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Author Topic: Boosting business Peter Berrett Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 602 From: Victoria, Australia Registered: Nov 2000 posted 07-04-2006 04:19 AM                        I rather favour the idea of expanding your business to sell DVDs in the candy counter (perhaps with a free movie ticket with every dvd sold). What you do is stock a range of dvd's for the movies you screened a few months ago, that the moviegoers liked a lot, and have now come out on dvd. Logic dictates that, having seen and enjoyed the film, they may wish to buy the dvd. This, at first glance, may seem incongruous with the idea of running a movie theatre (ie selling products to suit opposition forms of entertainment) but one has to get out of thinking that one is in the picture screening business and into the idea that one is in the entertainment delivery industry. Just a thought from a consumer. Regards Peter  |  IP: Logged Mark Hajducki Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 500 From: Edinburgh, UK Registered: May 2003 posted 07-04-2006 06:56 AM                     The problem with selling DVDs is the competition. Most of the supermarkets sell DVDs, probably at a cost lower than a cinema chain could buy them at wholesale. ----- Some form of loyalty scheme may work to increase repeat business. Examples of loyalty schemes/ prepayment schemes 4 screen independent first run 3 screen art First run/art chain Large national chain [ 07-04-2006, 06:01 PM: Message edited by: Mark Hajducki ]  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 07-05-2006 06:53 PM                        A theatre near us (Centre Cinema in Hardin MT) runs a thriving video business. I think they are mostly rentals though, not sales.  |  IP: Logged Caleb Johnstone-Cowan Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 593 From: London, UK Registered: Mar 2006 posted 07-05-2006 10:18 PM                     If you have digital could you show the local NFL game in HD on Sundays? Guessing that the Dolphins/Bucs sell out, you could recreate the game atmosphere in your theatre. Also you have a long time to get concession sales out of people especially if you do a tailgate thing beforehand. A lot of cinemas in Europe have been showing the World Cup in HD seems to have done alright.  |  IP: Logged Lyle Romer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1400 From: Davie, FL, USA Registered: May 2002 posted 07-06-2006 07:10 AM                     Stay away from selling DVD's. The old theory in business is never to mention your competitor. I cringe when I see "the Twenty" (or whatever they call it now) and AMC's digital pre-show and they advertise DVD's. STUPID, STUPID, STUPID.  |  IP: Logged Robert E. Allen Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1078 From: Checotah, Oklahoma Registered: Jul 2002 posted 07-07-2006 02:30 PM                     Last month I took over as GM at a 248 seat restored single screen in rural Iowa. The theatre has been opened three years and continues to increase its profit every year. It is a .99 cent house, the only theatre within 30 miles, and this past week we sold out every evening and both Sunday matinees. We were playing "Cars" at 55%. Last night we took in about $450 at the BO and about $1200 at concessions. We sell candy from 75 cents to $1.50, popcorn from $2 to $4, Pepsi from $1.50 to $3. We also have nachos, pretzels, bottled water, tea and several candies the sell for 25 cents. Last year the theatre grossed over a quarter of a million.  |  IP: Logged Martin Brooks Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 900 From: Forest Hills, NY, USA Registered: May 2002 posted 07-08-2006 11:00 PM                        quote: Robert E. Allen Last year the theatre grossed over a quarter of a million. OK, and from that gross you have the cost of film rental, supplies, staff, insurance, electricity, maintenance, taxes, capital costs, etc. So what was the net and if that's your only business, can one live on that? I realize the cost of living in Iowa is far lower than NYC, but it's hard for me to conceive of any stand-alone business that grosses $250,000 (but has high costs) generating enough net to be successful. Now if one has ten businesses doing that, I guess one would really have something. I don't really expect you to answer the question about the net, it was just rhetorical. It's really just a way of stating that I don't see how a business can make money selling movie tickets for $1 even if it does sell out, especially if it's just a few shows a day. I agree with those who think that there needs to be more showmanship in the administration of a theatre business. Create events that attract people. If you attract a family or older crowd, hold a few bingo games before the movie and give out tickets or candy coupons as prizes. If you attract a college or singles crowd, play classic films or cult films with "audience participation", have "speed-dating" in the lobby before or after the movie or have a "live blog" discussion about the film. Get local chefs to create special snacks and split the proceeds. For too long, theater owners haven't done much more promotion than putting some ads in the local paper. With all the competition for entertainment time and dollars, they've got to work harder and more competitively to earn consumers dollars and interest. At Bryant Park in NYC during the summer, there's a free outdoor film festival on Monday nights. These are not films that would attract a paid crowd to an indoor revival theater -- they're all long available on video. This is to see films like The Birds, M*A*S*H, A Shot In The Dark, To Have And Have Not, Bullitt, The Band Wagon, High Noon, Charade, Rocky, etc. While there is 35mm projection, the screen is a bit too small for the space and the sound is mono and pretty bad. But thousands of people show up for each week's show because it's a "scene". People start lining up at 5pm to grab a good spot on the grass and the film itself doesn't start until at least 8:30pm. While some people grab their space, their friends go out and pick up food to bring back to the site. IMO, the onus is on theater owners to create that same kind of group scene and excitement in their theaters. In spite of their budgets, most movies have become pretty ordinary, so the theater itself has to become extraordinary and provide an experience one can't get in the home. We usually think that means technology and the environment, but it also means how consumers interact with others in the crowd and the sense of community that results. Movies have to be turned back into events.  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 07-10-2006 08:17 AM                        Martin; your logical argument for more showmanship would probably get you fired at most national circuits. Louis  |  IP: Logged Mike Spaeth Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1129 From: Marietta, GA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 07-11-2006 12:57 AM                        I believe by "gross" he meant Box Office Gross. Concession sales would not be included in that number. $250k is an amazing gross for a single-screen discount house with tickets at $1.00. That's 250,000 people per screen per year. How many 10-screens have 2.5 million customers/year?  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 07-11-2006 02:17 AM                        quote: We were playing "Cars" at 55%. I'm surprised you got that one past Disney and their per-cap mininum. Or do they relax that once the film is a few weeks old?  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 07-11-2006 02:17 AM                        quote: Matt Kerekes Ok, in addition to my original question, if there were being money spent on things to boost business what would be some suggestions? You need digital cinema. The general public hates film, and d-cinema always sells more as a result.  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 07-11-2006 02:44 AM                        quote: Joe Redifer You need digital cinema. The general public hates film, and d-cinema always sells more as a result. Couldn't agree with you more, Joe. My triplex drive-in was sold out this week... but 7k lamps, digital sound, broadcast-level digital processing & transmitters and Filmguard on all shows just isn't enough for my discriminating patrons. Every night, they leave, grumbling that the video isn't digital... they can tell, they feel cheated, their enjoyment of the show is ruined and they want BLOOD (probably mine). Yup... tell me where to send the check! (me, pointing back)  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 07-11-2006 03:28 AM                        People don't go to drive-ins for fine presentation. People go to drive-ins to fuck.  |  IP: Logged Dennis Benjamin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1445 From: Denton, MD Registered: Feb 2002 posted 07-11-2006 12:17 PM                        Hey Joe - you got one right! I was conceived at a Drive-In. Therefore I can say that I was born to be in this business. How about that for fate?  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 07-11-2006 01:35 PM                        quote: Joe Redifer People don't go to drive-ins for fine presentation. People go to drive-ins to . Welll..... there may be a modicum of truth to that. Especially given that I've received "thank you" notes from people like Dennis... quote: Dennis Benjamin I was conceived at a Drive-In. However, I don't think we can use this stereotypical image of the outdoor cinema as a way to increase business... especially not in today's PC environment.  |  IP: Logged

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