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Author Topic: Dealing with a stupid doorman Jason Miller Expert Film Handler Posts: 241 From: Little Rock, AR, Registered: Mar 2004 posted 06-22-2004 08:10 AM                    POST DELETED [ 06-23-2004, 04:33 AM: Message edited by: Jason Miller ]  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 06-22-2004 08:58 AM                     Sorry Richard I will stand by what I said in one breath you say you care yet in several post it is selective  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 06-22-2004 11:22 AM                     Richard, You are working in a snake pit. Many theaters have politically charged atmospheres (for reasons I mentioned earlier and others) but the one you work in seems to be a really bad example. It seems to me that you are taking the right steps by trying to work somewhere else but you have to try really hard to "divorce" yourself from the people you work with BEFORE you get another job. It can only benefit you in the long run even if you don't end up working in a theater anymore. Here's what's going on the way I imagine it: You have developed some destructive relationships with the people you work with/for and you're having a hard time getting out of them. This phenomenon where you seem to really care about your job one minute then have a "Fuck it" attitude the next minute is a side effect of this. I think you are at the point in your life where you are starting to grow out of the adolescent, often sophomoric, behaviors that you see others engaging in but you often get dragged back in to them when you are around them. I can't really blame you for this. It's a natural part of growing up that most people don't even realize is happening to them. When things go your way, life is good. You work hard and feel productive. The projectors are running well and everybody is happy. However, when the "children" who work at your theater start acting up you long for the "old times" when you were care-free and could do silly things without having to take responsibiltiy for the consequences. You start falling into behavior patterns that take your mind off the good work you have been doing in the past. Things start to fall apart on you. The boss gets mad at you. Life SUCKS because you feel trapped between two worlds... The work world and the play world. Then you feel that "Fuck it!" attitude coming on and you feel like you just want to give up. Like I said, this is a natural progression in human development. Those people who get over this stage will go on to be successful adults. Those who don't will have a hard time succeeding. The first thing you need to do is "divorce" yourself from those people who will drag you down. You come to work. You do your job. You go home. You are clocked in 5 minutes before your shift starts. You are clocked out 5 minutes after your shift ends. Do NOT socialize with the kids who work downstairs during work hours. If you have to play the part of "Ice Man" while you are at work, so be it. I don't care if you feel like "Worker 11811". (Metropolis) Later on, when you have successfully seperated your work life and your social life, if there are still people there that you want to hang out with, you can hang out with them AFTER WORK. IF you are done working and you want to go out for some drinks and have some fun, by all means do it... PROVIDED... everybody understands that when you are at work socializing is at a minimum. You need to do this because you are going to be moving on to another theater soon. (I hope!) When you get there, all eyes will be on you. You will be judged on how well you do your work. Only then will you be judged on how well you socialize. Take this golden opportunity to use your "End Game" at the "Hell Hole" where you work now to prepare for your "First Move" when you walk in the door at your new job. Later on, YOU will be the one smiling and THEY will be the ones wallowing in their own shit. (Quite literally!) If you can find the strength to follow through with this, you can only benefit!  |  IP: Logged Floyd Justin Newton Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 559 From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA Registered: Jun 2002 posted 06-22-2004 12:10 PM                     Richard-- Please stop being a hard-head and comprehend everything being written here. When you're stuck between a rock and a hard place, it's about time to change your ways. You aren't perfect, and neither am I, but, we all learn from our mistakes. Heed and you'll learn! fjn Local 294 Ret. [ 06-22-2004, 07:45 PM: Message edited by: Floyd Justin Newton ]  |  IP: Logged Jason Black Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1723 From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 06-22-2004 11:24 PM                        Richard works for Carmike, as do I. The turnaround, as Mike S. mentioned earlier should N-E-V-E-R fall under the 20 minute threshold and should, effectively, remain at 30 minutes in multi's/mega's. No-one, in their right mind, mandates times, across the board, for an entire region or for the entire chain. It does, however, happen. I feel his pain, in certain a certain respect. I work under the same guidelines and oft 'off the wall' times and programming schedules, yet, somehow, I manage to make it work. WHen life hands you a lemon, make lemonade. The doorman is 100% right, without question. Patrons pay to see the show until the machine shuts down. PERIOD. If there simply isn't enough time to clean AFTER the credits are done, then you do the best you can and get your butt outta there. It's the managers job to figure out why they are getting complaints about dirty theatres. It's the manager who will answer to the District Mgr. once the email hits the feedback section of the website. It's a rolling shitball that, may or may not, wind up at the cleaners feet. More often than not it isn't the person cleaning theatres fault, it comes from way up above his/her head but one has the hardest time getting that point across to management, and the viscous cycle continues. Richard, Without knowing more about you, I'd hazard a guess that finding another chain/theatre to work for would be a good idea. I can pretty much assure you that it will NOT get any better. Chances are, based on my experience, your manager is doing the best that she knows gievn her (lack of) training. This to, is a viscious cycle that will not soon be unbroken. Cut your losses and move on. One thing that you, and others on this forum should keep in mind is that, chain theatres under the same name are not ALL the same. There are those managers out there who do care about overall presentation. We are, after all, in the business of showing FILM, not selling popcorn. The concession is a residual... <rant mode off> And Phil, you are, quite simply... THA MAN... Hubba Hubba... and SWEET JESUS... ;-)  |  IP: Logged Dave Williams Wet nipple scene Posts: 1836 From: Salt Lake City, UT, USA Registered: Jan 2000 posted 06-23-2004 12:31 AM                        EDIT... Out of respect for the person to whom I directed this particular post at, and for the fact that he himself deleted his own remarks, I have deleted my remarks as to just kill any further remarking on these remarks... CHA! CIAO Dave [ 06-23-2004, 05:53 AM: Message edited by: Dave Williams ]  |  IP: Logged Jason Miller Expert Film Handler Posts: 241 From: Little Rock, AR, Registered: Mar 2004 posted 06-23-2004 04:39 AM                    I removed the post because I was hot about something else that a doorman did to me that day. I would never actually edit a film. it was meant as a joke to tell the doorman to get him to stop. I would write up a doorman if I told him to stop doing something and he blatantly disregarded me. I enjoy the spoilers as well... though I do believe they should be discovered by people who would have stayed on their own and not told to stay by the doorman. the ones that dont stay can see it the next time they watch the movie (be it in the theatre or rented). I apologize if I offended anyone. Door people aggravate me sometimes when you tell them something and they either forget or decide what you say isnt important... like seating an auditorium before it is completely clean.  |  IP: Logged Bob Brown Expert Film Handler Posts: 146 From: Grand Rapids, MI Registered: Apr 2002 posted 06-23-2004 10:43 AM                        quote: Jason Black There are those managers out there who do care about overall presentation. We are, after all, in the business of showing FILM, not selling popcorn. The concession is a residual.. Here is the major problem as I see it. How many circuits/chains tie in Managers bonuses based on Presentation? Most that I know are Concession based. So, the Managers of course will be more attentive to the Concession area than the theatre presentation. I however, belive that your guests should get superior "TOTAL PRESENTATION." They should be given first rate service the minute they walk into the door.  |  IP: Logged Pravin Ratnam Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 844 From: Atlanta, GA,USA Registered: Sep 2002 posted 06-23-2004 04:51 PM                     Richard, you had me feeling a little sorry for you in the other thread. Now you have me siding with the doorman. He is not the stupid guy in this thread. I fail to understand why you would enter into a losing argument you do not even have the moral high ground on at a theater where your stock is already low. The next time you have a legit complaint, your manager could just point to this incident and question whether you really are concerned about quality presentation. You gave your manager an opening regardless of how much care you think you put into the projection booth. As a customer, i would be appreciative of the doorman if he gave me this tip. These days, I do not have the patience to sit through the increasing list of credits for every movie. By the way, when I saw Kill Bill2, I wanted to sit all the way through the end of the credits(talk about longass credits) to enjoy the songs and watch the talked about outtake with Uma and the eye. Ushers didn't even wait for the Shivaree song Goodnight Moon over the B&W credits of Uma driving to start. The lights were turned up and they started rushing the cleaning. It was really annoying. I ended up being only one of 5 people left at the end despite more people wanting to stick around but they felt uncomfortable with all the activity going on.  |  IP: Logged Richard Greco Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1180 From: Plant City, FL Registered: Nov 2003 posted 06-24-2004 10:09 AM                     I just think all of you should look at this thread. Should We Tell Them? I have said in previous posts on this topic, I think I overreacted in my initial post. I don't really care now.  |  IP: Logged Pravin Ratnam Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 844 From: Atlanta, GA,USA Registered: Sep 2002 posted 06-24-2004 10:24 AM                     Thanks for the link to the thread. But there is a difference between not informing patrons of an outtake at the end (which is OK with me) and actually getting into an argument with an employee who takes the initiative to inform patrons. I think each employee should have the freedom to decide on their own if they want to take the initiative to inform patrons. There is no right and wrong here.  |  IP: Logged Dave Williams Wet nipple scene Posts: 1836 From: Salt Lake City, UT, USA Registered: Jan 2000 posted 06-24-2004 02:56 PM                        I went back to that thread and found some of the things I said rather humorous! In my younger days I was known to blow off steam, but mostly never to customers. It was rare if I ever did, and when I did they really did deserve it, but still I was out of place when I did, because I truly am above that. Much of what I have said in the past has been pure cynacism and sarcasm, mostly to make a greater point. I have in the recent years toned down my levels of comedic incenserities in order to help lower my own internal stress levels to help combat some rather serious health problems. However even that has done me no good! While my BP is down, my PENT UP RAGE has increased to the 14th power! I need to murder people before I go nuts and start killing people!!! Soon my children, you will get to experience the thrill that is my life, as I embark on a new and fruitless attempt at a hobby. I will be spreading my voice across the internet, mostly because the sound of my voice makes me happy, and I need to yell as someone. That and I am bored. I ought to pull all of my old posts and use em for material, some of that stuff is pretty good! quote: Never tell em a damn thing. They hate you for living. Why do them a favor? Damn customers always bleeding when you shoot them in the face, stains everywhere... CIAO Dave  |  IP: Logged Richard Greco Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1180 From: Plant City, FL Registered: Nov 2003 posted 06-28-2004 09:50 AM                     OK FOR THE LAST TIME!!! I have changed my mind about bitching about myself getting in and cleaning during the credits. I DON"T CARE ANYMORE!!! I can care less if the doorman tells people about the scenes. It doesn't matter to me anymore. The place I work at I just go in and run the movies now. There is a lot of messed up stuff going on at my place and I really don't care anymore.  |  IP: Logged Jeremy Fuentes Mmmm, Dr. Pepper! Posts: 1168 From: Corpus Christi, TX United States Registered: Jan 2004 posted 06-28-2004 10:09 AM                     Richard, I think you should just calm down and relax. If you seriously didnt care any more, than why would you still be trying to ask for help here. I hope that you havent let the attitude of others at your theater affect your attitude towards your presentation. If thats the case, then I will have to agree with Gordon, and suggest you move on to another industry.  |  IP: Logged Richard Greco Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1180 From: Plant City, FL Registered: Nov 2003 posted 06-28-2004 10:28 AM                     Ok, let me clarify. Anything that goes on outside of the booth isn't my problem. I only get paid 5.15 an hour and my job is to run the booth properly. As for as anything on the ground goes, it's not my problem anymore. I'm getting too stressed enforcing rules that the customers don't listen to and getting yelled at by management for enforcing those rules. That's what I meant. Basically, the original topic of this thread is meaningless to me now because I don't care what happens downstairs. If my boss tells me to clean theatres, fine.  |  IP: Logged

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