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Author Topic: Multitasking of employ with projection department Phil Blake Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 558 From: esperance western australia Registered: Nov 2003 posted 03-30-2005 08:44 AM                        I agree with Manny , cinemas should look more at selling than cutting , however some situations its a matter of economics rather than greed. Our 3 screen is normally quiet on week nights a nd busy on weekends , nothing new there , but it was set up so one person can run it during week nights and then we have the crew in on the weekends. This works fairly well , week nights I run the whole show alone ,it can be difficult if unpredicted crowd turns up , but it is very economic. My other 2 projectionists are also trained to run shows solo.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-30-2005 08:56 AM                        Selling tickets at the concession stand can work on slow nights, especially in a single-screen venue which doesn't do much concession business. Having one person run the whole theatre is insane. I did it once at a single-screen when the concession person didn't show up and it was hectic and not really safe, especially for an all-cash business. I don't know what I would have done if anything had gone wrong. This was in a non-automated changeover house (6000' reels), but even with platters and automation it would be a bad idea. My view is that a single-screen theatre requires a minimum staff of three: one each for concession, boxoffice, and projection. The boxoffice person can go home after the last show of the day starts and the cash is counted and boxoffice report completed. On busier nights, a fourth person should be added--either in concession (if the stand is large enough to accommodate two employees) or as an usher/doorman. Larger theatres may want to add a fifth employee. In larger towns and cities, there should be at least two employees in the downstairs/lobby area at all times for obvious safety reasons. I don't know much about staffing a multiplex, but I suspect that the same basic scheme would work for a twin or triple on weekday nights, but that a quad would require more staff. As for "multi-skilling"--I have no problem with the idea that employees who have the necessary skills and desire to work in multiple positions can be effectively trained for all of those positions. I do have a problem with the idea of expecting anyone to perform two or more jobs at once. Concession employees shouldn't be sweeping theatres and projectionists shouldn't be ripping tickets, except on separate shifts.  |  IP: Logged Peter John Anthony. C Film Handler Posts: 55 From: India Registered: Jun 2004 posted 03-30-2005 09:06 AM                     Thank you very much for your replies. I am unhappy because we run 15 shows a day, with multasking the mistakes will be repeated by each and every trainee. Thanks a ton once again Peter  |  IP: Logged Mike Spaeth Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1129 From: Marietta, GA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 03-30-2005 11:54 PM                        Scott - depends on how you stagger your showtimes ... in a quad you could run a 7:00, a 7:15, a 7:30, and a 7:45 and everything would go VERY smoothly with the aforementioned staff. I usually run with 2 staff in a 14 on slow weekdays (we only do 50-100 patrons on a typicaly weekday between 2:00 and 10:30 ... and my showtimes are VERY staggered). Never had a problem.  |  IP: Logged Chase Hanson Expert Film Handler Posts: 172 From: San Diego, CA Registered: Oct 2004 posted 03-31-2005 01:10 AM                     quote: John Pytlak By all means, your projection staff should be fully occupied with projection work, which should be more than just threading and pushing buttons in a well-run theatre. I agree with you on the first half of this statement, and disagree on the second. In a well run theater, the majority of a projectionists focus should be threading and puching buttons. Projectionists or Booth Operators shouldnt be up to their eyeballs in odd ball tasks and side duties if their job is to start theaters. I dont like to have to run my half of the booth while having to do 11ty billion booth duties...its a distraction. And I dont like my operators doing it either, if there is other things that need to be done...than other people will do them.  |  IP: Logged Paul Trimboli Master Film Handler Posts: 274 From: Perth Western Australia Registered: Dec 2002 posted 03-31-2005 05:02 AM                     I too have multitasked. Not a good idea at all. This was in a single screen, having to do projection duties and still have to man box office and concession was crazy. The building was 4 stories with the bio box on the top floor, in the event of an emergency with the projectors it takes a good amount of time to get up there. I agree with Scott, have a minimum amount of 3 people on. I would actually have a shift supervisor, candy bar/floor and box office/floor and projection, that way they supervisor can sell tickets, and have either a second ticket seller, or 2 candy bar, or a floor person. Cutting back staff gives a theatre a really cheap look. Its not just going to see the movie that counts- its the WHOLE experience, waiting in a long line or have below average cleaning of a cinema is not an experience you want your customers to have!!! I could not get past the stupidity of the idiots that managed the place, cut staff and ever cost is the way to run a good cinema To sum up- multitask with the cinema workers. The projectionist are there to do their job and can help out if things were needed, but do not rely on them.  |  IP: Logged Richard May Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1057 From: Floral Park, NY USA Registered: Aug 2004 posted 03-31-2005 11:44 AM                     It all comes down to how much business your particular theater does. I know theaters by me that only open nights during the week. During that time, they have 2 people on. The projectionist and 1 person to run box, candy and clean the theaters. This is a triplex. That's fine because there is very little business. At my theater, a quad, you would never get away with that. We are open all day, everyday. We have a minimum of 6 people on even during the day.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-31-2005 12:15 PM                        quote: Scott Norwood Selling tickets at the concession stand can work on slow nights, especially in a single-screen venue which doesn't do much concession business. It'd have to be a DAMN slow night. I had an occasion not too long ago on a Wednesday when my concession worker didn't show up, so I sold tickets at the concession stand. Maybe I was just disorganized because I hardly ever work concession, but it gave me a new appreciation for my concession crew.  |  IP: Logged

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