You may be able to start by doing a customer service practitioner intermediate apprenticeship.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, for an intermediate apprenticeship
Cinema or theatre attendant
Alternative titles for this job include Usher
Cinema and theatre attendants help customers visiting entertainment shows.
Average salary (a year)
Variable
Typical hours (a week)
23 to 25 variable
You could work
evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts
How to become a Cinema or theatre attendant
You can get into this job through:
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
Apprenticeship
Direct application
You can apply directly to vacancies advertised by theatres and cinemas. Experience of dealing with the public, for example in retail or hospitality, may give you an advantage though it's not always essential.
More information
Career tips
An interest in film or the arts would be helpful.
Further information
You can find out more about working in cinemas from Creative Choices.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- customer service skills
- the ability to work well with others
- to enjoy working with other people
- sensitivity and understanding
- to be flexible and open to change
- the ability to understand people’s reactions
- excellent verbal communication skills
- being able to use a computer terminal or hand-held device may be beneficial for this job.
Restrictions and requirements
You may need to be aged 18 or over for jobs that involve serving alcohol.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
Your day-to-day duties could include:
- checking tickets
- showing people to their seats
- selling programmes
- selling refreshments from trays or kiosks during the interval
- dealing with any problems or complaints
- re-stocking the refreshment kiosks and trays
- collecting litter and tidying up after a show
- working in the cinema or theatre's cafe, bar or box office
Working environment
You could work in a theatre or at a cinema.
You may need to wear a uniform.
Career path and progression
You could become a cashier, team leader or manager.
Training opportunities
Apprenticeships In England
Customer Service Apprentice
- Wage : £138.75 Weekly
- Location: Burton-On-Trent DE13 0BN
Witney- Customer Service Apprenticeship (Retail)
- Wage : £162.00 Weekly
- Location: Oxon OX28 6AP
Courses In England
Level 1 Certificate in Customer Service
- Provider: CHESHIRE WEST AND CHESTER COUNCIL
- Start date: 15 March 2019
- Location: CHESTER
NVQ Certificate in Customer Service Level 1
- Provider: Bedfordshire & Luton Education Business Partnership
- Start date: 01 September 2019
- Location: Bedford