SLOC GUIDELINES - Updated July 2005

House Manager

Reports to:   VP Audience Services

The House Manager is in charge of the House during his/her presence at the assigned Performance date. Specific Responsibilities and Duties are described below.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.             The House Manager should arrive at the Opera House 1 1/2 to 2 hours before the show is scheduled to begin.

2.             The House Manager is responsible for the safety of the Patrons from the time they arrive to the time they depart SLOC property. He/she should assure that the Parking Lot is clear of debris, ice and snow to the extent it may pose an immediate danger. No vehicles should be parked along the side of the building during or after snowstorms because ice and snow WILL slide from the roof and cause damage. Likewise, the Main Entrance way, including the front steps, both side exits, and both rear exits must be clear of debris, ice and snow since they serve as emergency exits. SLOC employs a snow removal service, but storms occurring during a show performance may require additional attention. Shovels and salt are kept in the Box Office area.

3.             The House Manager must familiarize himself/herself with the location of EMERGENCY EXITS and the placement of FIRE EXTINGUISHERS throughout the building. A map is posted in the Box Office.

4.             The House Manager should know who to contact in the case of problems, e.g., suspicious activities in or about the building, the occurrence of a severe storm, the loss of all power, a broken toilet. A list of Key Contacts is posted in the Box Office.

5.             The House Manager is responsible for assisting anyone who may become injured while on SLOC property. If need be, call for Medical, Police, Fire by DIALING 911. An Incident Report should be completed for all substantial injuries, whether or not immediate medical attention is sought. Copies are kept in the Box Office and the report is filed in the Box Office. At the earliest convenience, please call : the President of the Company to inform him/her of the incident.

DUTIES - BEFORE THE SHOW:

1.            Turn on the Lobby lights. The two switches are near the entrance door.

2.            Turn off the security alarm using the four-digit code.

3.            Retrieve the "House Manager" pin and a flashlight from the file cabinet in the Box Office. These are stored in the drawer marked, "Ushers".

4.             Turn on the Auditorium lights. Switch on all panel box switches that do not have red tape covering them. The panel box is on the right side of the Lobby wall as you face the Auditorium entrance. The "ON" position is toward the center of the panel box.

5.             Turn on the stairway lights. Switches are at the top of the stairs on both sides of the Lobby. The extra switch on the right stairway wall is for the Box Office, and it should be turned on as well.

6.             Unlock all front doors and lock all panic bars on the doors in the open position. The panic bar key is on a nail over the Box Office desk.

7.             Enter the Auditorium, and check to ensure that the "EXIT" sign light over the right side exit door is lit. If it is not, plug the sign into the outlet on the wall on the right side of the door.

8.             Unlock the emergency exit door to the fire escape on the right side of the Auditorium (in the tool room), and confirm that the door opens completely.

9.             As needed, clear any clutter which may impede a safe exit through this room to the emergency exit.

10.         Turn on the two heater fans under the stage on the left side of the Auditorium (.in the orchestra pit), if necessary.

11.         Turn on the back stage lights. Switches are near the doorway behind the orchestra pit.

12.         Unlock and open the backstage door leading to the stairwell. Hold the door iJf open using the hanger which is attached to the stairwell wall to wrap around the lock on the door.

13.         Return to the Lobby, go downstairs, and turn on the Lower Lobby lights at the bottom of either stairwell.

14.         Turn on lights in each Rest Room Alcove. Switches are on the rear of the wall to each alcove entrance.

15.         Check the Rest Rooms. Turn on the lights, exhaust fans, and mirror lights. Check toilet paper and paper towel supplies. Extra supplies are stored under the stairs near the Men's Room. Restock supplies, as needed.

16.         Turn on the Green Room lights. The switch is on the wall inside the Green Room, to the right of the double doors.

17.         Go to the Soda Room. Turn on the Soda Room light (inside the Soda Room, 9A, the left wall of the entrance). Turn on the remainder of the Green Room lights by switching on all switches below the panel box to the right of the soda machine.

18.         Unlock the exit door near the refrigerator, and confirm that the door opens completely.~!

19.         As needed, clear any clutter which may impede a safe exit through this room to the emergency exit.

20.         Turn on Dressing Room lights (hanging chain), and turn on Kitchen light, located on left wall of the Dressing Room.

21.         Enter Kitchen, and unlock the white exit door. Prop open this door using the concrete block in the stairwell. Turn on stairwell light, located high up on the right side of the stairwell wall.

22.         Set up two coat racks on the right-hand side of the entrance to the Green Room.

23.        Pull the Green Room curtain closed to separate the side for the audience from the side for the cast.

24.         Return upstairs to the Lobby. Place the four large ashtray canisters on the landing outside the front doors.

25.         Starting 45 minutes before show time, check the parking lot every fifteen minutes to offer assistance to patrons, to provide security, and to determine if the "Lot Full" sign needs to be put out. The sign is located in the Library Room to the left side of the Lobby.

26.         As patrons arrive and the Opera House is opened by the Usher Chairperson, help to take tickets at the Auditorium door, if necessary.

27.         Coordinate with the Stage Manager to set a time for the show to begin.

DUTIES - DURING THE SHOW:

1.             Close the Auditorium doors at show time, and control access to the Auditorium after the show begins. Discuss with the stage manager the appropriate time to let in latecomers. Coordinate with the Usher Chairperson. Possibly use vacant seats at the back of the Auditorium for any latecomers until such time as people can be escorted to their assigned seats.

2.             Lower the Lobby lights using the two dimmers located behind the Box Office door.

3.             Turn off stairway lights during the show. Turn them on again during the Intermission, and again at the conclusion of the show.

4.             Raise the Lobby lights at the beginning of the Intermission and the conclusion of the show.

5.             Remain in the Lobby during the show time and Intermission. If you must leave the lobby, designate someone else (Box Office staff, Usher) to act in your place in case of problems.

6.             You may want to bring a book to read or other diversion to help the time pass while you sit in the Lobby. Talking is discouraged, and actors should be reminded of this, if necessary, when they are in the Lobby waiting to go on stage.

7.             Assist the public, as they enter the Opera House or leave the Auditorium, during the performance.

8.             Place the playbill recycle box in the lobby after the second act starts. Ask the Usher Chairperson to provide you with one if one is not found in the Box Office.

DUTIES - AFTER THE SHOW:

1.             Greet audience as they leave the Auditorium.

2.             Assist any patron who may need help exiting the Opera House.

3.             After the audience has departed and the Stage Manager has finished setting the stage for the next performance, enter the Auditorium, lock up the emergency exit to the right of the stage, lock the stairwell door to the left of the stage, turn off the backstage lights, and turn off the heater fans using the switches under the left side of the stage.

4.             Once the cast has departed, go downstairs and into the Kitchen. Turn off the rear stairwell lights using the switch at the bottom of the stairwell. Lock the whit~ stairwell door in the Kitchen. Turn off all lights in the Kitchen, Dressing Room, Furnace Room, Soda Room, and Green Room. Then, turn off lights to the Rest Rooms and Rest Room Alcoves. Turn off Lower Lobby lights.

5.             Check each of the two side exit doors. Confirm that they are firmly closed and latched.

6.             Bring in the four ashtray canisters from the landing, and place them against the wall under the Box Office window.

7.             In the Lobby, release the panic bars of the four main doors using the key found· in the Box Office. Pull the four main doors shut, and confirm that they are locked. The panic bar key is on a nail over the Box Office desk.

8.             Return the "House Manager" pin and flashlight to the Box Office. These are stored in the file cabinet drawer marked "Ushers".

9.             Turn off the Auditorium lights, Booth lights, stairwell lights, Library Room lights, and Box Office lights.

10.         Set the security alarm using the four-digit code. Turn off the Lobby lights using the two switches by the exit door. Close the exit door firmly and double-check to ensure that all four entrance doors are firmly locked and secured.

Note: If you cannot close up the building, or you need to leave before the cast has all left, designate someone trustworthy and knowledgeable to close up the Opera House. Arrange this transfer of duties as soon as possible after you arrive to ensure that you have coverage during the entire time that the Opera House is occupied.