Audience Experience Team | House Manager

 

Fine Arts Building, a historic landmarked building located at 410 S. Michigan Ave, home of two performance spaces, Studebaker Theater (a 600 seat proscenium) and Carriage Hall (350-400 cap theatrical event space) is seeking dynamic individuals to join our Audience Experience Team. We are building a talent pool to support our company’s growth and ensure our company is representative of the communities we serve. We view our employees and co-workers as equals who deserve our respect. It is important that we create and foster an affirming space for our employees to be seen as their full selves.
Qualified candidates will provide exceptional guest service and apply a calm and gracious approach to all interactions with patrons, related staff, and our renters. Reporting directly to the Audience Service Manager while under the supervision of the General Manager, house managers offer the first impression of our venues. Candidates should have the ability to assess and react quickly to guest’s needs; diffuse and correct challenging scenarios; and share their genuine passion for theater and performing arts.

Applicants will be hired as part of a new theater operation, a year under its belt. This is an opportunity to join our team on the ground floor and rise with us as we grow.

House Managers are the primary liaisons responsible for front of house operations, associate staff members, assisting patrons visiting our theaters, and play a significant lead in relaying information to and from Stage Management. You will possess a general knowledge of arts and culture, safety and evacuation protocols, accessibility services, event reporting, while also executing excellent customer service. You will be expected to interact regularly with team members and patrons, while able to enforce and uphold Fine Arts Building policies.

Applicants will be hired as part of a new theater operation in first-time roles that have never before been filled. This is an opportunity to join our FOH team on the ground floor and rise with us as we grow.

Candidates with previous experience in House Management, Theater Operations, Customer Service, or Arts Administration are strongly encouraged to apply.

Qualifications & Skills

  • High School Diploma or equivalent required.
  • Must be 21 or over. (working around alcohol)
  • At least one year of experience in any customer service or customer-facing role preferred.
  • At least one year of House Management experience is preferred.
  • Welcoming attitude possessing a friendly personality.
  • Ability to respond gracefully and thoughtfully in complex or challenging situations.
  • BASSET certification preferred. (Certification available with employment)
  • CPR certification preferred. (Certification available with employment through Red Cross.)
  • Able to stand and walk for extended periods of time across multiple theater levels and stairs.
  • Ability to lift and carry at least 40-50lbs.

Ideal Candidates

  • Implement learned or willing to learn knowledge as it relates to COVID and conflict resolution.
  • Value accessibility, supporting patrons who will express a range and variation of physical ability: wheelchairs, assistive listening devices, canes, walkers, blind, deaf, captions, ASL, etc.
  • Will elevate anti-racist practices and assist our team in dismantling the systemic racism perpetuated within arts and culture
  • Passionately brings an appreciation of inclusivity to their role, peers, and our theater audiences, while identifying barriers that prevent human participation
  • Extend grace, patience, and compassion as required by the start-up environment. You are joining a new company that is still building and growing – you must be excited by that.

This is a part-time position with an hourly rate of $18.00/hour. Interested applicants should send a resume, cover letter and 3 professional references to jobs@fineartsbuilding.com. Candidates selected for interview will be contacted for an initial interview by late March. Anticipated start date will occur at the beginning of April.

Required Training Dates:
Apr 7, 2023 6:00pm – 9:00pm – onboarding and training
Apr 11, 2023 6:00pm – 10:00pm – hands-on training
Apr 13, 2023 6:00pm – 10:00pm – active event training

All applicants should format the subject line of their email as follows
Your Name: House Manager in the subject of your email. (Example | House Manager: Jane Doe)

Please note that the Fine Arts Building joins the coalition of Chicago theatres in implementing safety policies and guidelines for our staff and audience to protect against the spread of Covid-19. Full vaccination is required to be considered for employment.

—

The Fine Arts Building was built in 1885, originally designed as the carriage assembly and showroom for the Studebaker Company. Situated on Michigan Avenue overlooking Grant Park, the building was immediately hailed as one of “Chicago’s architectural jewels.” In 1898, the building was repurposed to become the Fine Arts Building, Chicago’s first fine arts colony. From the beginning, the building attracted influential artists from all creative disciplines, becoming a cultural hub for some of the most acclaimed visionaries of their time – A home for art in all forms.

The Fine Arts Building acknowledges its place on the traditional unceded homelands of the Council of the Three Fires: the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations. Many other tribes such as the Miami, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac, and Fox also historically called this area home.

The Fine Arts Building strives to be an organization which embraces a commitment to Indigenous rights, racial justice, and cultural equity. As a home to some of Chicago’s most prominent artists, the Fine Arts Building strongly believes that art is for everyone and aims to be a driving force in showcasing art that is accessible to all. The Studebaker Theater and Carriage Hall, while not producing organizations, are committed to building, fostering, and maintaining an inclusive, accessible, affirming, diverse workplace that is an equitable and anti-racist environment for artists to thrive. By honoring our past as a home for art in all forms, we carry that legacy into the future through articulating these core values. This vision of being an intersectional home to today’s artists shapes the organization’s decision-making and institutional policies.

Fine Arts Building is an equal opportunity employer where all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin.

Audience Experience Team | Front of House and Box Office Associate

 

Fine Arts Building, a historic landmarked building located at 410 S. Michigan Ave, home of two performance spaces, Studebaker Theater (a 600 seat proscenium) and Carriage Hall (350-400 cap theatrical event space) is seeking dynamic individuals to join our Audiences Services and Box Office team. We are building a talent pool to support our company’s growth and ensure our company is representative of the communities we serve. We view our employees and co-workers as equals who deserve our respect. It is important that we create and foster an affirming space for our employees to be seen as their full selves.

The right candidates will provide exceptional guest service at all times as you offer the first impression of our theater. Candidates should have the ability to assess and react quickly to guest’s needs, have superior cash-handling skills, and a genuine passion for theater. This is a chance to help build our FOH/BO team and will allow the right candidate the opportunity to work within multiple departments of theater management.

Reporting directly to the Box Office and Audience Service Managers while under the supervision of the Associate General Manager, you will be cross trained in multiple front of house positions but primary areas of responsibility will vary depending on your scheduled shift. Your duties may include assisting with will-call in the box office as well as facilitating the sale of tickets; greeting guests and verifying full vaccination (if required); operating and maintaining bar and concessions. This is an opportunity to join our FOH/BO team on the ground floor and rise with us as we grow.

Candidates with previous experience in Customer Service, Box Office, Audience Services, or Arts Administration are strongly encouraged to apply.

Requirements:

  • High school diploma or equivalent required
  • Ability to lift up-to 40lbs
  • Ability to stand, walk, serve food and drink for extended periods
  • Ability to climb stairs and multiple levels of the theater
  • Candidates should possess the ability to work calmly and clearly in high-paced settings as a supportive member of team
  • Weekend and Evening availability required
  • Ability to attend all scheduled dates of training

Ideal Candidates:

  • Value accessibility, supporting public audiences who will express a range and variation of physical ability: wheelchairs, assistive listening devices, canes, walkers, blind, deaf, captions, ASL
  • Will elevate anti-racist practices and assist our team in dismantling the systemic racism perpetuated within arts and culture
  • Passionately brings an appreciation of inclusivity to their role, peers, and our theater audiences, while identifying barriers that prevent full, human participation
  • Extend grace, patience, and compassion as required by the start-up environment. You are joining a brand new company that is still building and growing – you must be excited by that.

This is a part-time position with a starting hourly rate of $16.00/hour. Interested applicants should send a resume, cover letter and 3 professional references to jobs@fineartsbuilding.com. Candidates selected for interview will be contacted for an initial interview in mid March. Anticipated start date will occur at the beginning of April.

Required Training Dates:
Apr 7, 2023 6:00pm – 9:00pm – onboarding and training
Apr 11, 2023 6:00pm – 10:00pm – hands-on training
Apr 13, 2023 6:00pm – 10:00pm – active event training

All applicants should format the subject line of the email as follows:
Your Name : FOH/BO Associate in the subject of your email. (Example | FOH/BO Associate: John Doe)

Please note that Fine Arts Building joins the coalition of Chicago theaters in implementing safety policies and guidelines for our staff and audience to protect against the spread of Covid-19. Full vaccination is required to be considered for employment.

—

The Fine Arts Building was built in 1885, originally designed as the carriage assembly and showroom for the Studebaker Company. Situated on Michigan Avenue overlooking Grant Park, the building was immediately hailed as one of “Chicago’s architectural jewels.” In 1898, the building was repurposed to become the Fine Arts Building, Chicago’s first fine arts colony. From the beginning, the building attracted influential artists from all creative disciplines, becoming a cultural hub for some of the most acclaimed visionaries of their time – A home for art in all forms.

The Fine Arts Building acknowledges its place on the traditional unceded homelands of the Council of the Three Fires: the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations. Many other tribes such as the Miami, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac, and Fox also historically called this area home.

The Fine Arts Building strives to be an organization which embraces a commitment to Indigenous rights, racial justice, and cultural equity. As a home to some of Chicago’s most prominent artists, the Fine Arts Building strongly believes that art is for everyone and aims to be a driving force in showcasing art that is accessible to all. The Studebaker Theater and Carriage Hall, while not producing organizations, are committed to building, fostering, and maintaining an inclusive, accessible, affirming, diverse workplace that is an equitable and anti-racist environment for artists to thrive. By honoring our past as a home for art in all forms, we carry that legacy into the future through articulating these core values. This vision of being an intersectional home to today’s artists shapes the organization’s decision-making and institutional policies.

Fine Arts Building is an equal opportunity employer where all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin.