Sarasota Opera Ushering: Spring/Summer Rental Events

The sign-up email for the Spring/Summer rental events has gone out.  To view and sign-up, click here.

Please call or email Scott if you have any questions/difficulties.

Updated Usher Schedules Now Posted

Updated usher schedules for the Winter 2014 season have been posted and can be found on the Sarasota Opera Usher Information and Schedules page.

At recent performances we have explained that TROVATORE and BARBER OF SEVILLE performances have been selling very well.  Because of that, extra seats for ushers have been limited.  Due to the new team scheduling system, ushers are currently scheduled to work only one performance of each opera.  There are, however, other opportunities for you to work those two operas and increase your chances of seeing a full performance.

Please take a look at Team Handel and Team Beethoven for those opportunities.  I am staffing those teams performance by performance now.  Those of you who are scheduled for those teams already will see your name in the left-hand column under "Team Roster".  Those of you who have already signed up specific performances will see your name shaded in yellow in the performance column where call-times are usually listed.

To sign up for extra performances, please call or email me (Scott Guinn).

Sarasota Opera Dress Rehearsals - Volunteer Tickets

Each season, Volunteers are given the opportunity to attend selected final dress rehearsals.  These tickets—1 for the volunteer and 1 for a guest—are available in the lobby of the Opera House an hour before the rehearsal begins and are given out on a first-come-first-served basis; there are around 190 balcony seats available for Volunteers. 

Please note that we do not take reservations for these rehearsals.  Tickets are given out the day of the rehearsal beginning one hour before the rehearsal begins.

The Barber of Seville   Thursday, February 13, 2014 at 12:30pm

The Flying Dutchman  Thursday, February 27, 2014 at 12:30pm

Jérusalem                    Thursday, March 6, 2014 at 12:30pm

If you require accessible seating, please contact Scott Guinn prior to the rehearsal to arrange it.  These dress rehearsals are also attended by schools, donors, and special guests.  Each group has its own section of the theater and is asked to stay in that assigned section.  Like all performances, accessible seating is limited and should be arranged prior to the rehearsal.

2014 Volunteer Orientation and Social

YOU'RE INVITED!!!

WHO: All Volunteers

WHAT: Sarasota Opera Volunteer Orientation and Social

WHEN: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 - 5:30pm to 7:30pm

WHERE: Opera Club and Selby Lobby; 2nd Floor of the Opera House

Maestro Victor DeRenzi and Executive Director Richard Russell invite you to join us as we start the festivities for our 55th Winter Opera Festival!  New volunteers will convene at 5:30pm in the Opera Club for a brief orientation while veteran volunteers mix and mingle in the Selby Lobby.

Following the orientation, everyone can enjoy light hors-d'oeuvres, beer, wine, and soft-drinks.  We will also be entertained with a brief concert by members of the Apprentice and Studio program.

This invitation is for all volunteers and is being sent out by email ONLY.  If you know volunteers who do not use email, spread the word!  We will too!

Come meet your new colleagues and staff from the Opera!

Please RSVP to Scott Guinn by replying to this email or calling (941) 366-8450, ext. 228 by Friday, January 17.

This event is for all  of our volunteers!

December & January Rental Schedules Updated

The rental schedules for December and January have been updated.

New Usher Handbook

The new usher handbook for the 2013-2014 season is now available!  To view a copy online, click the "Sarasota Opera Usher Information & Schedules" link on the left side of the page.  A link to a PDF copy of the handbook can be found on that page.

Hard copies of the handbook can be obtained by calling Scott Guinn or at the box office during regular box office hours (10am to 4pm, Monday through Friday).

2013-14 Season Usher Schedules

Thank you for your help in making this new scheduling process a success!  The schedules for the 2013-14 season are now posted here on the blog and are being mailed and emailed out on Monday, August 12.

There are still some coverage needs for certain teams, primarily Team Handel and Team Beethoven.  If you are willing to work on one of these teams, please take a look at the schedule of performances and see if this might be an option for you.  Remember, an upside to doubling up is that it gives you more opportunities to see an opera if one of the performances you’re already scheduled for sells out.

Your schedule sheet lists the team roster down the left side of the page.  Across the top are the performances each team will work.  If you follow the row for your name across the page, you will see call times for each performance.  If you told me that you are not available for a performance, you will see “Excused” in a shaded box for that show.  Please note that if you are on Team Bizet (Sunday matinees) you do not work all Sunday matinees, only the ones listed.  Also, if you are on Team Rossini (Weekend matinees), you do not work all matinees that fall on a weekend; you work only what’s listed on your sheet.

This year ushers will not have to submit time sheets.  Each usher will be credited with four hours for each performance they work.  House Managers will keep track of those who are dismissed early or do not show up and will check in with me periodically throughout the season so that we are all up to date with hours.  If you are dismissed early from a performance, you will be credited with at least two hours for that shift.

If you are a new usher, please note the usher training dates on the Volunteer Events Page.  Ushers perform an essential safety and customer service function at the opera and must attend training prior to their first shift.  If you are not able to attend the dates listed, please contact me to set up another time.  If you are a veteran usher, you may also attend these training sessions if you feel you need a refresher course!

If you have any questions at all about any of the schedules or events, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  I’m looking forward to a fantastic season and to seeing you all again!

~Scott

REMINDER: The Sign-up Period for 2013-14 Users ends FRIDAY

Hello!

This is your friendly reminder that the sign-up period for the 2013-14 opera performances ends on Friday.  All forms received after that date will not be processed until forms received between July 15 and July 29 have been processed.

If you have any questions or have not received the information, please call Scott!!

USHERS: Sign-up NOW for the 2013-14 opera season

By now you should have received your sign-up packet via regular post or by email.  If you have not received your packet and you were an usher last year or the year before, please contact Scott Guinn to make sure your contact information is up to date.  You may download the packets here as well.  Simply click the link below and a PDF of the documents you need will pop up.

2013-14 Usher Sign-up Packet

Thank you for all that you do for Sarasota Opera. We are so appreciative of your time and energy in performing this very important job. Because we value your contribution so highly, we want to make sure that your experience is positive and enjoyable.

In an effort to simplify the scheduling process, beginning this season we will be using a system based on ushering teams.  Our hope is that this will be more efficient, allow us to give you more advanced notice of when you’ll be working, and cut down on the number of no-shows.

The sign-up packet has three documents:

•         Information about the new team system, and what you can expect from it.
•         A list of the usher teams and which performances each team will work.
•         A new, simpler sign-up form which allows you to indicate your “team” preference.

The new handbook, which includes some changes, can be found on the Volunteer Blog at after September 1. A hard copy can be picked up at the box office. The new information includes a clear statement of the seating policy, a new no-show policy, and an end-of-season review policy.

It is important that everyone who ushers at Sarasota Opera should be able to work all posts as assigned by the House Managers.  As stated in the job description for Ushers:

“Physically, ushers must have the ability to move quickly, climb stairs, tolerate heights, read in low light conditions, lift/move/carry 10 lbs., walk aisles at an incline, stand and walk for extended periods.”

While we try to accommodate those who have difficulty with some of the tasks listed above, we do need to make sure that we are able to staff all positions.  In addition to providing assistance to our patrons, ushers serve an essential safety function.  For both of those reasons, we need flexibility from the ushering corps in filling these coverage needs.

We cannot do what we do without your help and appreciate all that you do for Sarasota Opera. We are looking forward to seeing you again and to another great season of opera!  If you have any questions about anything in this packet, please don’t hesitate to call or email.

Usher Sign-Up Forms for 2013-14

This is just a note to let you know that we are on schedule for you to receive the sign-up packets on July 15.

We will be mailing them out on Thursday morning and they should start hitting your mailboxes Friday or Saturday.  You will also be receiving the packet via email and they will be available here as well.

If you have not ushered with Sarasota Opera in the past couple of years and would like to do so, you may download the packets from here and send in the form.

We're looking forward to a great season!

Ushers: Signing Up for the Fall and Winter Opera Season

As a heads-up for what to expect for signing up and the scheduling of the Fall and Winter opera performances, I wanted to offer a brief explanation.

We will be mailing AND emailing the sign-up packet out to the roster so that it arrives to you by July 15.  In that packet will be an explanation on the new approach we're taking, how to fill out the form, and when the deadline is for submitting the form back to the Opera.  Final schedules will not be mailed, but will be emailed and posted to the blog.  Those few ushers who do not receive email or use the Internet will be given their schedule over the phone.

I am trying to make the process as simple as possible.  I want to avoid all of the confusion of last season and give you a full schedule in August so that you can plan accordingly for the Fall and Winter.  I believe we have created a system that will be easy for you to work in and one that is laid out simply and efficiently.  There will be no small-print spreadsheets, no downloading of PDFs, no last minute release of schedules, and no time-sheets to submit.

To further explain about time-sheets: ushers will be credited the hours for the operas they work.  I will work closely with House Management to see who went home early and who did not show up so that an accurate accounting of your hours is taken.  You should keep your own accounting so that when I show you your hours, we can talk about any discrepancies that may show up.

Everyone was just fantastic last year considering all of the bumps in the road.  Please be assured that my primary goal this season is to make your experience easy and hassle free.

Here is the schedule for signing up:

July 15: Sign-up packets arrive via snail-mail and email
July 15-July 29: Sign-up period
July 30-August 9: Scheduling period
August 12: Fall and Winter opera schedules released

Ushers: July through November Rental Schedules

The schedules for rental events in the theater from July through November have been emailed and posted.

Here are the events which correspond to the dates on the schedule:

July 13 - Balalaika and Domra Association of America Concert
August 17 - Carreno Dance Festival
September 13 & 14 - Artist Series (These dates may change to 14 & 15.  In that case, those who are scheduled for the 13th will work the 15th as available.  I will keep you posted on this.)
September 21 - Fred Astaire Dance Studio (This date may change to October 6.  If you are not available for October 6, please let me know.)
October 12 - Sarasota Orchestra
November 22 & 23 - Sarasota Ballet

If you have any questions, please contact Scott.

To sign up for ushering at rental events at the Opera House, please click the link below and fill out the form.

Please remember that signing up for an event does not mean you are scheduled for that event.  Schedules will be sent to those ushers who will be working on the following schedule:

April 29: May thru July events
May 15: August thru December events

http://www.jotform.us/SarasotaOpera/rentalsignup

Note that each usher must fill out a form, couples cannot fill out one form for the both of them.  There is a space at the bottom of the form to note who you usher with, but each person who wishes to usher must fill out the form.

If you have trouble filling out the form, please call Scott at 941-366-8450, ext. 228.  Do not email your preferred dates in lieu of submitting this form.

If you have usher friends who do not use email or the Internet, please pass the word on to call Scott so that he can fill out their form.

USHERS: Rental Event Sign-up through December

Shortly, you will see a form here for signing up for rental events through December.  You will also receive an email with the form later today.

This is a new system we are looking at for scheduling.  You simply check the dates (by clicking with your mouse) that interest you and submit the form.

I will get a report which has all of the data automatically filled in with everyone's choices.  That data will then be used to build the schedule.  If this works out for these rental events, we will probably switch to this for the regular season scheduling.

For the few ushers who do not have email, they will need to call me, and I will fill out the form for them.  Please spread that word to your ushering friends who do not use the Internet or email.

I will be taking submissions until Friday, April 19 for the remaining events in April, and Wednesday, April 24 for the other events.  Schedules for the May through December events will go out in two phases:

Phase 1 on April 29: May, June and July events
Phase 2 on May 15: August thru December

If you have any questions, please contact Scott at 941-366-8450, ext. 228.

Changes To Look Out For

Now that things have calmed down a bit in the Sarasota Opera offices, it's time to take hard look at what worked this past year and what didn't

Over the next couple of months we will be introducing some changes that we hope will make your volunteering experience a better one, particularly in the Usher Corps.

We can take the first step today by announcing the time-line for the 2013-14 usher schedule:

July 15 - July 29: Sign-up Period
July 30 - August 9: Scheduling Period
August 12: 2013-14 Usher Schedule Released (Fall & Winter)

We will be reaching out to you in early July to explain the changes we've made and what you will need to do to sign up for ushering assignments.

Please note that we are not taking any requests for the 2013-14 opera season until July 15.

Keep an eye out in your email and here on the blog!

USHERS - April Rental Events Schedule

Here are the schedules for the April rental events.  Click the link below (titled "April Rental Events Usher Schedules") and a PDF will pop up with a list of the performances and the ushers assigned to them.  This is in a different format from the season schedules and will hopefully be easier to read.

These are also posted on the Usher Schedule page of this blog and will be emailed on Tuesday.

April Rental Events Usher Schedules

UPDATED SCHEDULES

The usher schedules have been updated on the schedule page.  Click the "Sarasota Opera Usher Schedules" link on the left side of the page to see the changes.

There are still holes to fill, particularly for TURANDOT performances.  I will be updating the list of coverage needs shortly, but please take a look at the schedules and see if you can fill in on some of the performances where we need folks.

A HUGE thank you to those who have volunteered already to fill in!

Volunteer Appreciation Event

The Volunteer Appreciation Event will be on Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 4:30pm on the stage of the Opera House.

An invitation will be sent out in the next week with more information as well as RSVP information.

LIST: USHERS NEEDED

We have a lot of holes to fill in the usher schedule, particularly in the last weeks of the season.

Below is a list of how many ushers we need based on the performances.  If you would like to volunteer for any of the performances below, please email Scott with the dates you would like to work.

Date - Opera - Call Time - # of ushers needed; # opera club needed

Wed, February 20 - Turandot - 7:00pm - 2 ushers; 1 opera club
Thurs, February 21 - Pearl Fishers - 7:00pm - 2 ushers; 1 or 2 opera club
Sat, February 23 - Turandot - 7:00pm - 4 ushers; 1 opera club
Sun, February 24 - Pearl Fishers - 12:30pm - 2 ushers; 2 opera club
Wed, February 27 - Pearl Fishers - 7:00pm - 2 ushers
Thurs, February 28 - King for a Day Dress Rehearsal - 11:30am - 10 ushers
Thurs, February 28 - Turandot - 7:00pm - 1 usher; 2 opera club
Fri, March 1 - Pearl Fishers - 7:00pm - 3 ushers; 1 opera club
Sat, March 2 - King for a Day - 7:00pm - 1 usher
Sun, March 3 - Turandot - 12:30pm - 5 ushers; 2 opera club
Tues, March 5 - King for a Day - 1 opera club
Thurs, March 7 - King for a Day - 1 opera club
Fri, March 8 - Pearl Fishers - 12:30pm - 10 ushers; 2 opera club
Fri, March 8 - Verdi's Times - 7:00pm - 4 ushers; 2 opera club
Sun, March 10 - King for a Day - 12:30pm - 2 ushers; 1 opera club
Sun, March 10 - Turandot - 7:00pm - 19 ushers; 2 opera club (!!!!!!)
Tues, March 12 - Mice and Men - 7:00pm - 2 opera club
Wed, March 13 - King for a Day - 3 ushers; 1 opera club
Thurs, March 14 - Mice and Men - 7:00pm - 10 ushers; 2 opera club
Fri, March 15 - Turandot - 7:00pm - 12 ushers; 1 opera club
Sat, March 16 - Pearl Fishers - 12:30pm - 2 ushers
Sat, March 16 - King for a Day - 7:00pm - 13 ushers; 2 opera club
Sun, March 17 - Mice and Men - 12:30pm - 1 usher; 1 opera club
Tues, March 19 - Turandot - 7:00pm - 25 ushers; 2 opera club (!!!!!!)
Fri, March 22 - Pearl Fishers - 7:00pm - 8 ushers; 2 opera club
Sat, March 23 - Mice and Men - 12:30pm - 4 ushers
Sat, March 23 - Turandot - 7:00pm - 20 ushers (!!!!!!)
Sun, March 24 - King for a Day - 12:30pm - 17 ushers; 2 opera club
Sun, March 24 - Verdi Bicentennial Concert - 7:00pm - 2 opera club; 1 McCorkle Lounge

Updated Schedules Now Posted

The Usher Schedules have been updated and can be found on the Sarasota Opera Usher Schedule page.

As you can see, there are holes to fill.  If you see a performance you would like to usher, please let Scott know.  An email will be going out shortly with a list of personnel needs.

Thank you all!