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Author Topic: Dealing with kiddies Greg Davis Film Handler Posts: 96 From: Vista, Ca, USA Registered: Sep 2004 posted 10-29-2004 01:26 PM                     I for one have long refused to even bother going to see movies that will have large kid audiences during the busy hours, and pretty much avoid large theaters all together. Last time i went to see a movie that i knew was going to be jammed with teenies it was Dawn of the Dead. There was so much talking and giggling and screaming at every nudity scene that eventually some huge guy in the front turned around and started yelling at them. This only prompted an applause, which was retarded to do during a movie. SO... a few nights ago i walk into a theater to bust some kids who are bringing in an Albertsons bag... and as I go in i hear a thump and see it hanging from a speaker. I kicked them all out and my GM had to let 3 back in out of the 6 because technically they didnt do anything wrong. big case of good cop bad cop, but thats usually the norm. i kick them out, managers let them back in. I guess i would too if i had to deal with parents. Oh yeah and it was team america.  |  IP: Logged Brandon Willis Expert Film Handler Posts: 216 From: Richmond, VA, USA Registered: Apr 2004 posted 10-29-2004 04:04 PM                     When I get a complaint, I go into the auditorium, go down in front where the audience can plainly see me but not where I'm blocking the screen, and just stand there and stare at them. Sometimes I stand there through the whole movie. I've also had the police shove disruptive kids out the fire exits by the screen. I never give refunds to people I kick out, and I always inform them that if I see them anywhere in the building again, they will be arrested. I like to handle troublemakers by being as much of an asshole as possible.  |  IP: Logged David Yauch Expert Film Handler Posts: 206 From: Mesa, AZ, USA Registered: Oct 2004 posted 10-31-2004 01:20 AM                     (Un)fortunately, I didn't have to kick anyone out. After first warning they were shutting up and putting cell phones away. I only had to visit one theatre more than once, and that was a small theater in which i talked to two different groups once. We did sent about 1 in 10 people for Saw out because they didn't have ID or the proper ticket. Shame on them.  |  IP: Logged Chase Hanson Expert Film Handler Posts: 172 From: San Diego, CA Registered: Oct 2004 posted 10-31-2004 04:03 AM                     I personally revel in being built like a small house, it generally makes getting people to shut up much easier. I will usually do the "make your presence known" option which is fairly easy. If choice individuals cant read between the lines, I will usually stare at them, intensely, from one row away. Or ill sit down right next to them and tell them to simmer down or leave. If they cant read the lines, then they get to go home early. If there are numerous offenders, ill "pick a bitch" perferably up front and parade said individual(s) across the auditorium and out the exit doors.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-31-2004 12:40 PM                        quote: I go into the auditorium, go down in front where the audience can plainly see me but not where I'm blocking the screen, and just stand there and stare at them. Sometimes I stand there through the whole movie. Uhhh, I think that would be really distracting/annoying.  |  IP: Logged Ramin Hashemi Expert Film Handler Posts: 129 From: Houston TX Registered: Sep 2004 posted 11-01-2004 12:35 AM                     for those in small towns, with no other theatres, doesn't it get trickier? On the one hand, the fact that the kids have no other theatres to go to, one would think they would behave. On the other hand, half the theatre are the kids that are making noise, and the vary small minority are the ones complaining. What would you do in that case?  |  IP: Logged David Yauch Expert Film Handler Posts: 206 From: Mesa, AZ, USA Registered: Oct 2004 posted 11-01-2004 01:41 AM                     In a small town? Call their parents, since you probably know them anyways.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-01-2004 02:08 AM                        We get that all the time -- people drop the kids off, and say "If they act up, give me a call." Some people's kids are BETTER behaved when they are dropped off , than they are when the parents are around. Never could figure that one out.  |  IP: Logged William Hooper Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1879 From: Mobile, AL USA Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-01-2004 02:45 AM                        quote: Mike Blakesley Uhhh, I think that would be really distracting/annoying. I agree. When I've been in shows where an usher did that, all I could think was "What are you doing? Get out of there!" It's "The Usher Show" as long as they're down front.  |  IP: Logged Chris Medley Expert Film Handler Posts: 180 From: McKinney, TX, USA Registered: Jan 2004 posted 11-01-2004 08:26 AM                        It does very little good, IMHO, to stand at the front...you might end up ducking flying objects. If they are disturbing others just give them the boot. "Staring them down" only shuts them up when you are right there, plus that is a horrible waste of payroll.  |  IP: Logged David Yauch Expert Film Handler Posts: 206 From: Mesa, AZ, USA Registered: Oct 2004 posted 11-02-2004 12:39 AM                     quote: Mike Blakesley Some people's kids are BETTER behaved when they are dropped off , than they are when the parents are around. Never could figure that one out. Maybe it's that mentality that as long as the parents are there they will be able to just keep pushing it, but if the parents have to drive down there to get them, they are going home.  |  IP: Logged Jarrod Cocker Film Handler Posts: 33 From: a Registered: Oct 2004 posted 11-02-2004 07:22 AM                    Ha Ha, this stuff... i enjoy! If we have problems, its usually with a groupd of about 4 or 5 kids - either talking, throughing stuff, climbing over seats, walkinga around, etc etc So, what i Like to, is go and sit right in the middle of them. Even tell them to move, so you can have the middle seat in the group.. Usually, after 5 mins or so, i'll leave, and everything will be ok. I once sat there for the last 30mins of the film, hey- i had nothing else to do! Another trick i pull out on a regular basis - Seperate the Group. Move them all down to the front row. Usually, their friends will laugh at them, make them embarrassed, and they just dont know what to do. My final trick - Kick them out a whole row of kids.. No Refund. Ahh, the memories  |  IP: Logged Jeremy Fuentes Mmmm, Dr. Pepper! Posts: 1168 From: Corpus Christi, TX United States Registered: Jan 2004 posted 11-02-2004 09:14 AM                     We recently kicked out a whole row of kids, no refunds. Then we had a parent come back and say thay their kids never act up at the movies, and demanded a refund. We told them that the usher sat right behind the group and heard them all talking, and thats why they were removed, and we dont give refunds for that. The parents demanded that the usher tell them exactly what their daughter said in the conversation, and if he couldnt that means she wasnt talking. They then proceeded to threaten to sue the usher in question for yelling at their daughter and kicking her out. [ 11-02-2004, 12:17 PM: Message edited by: Jeremy Fuentes ]  |  IP: Logged David Yauch Expert Film Handler Posts: 206 From: Mesa, AZ, USA Registered: Oct 2004 posted 11-02-2004 02:49 PM                     Yeah I had a couple kids threaten to sue me for their tickets the other day, and then they called me a jerk. Now I'm both scared and offended.  |  IP: Logged Chase Hanson Expert Film Handler Posts: 172 From: San Diego, CA Registered: Oct 2004 posted 11-03-2004 02:07 AM                     Ohh jeez David, That sounds like Emotional Trauma right there...thats gotta be worth a couple thousand at least  |  IP: Logged

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