What do Front of House staff do?

A Front of House staff member ensures quality customer service for the audience before, during and after a performance. They will often work on a rota basis and are sometimes placed on the bar, box office or on the door.

What are the main responsibilities of Front of House staff?

Welcome the audience into the building
Ensure a high quality of customer service
Sell food, drink and merchandise
Guide audience members in the right direction
Issue tickets to audience members
Scan tickets
To be the point of contact for customer enquiries
To ensure the front of house area looks presentable and tidy at all times

What qualifications do I need to work Front of House?

While there are no specific qualifications you need to work Front of House, these subjects could be deemed useful:

Maths
English
Drama
Languages

Find opportunities to help you get into theatre here

What skills do I need to work Front of House?

Multi-tasking skills
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
Good communication and people skills
Experience in handling money
Complaint handling

What does a career in Front of House look like?

Front of House is an entry-level role where you can look into moving up to a Supervisor or to Front of House Manager. Read our blog on What does a Front of House Manager do?. Front of House staff can also be used or sometimes combined with the role of an Usher. Find out more about what Ushers do here. Front of House is often used as an entry point into the theatre industry, or as a role in addition to other freelance theatre work.

How much can I earn working Front of House in a theatre?

Pay is typically minimum wage and between £10 - £15 per hour. Often, you will have a minimum show call, which can mean you are paid for at least two hours of your time. For Ushers or a Bar Person, SOLT/BECTU rates for 2024 suggest a minimum show call of 3 3/4 hours at £43.54 or £38.98 if topped up with commission.

The above is a guide. Pay, salary or fee can vary depending on the theatre or company, as well as your personal experience. National institutions or commercial productions can pay in excess of the above, with profit-share or community theatre paying less.