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Author Topic: increasing workforce efficiency - boothless Manny Knowles "What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???" Posts: 4247 From: Bloomington, IN, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 03-09-2013 03:19 PM                     Both of these pictures were taken on the same day at the same location. These are not the same ATM -- two offline units. I checked in on this one after the screening -- it was still "loading." There was a third offline unit, but it looked just like the first one, with the "out of order" sign taped to it, so I didn't bother taking a picture of it. If the fourth ATM was broken, we could have purchased tickets inside at the Customer Service desk, but this location has two large box offices, with over 10 windows. In this next pic you can see the two box office structures in the sheltered exterior: I felt as though ONE station could've been open, especially under the circumstances. Ideally, at least one station in each box office structure. It's disappointing to go to a great-looking venue, only to find that the service doesn't quite measure up. Cinemark Paradise 24, formerly Muvico.  |  IP: Logged Lyle Romer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1400 From: Davie, FL, USA Registered: May 2002 posted 03-09-2013 05:17 PM                     quote: Rick Raskin I wonder where we'd be today if that concept had taken hold? The concept did kind of take hold only it was the managers becoming the operators!  |  IP: Logged Dennis Benjamin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1445 From: Denton, MD Registered: Feb 2002 posted 03-10-2013 06:43 PM                        Manny, I managed at that very location back in 2001. Muvico had a staff of over 100 people to run that place. The difference between then and now - Cinemark. Regal, A.M.C., and Cinemark are all running thier companies similarly. They are trying to make the company's bottom line by cutting payroll. What they fail to realize is that the people that work(ed) at the theatres made up part of the movie going experience (I know, I've been part of it for 24 years). In attempts to "automate" things - ticket sales, concessions (Thanks Century and Syufy), projection - much like grocery stores and thier self check-outs - they are draining the character out of thier buildings. They'll realize it when it's too late.  |  IP: Logged Cassandra Palko Film Handler Posts: 30 From: Menomonee Falls, WI USA Registered: Jul 2009 posted 03-10-2013 11:26 PM                        How old are those ATMs? Our theatre has 7 and they are about 4 years old. They are 99% functional. The 1% exception being when they are out of paper - and the paper is VERY easy to replace.  |  IP: Logged Joris Springer Film Handler Posts: 83 From: Almere, Flevoland, The Netherlands Registered: Feb 2007 posted 03-12-2013 05:35 PM                     Our integrator claims that you can't run a cinema without a projectionist. Sure Digital projection might sound more efficient but you still need to check every start and they still need maintenance and they need people they can contact who can perform the problemsolving on site (they are located in France and we are in the Netherlands). Their support is awesome! And is getting better each time and I am very happy they have our backs in case we dont know what to do. But I agree with them, you still need a projectionist, even just for the silly mistakes or when the server decides to ignore the macro's.  |  IP: Logged Dave Macaulay Film God Posts: 2321 From: Toronto, Canada Registered: Apr 2001 posted 03-13-2013 08:04 PM                     I'm impressed that your "integrator" can dictate staffing to the cinema owners. That doesn't happen here: The major chains do what they wants to do. And they don't want to pay a projectionist to do nothing 7.5 hours out of every 8 hour shift. The shows get checked by the floor staff - someone looks to see the preshow is running, and looks again to see the trailers are running... and maybe checks again once the feature starts. Basically the "checking" is done by the patrons. The managers are trained on basic projector operation and are supposed to be able to solve simple problems, a trained manager is supposed to be on duty at all times (with turnover, there are always new and untrained managers on the roster). Usually one or two actually really know how to do lamp changes, ingests and playlist setup and they are the only ones that do that stuff.  |  IP: Logged Joris Springer Film Handler Posts: 83 From: Almere, Flevoland, The Netherlands Registered: Feb 2007 posted 03-14-2013 03:06 AM                     Well what was meant with that was that it would be wise to have someone on the floor (so they advice it) with knowledge of what to do when something goes wrong, to quickly solve a problem, actually similar to what you say though this person is responsible for checking the shows when they start, is the preshow running, are the trailers looking good, is the main feature running properly, is the sound alright, is the 3D running correctly. After this check that projectionist is leaving the booth and is going to help in the shop and help clean the theaters until the next show starts. Since all movies start around the same time (for example our first shows start around 13:00, 13:15, 13:30) there is plenty of time to help our colleagues on the floor. So a bit like you say actually though the people who do that are really selected for that and they are not done by someone random on the floor who happends to have time for it. We have 2 projectionists who are responsible for putting together the planner in the TMS and making the shows, performing maintenance to the booth. Also the projectionists are responsible for the maintenance of the building which also requires some time. However, often when the last show has started some of the projectionists are send home so the manager in charge will close down everything. All depending on what needs to be done.  |  IP: Logged Gavin Lewarne Master Film Handler Posts: 278 From: Plymouth, UK Registered: Aug 2009 posted 03-14-2013 06:53 AM                     We too have the same VPF / NOC contractual agreement - that someone knowledgeable and capable must be available whenever the projector is being used. To be completely honest, there is only really one other person here who could be trusted with the equipment. No word of a lie, I have had phone calls at 9 in the morning by several staff members and volunteers asking how to put the DVD in the DVD player in some of the art exhibitions...... Given we are an arts centre staffed by 80% volunteers means I remain full-time, and I have plenty to do being in charge of IT and some general admin as well. I don't tend to have much "spare" time in the evenings when the shows are running.  |  IP: Logged Marcel Birgelen Film God Posts: 3357 From: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands Registered: Feb 2012 posted 03-14-2013 09:33 AM                     quote: Randy Stankey In fact, why bother having employees at all? Just receive all your movies via satellite, put in vending machines in place of the concession stand and install ATMs and turnstiles in place of the box office? Looks like you're describing the next-gen multiplex, we have a few around here that operate eerily similar. - All content is delivered via closed CDN. TMS is controlled from the central office and managed via their in-house NOC. Maybe you want to keep one or two guys around that can push some buttons in the event of a failure. - You buy your ticket on-line or via the ATM in the lobby. Box offices are nowhere in sight, maybe you'll find an information desk hidden away in a corner. - The concession stand is now a supermarket with maybe one or two manned checkouts and a bunch of vending machines. - Nobody to check your ticket, because the seat detects whether it should be occupied or not. If the amount of tickets sold do not add up to the number of occupied seats, a third party security guard will come and check it... - Cleaning and security is all hired from some external contractors. In the next iteration you could abolish the manned checkouts by letting people scan their own concessions (like some supermarkets are already doing), then the only thing left is restocking your concession supermarket and vending machines, but maybe you can hire some external contractors or some robots for that too  |  IP: Logged Martin McCaffery Film God Posts: 2481 From: Montgomery, AL Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-14-2013 03:57 PM                        Then, if they can find a way to eliminate showing a movie...Pure Profit!  |  IP: Logged Marcel Birgelen Film God Posts: 3357 From: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands Registered: Feb 2012 posted 03-14-2013 06:28 PM                     quote: Then, if they can find a way to eliminate showing a movie...Pure Profit! [evil] Actually, they found a way to do that too... It already happened to me twice in the same complex and I'm not such a regular visitor. Commercials and trailers were running, but the movie didn't start. After a few minutes, someone told us via PA that there would be no movie, because of some technical problem. In return we would be given a voucher for a free ticket, which obviously doesn't cover the up-charge for a 3D movie or the time, drinks, popcorn and gas you just wasted... So, most of the moneymaking already happened: buying the expensive popcorn and coke and looking at the commercials, they even made sure everybody would eventually return at least for the moneymaking part. Actually, the concept is pure genius .  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 03-14-2013 07:46 PM                        I was physically present when the "efficiency expert--hired gun" told the owners that everything that happens outside the lobby is a drain and should be minimized or eliminated. in other words, the auditorium ( and bathrooms) is not a profit center and should be eliminated. Imaging: A ticket booth, concessions stand and a lobby, then BAM right back into the parking lot. Louis  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-14-2013 09:59 PM                     quote: Louis Bornwasser Imaging: A ticket booth, concessions stand and a lobby, then BAM right back into the parking lot. The movie was titled "The Egress."  |  IP: Logged Manny Knowles "What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???" Posts: 4247 From: Bloomington, IN, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 03-14-2013 11:28 PM                     Reminds me of the "Line Ride" on "South Park." Link to Hulu.com (Requires login)  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 청주시, 경북도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 03-15-2013 05:18 AM                     quote: Marcel Birgelen In return we would be given a voucher for a free ticket, which obviously doesn't cover the up-charge for a 3D movie There are places that issue vouchers that work for their 3D movies. In fact, re-admit vouchers given legally must be equivalent to what was actually paid since they are given in lieu of the refund. And some places have different levels of re-admits, with one applying to standard price tickets, another to 3D movies (which can be used for regular movies as well), and another for IMAX (which can be used for non-IMAX movies as well). That's how one place around here does it. Though a lot of chains just have one re-admit that applies to all movies regardless of whether it is 2D/3D, with no up charge to make things easier for accounting. Generally for these, it's only the discounted tickets one purchases in bulk that still require paying the 3D charge.  |  IP: Logged

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