This is topic How many free passes do you accept daily? in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Jan Hackett (Member # 1231) on 07-11-2002, 11:39 AM:
Wondering what opinion here is on how many freebies is too many?------------------
Jan Hackett
Theater Operations Manager
Extreme Screen Dynatheater
NM Museum of Natural History Foundation
Posted by Steven Pickles (Member # 785) on 07-11-2002, 06:00 PM:
We try to keep it under 2% of the daily attendance.
Posted by John Scott (Member # 520) on 07-11-2002, 06:52 PM:
Less than what the studio terms state! :P
Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 07-12-2002, 09:08 PM:
However many the customers may bring in ... we don't have a limit on passes. That would be ridiculous.
Posted by John Scott (Member # 520) on 07-13-2002, 12:08 AM:
Of course if the guest has a pass you accept it, but you shouldn't give out more passes than are allowed in your film terms 
Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 07-13-2002, 11:10 PM:
How woudl a generic managerial pass (trip pass) equate into said terms for "x" movie when it was given out 5 weeks ago when a film broke? Sometimes I wanna say "screw the film company & their terms" but hey, it isn't my theatre (so to speak). Passes encourage the average person to buy at the concession stand. Concession sales generate profit. Profit keeps us open, films themselves do not.
Posted by Steve Scott (Member # 630) on 07-13-2002, 11:47 PM:
We have the normal "We're sorry fo the interruption" pass for film-breakdowns, Student 2 for 1 passes, and a company credit card free pass. (These three are the most common passes) Most passes are the two for ones, but they don't make up a huge number of our daily attendance. Right now, we only have three out of nine movies that will accept passes.
Posted by Kristin Wahlund (Member # 922) on 07-30-2002, 12:41 AM:
At my theatre, we are supposed to accept 2% of our daily tickets as passes, but lateley there has been a lot of pass abuse. Its hard to control this on days a lot of people aren't working and its slow. Espcially considering we have about 52 regular employees!
Posted by Brian Hogan (Member # 940) on 08-05-2002, 02:00 AM:
of course pass attendance is great for concession revenue, but it's the money-hungry theatre against the money-hungry distributer... and of course the latter always seems to win.
Posted by Jeff Taylor (Member # 443) on 08-09-2002, 03:26 PM:
Not directly on point, but I have a company credit card pass for one of the major exhibitor circuits, and I have NEVER had anyone enforce the fine print about when it is or isn't valid. In fact, I usually have to show them how to fill in the info on their pass sheet.
Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 08-09-2002, 06:43 PM:
Box office revenue is understated in this industry. If you look at SEC fileings and the P&L's for your theatre (if you have access to them) you will see that when all is said and done, theatres keep about 50% of box revenue despite the infamous 90/10 openings of some films. Now, if you take concession revenue away, your theatre will los money. Not much, but a business is designed to generate profit. That is why the concession stand is called the 'profit center' of the theatre.Concession revenue, however, DOES NOT carry a theatre. Admissions pays your rent, your heating and cooling, and most of the other expenses at your theatre. Emphasis should be placed on increasing concession revenue, but if in the process the attitude is cultivated that box is not important you may find the number of passes increasing to an unacceptable level.