The road to become a house manager may not involve a lot of formal education, but requires specialized training and an agreeable personality. In addition to basic secretarial and accounting skills, a front of house manager must be calm in a crisis and willing to provide excellent customer service in all situations. Most importantly, a person who wants to become a house manager must be willing to take on the responsibility of keeping patrons safe in case of an emergency.
House management positions rarely require education beyond a high school degree or completion certificate. Nevertheless, education in hospitality or business management can be extremely useful to a person seeking a front of house job. Training in a performing arts venue can be even more beneficial; some aspiring managers volunteer or work entry-level positions as ushers, box office assistants, or concession stand workers before attempting to secure a management job. Working in a performing arts venue can help give a person the necessary understanding of the frantic, exciting, and sometimes even dangerous world of the theater. Consider volunteering to help at local high school or college productions to gain some experience before seeking a position with a professional performing arts venue.
A house manager is a jack of all trades, and the job often includes some aspects of ticket or box office work as well as front of house duties. To provide the best customer service possible, a house manager needs to be familiar with in-house ticketing systems, basic cash register procedure, and refund or return policies. House managers also need to be able to write up performance reports that detail fundamental information about each show, and may need to fill out accident reports should an injury occur. Good handwriting and basic secretarial skills can be very useful when trying to become a house manager.
In a theater filled with several hundred patrons, the opportunities for injuries, accidents, or crowd control issues is considerable. Basic medical training is frequently required for house managers, including the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, basic wound care, and even defibrillators. To become certified as a basic care provider, contact local hospitals, colleges, or medical groups about certification programs, which may only take a weekend to complete. Certification may need to be renewed every few years in order to stay valid.
One personal quality useful to a person trying to become a house manager is the ability to give and follow orders in a crisis. If a fire, earthquake, or other disaster occurs, it is often up to the house manager to evacuate the theater, give audience instructions, and contact emergency personnel. A manager must not be afraid to take charge during a disaster, as he or she may be in a real position of being able to save lives with quick, decisive action.
Even when disasters do not occur, a house manager may be placed in stressful situations. Communication and customer service skills can help make a house manager both effective and appreciated, and may well help an aspiring professional become a house manager at a large, well-renowned venue. Cultivating a pleasant and efficient personal demeanor can be greatly useful both during an interview process, and while on the job.
