Volunteering at Cal Performances

Volunteering is a great opportunity to show support for something you believe in.

Many people volunteer:

• to give back to the community
• to have fun
• to be with people who share the same values
• to bring more balance into their life
• to get experience in a possible career field
• to strengthen a resume
• to use skills they don't use on their job
• to share an activity with their partner and/or family
• to support a worthy cause

The Cal Performances Volunteer Usher Program

Currently, Cal Performances utilizes over 200 volunteers as ushers at performances. Volunteers are ambassadors of goodwill for Cal Performances and UC Berkeley and provide an excellent patron experience. Volunteer ushers stuff programs with announcements, tear tickets at doors, show patrons to their seats, pass out programs, and answer questions. In exchange for approximately three hours of their time before and during a show, volunteer ushers are permitted to stay and watch the show for free.

Many Cal Performances volunteers find ushering a useful means for being able to see performances that they otherwise would not be able to see. Volunteers are sent a selection calendar from which they select events to usher. Ushers who provide significant service to Cal Performances become eligible to participate in some of the best shows that we offer our patrons. Some events are required, and some are assigned randomly based on demand. Volunteer ushers are assigned to shows at Zellerbach Hall, Hertz Hall, the Greek Theatre, and other venues as needed.

The 2008 application period is now closed, and the Volunteer Program will no longer be accepting new requests to join this season. Applicants who have been chosen for a position will be contacted by Friday, January 11th. If you have applied and have not been contacted by January 11th, your profile currently is not the best fit for our program; however, your information will be kept on-file for future openings.

Volunteer ushers are required to wear a white button-down, collared shirt and black pants or skirt, and black shoes. Call time for all volunteer ushers is usually one and one half hours prior to curtain time. All volunteers must have a working email address as this is the primary means of communicating Volunteer information.

If you would like to add your name to the list of potential future volunteers, please email volunteer@calperfs.berkeley.edu. You may be contacted in the future when Cal Performances needs more volunteers.

Thank you for your interest!