Cinema or theatre attendant
Cinema and theatre attendants check customers' tickets, direct them to their seats and sell refreshments.
Also known as: Usher, front of house staff
- Typical hours12 to 20 a week
What you'll do
As a cinema or theatre attendant, you could:
- check tickets and show people to their seats
- sell programmes, merchandise and refreshments
- answer customer queries and deal with any problems
- process payments
- clear litter from seating areas and aisles between shows
- work in the cinema or theatre's café, bar or box office
Working environment
You could work in a theatre or at a cinema.
You may need to wear a uniform.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- customer service skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to enjoy working with other people
- to be flexible and open to change
- sensitivity and understanding
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- the ability to understand people's reactions
- the ability to sell products and services
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
How to become a cinema or theatre attendant
You can get into this job through:
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
Apprenticeship
You might be able to apply for a Customer Service Practitioner Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.
Entry requirements
Employers will set their own entry requirements.
Volunteering
You can sometimes find voluntary work with community theatres or smaller independent cinemas. Follow them on social media and look out for local announcements.
Direct application
You can apply directly to vacancies advertised by theatres and cinemas for front of house staff. It could give you an advantage to have experience working with the public, such as in retail or hospitality, though this is not essential.
Good customer service skills and the ability to do different tasks will be valued by employers.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to be aged 18 or over for jobs that involve serving alcohol.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could become a team leader or move into front of house management.
Career tips
An interest in film, theatre or the arts will be helpful.
Guides for this industry
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