Profession front of house manager

Front of house managers are responsible for those areas of a live event venue that are accessible to the public. They make sure interaction with the customers or visitors goes smoothly and professionally. Front of house managers are responsible for ticket sales, any refreshments, and make sure spaces accessible to the public are set out properly. They interact with the venue manager and the stage manager.

Personality Type

• Enterprising / Investigative

Knowledge

• Labour legislation

  Legislation, on a national or international level, that governs labour conditions in various fields between labour parties such as the government, employees, employers, and trade unions.

Skills

• Monitor guest access

  Oversee guests access, ensuring that guest needs are addressed and security is maintained at all times.

• Assess cleanliness of areas

  Evaluate cleanliness of areas in order to make sure that they are clean and presentable for customers.

• Ensure health and safety of visitors

  Take the necessary precautions to ensure the physical safety of an audience or people visiting an activity. Prepare actions in case of emergency. Administer first aid and direct emergency evacuations.

• Manage staff

  Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.

• Negotiate health and safety issues with third parties

  Consult, negotiate and agree on potential risks, measures and safety procedures with third parties.

• Manage a team

  Ensure clear and effective channels of communication across all departments within the organisation and support functions, both internally and externally ensuring that the team is aware of the standards and objectives of the department/business unit. Implement the disciplinary and grievance procedures as required ensuring that a fair and consistent approach to managing performance is consistently achieved. Assist in the recruitment process and manage, train and motivate employees to achieve/exceed their potential using effective performance management techniques. Encourage and develop a team ethic amongst all employees.

• Monitor ticketing

  Keep track of ticket sale for live events. Monitor how many tickets are available and how many have been sold.

• Supervise event staff

  Select, train and supervise volunteers and support staff required for events.

• Carry out end of day accounts

  Execute end of day accounts to ensure that business transactions from the current day have been correctly processed.

• Prevent fire in a performance environment

  Take steps to prevent fire in a performance environment. Make sure the space complies with fire safety rules, with sprinklers and fire extinguishers installed where necessary. Make sure staff are aware of fire prevention measures.

• React to emergency situations in a live performance environment

  Assess and react to an emergency (fire, threat, accident or another calamity), alerting emergency services and taking appropriate measures to safeguard or evacuate workers, participants, visitors or audience according to the established procedures.

• Promote health and safety

  Promote the importance of a safe working environment. Coach and support staff to participate actively in the continuous development of a safe working environment.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB