Last week Don and I went into New York City to see the 10-time Tony nominated musical "Maybe Happy Ending." The show has been described as the sleeper hit of the season. It is a South Korean musical about two robots falling in love. The premise kept us away, but when someone we respect highly recommended it, we bought seats in the very last row and enjoyed every minute of the show. From our seats we had no troubles standing up to see the action that takes place on the front of the stage, but if we went back, we would sit down a level, or at the front of the balcony, so we could better appreciate the show.
Before the show started the woman next to us asked our usher what is involved with becoming an user. William has had this job about two months and was happy to share his experience.
I was happy to eavesdrop on the conversation.
There are four companies who own all the Broadway theaters: Schubert, Nederlander, Jumanji, and Ambassador Theater Group (ATG). The Schubert Organization owns the Belasco (where we were sitting) and 16 other theaters. They hire twice a year. Once hired, you can work in any of their theaters. He did say you had to join the union (I think I heard him say it was $350 to join), and the pay is $100 a performance. With eight shows a week, which is what they encourage their ushers to do, that's $800 a week. Not bad for a side hustle. Living in Central Jersey, it is not a feasible side hustle, but if you love theater and want to make the commitment (he added, you don't really have to do eight shows a week), it is not bad.
William through ushering, especially when a show first opens, you meet lots of people in the theater. He has gotten some offers to work backstage. In show business who you know is as important as what you know.
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