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Author Topic: Customers miffed - had to wait for box office to open Mike Croaro Master Film Handler Posts: 394 From: Millbrae, CA Registered: Apr 2005 posted 10-24-2012 09:19 PM                     Eris - why did they pass on it? Beacuse it's playing at the Cinearts at Santana Row? Maybe they couldn't get a 35mm print? Seems unlikely though. BTW, are there no clearances anymore? I've noticed the domes and the Cinearts, which is right accross the street playing the same movies. Mike  |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 10-31-2012 06:15 AM                        I don't think putting all the blame on the "demand for instant gratification" thing on the complaining patrons is 100% fair. There are a few factors here: if the theatre posted a "doors open" time, whatever it might be -- an hour (us and I see Aaron's Browing Theatre), half an hour (most), or 15 minutes (not so common), it is not unreasonable for people to expect the theatre to be professional enough to actually open the doors on or at very close to that posted time...a few minutes earlier is even better. How pissed people get when the doors don't open at the stated time will depend on things like do they have to wait under a marquee or out in the unprotected sidewalk....is the weather comfortable or rainy, uncomfortably hot or cold, etc. No matter, if you see your Box Office attendent is going to be more than just a few minutes late, the best thing to do is go out to the line and say something like, "There is a bit of hold-up folks, we will open in just a few minutes; thanks for your patience," goes a long way to sooth the savage beast which is a mob of patrons. If the Doors Open time is NOT posted, that's even worse -- then it becomes the patron's expectation that is, in their mind, when the doors should be opened. If he has this generic Door Open 1/2 Hour Before Showtime in his head, then if he plans on getting there 20 minutes before show time, he'll be annoyed that they aren't. So as has been said, it is ALWAYS better to give the patron as much information as you can. We always posted two times -- Curtain Time (which includes previews, cartoons and any short subjects) and Feature Start Time. Putting this out there stops those who don't like preshow material from complaining.  |  IP: Logged Michael Brown Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1522 From: Bradford, England Registered: May 2001 posted 11-03-2012 07:44 PM                     At my current theatre our opening time is now about 5 minutes before first show time.  |  IP: Logged Eric Hooper Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 532 From: Fort Worth, TX, USA Registered: May 2003 posted 11-21-2012 01:35 PM                     So the day before the big Thanksgiving weekend, Wichester 21-22-23 drops their two screens of Skyfall (#2 movie at the box office) after only 12 days of release and replaces it with Argo, Wreck It Ralph, and Flight instead? *facepalm*  |  IP: Logged Mike Croaro Master Film Handler Posts: 394 From: Millbrae, CA Registered: Apr 2005 posted 11-22-2012 01:15 PM                     Eric - I agree...seems odd. But I have noticed that the domes are not generating much trafic. At least on Sunday's when I usually attend the first showing. It may be that their customer base has become so small (but perhaps loyal), that films only last two weeks. Thus, while "Flight", "Wreck it Ralph", and "Argo" have been out for a while, they are "fresh" product for the 21-22-23 loyal customer base. I've also noticed that they have tried playing 2nd run art house films a couple of times at the 23. Trying to carve a new niche? Mike Mike  |  IP: Logged Eric Hooper Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 532 From: Fort Worth, TX, USA Registered: May 2003 posted 11-23-2012 08:24 PM                     I'm convinced they are purposely trying to destroy their business to show a bankruptcy judge somewhere that they should be let out of the lease or contract with the Winchester family or something....  |  IP: Logged Burleigh Ibbott Film Handler Posts: 46 From: Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, UK Registered: Jul 2006 posted 11-26-2012 08:28 AM                     By opening 15mins before start does that mean that people are still queuing for tickets and refreshments when the Ads and trailers start? We open a hour before first show but then we do answer the phone for bookings in that time too.  |  IP: Logged

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