Arrive at least 20 minutes early, and be prepared to stay at
least 20 minutes afterward. This means that for Friday night
shows, typically at 7 and 8 pm and lasting roughly an hour each,
you can plan to log three hours, from 6:30 to 9:30 pm.
Help the presenter set up the show (ask them what to do).
Relax; you are not responsible for any of the technical details.
Just be there to help as needed, and to learn by watching, but
your primary responsibility is person-oriented (see next item).
Greet visitors at the south door. Be personable and cheerful.
You are the face of the planetarium! More than
the special effects and the starfield, your cheerful and capable
manner is what I hope visitors will remember. Look everyone in the
eye and give them a warm welcome. Talk with everyone if there is
time (don't just stand about loitering in the hallway). Introduce
yourself, especially to any children. We want all of our visitors
to know that our small planetarium is a friendly and personal
place they will want to visit regularly. We are representing the
university in a special way, and to do so responsibly is a
pleasant challenge and a significant opportunity. Above all,
smile!
If small OBU tickets have been printed and distributed
beforehand (e.g., with homecoming or special university groups),
take their tickets, and give them a show information sheet
instead. Typically, the show information sheets printed by us will
function as tickets. We do not collect the show information
sheets, but want to make sure that each person has one at the time
that they enter the planetarium.
Make sure every ticket is dated so it will not be used again.
If there are walk-in visitors who have not purchased tickets
in advance, sell them a ticket on the spot for the appropriate
price (as indicated on the ticket). Available tickets in a manilla
folder and a money bag will be provided.
If no tickets are available, invite walk-ins to form a
separate line, to help keep track of the order of their
arrival. At five minutes before showtime they may buy as many
walk-in tickets as there are "no shows." If a ticket-holder
shows up at the last moment, there should be a little spare
room to crowd them in, but do not offer this spare space to
walk-ins until the last possible moment, just before locking
the outer doors.
If there is a visitor in a wheelchair, bring them inside
before all others. Bring them in through the north door, where
they can be positioned just inside the exit. Afterward, invite any
extremely frail, elderly, or obviously pregnant visitors to come
inside first, using the south door. Other visitors should assemble
in line outside the south door to await their entry.
When the show is ready, open the door and invite the visitors
inside. Make sure that they have show information sheets
indicating the correct show, date, and time. Use a red flashlight
to show them the way (for the first few feet at least!). Say
something like "Walk slowly, and give your eyes plenty of time to
adjust to the darkness."
Make sure that both doors at the exits are closed (including
the inside door). The outside (hallway) door should be locked, to
prevent re-entry while shows are in progress.
Count and record the number of visitors attending the show.
During the show, sit either next to the console, to be
available to the presenter should he need assistance, or sit in
the back row, center, directly behind the star projector (a seat
no one else should want).
Use the red flashlight to assist any visitors to the exit who
need to leave while the show is in progress.
Provide general information about the planetarium, and your
involvement in it, if asked. Be sure to look over the information
on the ticket sheet and anticipate questions based upon it. Look
at the web pages for the particular show you are assisting with;
e.g., Cowboy Astronomer and
The Mars Show.
