THEA 3603 – SELECTED TOPICS – Public Relations and Customer Service in the Performing Arts
The 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.
The 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.
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.
MAJORS
Students from the following schools will see the value of this class to their careers:
Business
Communication
Dance
Hospitality Management
Music
Theatre Arts
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.
MEASUABLE LEARNING OBJECTIVE
During the semester, the students will be informing and motivating patrons about productions; providing customers a comfortable, friendly, and safe environment; demonstrating sound business practices; and supervising other students as evaluated by the Managing Director.
ELIGIBILITY
Current ECU undergraduate student with no less than a 2.5 GPA.
Availability to work night and weekend shifts (a detailed schedule will be provided).
Preference will be given to students who have successfully completed THEA 4066 – Theatre Management and/or public relations type courses.
APPLICATION
Current resume. To apply email resume to woodruffj@ecu.edu
Class schedule including extra-curricular activities.
Statement of why he/she is interested in this internship, its application to his/her career goals, what skills/experiences he/she can bring to the internship.
Qualified applicants will be interviewed in person by the Managing Director before the internship is awarded.
Sample hours for one student per semester; based on 50 hours of service for each credit hour and 14 weeks of classes.
Spring Semester – 2017
| BEGIN DATE | END DATE | PRODUCTION | VENUE | PERFORMANCES | HOURS PER PERFORANCE | TOTAL HOURS |
| 2/23 | 2/28 | 1776 | McGinnis | 6 | 3 | 18 |
| 3/23 | 3/28 | Dance 2017 | McGinnis | 6 | 3 | 18 |
| tba | Contemporary Concert | Studio | 3 | 3 | 9 | |
| tba | Random Acts | Studio | 3 | 3 | 9 | |
| 4/20 | 4/25 | Lend Me A Tenor | McGinnis | 6 | 3 | 18 |
| 4/21? | 4/22? | Senior Choreography | Studio | 4 | 3 | 12 |
| tba | Lights Up | Studio | 1 | 3 | 3 | |
| tba | Musical Theater Senior Practicum | Studio | 2 | 3 | 6 | |
| tba | Last Dance | Studio | 1 | 3 | 3 |
Total Hours 96
Additional Hours needed for 2 credits = 4
Additional Hours needed for 3 credits = 54; 3.9 hours needed per week
Special Events eligible for additional hours:
Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (URCA) performances
Turnage and Paramount Theatre performances
5th Street Players
Creative Dramatics for Youth and their logistics.