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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Topic: Sneaking food into the theater
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John Scott
Master Film Handler
Posts: 252
From: Oakdale, MN, USA
Registered: Jul 2000
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posted 06-01-2002 09:19 PM
The previous theatre I was manager at was less than a block away from a liquor store so when trashing an auditorium we'd often find beer bottles, malt liquor cans, and occasionally full size liquor bottles, always empty of course. It amazed me how people are able to sneak this stuff in without me or my staff noticing (especially since we catch 90% of it because of clinking bottles and such). But how does someone sneak in a 24pack case of Heniken bottles without anyone noticing?
The other situation I had involved the art house theatre that was just around the corner from my old theatre. One time, shortly before I was promoted, I had a guy come up and wanted to buy tickets for one of our shows, holding in his hand a large popcorn and large soda from the theatre around the corner (not part of our chain). He then threw a fit not understanding why I wouldn't sell him a ticket as long as he was insisting on carrying in their product. Even though we had no carry-in signs.
I'll sometimes overlook carry-ins with regular customers who I know buy product from our vending stand (EG someone bringing in their own home filled liter bottle of water when I know they are still going to buy popcorn from us), or bring in a product like Coffee that we don't have the capability of selling (not messy or smelly food like fast food, pizza, or ice cream), but I won't let someone come in with product that we sell at our location (candy or other soda for instance). It might not be the most customer friendly policy, but I think it boils down to an issue of respect. If as a patron you aren't going to respect our business, then do I really want your patronage?
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Barry Floyd
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1079
From: Lebanon, Tennessee, USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 06-03-2002 09:48 AM
This was a topic that was brought up at the U.D.I.T.O.A. (United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association) conference in Orlanda in February. Drive-ins have hard enough time to make it in the exhibition business, and losing revenue to lost food sales can litterally put you out of business.
Some of the owners were saying that, "At the end of the night while I was picking up the lot, I was picking up more trash from McDonalds, Pizza Hut, etc. - than I was from my own concession stand". What other venue that charges admission to gain access allows you to bring in your own food? You wouldn't stand in line at the local indoor theatre with your Pizza Hut box and expect to be let in.. would you? Why should the drive-in be any different? One approach that several drive-ins across the country have done is to sell an "Outside Food Permit". If the patron wishes to stop by the local pizza joint or fast food place and bring their own food into the theatre, they MUST purchase an outside food permit in addition to their regular admission price. Most of the permits average between $3.00 - $4.00, and if the patrons are educated to WHY the theatre must do this, then it's usually not a bid deal. The ones who refuse.... don't get in. We're going to implement this policy at our theatre when we open in April of 2003. ------------------
Barry Floyd
Floyd Entertainment Group
Nashville, Tennessee
(Drive-In Theatre - Start-Up)
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John T. Hendrickson, Jr
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 889
From: Freehold, NJ, USA
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 06-03-2002 08:29 PM
You've hit on a sore subject here. We are located in a mall, and part of our operation includes a Nathans Restaurant, Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, Twisted Pretzels, and pizza. We encourage our patrons to use the swivel trays we provide to bring their purchases into the auditioriums. They attach to our seats and are both popular and convenient.However, we draw the line on outside food and drink. We are not about to enrich our competitors in the Mall by allowing their products into our theaters, nor are we about to spend our time and money cleaning up for them. Yet, to some people, this seems downright unreasonable. I can't tell you how many times I have been downstairs monitoring auditoriums for picture and sound, and on the way back to the booth there is someone giving our doorpeople a hard time about bringing something into the theaters. We also face an additional problem. Contained within our lobby area are tables and chairs for the use of our customers. We have signs clearly posted that they are for the use of our patrons. Yet the managers go nuts every day asking people (nicely) who have brought in competitors' products to leave the area. Some are downright nasty about leaving and complain to the Mall management because they will get no satisfaction from us. We maintain the area, clean it, and restock napkins and condements. We also pay rent on the area, so no way are we allowing outside food and drink into our lobby area either. I spend most of my time in the booth, thankfully. I'll only go on the floor in an emergency situation or when we are extremely busy. When it comes to this issue, I have zero tolerance for patrons trying to bring things into the theater. After they vent, I simply say "That is our posted policy. The fact that you disagree with it doesn't change it." Then I walk away. Rant over.
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Barry Floyd
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1079
From: Lebanon, Tennessee, USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 06-04-2002 10:15 AM
As of the time of the conference in Florida in February 2002, only 2 of the "member drive-ins" had implemented an "outside food permit". One theatre in Baltimore, and another in Indiana. Both owners said that their patrons griped and complained for the first couple of weeks, but now they just see it as part of the cost of going to the movie. Most of the time the boxoffice ticket prices are still low enough that even with the additional purchase of the food permit, the total cost to the patrons is still cheaper than a trip to the indoor theatre. The $3.00 - $5.00 food permit covers everyone in the car - but cannot be shared with patrons in another car. Some owners have stated "You cannot share the food you brought with someone in another car - if the other car doesn't have a permit".The $0.50 can of Coke... I'm not sure, but I think the answer would be yes... they would be required to buy a permit. It may be hard to implement and control. But the people who "sneak food in" would be asked to leave. I think if the patrons are educated as to "why the need for the food permit exist", they would have no problem with the purchase. If they can do math, most would realize that even with the food permit purchase, their food costs for the evening may even be cheaper than if they bought it in the concessions stand.
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