How Much Do You Get Paid At The Detroit Opera House?
The Detroit Opera House is the premier venue for operatic and dance performances in Detroit, Michigan. Opened in 1922, the Detroit Opera House hosts performances by the Michigan Opera Theatre as well as touring productions and special events.
The opera house has a wide variety of employment opportunities available. Positions range from front-of-house staff like box office and ushers, to backstage crew like stagehands and production managers, to artistic staff like musicians, singers, and choreographers.
Box Office Staff
The Detroit Opera House employs a team of box office staff to handle ticket sales and customer service. According to the opera house’s website, the box office is open 90 minutes before curtain time for walk-up sales of tickets to Detroit Opera productions and presentations (https://detroitopera.org/season-tickets/box-office/).
Typical duties of box office staff include processing ticket orders, assisting customers over the phone and in person, handling subscription renewals and exchanges, maintaining customer accounts and records, balancing cash drawers, and providing general customer service. Multilingual skills may be preferred to serve the diverse patron population.
Hourly wages for box office staff at the Detroit Opera House likely fall within the typical range for similar box office jobs of $12-$16 per hour. Hours fluctuate based on performance schedules, with increased hours leading up to and during performances. There may be opportunities for overtime pay.
Ushers
Ushers at the Detroit Opera House have an important role in ensuring patrons have an enjoyable experience at the opera. According to the Detroit Opera House’s website, ushers can view operas for free and receive free parking as perks of the job (detroitopera.org/opera-house-ushers/). Ushers are responsible for greeting patrons, checking tickets, escorting patrons to their seats, distributing programs, answering questions, monitoring exits, and assisting with crowd control.
The typical pay rate for ushers at the Detroit Opera House is around $10-12 per hour based on reviews on Indeed.com (indeed.com/cmp/Detroit-Opera-House). Ushers may also receive tips from patrons in addition to their hourly wage. The job provides a unique opportunity to see world-class opera performances up close while providing customer service to arts patrons.
Concession Staff
Concession staff at the Detroit Opera House are responsible for selling food, beverages, and merchandise to patrons before shows, during intermission, and after shows. According to Salary.com, concession staff typically earn an hourly wage between $10 and $15 per hour.
Specific job duties include stocking the concession stands before shows, taking food and drink orders from patrons, operating cash registers to process payments, preparing simple food items like popcorn and pretzels, keeping the concession area clean and organized, and counting the cash drawer and reconciling sales at the end of each shift. Strong customer service skills are essential for concession staff in order to provide patrons with a positive experience.
Janitorial Staff
The janitorial staff at the Detroit Opera House is responsible for keeping the venue clean and presentable for patrons. According to Indeed, the average salary for a janitor in Detroit, MI is $15.82 per hour. Their duties involve tasks like vacuuming, mopping floors, cleaning bathrooms, collecting trash, dusting, and general maintenance.
Janitors at the Opera House have an important role in ensuring the venue is clean and sanitary for the public. They work behind the scenes, often starting early in the morning or late at night after shows to tidy up and prepare for the next day. It’s a physically demanding job that requires being on one’s feet for extended periods. Experience with cleaning equipment and supplies is useful.
In addition to the average $15.82 hourly pay reported by Indeed, janitors may receive benefits depending on if they are full-time employees. The work hours are variable depending on the performance and event schedule at the Opera House. It’s an essential part of the operations team that keeps the historic venue looking its best.
Stagehands
Stagehands are responsible for setting up and operating equipment for productions at the Detroit Opera House. This includes assembling the stage, lighting, sound, rigging, and other technical elements necessary for each performance or event.
Most stagehands at the Detroit Opera House belong to IATSE Local 38, the stagehands union. According to the IATSE Local 38 pay scale, union stagehands make $35.94 per hour at the Detroit Opera House. This pay rate increases based on seniority and specific job duties. For example, head carpenters can make up to $43.44 per hour.
Specific job duties for stagehands include:
– Loading in and setting up stage, lighting and sound equipment
– Operating rigging systems to raise and lower scenery/equipment
– Focusing stage lighting instruments and programming lighting consoles
– Running and maintaining sound equipment during performances
– Striking and loading out all production elements after final performances
Stagehands must collaborate as a team and work on tight schedules to ensure smooth running of all technical elements during rehearsals and performances. They play a vital backstage role in bringing productions to life at the Detroit Opera House.
Musicians
The pay scale for musicians in the orchestra at the Detroit Opera House depends on the position and experience level. According to the Detroit Opera’s job postings, orchestra members are paid per performance based on contracted rates. The base rate starts at $100 per performance for newer musicians, going up to $175 for tenured musicians in higher positions like Concertmaster and Principle musicians.
The typical Detroit Opera House production has between 5-8 performances, so orchestra musicians can expect to earn between $500-$1400 per production, not including any overtime pay. The orchestra performs around 6-8 productions per season, so total annual pay for a full-time musician likely ranges from $6,000 for newer members up to $22,400 for seasoned Principle players, assuming an average of 7 performances per production across 8 productions.
Overall, the pay scale for Detroit Opera House orchestra musicians reflects industry standards, with higher pay going to those who hold leadership chairs and have extensive professional experience (Detroit Opera). This allows the opera to attract top talent while also providing opportunities for up-and-coming musicians.
Singers
Singers at the Detroit Opera House are paid based on their role and experience level. According to the Detroit Opera House’s website, the starting salary range for principal artists is $45,000 – $50,000 per season (https://detroitopera.org/auditions-employment/). However, leading and starring roles tend to earn more.
According to Glassdoor, the average base pay for a singer/performer at the Michigan Opera Theatre, which performs at the Detroit Opera House, is around $49,000. However, total compensation can be higher with bonuses and benefits (https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Michigan-Opera-Theatre-Salaries-E1494476.htm).
Overall, singer pay at the Detroit Opera House ranges widely based on experience, reputation, and role. But principal artists tend to earn around $45,000 – $50,000 as a starting point. Lead roles likely earn over $100,000.
Production Staff
The production staff at the Detroit Opera House includes the stage director, set designer, costume designer, lighting designer, and other creative roles that bring each opera production to life. According to Glassdoor, the average pay for a Stage Director at Michigan Opera Theatre ranges from $45,000 to $75,000. The Set Designer salary ranges from $55,000 to $90,000.
Other production roles like the Technical Director and Production Manager earn between $50,000 to $80,000 on average. The pay range reflects the individual’s experience and expertise in opera production. Leading directors and designers can earn over $100,000 per production. Overall, the Detroit Opera invests significantly in world-class talent to create visually stunning and innovative productions.
Conclusion
In summary, pay rates at the Detroit Opera House vary widely depending on the role. Box office staff earn around $12-15 per hour. Ushers make minimum wage, which is currently $9.87 per hour in Michigan. Concession staff earn similar wages to ushers. Janitorial staff earn approximately $15 per hour. Stagehands make between $20-35 per hour depending on their skills and union membership. Musicians are paid per performance based on their instrument and chair position, earning between $100-300 per performance. Singers are paid per production, earning between $1,000-10,000 for minor roles and up to $50,000 for starring roles. Production staff like artistic directors, technical directors, and designers are salaried employees making $50,000-150,000 per year.
