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Topic: Seniors and Kids

Chase Hanson
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 172
From: San Diego, CA
Registered: Oct 2004

posted 10-31-2004 03:19 PM

quote: David Yauch
but that's what we pay ushers for...

I hate you with an all consuming passion now...

*mummbles gruffly to self before leaving for Usher Lead shift*

[Razz]

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Edward Jurich
Master Film Handler

Posts: 305
From: Las Vegas USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 10-31-2004 09:08 PM

On comments about fresh popcorn.....I've found that popcorn here is much better after it's been in a warmer bin covered for at least an hour. After that it taste great for the rest of the day. Patrons comment how good the popcorn is even if it's a few hours old.

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Jason Black
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1723
From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 10-31-2004 09:22 PM

Edward...

That's a fact! Popcorn directly out of the popper is still moist from steam induced explosion it just suffered. It's ALWAYS better after it dries slightly. Pop it, bag it, transfer to the warmer and then it's just right... with layers of fake butter flavored oil.. [Smile]

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Adam Wilbert
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 590
From: Bellingham, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2002

posted 10-31-2004 11:31 PM

I always loved when people would complain that our popcorn wasn't fresh when they got a bag straight from the popper. "give it five minutes, then it'll be fresh!"

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David Yauch
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 206
From: Mesa, AZ, USA
Registered: Oct 2004

posted 11-01-2004 01:44 AM

I agree that popcorn is better 30 minutes old than it is 5 minutes old, but nothing beats it steaming hot from the popper. Sometimes I wont even finish my small employee bag and the popcorn will be no good.

And don't worry Chase, one day you're an usher, the next day you are checking them out at the end of the night...

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 11-01-2004 02:16 AM

quote: David Yauch
I started opening at the theater and started noticing the group of middle-aged men who all want a medium size of everything and will get mad when you try to upsell or suggestive sell. My guess is that this is the unemployed group with no one to take on a date, but do we really need to feel the aftereffects of your failures in life? Perhaps less time at the moviews and a little more time in school/job hunting would do a little good.

That paragraph above is one of the stupidest things ever posted on this board. Please enlighten us as to how being middle-aged and male, and wanting a "medium" and not wanting to stand there and listen to a sales pitch when you already KNOW WHAT SIZE YOU WANT has anything to do with being employed, successful, and in a relationship, or not.

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Jeff Akin
Film Handler

Posts: 48
From: Salem, OR, USA
Registered: Mar 2002

posted 11-01-2004 02:44 AM

Nothing like older popcorn. We pop the majority of our corn between rushes. Pop a kettle or two as the set begins for the smell, but most of the corn has sat for a good 30 minutes or so.

Everyone comments on how much better our popcorn is than the theatre down the street!

They always seem to think that they want it "fresh," though. Well, whatever makes them happy!

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Jack Ondracek
Film God

Posts: 2348
From: Port Orchard, WA, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 11-01-2004 04:35 PM

quote: David Yauch
Sometimes I wont even finish my small employee bag and the popcorn will be no good.

That seems a bit extreme. If you try to pace yourself so your popcorn lasts through the feature, it must be absolutely repulsive by the end of the show!

I also tend to like my corn after it's "seasoned" a bit in the bin. However, I do get some customers that like to see it fly out of the kettle & drop directly into their tubs! [Roll Eyes]

It might be a real shock for some of you to know that some theatres still buy their popcorn pre-popped! Some of that stuff used to be shipped down here from bulk-poppers in Canada (no offense)... then it sat in boxes for a couple of weeks or so before it was sold out of warmers.

In our area, AMC took over a GCC theatre that pops its corn upstairs in a double-kettle monster. They take it downstairs in bags & pre-fill their tubs out of warmers behind the counter. Yum!

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Daryl C. W. O'Shea
Film God

Posts: 3977
From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from)
Registered: Jun 2002

posted 11-01-2004 04:54 PM

Super-Pufft!!! They make the best Pink Popcorn and Caramel Corn.

I prefer popcorn right out of the kettle dripping of coconut oil. Usually in a 12 ounce Coke cup (that previously held some fountain pop and will again), often douced in creamy Kawartha Dairy butter. I'll probably drop dead by 30.

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Dean Kollet
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 591
From: Florida State University
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 11-01-2004 07:33 PM

We NEVER have to worry about Seniors being messy, kids though are horrible. I remember cleaning up Finding Nemo (4-5 shows running at a time) and that was hell. One thing I've noticed about Senior Citizens, they buy popcorn by NO drink. Do they not get thirsty? I still can't understand it.

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David Yauch
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 206
From: Mesa, AZ, USA
Registered: Oct 2004

posted 11-02-2004 12:07 AM

quote: Mike Blakesley
That paragraph above is one of the stupidest things ever posted on this board. Please enlighten us as to how being middle-aged and male, and wanting a "medium" and not wanting to stand there and listen to a sales pitch when you already KNOW WHAT SIZE YOU WANT has anything to do with being employed, successful, and in a relationship, or not.

First off, it was just a guess, and only in jest. [Razz]

However I can't help but notice how unbelievably rude they can be. It's also ironic to note that at least at my theatre this ONLY happens with middle aged men and ONLY during the day and ONLY when they are alone. Perhaps they are all successful married businessmen, although most successful married businessmen(or women) i know don't act like they have a gigantic stick shoved as far up their ass as they could get it. Perhaps it's just my view on life, but as far as I can see it, anyone who is this pissed off every time they go to a movie has something wrong with them. That applies to all customers, not just these ones.

They are some good things though, for example there is nothing quite like having a customer complain to a manager while you are working concession that you upsold to them even though they didn't want you to. Usually it was followed by a pat on the back, some recognition, and maybe your choice of when you wanted to take your break.

quote: Dean Kollet
We NEVER have to worry about Seniors being messy, kids though are horrible. I remember cleaning up Finding Nemo (4-5 shows running at a time) and that was hell. One thing I've noticed about Senior Citizens, they buy popcorn by NO drink. Do they not get thirsty? I still can't understand it.

This is a really good question. I can't eat more than a few handfuls of popcorn until I need a drink.

quote:
In our area, AMC took over a GCC theatre that pops its corn upstairs in a double-kettle monster. They take it downstairs in bags & pre-fill their tubs out of warmers behind the counter. Yum!

Our customers would kill us if we did this, unless they didn't find out. I wonder how many customers can really taste the difference, as long as it is warm. I have had customers bring back popcorn that had been in a warmer for 30 minutes because they said it was stale but they were fine with the popcorn that had sat in the popper for over an hour.

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William Hooper
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1879
From: Mobile, AL USA
Registered: Jun 99

posted 11-02-2004 01:02 AM

quote: David Yauch
However I can't help but notice how unbelievably rude they can be. It's also ironic to note that at least at my theatre this ONLY happens with middle aged men and ONLY during the day and ONLY when they are alone.

Sales staff supposed to be out on calls instead playing hooky at the movies. All training & "motivational" programs for sales folks are negative reinforcement: self-esteem plummets, anger & frustration skyrocket. See "Glengarry Glen Ross". They're already feeling guilty about being there.

Add to the impatience almost all people have with "upselling" & "suggestive selling" the inside information that sales folk have on the technique, an understanding that they don't have to put up with it learned from clients, their reflexive internal professional critique of how the pitch is being done, personalities that are schedule & single-goal driven & can neither have their time wasted nor have the patience for it, & I'll bet they freakin' snap at you.

Many a true word may be spoken in jest, but almost all of them spoken in anger are true. The technique ticks people off, & the sales guys are finally on the other side of it, without any social obligation to endure it or pretend to just endure it to be polite.

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Brad Allen
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 688
From: Evansville, IN, USA
Registered: May 2000

posted 11-02-2004 12:21 PM

Seniors don't buy drinks because they know if they do, they will make 14 trips to pee during the film.

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David Yauch
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 206
From: Mesa, AZ, USA
Registered: Oct 2004

posted 11-02-2004 02:48 PM

quote: William Hooper
Many a true word may be spoken in jest, but almost all of them spoken in anger are true. The technique ticks people off, & the sales guys are finally on the other side of it, without any social obligation to endure it or pretend to just endure it to be polite.

But you figure that if that's the situation, they MUST know what some dishonest employees may do with their popcorn, although I'd never let anything like this happen anywhere near me, I have known many people who have worked at many theatres where they were not so strict, let's just say I've heard some stories, and I really don't think it's above some of these people. At the very least, I at least wait until I have my food to be rude.

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Edward Jurich
Master Film Handler

Posts: 305
From: Las Vegas USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 11-02-2004 11:39 PM

I'm beginning to dislike seniors [Mad]

Tonight this old lady (A.K.A. bat) comes in and gripes and gripes because we no longer have $2 Tuesday, something we haven't done since last year. A year ago the theater ran classics and had a $2 Tuesday. I tried to explain that with first run we could not charge such a low price, no matter, yak yak yak, I think our new senior price will be double regular admission [evil]

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