im guessing some of you get more. so if you dont mind me asking, how much do you get paid and what kind of benefits do you get? are you a union member?
 

-Aaron

 

Then you see a man struggling to feed his family in some third world hell hole I think we should think again.

We are all too obsessed with money in this world

 

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Ray Derrick
President/Chief Engineer
Panalogic Corporation Sydney, Australia
Phone: 61 (0)2 9894 6655 Fax: 61 (0)2 9894 6935
 

Yet I found the most important factor in enjoying my work was the management at the theatre. I really enjoyed working at the theatres where I was given responsibility, but left on my own to do a good job. Working at one theatre was an ordeal because I was always second-guessed on my decisions, and the manager would nit-pick over things as trivial as the length of carbon stubs in the can --- he would rather have the lamp go out than "waste" an extra inch of carbon.
Money and job satisfaction are not the same thing. (Although money helps ).

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Not once in the motion picture exhibition industry as an assistant manager, manager, head projectionist, and audio video designer/installer, have I ever made as much as a teacher.

Now I own a theatre and after two years and a large profit, we still don't make as much as a starting teacher in Sonoma County; but we will.

In spite of all that, my lifestyle hasn't changed much; although it takes quite a bit more money than it used to. Every time I have made significantly more money, forces have conspired to separate me from it. This year I got a large bonus and took my car in for service. What I thought might cost $200 ended up costing me $1,600 and I'm am not done yet.

I used to think, "If only my salary would double." But even then it wouldn't be enough for this county. This is where they are thinking of giving housing assistants to Firemen and Policemen because the poor dears are struggling to make ends meet at $70,000 - $85,000 per year.

Live frugally, cherish what you have and laugh your ass off at the fools and assholes who spend $50,000 to $100,000 on automobiles that can go 155 miles per hour and 0-60 in 4 seconds in a land where going half that speed will get you a ticket and the old person in front of you will not get out of your way in spite of the fact that they are driving something with a V8 that could smoke your car if they ever decided to press the accelerator. (That, my friends, is a run-on sentence.)

Oh, and try to stay out of debt. Nothing drives you insane faster than worrying about how to get out of debt.
 

but if i remember correctly, up until about five years ago projectionist here in BC got paid alot, because they were all unionized. but then the big chains stopped paying them the big bucks and started the whole minimum wage thing.

i do fell kinda ripped off that i, as a projectionist, get paid the same amount as the ushers and candygirls. i might aswell go back to scoopin popcorn and slangin candy.

"would you like margarine on that?" - jon todd, 2000
 

Richard, Six figures...? I want a job with your company starting tommrrow. I can do everything your guy can do alot better, alot faster and, and for 10 grand a year less! Are there good restaurants where your guy is presently going?
Mark @ GTS

I think most people realise that you can't pay a good yearly pay (to me, that's currently about $40,000 a year) to a guy for operating one screen, like the old days.

The problem I see is: theater owners have gone too far the other way... A theater spends the money for 18 THX screens and then they put some kid in there for $6.50hr and wonder why he doesn't do a great job.
 

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3% Body Fat. 1% Brain Activity.
 

Last paid projectionist job I had was at the Caesars Omnimax--it was an IA job (actually listed as a "lounge technician" ) that paid around $22.00/hour in 1996. Previous to that there was some occasional dailies or premiere work (Double-system changeovers on 1000' split reels. Lots of fun! ) that paid around $23.00/hour under IA contract. Projection in a showroom situation pays the same as a spotlight operator, probably around $20.00/hour these days.

Mark mentioned "nitpicky" bosses. I quit my last 35mm projection gig (a volunteer gig at that) precisely because of such a moron. Same situation--the AV boss wanted to paint the projectors instead of doing upgrades and repairs. Money wasn't the problem, we had an adequate budget. But this guy fancied himself a film and video expert, even though his only experience was with consumer or prosumer video stuff. All that PITA did was second-guess my work and overrule my spending requests. It's bad enough having to deal with such things when getting paid for it, but volunteering for it? After four months I'd had enough. Who needs children telling one how to play in their own sandbox?

Oops! Must've accidently kicked the rant switch. Sorry.

Cheers!

Paul

As an employer, I will pay what the market will bear. If I can get a projectionist that meets my needs for $2.00 per hour then that is what the job pays. If I can't get a competent projectionist for anything less then $15 per hour then that is what the job pays. This is true in almost any industry. Most jobs that require an advanced degree or some level of licensing will require more pay. Jobs that require little training or licensing will be gotten for less pay.

In the film exhibition industry at the moment, projectionists get very small pay. The danger in the job has been eliminated, as has much of the skill. When we were playing with hot carbon rods and doing 20-minute changeovers, the job required more pay.

The next problem in the industry is that people will accept the job of projectionist for low pay and if they will accept the job for low pay there goes my incentive to pay more. The fact that being a projectionist is a desirable job to get and that some people accept the job for minimum wage, leave little incentive to pay more.

This also has the effect of reducing the average pay for other projectionist in the industry who are used to being paid more.

There are a few solutions. One is that if you want to train as a projectionist, accept a position in the booth with the clear understanding that this is a training position and that once you have achieved an agreed upon level of competence that you will be paid more. If you are a seasoned projectionist, never accept a job that pays less than you are worth, you are only undermining everybody else’s pay. The next issue is to acquire skills beyond just being a projectionist. Learn to service the projectors. Then make sure that the company compensates you as a service technician while you are performing repairs. Never do these repairs as a projectionist because you are selling yourself short. Use your own best judgment. It's hard to refuse to fix something unless you are paid to do so. Once you perform a service for free, you will be expected to perform this service for free forever.

If you have achieved a level of competence and you aren't being properly compensated, shop yourself around. I know this is hard because I spent seven years in a job when I know after 4 that I should move on. I took 3 years to make that decision and it still came as a shock to my manager.

If you love your job as a projectionist but are being under-paid, conceder doing it as a part-time, second job. Find other work that pays the bills. Keep the projectionist job for fun. You may find that if you are really good, the management may ask what it would take to get you back to full time?

The reason projectionist are paid so little is that there are people who will accept the job for little pay. Would you dig a ditch for $6.25 per hour, I wouldn't.

As for those people who are responsible for many screens, ask your employer if they are willing to spend $1 per hour, per machine to ensure that it runs well. Then point out that in a 16-plex that would be $16 per hour. Now there is a vast gulf between $16 per hour and $6.25 per hour. So being a projectionist should land somewhere in between. I would pay Brad or Gordon $16 per hour to run my booth in a 16-plex. I'm not sure they would accept that level of pay.

I run a 5-plex and I pay my top projectionist $10 per hour. We pay her that more for her value as an assistant manager than for her skills as a projectionist. She is eager to learn. She takes responsibility for the welfare of the machines. She comes in early one day per week to clean the booth without being asked.

Above all, if you feel you are being underpaid, be prepared to quit. It took me a while, but I finally was able too do just that. I was hired before my two weeks were up and my pay went up 50%.

You are also taking advice from a man who once got a 5-cent raise.

Also please note that the people who populate this forum and are considered the highest paid of the group have mostly moved on from the booth. Gordon likes to keep his hand in, but he is first and foremost a service technician. Brad likes to run a few shows, but he is an inventor, technician, small business owner, entrepreneur and I'm am sure he makes more money from that then he ever made in a booth. John Pytlak has moved on to work for Kodak where he was able to take his skills as a projectionist and an advanced degree and make it work for him. Being a projectionist isn't the end; it's the beginning of a great adventure. Where you go with that adventure is up to you and fate.

Very well stated! I loved being a projectionist. I worked my way through college in a part-time job I really enjoyed. What I learned in the booth has probably helped me more in my career at Kodak than what I learned in college. But you don't easily raise a family and send two daughters to college working at a minimum wage job. If you love the business side of theatres, get a degree in business, or start your own! If you love the technical side, get that degree and go into service or engineering. If you love the art or craft of the movies, consider a career in production. If you love the history of movies and want to save them for posterity, consider a career in archiving. Whatever you decide to do, you can still say you "work in Show Business", and still enjoy what you do!

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 585-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 585-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

When I began theatrical projection in 1970, many of my partners married and each put several children through college, becoming professionals, while some had their wives, sons or daughters follow
their parents' careers as projectionists. It was a life-long career
for many. My first tech, from Altech, in his old age finally took
a license and joined IATSE so he could earn the much higher projectionist's wage and not have to climb many flights from theatre to theatre each day. And the managers on 42nd Street would thank me for running a good show, and say they wished they could earn my wages.

But that's rapidly changing, and only in a few cities can the average projectionist earn enough to support and educate his or her family, while the technician's job becomes more difficult as technology advances, and is suitably rewarded financially. Managers
are still underpaid, even though their jobs have become more demanding
and frustrating.

Thank you for your insights and for the advice you give!
 

I worked at a Regal for a year or so in their booth in Lynnwood and made around 8.00/hour. The head projectionist (the guy right above me and the job I was about to get but left) was paid salary. I've recently put in my management letter in with Harkins Theatres down here in 'Zona and'll hopefully get back into projection soon.
I have a question if anyone can answer: I've always thought of joining the union, does anyone know a contact in Arizona? Just a thought, thanks guys!

Of course there are those willing to accept minimum wage simply because they love the work and the group. That is fine and many become competant doing so but eventually most will want to move up and find their way hindered by the next guy willing to work for less. After all, he did.

Smartest thing I ever did was to get out of the booth. I was working union jobs but the typical contract is a buck raise over 3 years and less jobs. And this has been going on for 20 years. Same buck.

Get educated. Do your job very well and insist that you get paid well for what you do.

------------------
Laurence Hammett
Service Technician
projection35@earthlink.net e-mail – 323-377-0882 Cell
 

But I'm not complaining. I love it, plus I get free movies. And considering how many movies I watch in a week, I think I got a great deal. When I hear things like 'no benefits, except free movies', I get confused and disheartened. How can you be in this business and not consider 'free movies' a good benefit? And if your current employer doesn't let you see free movies, I'd suggest joining another team.
 

This weeks headline article in "Parade Magazine" was how much do you earn in your career. One of our local news casts followed up the article in relating to Tucson, AZ.

After doing their research, they found that a cab driver or waiter/waitress in a fancy restraunt can earn just as much or more than a professional college grad w/a Masters. They compared being a cab driver or waitperson against a veternian, college professor and some other professionals. In fact, around here, many college grads opt for working in these labor/service professions because they can earn more than if they were in their chosen professional field of study.

AZ is a right to work state where wages really stink. Thank you Ronald Reagan, you heap of ! Ronald Reagan really screwed our country, and it took a lot to fix the national defecit...thank you Ronny !
 

It's insulting to find out that a cab driver can make as much as a person with a Masters degree.
 

Someone else earlier in this thread pointed out that the reason theaters only pay minimum wage for important positions like projectionists is simple: People will do the job for that level of pay, and do it more or less competently. So why would theaters pay more? It seems they don't need to. If you want to make more money, you probably need to find a different career field.

[Full Disclosure: I was "downsized" last year and am currently unemployed, so technically I am making NOTHING right now except unemployment]

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- dave
Look at this! His chin strap has been cut!
 

In my absence a whole lot of bad stuff happened and so I'm back by popular demand...this time as an independent contractor.

At first, they agreed to pay $100 per hour but I saw where that would become a disincentive to call for help...they'd probably wait for all hell to break loose before calling. The other option was to call the guy from Miami...he could easily cost over $1,000.00 per day.

We needed a compromise of what was fair to me and, yet, affordable for them. I was also in favor of not letting those machines go to hell in a handbasket. I remember installing them and it's hard to see your handiwork torn apart.

Eventually, we struck a deal whereby I would do preventive maintenance (which includes one session of my six-week operator training program) and non-electrical repairs for a "kinder, gentler" monthly fee.

------------------
And, hey! Let's be careful out there.

~Manny.

The reason that the deficits grew is not because REVENUES went down ... but because the Democrats in the Congress had to spend it on everything. Hmmm ... let's see ... he RAISED revenues, but there was still a deficit. Sounds like time to reign in expenditures.
 

And to think of all the Stasi agents out of work too...

Damn Reagan...
 

Unlike real heros like James Stewart and Bob Hope who either served actively in the US Armed Forces or were involved in the USO, like Reagan and John Wayne managed to stay put in Hollywood where all was safe and cozy~I have never heard of Reagan or Wayne having so much as participated in a USO show, even on the homefront.

I believe that Reagan hopped onto the Joseph McCarthy coattail, was a snitch/rat, and helped to shatter many innocent lives.

During Reagan's Presidency, more of his staff were either indicted or went to prison than all of the other U.S. Presidents combined.

Who can forget the Iran/Contra affair and how he weaseled out of that one?!

It seems that Reagan took complete credit for the downfall of the European Eastern Block/USSR. This is not true! This was an accumlation of decades and several Presidentcies. What Reagan did was to escalate a military spending war which bankrupted the former USSR. In the process, he also screwed up the American economy/defecit which took years to clean up! Who can forget his "Star Wars" plan, what a joke that was!

What about Reagan's attitude towards Labor Union busting and the deregulation of the air traffic controllers. I can personally tell a few stories about this! It was during Reagan's time in office that many skilled jobs took a downturn, IATSE being one of god knows how many examples!

An of course, he did take credit for the hostage crisis when he first came into office, when in fact he had nothing at all to do with it.

It is also now known that Reagan did not have all of his mental capacities while in office, and relied on much of his staff to direct his every move. Notice how Reagan was never able to answer, or avoided answering random questions from reporters? Well........
 

Mike Spaeth stated:
>The reason that the deficits grew is not because REVENUES went down
>... but because the Democrats in the Congress had to spend it on
>everything. Hmmm ... let's see ... he RAISED revenues, but there
>was still a deficit. Sounds like time to reign in expenditures.

That is flatly incorrect. Under Mr. Reagan spending on most domestic programs was cut. The record deficits were run up because of a combination of a tax cut and the huge increase in military spending. For example from $155.1 billion in 1979 to $251.2 billion in 1987 (both are given in 1982 constant dollars).

Will Kutler wrote:
>What about Reagan's attitude towards Labor Union busting and the
>deregulation of the air traffic controllers.

Air traffic controllers were not "deregulated." They went on strike. The strike was illegal. They were fired. They knew the law when they took the job. I am no fan of Reagan but I saw nothing wrong with the action he took in this case.

>It was during Reagan's time in office that many skilled jobs took a
downturn, IATSE being one of god knows how many examples!

I presume you're referring to IA in the booth. I think blaming the downfall of the union projectionist on a president is a bit silly. The invention and large scale deployment of the platter, xenon, and to a lesser extent the automation box is what has hurt union employment.

 

Apparently you were asleep during the Eighties, or you would have noticed the largest peacetime economic expansion in history..

Reagan's military policies? Before Reagan took office, our military was in such bad condition that it could not handle a hostage rescue. The post-Reagan military crushed Iraq with minimal loss of life towards our troops.

Welfare spending went down? GOOD! "He that does not work, neither shall he eat." Welfare is a stupid idea. The govt should not be taking my money to pay some bum not to work, which is exactally what was going on before limits were placed on welfare.

More than half of Reagans staff went to prison? Can you name them?

Iran-Contra? Who cares? We sold spare F-14 parts and missiles to Iran, which they used up vs Iraq (making Iraq easier for us to defeat), and in return got the Iranians to pressure radical Islamic groups to release Americans they were holding. If you were a hostage, wouldn't you want your President to do something?

Scott, maybe you should move these posts to Yak...

Individual income tax revenues increased from $286 billion in 1981 to $349 billion in 1986.

Overall tax revenues increased from $599 billion in 1981 to $769 billion in 1986. Reagan's 21 million NEW jobs saw to that.

Social Security spending rose from $118.5 billion in 1980 to $287.5 billion in 1992. Medicaid increased from $14 billion to $67.8 billion. Food Stamps from $9.1 billion to $21.8 billion. AFDC from $6.9 billion to $15.1 billion. From 1980 to 1992, defense spending rose 30 percent, while social spending rose 44 percent.

The last three Reagan years, the deficit dropped into the $150 million range, which BEATS the first few years of Clinton's presidency ...

Source for these numbers? The Statistical Abstract.
 

(I never like to comment on two topics - politics and religion - too many poeple have killed each other debating those two things).

-Dennis

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"Running through life at 24 frames per second"