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Author Topic: Rules for theatre managers David Yauch Expert Film Handler Posts: 206 From: Mesa, AZ, USA Registered: Oct 2004 posted 11-16-2004 12:36 AM                     Rule number whatever: Don't sneak up on the projectionist in the booth while they are threading a movie and ask very loudly "what're you doing!!!" especially if they don't know you are even in the building at the time...  |  IP: Logged Dominic Espinosa Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1172 From: California, U.S.A. Registered: Jan 2004 posted 11-16-2004 02:30 PM                     Scarring people can be a fun game...except when you're holding a xenon lamp or a lens. I love sarcastic humor...The staff at most of the theaters I work at thinks I'm a little odd though...I think it's all the time in the booth. It gets to you...  |  IP: Logged Robert E. Allen Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1078 From: Checotah, Oklahoma Registered: Jul 2002 posted 11-16-2004 05:04 PM                     "Robert, I'll amend to your Rule #18 -- Don't schedule two starts at the same time if the machines are at opposite ends of the booth, when the previous show ends five minutes or less before start time and the second one on the other side ends right at the start of the next scheduled show." Amen Joseph. I'd also like to see management refer to projector parts by their correct name when breaking in a new projectionists. It amazes me how many don't know what an intermittant or hold-back or pull-down sprocket is or what shoes, gate or trap is.  |  IP: Logged Brad Allen Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 688 From: Evansville, IN, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 11-19-2004 04:11 PM                     Robert, you mean when they call you and tell you that one of the "cameras" isn't working?  |  IP: Logged Robert E. Allen Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1078 From: Checotah, Oklahoma Registered: Jul 2002 posted 11-20-2004 03:54 PM                     Not only that Brad, but the company I work for has a que tag for the projectonist they run on their pre-show digital projector and instructs the projectionist to look for the "projector" icon. It's an image of a camera. If the home office doesn't know the difference how can we expect these kids to know?  |  IP: Logged Dave Williams Wet nipple scene Posts: 1836 From: Salt Lake City, UT, USA Registered: Jan 2000 posted 11-21-2004 01:05 PM                        quote: Dominic Espinosa Scarring people can be a fun game Yeah I agree. Running around with red hot pokers scarring people in the face and on the arms is lots of fun. In all jest, I would add that as a former Manager and SUPREME EXPERT GOD OF PROJECTION, I usually knew more than my projectionists. I would radio up information that was TOO technically savvy for them. They would be lost and after I go up to show them, they go "OH, why didn't you just say flip the sound thingy!" Ciao baby Dave  |  IP: Logged Dominic Espinosa Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1172 From: California, U.S.A. Registered: Jan 2004 posted 11-23-2004 06:07 PM                     I do that to the managers all the time...Though it's not with anything technical, it's usually very simple. The hardest part of being technically incline is dumbing down the information for consumption by "outsiders"; those not familiar with the field. Next rule... Do not piss off the projectionist with dumb questions in the middle of a set. And more importantly, don't ask the projectionist to change popping oil cans durring the set either, we're busy too.  |  IP: Logged Thomas Procyk Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1842 From: Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 11-27-2004 11:54 PM                     Another rule... Don't give the projectionist inane floor tasks between sets and then scold them for not upkeeping the booth enough. =TMP=  |  IP: Logged Jason M Miller Master Film Handler Posts: 284 From: Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA Registered: Jul 2004 posted 11-29-2004 12:31 AM                     scaring is fun....We are a small 4 screen theater, we have one booth supervisor and one staff projectionist, and the 4 managers are projectionist, so we know each other very well, so what I will do (when appropriate..will not do this if a task is being done that could damage or hinder the show in anyway) is I will sneak up to the booth in an empty booth and turn up the booth monitor then leave, with out letting the projectionist see me One rule for the projectionist from a manager...HAVE YOUR RADIO WITH YOU AND ON.  |  IP: Logged Jason Miller Expert Film Handler Posts: 241 From: Little Rock, AR, Registered: Mar 2004 posted 11-29-2004 04:42 PM                    My biggest problem with the radios was having to listen to 30 minute conversations about how to ring up a friggin coupon in the concession stand. I would rather have a decent paging system that didnt scare you when it went off and wasnt too loud that customers could hear it in the auds. then when someone needed to get ahold of the projectionist, they simply found the nearest phone and paged them. often the people calling you on the radio think you sit in a quiet room with nothing going on and the radio attached to your eardrum. no. you are surrounded by clattering projectors and if you are trying to work on something you may have your head next to a machine. and for fugs sake... dont sneak up on anyone threading a machine or trying to fix something. it isnt funny to make the buzzing noise while we are trying to reconeect a wire.. or grab our shoulders while our hand is in a small place trying to get a nut back on a bolt. you make us drop that bolt and WE have to spend the extra time to fish it out of whatever crevass it fell into. now I pissed myself off...  |  IP: Logged Brad Allen Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 688 From: Evansville, IN, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 11-29-2004 05:21 PM                     Sneaking up, scaring and such is horseplay. And if the manager is of any count, it's against the rules of the theatre and would result in a write up and or termination. A place of business is not a place for horseplay, let alone a projection booth, period.  |  IP: Logged William Hooper Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1879 From: Mobile, AL USA Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-30-2004 01:35 AM                        I agree 100% with Brad Allen. It's unsafe, causes morale & personnel problems, lawsuits from not maintaining a safe work environment - safe from *any* personal assault, not just physical. It may be funny to look at, but basically it's deriving enjoyment from others' discomfort. Nicey-nice aside, the next step is reaction, & that's likely going to be VERY physical. You don't just have to worry about an anger response; the defensive resposne will be to move away or strike back even *before* an emotional response of anger (or amusement) is created. Moving away reflexively will likely injure the person who's assaulted, striking out will injure the person who initiated the situation & it often escalates from there. And liability will be with the person who launched the initial assault, even if it wasn't physical. The most notorious example of that kind of thing is the bright, quick 4 finger slap on the palm of the hand when standing behind someone with his head in a transmitter or both hands in a wiring panel. It *does* sound just like an arc from a live circuit, or a cap discharging. Electricians & engineers always hear about it, & the catastrophes that occur afterwards. There's a real sort of historical & vocational tendency for technical pranks among technical people, but they're usually non-dangerous - like glueing someone's lunchbox shut or photocopying mirror images of schematics. Well, not *immediately* dangerous.  |  IP: Logged Dominic Espinosa Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1172 From: California, U.S.A. Registered: Jan 2004 posted 12-01-2004 06:34 PM                     As an overall whole fun activities in the work place can be good for productivity and morale. And by fun I mean team activities that work to promote teamwork, communication, and good work habbits. Granted work is always a serious matter but so is creating a work environment where working is fun. Games and contests that encourage good customer service and good work habbits can be very rewarding for the staff and the company. Back to topic though... My problem is getting the damn floor manager to keep the radio on their person. I've given up all together since no one ever does and I always have to go down stairs and tell them or call them which is only effective 80% of the time. Moreover how many extra minutes does it take when there's really a problem? Instead of calling me on the radio the assistant manager actually came upstairs to tell me about a complaint that the volume in one of our houses was too loud! So, radio rules: 1.) All radios assigned to personell must be kept on and at full volume unless inside auditoriums. 2.) All radios assigned to personell must be kept within 3 feet of that person or on their belt/pocket, etc as work load permits. 3.) Radios are for work-related communication only, no idle banter. 4.) When calling someone, call them by name, title, or department first. Example: "Dom"..."yes?"... Or "Floor manager"..."Yeah?"...etc.  |  IP: Logged Brandon Willis Expert Film Handler Posts: 216 From: Richmond, VA, USA Registered: Apr 2004 posted 12-01-2004 10:00 PM                     Never talk about money over the walkie talkie. Use code words when you need change or need a security officer or whatever.  |  IP: Logged Brad Allen Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 688 From: Evansville, IN, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 12-02-2004 11:09 PM                     Use ear pieces with radios. I HATE being anywhere and hear radios blarring. It's annoying and extremely un-professional. Worse than idiots with Nextel cell phones that think they have to keep it on speaker phone/walk-talkie mode. bleeeeeeeepppp.  |  IP: Logged

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