[Laughingmonsta]

After my recent trip to NYC, I was highly impressed by the organisation of the FOH team, the speed in which the manage to do everything and show every person to their allocated seat, they were always polite and if they had to throw their weight they did.

I was also amazed at how every show started immediately after the 15 minute interval, with or without the audience something are FOH teams could learn a lot from!

What are other peoples opinions on this?

[amyja89]

The staff at the Gershwin in NY were lovely! I bought a programme and enquired about some Wicked wristbands I'd seen on the website a few months back. The guy told me that they didn't sell them anymore and apologised that they hadn't been taken off of the site.

He then suddenly asked me for my seat number, so I gave it to him and went off to watch the first Act. To my surprise during the interval, he came up to me in my seat and handed me a plastic packet with the wristbands inside. Said he had searched around and found some! I got my purse out to pay but he said not to worry and gave me a wink! It made my night.

I can't imagine any West End FOH going to that much trouble!

[holler]

The staff at the Gershwin in NY were lovely! I bought a programme and enquired about some Wicked wristbands I'd seen on the website a few months back. The guy told me that they didn't sell them anymore and apologised that they hadn't been taken off of the site.

He then suddenly asked me for my seat number, so I gave it to him and went off to watch the first Act. To my surprise during the interval, he came up to me in my seat and handed me a plastic packet with the wristbands inside. Said he had searched around and found some! I got my purse out to pay but he said not to worry and gave me a wink! It made my night.

I can't imagine any West End FOH going to that much trouble!

Just pausing to have a little, no, a lot, jealousy of that. Amazing. If you ever get bored of one or two of said wristbands, I know where they could find a very very happy home. I have GBP that may be of interest.

I LOVE it when people go the extra mile like that... so rare tho!

[Laughingmonsta]

I LOVE it when people go the extra mile like that... so rare tho!

Seems to be general practice in NYC from recent experience!

[amyja89]

Just pausing to have a little, no, a lot, jealousy of that. Amazing. If you ever get bored of one or two of said wristbands, I know where they could find a very very happy home. I have GBP that may be of interest.

I LOVE it when people go the extra mile like that... so rare tho!

Unfortunately, due to many (MANY) drunken school leavers house parties/pub parties/field parties/parties parties... one by one they seemed to dissapear from my wrist and I no longer have any!

It still pains me to this day to look at my bare wrist and remember the good times!

[bananafrit]

I can't imagine any West End FOH going to that much trouble!

Actually, I find that a little bit insulting. I know of MANY times that staff have done this; even gone further - to make sure that things get posted out to customers if needbe.

You forget that people only ever focus on the negatives of life - you always hear about how many complaints have been made about something but never about how many PLEASING or THANK YOU letters are received... and beleive me, in the right establishements, there are many.

[amyja89]

Actually, I find that a little bit insulting. I know of MANY times that staff have done this; even gone further - to make sure that things get posted out to customers if needbe.

You forget that people only ever focus on the negatives of life - you always hear about how many complaints have been made about something but never about how many PLEASING or THANK YOU letters are received... and beleive me, in the right establishements, there are many.

You're quite right, sorry.

Just going on the experience I've had.

[bananafrit]

You're quite right, sorry.

Just going on the experience I've had.

I just think that, having worked in FoH for over 10 years, people are all too quick to criticise Londons FoH staff for bad experiences

(which, usually, are beyond their control and are usually based on problems with the production showing or the building - yes they work as ambassadors for the building but is it REALLY their fault that there's no air conditioning in the building, or that the toilets in the Aldwych are too busy for a female-dominated audience?!)

What about all those times that ushers have helped out people being ill after too much drink or have had to stop fights between people or have been on red alert through terrorist threats knowing that there was any chance that they'd have to put their lives on the line for £5.96ph if there was an emergency?

Sorry to have a little rant but I really don't think that it's fair to compare and criticise ushers like this.

**rant over**

[bananafrit]

(that's not a personal attack on anybody - just a general observation)

[n9037]

I've got to say, I've generally always had great experiences with the FOH staff in the West End.
I confess that I went to Phantom A LOT last year and the staff were always friendly there, one usher always said hello and said "Back again? Its only been a couple of weeks!"

There's a lovely guy at Queen's Theatre too. One time I went with a friend and we were meeting our other friend who wasn't seeing Les Mis during the interval. The usher on the door said "You are coming back for act two right?" and we had a chat about people thinking the show is over after One Day More and they just leave. Unbelievable! He then had to actually stop talking to us to go tell one woman that it hadn't finished yet so don't go anywhere. Thus proving his point! He then returned to talk to us and asked us how many times we'd seen the show and stuff.

But the most helpful of all FOH staff I've ever experienced has to be the staff at the Garrick. They are helpful, very friendly, and always say that they hope I enjoy the show as they tell me where to find my seat. Just a little gesture, but it always makes me smile and puts me in a good mood for the show.

Actually, a woman at the Adelphi was really friendly and nice when I saw Joseph when it first opened.
Like I said, I've always had great experiences with FOH staff - hope they keep up the good work! I know how hard it is to work with the public, I do it on a daily basis and sometimes it drives me insane, so well done to them all!