Coordinate house crew. House managers are responsible for overseeing the box office and ushers. This usually includes scheduling, dress codes and training.
Man the doors. An effective house manager ensures theater doors are open and closed at appropriate times. Close the doors when the curtain goes up, and be aware of the late arrival policy for audience members. Open the doors at the start of intermission and after the performance has ended. Also make sure the lobby lights are turned up and down to correspond with the opening of the doors.
Show audience members to their seats. House managers often assist ushers in helping guests find their seats. They also make sure audience members are comfortable and provide special assistance to disabled guests.
Assemble programs. It is the responsibility of the house manager to assemble programs prior to opening night. To be effective, a house manager should ensure that each cast and crew member is mentioned, check for spelling errors and have an adequate supply for the crowd.
Clean house. House managers need to make sure the theater is neat and tidy, both before the house opens for audience members and at the conclusion of each performance. This goes a long way toward a theater-goer's overall experience.
Wait in the back. An effective house manager should remain at the back of the theater or in the lobby throughout the performance, ready to deal with any issues that arise. This could include ringing phones, late-arriving guests, broken seats or a variety of other situations.
Know the show. Attend performances and know how the performance will flow. This will aid an effective house manager in knowing appropriate times to permit entrance and exits.