Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Spike Marks • Swing • Understudy

House Seats

Term from Performing Arts industry explained for recruiters

House seats are special reserved tickets kept by theaters, venues, or production companies for last-minute use by VIPs, critics, industry professionals, or emergency situations. These seats are typically among the best locations in the venue and are held back from public sale. Managing house seats is an important part of theater operations and audience relations, as it involves coordinating with producers, artists, and industry professionals while maintaining good relationships with regular patrons. This term might appear in job descriptions related to theater management, box office operations, or venue administration.

Examples in Resumes

Managed House Seats allocation for 300+ performances annually

Coordinated House Seat distribution for Broadway productions

Developed new House Seats policy that improved relationships with key stakeholders

Typical job title: "Theater Managers"

Also try searching for:

Box Office Manager Theater Operations Manager Venue Manager Company Manager House Manager Audience Services Manager Front of House Manager

Where to Find Theater Managers

Professional Organizations

Job Boards

Industry Networks

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you handle a situation where multiple VIPs request the same house seats for a sold-out performance?

Expected Answer: A senior manager should discuss prioritization strategies, diplomatic communication skills, and alternative solutions like upgrading other seats or arranging for different performance dates. They should emphasize maintaining good relationships with all parties involved.

Q: Describe your experience developing house seat policies that balance various stakeholder needs.

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of creating clear guidelines that consider producers' needs, donor relations, marketing opportunities, and regular patron satisfaction, while maintaining the venue's business goals.

Mid Level Questions

Q: How do you track and manage house seat inventory?

Expected Answer: Should explain systems for monitoring availability, coordinating with different departments, maintaining records of usage, and ensuring efficient communication with stakeholders.

Q: What factors do you consider when allocating house seats for different types of events?

Expected Answer: Should discuss understanding of event type, anticipated demand, contractual obligations, and relationship management with various stakeholders.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is the purpose of house seats in a theater?

Expected Answer: Should explain basic concept of reserved seats for VIPs, critics, and emergency use, and why they're important for theater operations and industry relationships.

Q: How would you handle a basic house seat request?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate knowledge of verification procedures, basic booking process, and understanding of who is authorized to request house seats.