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\chapter{Housemanaging - 54-100}

\section{Ushers}

Two ushers are generally needed for each performance to stand at each
stairway up to the lecture hall. They should show up 45 minutes to an
hour before the performance. Dress should be casual, but nice. 

Once the house opens, the ushers take tickets (usually whole, not
ripping them) and hand out programs. They hand over the tickets they
collect to the housemanager. Once the overture of the performance
begins, the ushers hold all late-comers from entering the hall until the
overture is over, at which time there is a pause. After the late-comers
are seated, the ushers may sit down, preferably in the back row just in
case there are more late-comers. Late-comers should find seats only
between songs, disrupting the performance as little at possible.

Finding ushers is sometimes a challenge. In the past, ushers have been
found by sending out e-mail to mailing lists such as gli, sipb-soc, and
savoyards, and also by advertising over Athena. Friends are usually a
good source of ushers. 

\section{Assistant Housemanager}

It is a good idea to find someone who is willing to help out at every
performance, or at least most performaces. This is in addition to the
two ushers. The assistant housemanager could help with ticketselling, or
folding programmes, or filling in for a late, or no-show, usher. Also,
this allows either the housemanager or assistant housemanager check the
house, finding out when it will open, etc. This is not a critical part
of housemanaging, but it makes housemanaging much less nervewracking.

\section{Tickets}

Ideally, there will be someone else dealing with pre-sale of tickets. It
is a good idea to get a count of how many tickets have been pre-sold for
each performance from whoever is in charge of tickets. Also, be sure to
get the tickets for each performance, and if possible pre-count the
tickets to make sure that the performance is not over-sold. 

Finding someone to help sell tickets at the door is a very good idea
because it leaves the housemanager free to oversee other things. See
{\bf Assistant Housemanager}. In order to keep the bookkeeping straight,
the price of each ticket sold should be written on the back of it. Also,
tickets sold at the door should be distinguishable from pre-sold
tickets. A count should be keep for each performance of how many (and of
what price) tickets were pre-sold and how many were sold at the door.
This will keep track of the attendance and also the money brought in.
See {\bf Bookkeeping}.

\section{Refreshments}

The housemanager should not have to coordinate refreshments. There
should be a separate person to deal with buying, baking, transporting,
etc., the refreshments. The housemanager generally helps out the
refreshments person with setting up and selling the refreshments for
intermission. Ushers are also welcome to help out if they want to, but
it is up to them. Intermission usually lasts about 10-15 minutes,
depending on how large the audience is, and occasionally on what
problems there are setting up the set for the second act. Left-over
refreshments such as bottles of soda, etc, are usually left in the
lighting booth between shows.

Good sellers in terms of refreshments seem to be mulled cider
(especially when it's cold), soda, cookies, brownies, etc. Prices depend
on how much it costs to bake and/or buy the refreshments. The purpose of
refreshments is not to soak people for lots of money, but to make a
modest profit and give people food and drink to make them happier for
the last half of the performance. 
 
\section{Programmes}

The person in charge of programmes should deliver the programmes to the
hall. If not, the housemanager should make sure that they get there
somehow. Between shows, unused programmes are usually left in the
lighting booth. They may or may not be folded. They usually aren't. So,
it is a good idea to arrive early to performances to fold programmes.
Finding people, such as cast and crew members, to help fold programmes
is sometimes successful. Make sure to have enough programmes folded
beforehand for each performance.

\section{Signs}

Since 54-100 is such a hard place to find on the MIT campus for non-MIT
people, it is a very good idea to put up directional signs leading the
way to 54-100. Not only should there be directional signs in the
Infinite Corridor, but there should also be signs leading from the
Vassar St parking lot and from Ames St. Finding someone willing to do
this (like maybe the person in charge of publicity) is a good idea which
saves the housemanager a lot of running out. Directional signs in the
past have been provided by the person in charge of publicity.

Other signs are necessary to direct people to the correct entrance of
the Green Building, and to prevent people from using the elevators.
Signs near the elevators should say something like "Elevator to 54-100
for handicapped and elderly only". (Only the middle elevator goes to
54-100). The elevator comes up backstage, so it is necessary to warn the
people backstage that people might show up back there and to tell them
to direct those people to the hall itself. It is up to the housemanager
whether or not to leave tickets and programmes backstage. The
housemanager should check with the stagemanager to see if any people
came up the back way.

Yet more signs are needed for the lobby where tickets are sold, etc.
These signs say, "No smoking", "No cameras please", etc.; also signs are
needed to indicate the location of the restrooms. A sign indicating the
refreshments (with prices) to be sold at intermission is necessary.

\section{Bookkeeping}

Things to keep track of for each performance are: 1) Initial till count;
2) How many tickets are sold at the door (and how much of each price);
3) How many pre-sold tickets and complimentary tickets were used. 4) How
much money is taken in by refreshments; 5) Final till count.

Forms to keep track of all of these details for each night should be in
the GSP account on Athena. They should be printed out and used for each
performance. Or, the housemanager can make his/her own. 

\section{The Till (Money)}

Be sure to get the till before the first performance of each weekend.
Either the treasurer or the person in charge of the ticket booth should
have it. 

Count the till before selling any tickets before each performance. The
till should also be counted after the last of the audience has arrived,
but before the beginning of intermission. After refreshments are sold
during intermission, a final till count should be done. 

After each performance, money should be removed from the till, leaving
about 200 dollars in the till to be the starter for the next
performance. The money removed should be either deposited in the CP's
safe or given to the treasurer to deposit. Generally, though, the money
is taken to the CP's safe by the housemanager who is escorted by the CP
working at the show. The money should be in a sealed envelope, with the
MIT Gilbert and Sullivan Players, the date, the amount, the
housemanager's name/signature, and the name of the treasurer (or whoever
is dealing with the money from the show) written on it clearly.

Also, if the till runs low on singles, fives, and quarters, be sure to
exchange higher bills for these.

\section{Checklist for each performance}

\begin{enumerate}
\item Make sure directional signs are up.
\item Put up the signs for the lobby. 
\item Put up posters for the show. 
\item Put up the Union Jack.
\item Make sure there are enough folded programs; fold more if
necessary.
\item Make sure there is a guest book or piece of paper so that people
can sign up for the mailing list.
\item Make sure you have the tickets for the performance. Count them,
removing extras so you don't oversell the performance.
\item Count the till, and record this initial till count.
\item Make sure the house is clean, picking up trash, etc.
\item After the performance has begun, count the till and count the
number of tickets collected. Record these numbers.
\item Before intermission, help set up refreshments. 
\item During intermission, help sell refreshments.
\item After intermission, count the till and record this amount.
\item After the performance, remove money to put into the Campus Patrol
safe. Record the amount removed. 
\item Escorted by the CP, take the money to the CP safe and the till to
whereever it is being kept. (Alternatively, if the treasurer or other
responsible person is around, have them do it.)
\item Put valuable stuff away, usually in the lighting booth. Valuable
stuff includes left-over programs, the Union Jack, left-over
refreshments, posters, etc.
\end{enumerate}

\end{document}
