Volunteer at the Opera

• Greet patrons and help them to their seats at opera performances./li>
• Take tickets and hand out programs to patrons at productions.
• Open lobby doors for patrons and welcome them to the performance (Will likely be outside in the elements).

You’ll Need

• A friendly, pleasant, and professional demeanor
• To be comfortable with meeting new people
• The ability to be on your feet for long periods of time
• Availability in the late afternoons and evenings

Time Commitment

• Typically 2-4 hours total
• Ushers & Greeters will be called 1 hour prior to the start of the show in order to check in with the Opera Grand Rapids staff representative, to ask questions and prepare for the performance.

Required Attire

• Men: Black dress shoes, black socks, black dress pants, white shirt, black tie, and black jacket
• Women: Comfortable but conservative black, closed toed shoes (no sandals, clogs, slings or open toe shoes please), black dress pants or skirt, long sleeve all white blouse either tucked in or not hanging below jacket, and a black jacket or cardigan

Perks

• Two complimentary tickets to the show in which you are working.

A sign-up sheet will be sent to all those interested in being Ushers or Greeters no later than 3 weeks prior to the performance.

Ushers & Greeters will receive a digital packet, with information regarding the performance and their assigned duties, no later than one week prior their performance date.

Our Volunteers assist visiting artists by welcoming them at the airport, taking them to their hotels/host homes and providing rides to and from rehearsals, stores etc.

You’ll Need

• A clean driving record
• A reliable, clean vehicle that can comfortably accommodate artists and their belongings
• A flexible schedule and availability to assist with rides during days and/or evenings

Perks:

• Two tickets to the event you are volunteering for.

Before and after each show, the production team packs up the furniture, props, costumes, and backstage necessities into rental trucks to transport them to and from the theatre. This is also a great volunteer opportunity for those interested in technical theatre.

You’ll Need:

• Great organizational skills with labeling and packing
• Ability to lift 30+ lbs. and maneuver large props, set pieces, furniture, etc.
• Ability to communicate well in teams

Time Commitment:

• Shifts are generally 2-4 hours.
• Most Load-In begin at 8:00 AM the Sunday morning the week before a production; Load-Out immediately follows the closing night performance of a production (usually beginning at 10:00 PM on a Saturday or 5:00 PM on a Sunday).

Attire:

• Comfortable clothing and close-toed shoes. For those who will be loading/unloading the truck, moving
  gloves may be helpful.

Perks:

• Two complimentary tickets to the production for which you
  are working.

Opera Grand Rapids has many special events throughout the year, ranging from formal fundraisers to educational & entertaining events. Volunteers are essential to the success of each event! They are needed for a variety of tasks including the check-in table, coat check, set up & tear down, silent auction and more. The specifics about the needs, time commitment and perks differ for each event. But there is one thing Special Events volunteers can count on, and that is taking part in the events themselves!

If you are interested in volunteering for our Special Events, make sure to sign up! Emails outline the specifics for each event will be sent to you for your consideration.

Perks:

• Two tickets to the event you are volunteering for.

Throughout the year, we have various office projects such as mailings, data entry, filing, courtesy calling developing spreadsheets and a variety of other related duties for which your help is greatly needed.

You’ll Need:

• Strong attention to detail & a positive attitude
• Daytime availability
• Basic computer, internet and Microsoft Word/Excel skills
• Ability to take direction and complete tasks with little assistance

Time Commitment:

• On an as-needed basis; varies depending on task

Perks:

• Two complimentary tickets to a show of your choice this season
  for every task you help with.