Lead Usher Guidelines

A Lead Usher is an experienced SIFF volunteer who organizes and oversees a team of ushers. You may not sign up for Lead Usher shifts unless you have been specifically invited by the SIFF Volunteer Coordinator to do so. Interested? Please contact the Volunteer Department for more information about becoming a Lead Usher.

AT THE BEGINNING OF A LEAD USHER SHIFT

Arrive at the theatre a few minutes early and report in with the Venue Manager. When your shift begins, take attendance. Mark on your usher schedule in the Lead Usher Book who is present, the time they arrived, and the time that they left for the day/night. Also note no-shows.

The Volunteer Department will deliver usher schedules to the venues 24 hours in advance. At that time, we will also pick up the schedule from the night before in order to record the hours for voucher distribution.

Notify the Volunteer Department whenever someone reports for duty and who is not listed on the schedule. We will tell you if that person is approved to be there as an usher. Sometimes, we will notify you in advance that someone is coming to fill in for a no-show. Anyone who is not authorized by the Volunteer Department to usher may not usher.

Check in with the Venue Manager to get the latest updates on reserved seating, when to open the balcony (if applicable), which films will be followed by Q&A sessions or forums, or any other situations that will affect the way you organize your ushers for a shift.

Be cool, be confident, be knowledgeable and be firm when patrons approach you. Refer customers to Venue Managers at your discretion. You know how that goes. Don’t let people abuse you. Regulate.

Be cool, be confident, be knowledgeable and be firm when patrons approach you. Refer customers to Venue Managers at your discretion.

Organize ushers at the beginning of the shift to handle ticket ripping, line wrangling clicking off customers and customer seating. SIFF is not a democracy -- be fair but be firm when assigning duties.

Ushers and Films

Ushers are there to usher. An usher may never watch a film if there is work to do, they are assigned to a post outside the theatre, or if a show is sold out.

Rotate ushers to see films if possible. They must get your permission before seeing the film, and must never assume that they can just go in and watch the film without permission.

Ushers who crash films without permission are subject to dismissal. It’s like Delroy Lindo said in “The Cider House Rules.” If a volunteer gets huffy, ask them, “What’s your business?” If they’re not in the usher business, send them home.

Ushers who are permitted to watch films must wait ten minutes after the film has started before entering the theatre, to give patrons a chance to be seated. Ushers must sit near the doors, in case you need to reach them. Ushers in the theatre must make themselves immediately available to assist patrons with seating. They should have flashlights with them. Make sure they don’t “zone out” and forget these rules.

Whenever in doubt about the status of a show (i.e., can ushers see this show), consult with the Venue Manager.

Whenever in doubt about the status of a show (i.e., can ushers see this show), consult with the Venue Manager.

As soon as the credits start to roll, ushers who are in the theatre must return to their posts immediately.

Et cetera

The audience must leave the theater at the end of each film. No saving seats in between films. Garbage in the theaters should get picked up. Ushers may leave as soon as the last screening has begun. Janitors will clean the theaters overnight.

All badges, flashlights and usher info should be kept in the usher box to prevent loss.

Turn in your daily schedule to the Venue Managers at the end of each shift so the Volunteer Department can credit hours in a timely manner.

Report difficult ushers to the Volunteer Department. If an usher is disruptive to festival operations or unprofessional, send them home.

Questions? Contact the Volunteer Department at 206.320.1001 or by email volunteers@siff.net. Contact information will be provided in the Lead Usher Book that will be made available on your first shift. This year's festival should inspire volunteers as well as filmgoers. I hope this year SIFF gives back to you all you put in. THANK YOU!!