Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Anyone use laser pointers in the booth to pick out problem customers?

This is topic Anyone use laser pointers in the booth to pick out problem customers? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=007707

Posted by Frank Dubrois (Member # 3042) on 12-22-2005, 11:50 PM:

I don't even know if its a good idea or not, but when I'm in the booth and people kick heir feet up in our auditorium, or play with their cell phone, I keep think it might be a good idea to have a cell phone in the booth to warn these pesky customers that are being watched. Perhaps a quick couple flashes on this cell phone? or possibly on their feet to send the message? We KNOW that they know cell phones and feet on the seats is WRONG..otherwise, they wouldnt stop doing it when an usher walks in. Laser pointers might even be useful in guiding ushers to people who all-of-the-sudden behave when the usher walks in the audtiorium. Granted, this probably shouldnt be used in really crowded theaters, but would this work as an aid for us? The theaters wouldnt even have to buy them, just implement the program as soon as you confiscate a laser pointer! [Razz]

Posted by Peter Mork (Member # 1336) on 12-23-2005, 02:14 AM:

Sorry, I don't do windows. Let management worry about it.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 12-23-2005, 07:21 AM:

You've taken laser pointers from customers instead of just kicking them out? Umm...isn't that called "theft"?

Posted by Wolff King Morrow (Member # 2226) on 12-23-2005, 07:29 AM:

It's even worse than theft, its robbery. Have to ask them to leave, but you can't take their property. Only cops can do that.

Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 12-23-2005, 09:25 AM:

quote:
Anyone use laser pointers in the booth to pick out problem customers?

Yes, mounted on the barrel of a 30'06 [Smile]

Posted by Sam D. Chavez (Member # 1841) on 12-23-2005, 10:45 AM:

Not funny even from a gun nut.

Posted by Bill Langfield (Member # 818) on 12-23-2005, 11:14 AM:

Frank,

Dont' worry aboubt it.

Just get on the two-way and tell maganement and/or floor that there is someone in there with a laser pointer.

Nine times out of ten, the laser person gets 'over it' once the feature starts.

As for mobile/cell phones, 50% of patrons carry on with that during video slides/ads/trls. They get over that too.

Bill.

Posted by Ramin Hashemi (Member # 2694) on 12-23-2005, 12:12 PM:

I would also consider the fact the laser pointers have a tendency to reflect off objects, which could potentially go in someone's eyes.

Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 12-23-2005, 12:43 PM:

Years ago when the old Filmore East was up and running full swing, they had a system that to this day I marvel at. In those days of sex drugs and rock & roll, there were times when the crowd could get a bit rowdy. How they handled a trouble-maker was very simple: when the perp was spotted by any of the ushers/bouncers/brusers who were positioned around the perimeter of the theatre and who constantly watched for disturbances, the useher would get the attention of the other ushers but shining his flashlight at their heads when they were alerted, he would then shine his flashlight at the perp.

Each usher in turn would hold his flashlight above his head, aiming it at the trouble guy, and wiggling it back and forth slightly. To have 6 flashlight beams focused on your head from all corners of the theatre was usually intimidating enough. But then, if the perp continued the disturbance, even with all the flashlights on him, all ushers would move in toward him, flashlights held high, continually shaking them so the light beams would kind of ziz-zag on the guys face until they all reached him. They timed it so that all four to six ushers would arrive at the site of the problem at the same time and they would just physically lift him by the armpits about a foot off the floor and swiftly carry him out of the theatre. In almost the blink of an eye, smooth as silk, he was gone and it was over. It really was a thing of beauty to behold.

It became well known that the flashlight beams of light meant business. It was funny when it happened because the area around the guy making trouble would quickly clear as other patrons moved out of the way; they knew what was coming.

Everyone knew that if those flashlight started vibrating on you, and you didn't cease and desist whatever you were doing immediately, you had about 60 seconds before you had six brawny guys hurling you from your seat and out the theatre -- no discussion, no debate, no review.

Problem today is, managment (if you can call it that without laughing) has this modern approach to crowd control....you sell them as much concessions as they can possibly carry in both arms, then you aim them at a particular auditorium, and once they are in that box, they are on their own, never to see theatre personnel again until just before the credit crawl begins, at which time the lights will come up and two pimply teens will begin sweeping all around you, obviously greatly annoyed that you are still sitting in their way.

Of course today the exbibitor's goal is to AUTOMATE! And by that they mean, eliminate projectionists AND ushers. It's left up to poor patrons to be their own theatre security. If management could automate concessions, then they could run the theatre with out ANY human beings at all, which is, of course, Management's wet dream. I am surprised they don't eliminate the cleaning staff as well and set a bunch of Rumbas about to clean the theatre.

Posted by Frank Dubrois (Member # 3042) on 12-23-2005, 02:02 PM:

quote: Wolff King Morrow
It's even worse than theft, its robbery. Have to ask them to leave, but you can't take their property. Only cops can do that.

We haven't taken anything. It was just an idea.

As far as:

quote: Peter Mork
Sorry, I don't do windows. Let management worry about it.

Thats kind of rediculous...as a projectionist, you SHOULD do windows...and the things that happen outside of them IS your business too. your not a hermit, your a projectionist. The sound out there IS your business, the picture out there IS your business. Pffft, I dont do windows....damn.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 12-23-2005, 03:14 PM:

Aside from the perceived safety issue of aiming laser pointers at an audience member, it would be a distraction to others in the audience, perhaps more than the person acting up. Better to have a non-uniformed usher sit nearby until they act up again.

Posted by Peter Mork (Member # 1336) on 12-23-2005, 07:23 PM:

Sorry Frank, but I disagree. Sound, picture, heat and air-conditioning - these are technical matters and I'll attend to them gladly. Will answer the phone too, since sometimes I'm the only one unbusy enough to do it. But police the joint? Uh uh. (Okay, I'll make an exception: when it's late and management has gone home, and there's a problem I'll do what needs to be done. But no laser pointers, thanks.)

[ 12-24-2005, 01:23 AM: Message edited by: Peter Mork ]

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 12-23-2005, 07:31 PM:

I agree with Mr. Pytlak, much damage can be done to someone's eyes from a Laser Pointer. [thumbsdown]

I also agree with Sam about the gun issue. A baseball bat up the side of the head would be a better solution. [Razz]

Posted by Peter Mork (Member # 1336) on 12-23-2005, 07:35 PM:

Hey, I reckon this guy knows from eye damage!

Posted by Jason Miller (Member # 2341) on 12-23-2005, 08:08 PM:

Laser pointers also tend to remind other idiots int he audience that they have laser pointers too and they start playing with theirs.

soon the problem is worse than before.

Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 12-24-2005, 09:32 AM:

quote: Phil Hill
A baseball bat up the side of the head would be a better solution.

Laser guided baseball bat....good idea!

Posted by Sam D. Chavez (Member # 1841) on 12-25-2005, 10:18 AM:

It wasn't funny the first time. Merry Christmas.

Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 12-25-2005, 01:54 PM:

Thank you
Same to ya

Posted by Robert Burtcher (Member # 3227) on 01-16-2006, 06:18 AM:

I hate to crash the party, but a commercially available Class IIIa laser pointer (for example, a cheap <5mW, 650nm red laser pointer, which is what 99.9% of people think of when they think "Laser Pointer") is not going to do anyone harm unless they're staring directly into the beam for more than 10 seconds without blinking. Sure, it can cause after-images, discomfort, and the like if you accidentally look into the beam, but you have to really be stupid or trying to hurt yourself for a cheap 650nm laser pointer to actually hurt you.

Laser pointers CAN harm eyes... but for the most part, the perceived danger is just that - perceived.

Anyway...

quote: Peter Mork
Sorry Frank, but I disagree. Sound, picture, heat and air-conditioning - these are technical matters and I'll attend to them gladly. Will answer the phone too, since sometimes I'm the only one unbusy enough to do it. But police the joint? Uh uh. (Okay, I'll make an exception: when it's late and management has gone home, and there's a problem I'll do what needs to be done. But no laser pointers, thanks.)

Granted, this is coming from an underling that's moving toward projection, but honestly. You don't necessarily have to police the joint. However, I believe that if a projectionist happens to see something wrong in the audience, depending on severity, they should alert the floor staff if conveniently possible.

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 01-16-2006, 07:48 AM:

For what it's worth, there are also Class IIIb laser pointers available that operate at > 100 mW (off of two AAA batteries) which can cause permanent eye damage if you look at the green dot being projected onto your high gain screen. The blink reflex isn't fast enough to prevent it. They cost over $500, but they're available for purchase on the Internet.

In case you're wondering, unobstructed, the beam travels between 40 and 50 miles.

Posted by Frank Dubrois (Member # 3042) on 01-17-2006, 01:56 AM:

40-50 miles? Cool! Perhaps it would save long distance phone calls when I'm late for work...I'll just "flash em" a morse code. Of course, the fact that the earth is round kinda screws that idea over....

Posted by Kris Dirix (Member # 3012) on 01-17-2006, 06:14 AM:

Just aim at the ISS

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 01-17-2006, 11:10 AM:

Wait.... the earth is ROUND??! [Eek!]

Posted by Floyd Justin Newton (Member # 1316) on 01-17-2006, 12:47 PM:

Last I heard it was.

Posted by James R. Hammonds, Jr (Member # 673) on 01-17-2006, 03:08 PM:

Liar

Posted by David Favel (Member # 1125) on 01-17-2006, 03:17 PM:

You can do it
http://www.alaska.net/~clund/e_djublonskopf/Flatearthsociety.htm

Posted by John Eickhof (Member # 323) on 01-17-2006, 04:03 PM:

Laser pointers are too little! Years ago when I was Projectionist at the Kings Castle Hotel & Casino at Lake Tahoe, I used to light up the Strong Super Trouper 2KW Carbon arc spotlight and lead the security guards right to the obnoxious customers! It was a lot of fun!! And harmless too! The old Trouper saw lots of use as the moviegoers had cocktail service throughout the theatre during every show!!

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 01-17-2006, 04:50 PM:

The earth is not flat. It's hollow. [Big Grin]

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 01-17-2006, 05:18 PM:

Heh heh John. We used to do that too in the Tropicana hotel main showroom during performances of the Folies Bergere. The show had a strict "no cameras" policy, and we spot operators were encouraged to light up any camera we saw if we weren't involved in a lighting cue (we'd use some fairly dark color like Roscolene 866 so as not to make it too distracting). The Maitre d' and room captains would swarm anyone so lit. We had three carbon arc short-throw Super Troupers in there at the time. Very satisfying. [Big Grin]

Posted by John Eickhof (Member # 323) on 01-18-2006, 11:25 AM:

Hey Paul, didn't those Super end up at the Alladin? If so I bought all three of them years ago just before the tore it down..I still have the ones from King's Castle here in Idaho and they get annual use outdoors when we 'drop the ball' off the 90 foot silos in Twin Falls on New Years Eve! They light it up well!! The three from the Alladin ende3d up in Montana at the Wilma Theatre along with the two Xenon supers that were in the small showroom at the Alladin! I have helped out at the Wilma on some live shows and had a comment from George Carlin one night about the damned spotlight making him break out in a sweat on stage!! We had two carbon arc supers on him with fleshtone gels (that's what his manager wanted!) only 120ft throw!! Boy, I miss those days!