Auditorium to hold training session for student ushers

With approximately 800 volunteers in its ranks, the IU Auditorium relies on students and community members to supply its corps of ushers, who not only supervise crowd control but are also encouraged to make a connection with guests on the relatively short journey from the entrance to their seats, according to the IU Auditorium's Web site.\nEach semester, new and returning ushers are called to the auditorium by House Manager Jon Larkin, who oversees the crew. \nNew ushers must attend a one-hour training session at the Auditorium at 8 p.m. tonight or Thursday. Online sign-up for fall semester shows begins at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 11, with the mandatory fire drill for veteran ushers at 6:30 p.m. and new ushers at 7 p.m. Wednesday Sept. 13. New ushers will serve as the stand-in audience when the auditorium's fire drill is set off at 7:30 to allow house staff to prepare for the possibility of a fire during a show. Pizza will be served outside the auditorium following the fire drill.\nDuties of auditorium ushers include arriving 90 minutes before the event begins, wearing dress code-approved black and white attire and being helpful and courteous to audience members.\nFor more information, visit the IU Auditorium's Web site, www.iuauditorium.com.