So we open up our theatre and try to set one simple price policy. Adults $7.00, Seniors & Children are $4.50 and all shows before 6 PM are 4.50. This theatre used to charge $6.50 for adults. The 16-plex in the next town charges $7.75. They were charging $4.50 for a large 170-ounce popcorn (with the golden shower) and a free refill. I thought that was too expensive, so we cut the charge to $3.50 with no refill and real butter.

So here is the problem. We have seniors coming up to the box and bitching about our high prices. They complain that we are dropping the first matinee during the week. Our second matinee only did 25 persons. Is it just that senior’s bitch about everything, or is it that we are doing something heinously wrong?

We are looking into having an early show for seniors during the week. It would be one day and we would advertise with the senior rags and centers. We would have to find staff to run it, and we have all high school kids right now.

Does anyone run a successful senior program out there? And how does it work?

I did ten years ago. All I sold in the concession stand was “small popcorn (oh that’s too big), and a small coffee.”

(Nobody seems to get that we are a new company with new rules. We have a new sign, lobby and cleaned up projection equipment, which they will never see. Why do they keep trying to use the old company's passes? And then get mad when we refuse. Then demand to speak to the manager. (This is the fun part) I get to tell them I am the owner.)

When they stop showing up to bitch,then I'd worry. I bet it's the same ones you hear do all the griping!

Hang in there!

--Chris
 

If it makes economic sense, do it. If you try the matinee and it works, fine. If you try it and it only pulls in 25 blueheads, you can tell them the reason you discontinued the program is that it cost you money.

Dealing with seniors you most remember: "You're never going to make people happy who used to pay 25 cents for a movie and 5 cents for popcorn and coke."

BF
 

You are about 56 years old now. Are you a member of the AARP yet?

Large

ps: You can come to Santa Rosa to slap me.
 

Do that again and I'll tell your mother!
 

She is fairly wealthy, and lives in a paid-for condo. The 'fridge was packed with all kinds of whatever.

Naturally, we ate out everyday. AND we had to go to the "Early Bird Specials" and save a dollar or two in the restaurants, along with all the other little old ladies with blue hair.

Where are the little old men? Never saw any.

The reason I brought this up: My friends mom bitched about everything at every restaurant everyday that I was there. I think she had nothing better to do and enjoyed it.

Also, I can tell you where a least 6 different Podiatrists offices are located along Hwy. 9!

I'd liked to have gone to a movie... anything to have gotten a little quiet. How many times can you look at your friends Bar Mitzvah pictures from 1966?

Dont get me wrong. She is a sweet old thing.... BUT!.....

 

And on the subject of old people bitching, every show they come tell me to turn the sound down over and over until no one can hear it but them. Is there a polite way to tell them to turn down thier damn hearing aids?

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"If it's not worth doing, I have allready been there and done it"