Movie Theater Employee

Movie Theater Employee

PeopleOrderPopcorn

Boston Area, MA

Female, 21

I work at a movie theater. I work the concessions but I've worked long enough to know a little something-something about ushering and cashiers. And a little bit of what managers do. Ask me anything!

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Last Answer on October 23, 2014

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Why have movies doubled in price over just the last 10 years? Are movie tickets basically price-independent in that you'll sell just as many even if the price goes up a little bit or have you noticed an immediate drop in sales for previous hikes?

Asked by ra.walker over 11 years ago

Ticket prices are a agreed upon by the movie companies that make and distribute the movies, independent of the theaters. People have other ways to watch a movie without spending their paycheck so they come less often.  I havent worked long enough to see a significant change yet, as the price doesn't increase as fast as the snacks do. 10 years is a long time. Plenty of time for customers to acclimate to the change in ticket prices.

That doesn't stop some customers to tell me about the good 'ol days...

In the end, I havent seen a difference in sales. 

What one movie at your theater resulted in the most complaints, either because it sucked or parents thought it was inappropriately rated?

Asked by bravery over 11 years ago

The only times I see a lot of people complain is when a show, like an opera, is playing live but   something goes wrong with the picture. The can complain about the content of the movie all they want but there's nothing we can do about that. We didn't make it and we didn't decide on the ratings.

... I will tell you a time that sort of fufills the "inappropriately rated" part. A few years ago, we have a theater full of kids and their parents ready to watch Tangled. So the movie begins to play... and a very gory scene from Saw 3D plays instead. You can imagine the terror coming from that. The parents sued. I don't know what happened to the case but I assume it was settles out of court.

Can you get banned from a movie theatre? If so, for what reason?

Asked by Mentalcase over 11 years ago

I assume you can ( but maybe not forever) although I haven't heard of anybody getting banned. Patrons can be really disruptive, rude and irritable. Some steal, some fight and some destroy property. At that point, police can get involved and they probably wont be back for a while.

Also, when I say not forever because combine the fact that thousands come in on the weekend and the high turnover rate, it's really easy for someone to slip through the cracks.

What happens to the films that have already played, do the theaters return them, or do they keep them in a room?

Asked by potatos over 11 years ago

When we had film reels, a 3rd party dropped off the reels and collectdthem to send them back to the movie companies when we stopped playing them. In a way, we're just renting the reels.

Movies are digital now but it's basically the same thing but with hard drives. 

What would happen if My friend payed for his ticket and just let me in throught one of the exits while noone was there and we got caught? Or whats the worst thing?

Asked by Mike over 11 years ago

The actions depend on the employee. Sometimes, if it's not busy or something, they'll let it go. Or they might just kick you out.

It's the same situation in this question: 

http://www.jobstr.com/threads/show/3786#question_15969

 

I live in the Northeast. What months of the year are movie houses usually the slowest for business? Since most are PT workers do some workers loose hours or are laid-off??

Asked by Joseph over 11 years ago

The slowerst months are the fall-spring. Most of the patrons have school or work full time jobs so there's a significant decrease in business. 

However, this is also true for the employees. They arent laid off, they leave voluntarily. A huge chunk of my coworkers (from 14-18+) have left for school. It's not like the employees that are staying get more hours seeing as less people are needed during the slower seasons.

The minors (-18) can't legally work too many hours anyway. So if they stayed working after school started, it'd probably be only on the weekends until 7 or 9pm

How old do my kids have to be to watch a different movie from what I watch in a same theatre around the same time schedule? I enjoy a lot of kids movies, but sometimes there are some that I really don't wish to watch...thank you!

Asked by Mamabanana over 11 years ago

That's more of a subjective question. If you think your toddler can sit sit and watch a movie than most 14 year olds can, then by all means let him. You know your kids and they are allowed to see the kids movie, not like they need an adult constantly like R movies. 

I only ask to make sure your movies end around the same time or establish a meeting place with your kids before hand. Not all theaters have them, but mines have an arcade where my siblings can entertain themselves there for a bit until my movie's over.