Movie Fans

[CuckingFunt]

I guess I look at it like the smoking/non-smoking areas in places. Some people like to smoke and don't mind - other's don't want to be around it. If you have a place where you can go and get full service and don't mind that experience, but also have a place where people say "I like going here, because they give me the option to see the film without the distractions I don't like for the same price and everyone attending that show knows the movie rules", I don't see what's so strange I guess.

I don't think it's strange so much as I think it's unnecessary. It makes sense for theaters to change their policies/practices for people who want more services, but for people like me who want less any problems are solved easily enough by going to early matinees when everything is empty.

In an ideal world, movie theaters (multiplexes, especially) would pay more attention to quality issues than they currently do: having comfortable chairs, having large screens that are clean and in good condition, projecting good prints of actual films with an actual projectionist, sound systems that are actually good rather than just loud, and enough distance/separation between theaters that I'm not hearing the explosions on screen 5 while watching a drama on screen 6, and so on. But other than that, my only problem with the current theater model is the rude audiences who use them. I like the concept of a concession stand as opposed to service, like trailers, am completely indifferent to commercials airing during the time everyone is filing into the theater, am fine with first come first serve seating, and so forth. People are just assholes.

[Muser]

Cool, so maybe smaller theaters (number of seats) with a little more room in between.

What about a reserved seat(s) system? So instead of having to rush or wait in line, when you purchase your tickets you get to reserve the seat/row you want when you purchase and the seats are numbered and easy to find - kind of like an airline? Or even maybe the Southwest Airlines model where when you purchase a ticket you get a group number so even if you show up last minute (as long as it is before the movie is seated) you get put in to the group (for example: group 1-30, 31-60...)

We have that here, and it's pretty cool

[UZER]

What about being able to pay a couple of extra bucks for a nobody under 18 theater room, and no commercials or trailers?

[monosylab1k]

What about being able to pay a couple of extra bucks for a nobody under 18 theater room, and no commercials or trailers?

you shouldn't have to pay extra money to avoid obnoxious people, those people should just be kicked out of your theater.

[UZER]

I agree you shouldn't have to pay extra but people getting kicked out is more energy wasted and disruptive to the movie.

[LnGrrrR]

What are some cool ideas you would like to see for a movie theater? Have you ever gone to a theater and thought "it would be such a good idea for them to have ....."? What are the things you like the most about going to a theater to watch a movie ? What don't you like?

For example: What about something similar to a corking fee where you could bring your own food and drink but be charged a fee per person?

Just any cool ideas yall have.

There's a movie theater in San Antonio (can't remember the exact location) where instead of the people behind the counter taking forever to get your food, it's set up so you can grab what you need and then just stand in line at the counter. I love that setup.

[leemajors]

I don't think it's strange so much as I think it's unnecessary. It makes sense for theaters to change their policies/practices for people who want more services, but for people like me who want less any problems are solved easily enough by going to early matinees when everything is empty.

In an ideal world, movie theaters (multiplexes, especially) would pay more attention to quality issues than they currently do: having comfortable chairs, having large screens that are clean and in good condition, projecting good prints of actual films with an actual projectionist, sound systems that are actually good rather than just loud, and enough distance/separation between theaters that I'm not hearing the explosions on screen 5 while watching a drama on screen 6, and so on. But other than that, my only problem with the current theater model is the rude audiences who use them. I like the concept of a concession stand as opposed to service, like trailers, am completely indifferent to commercials airing during the time everyone is filing into the theater, am fine with first come first serve seating, and so forth. People are just assholes.

Would be nice, but they would rather have automated digital movies and not have to pay a real projectionist. One of my good friends was a projectionist at the Alamo for 11 years and they halved his hours one day and started making the managers start everything but the 7:00's. He was only working 30 hours a week in the first place.

[LnGrrrR]

Until someone comes through the back door and shoots you in the head.

I know done in bad taste but still

Horrible but well timed

[monosylab1k]

I agree you shouldn't have to pay extra but people getting kicked out is more energy wasted and disruptive to the movie.

If they're already causing a disruption, a few extra seconds of an usher telling them to GTFO is okay to me.

[cantthinkofanything]

There's a movie theater in San Antonio (can't remember the exact location) where instead of the people behind the counter taking forever to get your food, it's set up so you can grab what you need and then just stand in line at the counter. I love that setup.

at some of the theaters here during peak hours, they'll bring a cart into the theater with candy and $1 hot dogs.

[CuckingFunt]

Would be nice, but they would rather have automated digital movies and not have to pay a real projectionist. One of my good friends was a projectionist at the Alamo for 11 years and they halved his hours one day and started making the managers start everything but the 7:00's. He was only working 30 hours a week in the first place.

It's really unfortunate.

[Slomo]

...

What about a reserved seat(s) system? So instead of having to rush or wait in line...

Wow, I didn't know this still existed. When I was a kid I hated the first come first serve principle for seat assignment.

If your looking for good ideas, online purchase of tickets with seat reservation is definitely it. Of course an ios/android app to do it from your phone is also a must.

[LnGrrrR]

There's already a few theaters in Dallas where you can reserve a seat in the theater.

Also, I'm out on any kind of food service. I've been to Studio Movie Grill a handful of times and don't really like the waiters walking around getting in your way. Also, places that allow alcohol like The Magnolia are annoying. I already hate hearing people crunch on popcorn or slurp on sodas, so it irritates me even more to hear clinking beer bottles all movie long. Then again I'm one of those movie Nazi's who wants total silence from the crowd (except for cheering/clapping/laughing at appropriate times).

I think there's two kinds of moviegoing audiences:

1) The people who want to really see the movie. They enjoy total silence, comfort, don't want people getting up, etc etc

2) The people who go to movies as an escape or something to do. They might want food, they're probably not noise nazis, they're a fan of "unique" experiences (drive-ins).

The question is, do you want a theater that caters to type 1, type 2, or both?

[leemajors]

Wow, I didn't know this still existed. When I was a kid I hated the first come first serve principle for seat assignment.

If your looking for good ideas, online purchase of tickets with seat reservation is definitely it. Of course an ios/android app to do it from your phone is also a must.

If I served alcohol at a theater I would not do reserved seating in order to serve drinks to lines. Easy money.

[DPG21920]

Ya, Lngrr, that is what I was getting at. Definitely paying attention to the little things is huge even if not a mind-blowing idea - it would just go a long way.

I have some ideas about a few things but was really wanting to see what everyone else thought.

I definitely feel you can create a cool culture and cater to both types that Lngrr mentioned since I am someone who likes both types.

[DPG21920]

If I served alcohol at a theater I would not do reserved seating in order to serve drinks to lines. Easy money.

While true, that is part of what annoys some people I am sure. It's about what you are after. You could argue that you get more repeat business/volume if you cut out the trickery and end up making more money in the long run.

There is a lot I want to learn about the model before I speak on it, but I would really love to do a theater where the movie tickets are a set price (cheaper) all the time. Based on what I know of the model, that wouldn't hurt profits much at all and be very fair to the patrons. Problem is I am not sure if you can get first run movies and charge any price or if you have to charge a minimum per the studios?

My idea would be to have all shows, night or day or weekend be around $6-$7. Since most of that money goes to the studio anyways, that is not a big deal. Then create a great culture that people who love movies can really go to escape, have a great time and feel like it's a wonderful experience.

[DPG21920]

Wow, I didn't know this still existed. When I was a kid I hated the first come first serve principle for seat assignment.

If your looking for good ideas, online purchase of tickets with seat reservation is definitely it. Of course an ios/android app to do it from your phone is also a must.

For sure - online reservation is crucial in the reserve seat model and it is very easy to just pick out your seats in the process.

[Lincoln]

Jacob, Movies 14 sucks ass and is only like 4$ per ticket for a reason bro . If you wanna see teenagers or Mexicans go to movies 14.

Pay the extra 5 bucks and just go to the Allen one off 121. Never have to deal with bull there although it is a rip off

[Trill Clinton]

seats that vibrated during action flicks.

recline chairs.

the vip section and a fee to bring in your own food is a good idea.

[DPG21920]

seats that vibrated during action flicks.

recline chairs.

the vip section and a fee to bring in your own food is a good idea.

Ya - I always thought that a "corking fee" type deal for movies would be a good idea. If you charge $5-10 per person to bring their own food, cuts down your cost and makes people happy. Issue is that the margin's on food/concessions is how movie theater's thrive so would have to work out that the fee is enough to keep you making a reasonable profit. Might be tough to implement, but I am sure there is a creative way to do that.

Also, Trill, check out D-BOX. It's seats that move and they are pretty cool:
http://www.santikos.com/dbox.php

[Lincoln]

U ever go to those theatres that are like 30$ for tickets but you get a full vibration reclining chair with a meal and drink included? Those are badass

[Trill Clinton]

Ya - I always thought that a "corking fee" type deal for movies would be a good idea. If you charge $5-10 per person to bring their own food, cuts down your cost and makes people happy. Issue is that the margin's on food/concessions is how movie theater's thrive so would have to work out that the fee is enough to keep you making a reasonable profit. Might be tough to implement, but I am sure there is a creative way to do that.

Also, Trill, check out D-BOX. It's seats that move and they are pretty cool:
http://www.santikos.com/dbox.php

oh the Palladium has them but it looks like they're in the front section. I might have to check it out.

I rarely buy anything other than nachos because I hate spending a lot of money on overpriced snacks. the food at alamo draft house is absolutely disgusting. if they had a contract with a fast food chain in the theaters that would be dope too.

[DPG21920]

I think Alamo has some ok food (not all of it, but some dishes are ok). I like the fact places serve food because as I said before, I'd rather pay $20 for two entrees vs $20 for 2 sodas and a popcorn. That is the stuff I find ridiculous and I am sure others do. But its the movie model and how they have to make money. Outside of the culture part of it, my idea would also be something where the concessions are more reasonable, but where I also have real food. That way for those that don't want to eat a real meal, they have the awesome feel that getting popcorn and a soda gives you, but don't feel completely ripped off. I would def try and find other ways to make up the revenues (extra events, parties, merchandise...).


I would also have a bulk ticket purchase available (with lower limits than usual - maybe packs of 20 vs 50) where it's an add $1 less if you buy in that bulk.

[LnGrrrR]

Ya, Lngrr, that is what I was getting at. Definitely paying attention to the little things is huge even if not a mind-blowing idea - it would just go a long way.

I have some ideas about a few things but was really wanting to see what everyone else thought.

I definitely feel you can create a cool culture and cater to both types that Lngrr mentioned since I am someone who likes both types.

I think it'd be hard to do both, since they're two mindsets. I hate noise nazis, personally... my favorite movie theaters are the "black" theaters (yes, it's racist, deal with it) where people are laughing and shouting things to the screen. Now that I've got kids it doesn't really matter since I only see kids movies with them (and locally they've got "kids night" once per month where other moviegoers are warned by signs that it's that night for PG-13 and under movies).

I'd focus on one or the other; whichever you think could bring in more money. Probably the latter, since people who aren't noise nazis usually A) have family and B) buy food. I can't imagine a business model that supports movie purists bringing in as much cash.

[LnGrrrR]

I would also have a bulk ticket purchase available (with lower limits than usual - maybe packs of 20 vs 50) where it's an add $1 less if you buy in that bulk.

If you want an easy way to try to encourage repeat viewings at that theater, you could either do a punch card (which I can't stand, since I always lose them) for snacks, or just print a "redeem this for a dollar off" coupon on the back of each ticket.

Another idea (that probably isn't feasible but whatever) would be to have "get in free/discount" theme nights. For instance, maybe if you dress up a superhero on the Opening weekend of Batman, you get half off. Sure most people won't do it, but you might encourage participation by those not dressing up because, let's face it, everyone enjoys watching other doofuses in costume.