Seasonal Experience Performer

About the role

Join us for the Holiday Season! Compensation: $19/hr plus commission. Union Status: Non‑Union. Employment Type: Seasonal Part‑Time with the ability to transfer to a core role in January.

FAO Schwarz is seeking charismatic performers to bring our immersive retail experiences to life at our iconic New York City flagship at 30 Rock. With multiple interactive experiences throughout the store, Experience Performers step into playful, theatrical worlds where storytelling, character, improvisation, hospitality, and retail come together. Depending on the experience, performers may become stylists, artists, inventors, chefs, explorers, experts, or entirely original characters. The goal is to make each guest feel like they’ve stepped into something they couldn’t experience anywhere else.

This is not a traditional retail role, and it’s also not traditional stage performance. Experience Performers interact directly with guests, improvise in the moment, tell stories, demonstrate products, guide hands‑on activities, and create memorable moments while delivering exceptional hospitality and driving sales.

Responsibilities

• Perform in character throughout immersive guest experiences.
• Bring different characters, stories, and experiential concepts to life.
• Improvise naturally and confidently with children and adults.
• Use storytelling, humor, conversation, and play to engage guests.
• Guide guests through interactive activities, demonstrations, and product selections.
• Adapt performances to different guest personalities, ages, energy levels, and pacing.
• Learn and maintain character direction, scripts, product knowledge, and experience standards.
• Create spontaneous, memorable moments while keeping the core experience consistent.
• Deliver exceptional hospitality and premium guest service.
• Use established selling techniques to generate strong sales.
• Maintain energy and theatricality throughout repeated guest interactions.

Qualifications

• Experience in interactive or immersive theatre, children’s theatre, theme parks, character performance, immersive entertainment, comedy or improv, or experiential hospitality.
• Retail experience is welcome but not required.
• Strong improvisational ability and character range.
• Excellent people skills and warm, energetic personality.
• Confident vocal presence with strong comedic and conversational instincts.
• Ability to create quick connections and engage guests of all ages.
• Comfort taking direction and adapting character choices.
• Ability to sustain energy across repeated interactions.
• Improvisation, storytelling, and character performance skills.
• Hospitality and sales expertise.
• Public speaking, customer engagement, and product demonstration abilities.
• Strong communication, adaptability, and energy‑management skills.
• Comedy and interactive theatre experience.

Pay

$19.00/hr + commission (annual salary estimated based on average hours worked).

Benefits

• Employee discounts
• Telehealth
• Pre‑Tax commuter benefits
• Retirement plan (401k + match)
• Time‑and‑a‑half pay for holidays worked
• Paid and unpaid sick time