People of Blueland: Ushers

Today for "People of Blueland" I am featuring ushers. No, not this Usher.



I am talking about the ushers at Phillips Arena that helps you find your seats, not let people go by when the puck is in play (in theory) and generally helps at the games. I myself used to be an usher in the J.L. Bedsole IMAX Dome Theater in the Gulf Coast Exploreum in Mobile, Alabama.



Though on a much smaller scale, I know the challenges of getting people to their seats, enforcing the rules and trying to make sure everyone has a good time. Yeah, I had to wrestle some snack mix out of a pregnant lady's hands (no food), tossed someone out for having a bag of food from Wendy's, and having to deal with someone with Tourettes who whistled periodically through the entire movie. Sitting 500 school children on field trips is a good time, too. Maybe that's why I have a soft spot in my heart for ushers at Phillips Arena. At least most of the folks I dealt with weren't drunk. There are good ushers and bad ushers, but they all have tough jobs.


They have to put up with harassment from Thrash.



They have to put up with harassment from drunk fans. This lady was super drunk and absolutely beligerent.



She wouldn't sit down and was yelling profanity at the ushers for having the nerve to check her ticket. She was escorted out by several ushers and security.



Most of the ushers at Phillips are AWESOME! Here is Randy with one of our favorites, Cynthia. She's hard nosed and is a good usher. They put her up in the 300s 1/2 way through the season though because she dared ask some bitch for her ticket and she complained.



Ushers also have to make sure that you remain in your seats and don't bang on the glass with anything but your hands. It's a long walk down the stairs, so these guys were being pretty obnoxious.



Another of our favorites, Agatha. We had the pleasure of being to Agatha's wedding this Saturday. Congratulations!



Ushers can also frantically wave from across the ice to try and alert you that one of the Penguins not dressed for the game is sitting in her section. (Note Jay McKee on the right)


Ushers have a tough job. Like all jobs, you have good ones and bad ones. Some ushers will let people walk down with beer even though the puck is in play (one of my pet peeves). They are all doing a job though and it's a tough job. I wouldn't want to deal with 15,000 people a night. So be nice to them! Say hi!