THEA 3603 – SELECTED TOPICS – Public Relations and Customer Service in
>> the Performing Arts
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>> Students will receive considerable hands-on training and experience with operating a venue, providing public information via digital and print media, and working in the day-to-day operations of a service business. Many students pursuing a variety of careers will be working face-to-face with customers, yet may have had little hands-on experience in this area; something the classroom simply cannot replicate. Further, the other components of this class such as promoting events, press relations, processing daily sales, and crowd control will be actual instead of theoretical.
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>> Students will work directly with the Managing Director and Patron Services Manager regarding all School of Theater and Dance patrons attending public events. This involves patrons from as young as 5 years old, to current students, to ECU faculty, to local residents including senior citizens. The students will interact with ticket purchasers and donors alike.
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>> In addition to the tasks below, the students will be invited (though not required) to attend meetings of the Student Government Association/Fine Arts Funding Board, Friends of Theatre and Dance, weekly production meetings, etc. to see for him/herself the inner workings that keep the SOTD functioning.
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>> TASKS
>> * Engage the public via Facebook and Twitter accounts.
>> * Assist the Managing Director in public relations activities including, but not limited to, writing press releases, directing graphic design, and collecting playbill text.
>> * Assist patrons in box office transactions
>> * Head Usher during McGinnis Theatre performance by training and supervising student volunteers and ticket takers.
>> * House Manager during Burnette Studio Theatre performances; preparing the space, managing ushers, running the box office, coordinating the start and intermission times, and adhering to fire/safety regulations.
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