materials, conducting workshops, establishing service standards, monitoring performance, and methods for gathering and incorporating feedback.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you coordinate late seating during a performance?
Expected Answer: Should describe working with stage management on appropriate timing, training ushers on quiet entry procedures, and balancing patron satisfaction with minimizing disruption.
Q: What steps do you take to prepare the house for a performance?
Expected Answer: Should discuss pre-show checklist, staff briefing, checking facilities, coordinating with box office, and ensuring all patron services are ready.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What would you do if a patron becomes disruptive during a performance?
Expected Answer: Should explain proper protocol for quiet intervention, when to involve security, and how to minimize impact on other audience members.
Q: How do you handle accessibility requests from patrons?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate knowledge of ADA requirements, common accommodations like wheelchair seating or hearing devices, and importance of respectful service.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic crowd management
- Customer service experience
- Understanding of emergency procedures
- Staff supervision basics
Mid (2-5 years)
- Advanced problem-solving with patrons
- Staff training and scheduling
- Emergency response coordination
- Budget management
Senior (5+ years)
- Venue operations strategy
- Policy development
- Major event management
- Department leadership
Red Flags to Watch For
- No customer service experience
- Lack of emergency procedure knowledge
- Poor communication skills
- No experience with large crowds
- Unfamiliarity with performing arts environment
