A Box Office Manager is responsible for overseeing the sale of all tickets, while also being responsible for transactions and ensuring the security of money exchanged.
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You do not need any formal qualifications to become a Box Office Manager, although customer service and management experience is beneficial. For additional training, Business Administration or Accounting could provide the necessary skills for this role.
You can begin your career as a Box Office staff member as this is a standard requirement to be a Box Office Manager. Many of those who work in the box office often began as Front of House Staff or Ushers. Read our blogs 'What do Front of House Staff do?' and 'What does an Usher do?' It is likely you will have an interview for the role of a Box Office Manager. Read our blog 'How to tackle nerves and anxiety before an interview or audition.'
Box Office Managers can be both full-time, part-time or contracted. SOLT/Bectu rates for 2024 suggest a 40 hour weekly rate of £717.57 for the top role in Box Office.
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.
You can find theatre jobs via The Stage Jobs here
https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/Salaries/box-office-manager-salary-SRCH_KO0,18.htm
https://www.artsjobs.org.uk/jobs/search/43443
https://www.mgcfutures.com/box-office-manager/
https://www.spektrix.com/en-gb/blog/theatre-box-office-manager-interview
https://members.bectu.org.uk/advice-resources/library/3176
Photo: Alex Brenner
Updated: 6th June 2024
The Company Manager works on a variety of different jobs within the theatre. They work closely with all levels of cast and production staff. They act as a link between the Theatre Manager, the production company and the rest of the company.
You don’t need any formal qualifications, however there are a number of qualifications you can get in different areas which may help you gain skills for the position:
Find training opportunities to help you get into theatre here
There are a number of different ways you can become a Company Manager. You can begin as part of the admin team, assist the Company Manager and then work your way up. You can even start as Front of House or an Usher and learn on the job about communicating between departments.
A general rate of pay is roughly between £25K and £40K.
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.
You can find theatre jobs via The Stage Jobs here
https://officiallondontheatre.com/news/a-life-in-the-theatre-company-manager-344221/
https://www.berklee.edu/careers/roles/company-manager-theater
Updated: 6th June 2024
The visual and performing arts are one of nine sectors within the creative industries. The below links are great places to look for more general careers info for all the creative industries and not just theatre.
Search all theatre opportunities here
DISCOVER! Creative Careers brings together careers information and opportunities from creative organisations in one explorable directory.
Masterclass offers workshops online and in person for young people, with those well known and working in the industry.
Find more theatre careers advice here
Upstart Projects creates opportunities for young people to develop as the arts professionals of the future. They support young people to lead and manage projects, act as ambassadors, find their voice in the arts and train other people. In short, they offer real experiences which build skills and can lead into arts and media careers.
Find more theatre careers advice here.
A Front of House Manager (sometimes shortened to FOH Manager) is responsible for the day-to-day operation and management of the reception and seating area of a theatre. They are responsible for supervising the Front of House staff.
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You don’t need any qualifications to work in a Front of House department however it is customer facing so you will need to have a good level of English and numeracy skills and be comfortable speaking with members of the public. Take a look at our blog 'How can Maths and Science lead to a career in theatre?'
Front of House operations is all about delivering the best customer service possible. As a Front of House Manager it is your responsibility to ensure your team can do this. Any of the following skills will be extremely helpful in this line of work:
Find more theatre careers advice on our blog page here
To gain a position as a Front of House Manager you will need experience working in customer service. You can begin as part of the Front of House team or an Usher and work your way up or be able to demonstrate that you can manage a team, solve problems quickly and deal with potentially unhappy visitors. Read our blogs 'What does an Usher do?'and 'What do Front of House staff do?'
A Front of House Manager can be both salaried at around £25k+ per year, or on a zero hour contract, with an average pay of £10-£15 per hour.
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.
You can find theatre jobs via The Stage Jobs here
https://greenwichtheatre.org.uk/front-of-house-staff-play-a-vital-role-in-theatre/
https://careers.atg.co.uk/job-search/job-detail.html?jobid=246421
https://www3.basildon.gov.uk/jobs/jd/Towngate%20Front%20of%20House%20Manager%20JD%20July16%20B5.pdf
Updated: 6th June 2024
Work experience is a short term placement in an organisation which gives you a feel for the role. It also helps you see what a day in the life looks like for someone who has that particular job. As part of your work experience you’ll likely carry out only a few important tasks, and will mainly complete other tasks such as assisting, making tea and coffee and photocopying etc. It will give you a chance to observe and see what you could be doing in the future.
Some work experience placements are paid and some are not. It is up to the organisation and depends on what tasks they will get you to do. Generally, work experience is usually unpaid because it’s over a short period of time, however your travel and/or lunch costs will often be covered or reimbursed.
Find work experience opportunities here.
Nothing impresses an employer more than seeing that you’ve gone out of your way (especially during your free time) to gain work experience and improve on your skills. This shows enthusiasm and dedication to your future career. There are many benefits of work experience such as:
For more info about work experience in the creative industries, you can also take a look at our blog 'Where can I find general careers information about the creative industries?'
Work experience is great for all the reasons above, but we must highlight concerns around the exploitation of young people. When you get involved in these experience opportunities you must be aware of the impact of low or unpaid work and also ensure you know your rights beforehand.
Find theatre vacancies with The Stage Jobs here
Photo: Alex Brenner
Published: 16 May 2019
The main thing to know is that the term 'volunteering' stands for 'a person who works for an organisation without being paid.' If you complete volunteer work, you'll be working completely for free and you will not have a contract of employment like interns. However, there are certain policies in place to protect you and the organisation. These policies state that both you and the organisation are aware of the expectations of both of you. Volunteers are not eligible for National Minimum Wage as you’re participating by choice, but you'll have more flexibility with your working hours and this can be great.
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You don't need any qualifications or experience to apply. You just need to be willing to participate and get involved. This will show your determination and passion for theatre because you want to learn new things and get involved in different aspects of theatre despite not being paid.
Find more theatre careers advice here
Volunteering is great for all the reasons above, but we must highlight concerns around the exploitation of young people. When you get involved in these experience opportunities you must be aware of the impact of low or unpaid work and also ensure you know your rights beforehand.
You can find volunteering opportunities here.
Find theatre vacancies with The Stage Jobs here
Photo: Alex Brenner
Published: 16 May 2019
There are many different types of internships within the theatre industry, so we’re going to tell you about them in general and also make sure you know your rights.
Internships are similar to work experience but they are fixed-term placements and are often referred to as a 'traineeship'. They aim to give you a better understanding of employment and the day-to-day tasks of the job you’ve chosen. Interns are normally set a number of different tasks to complete during their placement. Read our blog 'Where can I find general careers information about the creative industries?' for more information.
Search all theatre opportunities here
Employers must pay interns at least the National Minimum Wage - unless the company is a registered charity. You’ll be completing tasks a member of staff would do and it's only fair that you should be paid for your work.
Find more theatre careers advice here
Be sure to know your rights within the theatre industry, especially when gaining experience. Internships are great for all the reasons above, but we must highlight concerns around the exploitation of young people. When you get involved in these experience opportunities you must be aware of the impact of low or unpaid work and also ensure you know your rights beforehand.
You can find internship opportunities here with The Stage Jobs.
Photo: Alex Brenner
Published: 16 May 2019
Gaining work experience or on the job training is a great way to give yourself a better chance of getting into theatre. When applying for a job in theatre, employers will want to see your determination and your passion for wanting a career in the theatre industry.
There are different kinds of theatre experience you can gain and any type of experience will benefit you in a number of different ways and look great on your CV. These are listed below.
Click on each type of experience for more information.
It is important that we highlight and make you aware of instances where young people are exploited. You must be cautious of low and unpaid work and you must know your rights when applying for these experience opportunities.
Find more theatre careers advice here
Photo: Royal Opera House
Published: 16 May 2019
An Usher is responsible for the customer service of the audience before, during and after a performance. They are often situated within the auditorium to both supervise and assist the audience during a show.
Although there are not any specific qualifications you need for this role, here are some subjects that could be useful to have:
Search opportunities to help you get into theatre here
You can gain a role as an Usher at entry level and either cross over to Front of House or Box Office roles. With more experience you can look at moving up to Front of House Manager or Box Office Manager. Working as an Usher can also be a great job to have in between other theatre jobs. Read our blogs 'What do Front of House staff do?' and 'What does a Front of House Manager do?'
Pay is typically minimum wage and between £10 - £15 per hour for a casual role. Often, you will have a minimum show call, which can mean you are paid for at least two hours of your time. 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.
You can find theatre jobs via The Stage Jobs here
https://www.myplan.com/careers/ushers-lobby-attendants-and-ticket-takers/description-39-3031.00.html
https://www.artscenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/2013-14-USHER-JOB-DESCRIPTION.pdf
https://uk.indeed.com/career/usher/salaries
https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/Salaries/london-usher-salary-SRCH_IL.0,6_IM1035_KO7,12.htm
https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/young-vic-ushers-pay-rise-welcomed-by-union
https://members.bectu.org.uk/advice-resources/library/3176
Updated:6th June 2024
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.
While there are no specific qualifications you need to work Front of House, these subjects could be deemed useful:
Find opportunities to help you get into theatre here
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.
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.
https://careers.atg.co.uk/about-us/life-at-atg/front-of-house.html
https://greenwichtheatre.org.uk/front-of-house-staff-play-a-vital-role-in-theatre/
https://jobs.thestage.co.uk/front-of-house-and-customer-services
https://members.bectu.org.uk/advice-resources/library/3176
Photo: Alex Brenner
Updated: 6th June 2024
