Tonight I did something I haven’t done since college and it made me nostalgic.

I ushered for a dress rehearsal at a local theater. When I was in college I was very involved in the theater department, I majored in Communications and minored in theater. I didn’t have enough confidence in myself to think I could have majored in theater, who knows, I might have been able to, but I was involved in two very creative degrees and it worked out well, I believe. One advantage of having me in both was I was asked to produce a lot of videos for other students in the theater department, felt good to be recognized for having a talent. But I digress…

When I wasn’t participating in a show either dancing, props master, makeup, carpentry or even times when I was, I would user for different groups in the Arts Department. I ushered for one particular theater, whether it was ballet, opera, orchestra, jazz, even major acts that would come to the campus I was lucky enough to usher.

There are some great benefits to volunteering to usher at a theater. You get to see a show, sometimes the entire show, sometimes you have other things to do so you might miss part of the show. Another benefit.. free admission. What could be better, you see a show and if it’s great, you got to see a great show for free, if it’s bad, then what did you lose? A few hours of your time, but you were still helping others.

And besides getting to see a show, you get to meet people, the people who work at the theater, other ushers and performers. So… try something new, find a local theater and volunteer, you never know what doors might open for you, or should I say what curtains you might raise.