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Topic: An unprofessional job offer

Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 05-13-2007 04:36 PM

If the original poster is being offered a job that would require quitting his current job then, yes, I agree that the offer is unprofessional and borderline unethical. If he's being offered a part-time job, however, I fail to see the problem. Lots of places run film on an occasional basis and they often have difficulty finding operators. Sometimes they have to call local theatres and ask if they have anyone on staff who might be qualified. As long as it doesn't affect the relationship between the employee and his primary employer, I don't see the issue.

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Phil Hill
I love my cootie bug

Posts: 7595
From: Hollywood, CA USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 05-13-2007 05:09 PM

I certainly do not see that as unprofessional nor unethical! Actually, it's a compliment to the person receiving the offer.

To climb the biz ladder, it all goes back to "contacts" and "networking" ... you know, it's not what you know, but who you know. It takes the "who ya know" to get the job, and then your skills, attitude, and knowledge to KEEP the job.

Bad news travels faster than good news...

It's the way of the biz world. Get over it and quit whining! Use it to your advantage.

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Andy Muirhead
Master Film Handler

Posts: 323
From: Galashiels, Scotland
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-13-2007 07:15 PM

quote: Chris Slycord
In the mall my theater is at there's another theater as well. It's essentially a really fancy bar/meeting facility that's got an auditorium attached to it. Depending on how many groups rent the place out for stuff, they'll play anywhere from zero to 2 movies a day. And since it's mainly a bar it's a 21+ facility.

To me, It just sounds like this guy is desperate for a trained projectionist to run the projector in his (very part time) hall. To be honest, you would probably end up working the bar or doing other stuff, and running the projector when required.

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Chris Slycord
Film God

Posts: 2986
From: 청주시, 경북도, South Korea
Registered: Mar 2007

posted 05-13-2007 11:02 PM

quote: Mark Gulbrandsen
The thing that got my attention was the line above from your first post.... "They are ALWAYS looking for projectionists" tells me that they may NOT be a good employer to work for. If they were good then they probably would have several long time employees there locking up the positions.

I agree. I would think that projectionists would be a dime a dozen. Surely, there are tons of people out there who could do projection on a part-time basis. The place in question essentially runs 2 evening shows a night which could easily be worked around with a day job.

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Phil Ranucci
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 236
From: Carpinteria,CA, United States
Registered: May 2006

posted 05-14-2007 04:31 AM

quote: Chris Slycord

I agree. I would think that projectionists would be a dime a dozen. Surely, there are tons of people out there who could do projection on a part-time basis. The place in question essentially runs 2 evening shows a night which could easily be worked around with a day job.

Maybe he can't get one of those "dime a dozen" projectionist that meets his standards. I can't figure out why you're not flattered that you got an offer? You don't really know what he's looking for- full-time/part-time. Keep your options open, and ask what he needs you to do. If you need some part-time work check it out on your day off, otherwise tell him you're happy where you are (assuming you are).

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Anslem Rayburn
Master Film Handler

Posts: 476
From: Yuma, AZ, USA
Registered: May 2002

posted 05-14-2007 05:06 AM

It's not like he got offered the job after the manager at the other place saw a perfectly executed show. If I walk into some other theater (that knows I work at the other theater) and get offered a job, I take it as a "Hey, let's take this guy from our competitor", not a compliment. I have seen other projectionists from OUR competitor watching movies at my place, and I would never approach them and offer them a job. It's disrespectful to both the employee and the employer. If I ever offered someone a job under those circumstances and they accepted, I would consider them a whore and wouldn't place them very highly on my "important employee" list. After all, they could leave me just as easily as they left their last place...

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Adam Fraser
Master Film Handler

Posts: 499
From: Houghton Lake, MI, USA
Registered: Dec 2001

posted 05-14-2007 10:36 AM

Unless you pay your projectionists $40-50,000/yr (what I would consider a liveable wage in my area). I would expect little to no loyalty from the employee and wouldn't consider leaving for another place of employment "whoring". When you make under a certain amount of money for a skilled trade its a "job" not a "career".

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Chris Slycord
Film God

Posts: 2986
From: 청주시, 경북도, South Korea
Registered: Mar 2007

posted 05-14-2007 03:20 PM

quote: Phil Ranucci
Maybe he can't get one of those "dime a dozen" projectionist that meets his standards. I can't figure out why you're not flattered that you got an offer? You don't really know what he's looking for- full-time/part-time. Keep your options open, and ask what he needs you to do. If you need some part-time work check it out on your day off, otherwise tell him you're happy where you are (assuming you are).

My point was that he couldn't possibly know if I meet his standards just by looking at me and knowing that I've sometimes done film.

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Randy Stankey
Film God

Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99

posted 05-14-2007 10:15 PM

*1*

The guy never would have made the offer if he didn't think you had basic aptitude. Some people can tell a lot about a person just by the way they act and talk.

Maybe he saw you trying to look into the booth. Maybe he saw or heard you talking about movie projectors. I don't know. I'm just guessing.

But I can assure you he's not dumb. If he didn't think you could do the job he never would have even mentioned it.

*2*

Just because he told you to look him up if you ever wanted a change in scenery DOES NOT mean you have the job.

Guys like this are shrewd. He could be testing you. He could put you at the concession stand (Bar?) for your first two weeks just to see what you're made of. He could take you to the booth and test your knowledge. He might, very well, call you in for an "interview" but dump your application the moment you walk out.

*3*

As long as BOTH your employers know you are moonlighting, there's no reason you can't have two jobs, PROVIDED there is no conflict of interest.

(And, NO! Simply working for another movie theater is NOT a conflict by itself!)

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Monte L Fullmer
Film God

Posts: 8367
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004

posted 05-15-2007 01:35 AM

quote:
And, NO! Simply working for another movie theater is NOT a conflict by itself!)

(and I've been moonlighting at a Dr-In for three seasons now as a grunt booth operator/hamburger flipper and marquee changer...and I don't consider it a conflict of interest..just need the xtra $bucks$ on the side...and the hamburgers are great...)

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Michael Moore
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 188
From: Dover, DE / USA
Registered: Jun 2006

posted 05-15-2007 09:04 PM

I got my current job at the theater because I was at a Orchestra Rehearsal (I play bass) and as I was exiting the building I ran into one of the technical Directors. I casually asked I heard the Center was starting up film. When is it going to start? He replied "if you can find a projectionist for us then we will be on screen." I said "I have experience," he took me to the booth, showed me around said "you want the job." I said "let me think about it." Walked to my truck to put my bass in came back and said "when do you want me to start." I have been there ever since.

Problem was no one in my area wants to do a part time gig without getting paid a full time salary!

This to me is more of paid hobby, and I love it and I put lots of time into it, I really care about it.

Mike

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Jack Ondracek
Film God

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

posted 05-16-2007 12:36 AM

quote: Monte L Fullmer
I've been moonlighting at a Dr-In for three seasons now as a grunt booth operator/hamburger flipper and marquee changer

Sounds a lot like my job description. I'm also allowed to say I own the place, but with a family of women here, I know where the real power lies. [Roll Eyes]

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Monte L Fullmer
Film God

Posts: 8367
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004

posted 05-16-2007 03:52 AM

Jack...lucky you ... [Big Grin]

. the owner of this Dr-IN is also a woman, but she leaves me alone since I doing a good job taking care of her operation.

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