This is topic Seniors and Kids in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.


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Posted by Edward Jurich (Member # 1787) on 10-30-2004, 01:48 AM:
 
We are in our second week of "Shall we Dance" and the audience is about 70% seniors. I'm finding that seniors and kids have something in common, they leave a big mess. Soda spilled on the floor, leaving soda cups still full upside down in the seat next to them so it runs down the seat onto the floor, partly chewed candy on the floor. There has been more goo on the floor this past week than I've ever seen. Is this common or do we just have sloppy seniors here.
 

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Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 10-30-2004, 02:22 AM:
 
Most of our seniors never buy any concessions.
 

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Posted by Dominic Espinosa (Member # 2122) on 10-30-2004, 11:35 AM:
 
Indeed. Our seniors rarely purchase anything more than popcorn and water with the occasional fountain drink.
The kids on the other hand are well known for throwing, barfing, dropping, leaving stuff all over the place, etc.
 

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Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 10-30-2004, 04:18 PM:
 
Agreed. Most of our elderly patrons breeze right on by our stand(s). They rarely buy but when they do, there's nothing wasted. It's like they scraped together their last available funds to come to the show. Actually, you have to appreciate the fact that they, at least, realize the value of a buck. Kids, OTOH, haven't a clue!
 

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Posted by Jennifer Pan (Member # 2035) on 10-30-2004, 04:33 PM:
 
I remember when the Notebook was out which was a "senior" attraction and the cleaning for that showing was always a breeze. They either don't buy anything or they are considerate and clean after themselves. I like to believe the second part of that.

As for kids, when that Yu gi yo movie whatever its called... I couldn't care less but they literally trashed the theatre. The wrappers of the collectible cards were everywhere. And I will shiver at the sight of "Kids Packs"(Kid meals) in every seat. Not to mention those "things" that the kids sit on to help them see the screen. It was in one of our smallest auditoriums and it took as long as cleaning a 400 seated auditorium(on a busy day).
 

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Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 1016) on 10-30-2004, 11:04 PM:
 
Back at the theater the only time seniors would buy concessions is when we had our senior discount friday matinees. They would buy a fair amount of concessions (all small items) but always brought them out and threw them away.

The kids on the otherhand... yeah, no fun to clean up after them.
 

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Posted by Ethan Harper (Member # 472) on 10-30-2004, 11:36 PM:
 
IT'S YU-GI-OH JENNIFER! GET IT RIGHT!!!
 

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Posted by Richard C. Wolfe (Member # 431) on 10-31-2004, 12:03 AM:
 
I've never come across sloppy seniors like you mention Ed, and I run a senior theatre... or so it seems. I start my senior price at 65, and the 65 and older crowd makes up 40% of my business. If you drop to, and include 50 and older... they make up 60% of my audience. If you go down to 40 and older, that's 70% of my patrons. Families with kids make up 20%, ages 30 to 40 is 7% and the final 3% are 13 through 30.

Like the others have already said, the seniors seldom buy anything. That's why my per capita averages only $1.42. They are very clean for the most part. Often after a show with 100 to 150 of them there is not more them one or two items to pick up, and nothing spilled to sweep up. However, they do bring in their little individualy wrapped hard candies and leave those wrappers on the floor. Not too many though, thank goodness.

From my experience, I'd say that your situation is quite unusal... you indeed must have sloppy seniors.
 

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Posted by David Yauch (Member # 2754) on 10-31-2004, 01:15 AM:
 
The only sloppyness i notice is when the concessionists fill their popcorn too much and they make a habit of spilling a few kernels in the lobby. The theatres are usually pretty clean, however.
 

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Posted by Chase Hanson (Member # 2779) on 10-31-2004, 04:08 AM:
 
Our seniors pretty much only buy popcorn...and they apparently all need to have their bifocals checked. They seem to have a hard time with hand mouth coordination. That and they rarely if ever actually finish their popcorn, which is annoying enough as is.
 

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Posted by Edward Jurich (Member # 1787) on 10-31-2004, 11:16 AM:
 
I figured out it's mostly when we have seniors that are really up in age. The seniors here do buy some concession, usually a small popcorn or small soda. Bottled water is a big with seniors. We always pop fresh popcorn before each show so the lobby smell really temps patrons. Perhaps if we had little trash bins at each seat
 

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Posted by Dominic Espinosa (Member # 2122) on 10-31-2004, 11:41 AM:
 
Yes. A little pocket on the seat in front of you that has a bright yellow sticker "Put your shit in here or else..."

Realistically though...What is the logic if buying a large popcorn and not eating it?
 

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Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 10-31-2004, 11:53 AM:
 
Dominic,

SO they can complain about the prices!
I often wonder why we heer compolaints over pricing yet find som many drinks and bags still 1/2 full of product.

I think a major part of it is the pyschological addiction for all things BIG in modern society. Or at least it modern Amercian society. Look at the way people buy cars (SUV's), homes, etc...

BIGGER is BETTER, or so they claim. A bigger paycheck would definitely be better!

A bigger ego would not...
 

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Posted by Jim Bedford (Member # 4) on 10-31-2004, 12:45 PM:
 
Yeah, those goddamned seniors...... Wait, I'm a senior too!

I know what I like and I don't like paying inflated prices for super-sized products. I don't eat popcorn at all that hasn't been popped in the last 15 minutes. I don't need a semi-tanker load of soda. I'd also much rather have a specialized candy, like Lindt or Tobler, and other than my theatre and a few specialized venues like Landmark has, such products are hard to find. Ah yes, and a good cappuccino too.....

I'm also often going to a film after dinner, not in place of dinner like many kids do. Guess what, I'm not hungry for food, I'm hungry for a good film and a good time.

What about marketing patron cleanup better? Do you have a cleanup trailer and signage asking for help with this? Do you have many, visible and easily accessable trash containers or just a few hidden away where they can't be seen or found? What about a smaller popcorn and soda container size that you can only buy if you show a senior ticket? What about rewarding a kid or a senior with a coupon for a free popcorn or drink when one is spied carrying trash out of a theatre?
 

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Posted by David Yauch (Member # 2754) on 10-31-2004, 02:45 PM:
 
Jim may be a senior but I'm far more picky than he is. Ever since I had been working at the theater for about 9 months I stopped being able to eat any popcorn that wasn't fresh. By fresh I mean I wait until a batch pops and catch it from the popper before it hits the other popcorn. I only fill my bag 2/3rds of the way, then i salt it, shake it up so it's nice and even, and eat it with jalapenos(don't ask). I would be a shitty customer. Yes, yes I would.

As for clean-up trailers we don't use them, but we don't really expect patrons to clean up after themselves after paying 5.00 to 8.50 for a ticket. It's nice when they do, and usually they will fill a garbage can or two with trash after the big shows, but that's what we pay ushers for...

And as for seniors tending to not upsell, I've noticed they aren't even the biggest group that refuse. I used to think so, until I started opening at the theater and started noticing the group of middle-aged men who all want a medium size of everything and will get mad when you try to upsell or suggestive sell. My guess is that this is the unemployed group with no one to take on a date, but do we really need to feel the aftereffects of your failures in life? Perhaps less time at the moviews and a little more time in school/job hunting would do a little good. Or even pick up an application at guest services and we'll put you to work. At least the majority of seniors are nice about it!
 

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Posted by Chase Hanson (Member # 2779) on 10-31-2004, 03:19 PM:
 

quote: David Yauch

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but that's what we pay ushers for...

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I hate you with an all consuming passion now...

*mummbles gruffly to self before leaving for Usher Lead shift*


 

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Posted by Edward Jurich (Member # 1787) on 10-31-2004, 09:08 PM:
 
On comments about fresh popcorn.....I've found that popcorn here is much better after it's been in a warmer bin covered for at least an hour. After that it taste great for the rest of the day. Patrons comment how good the popcorn is even if it's a few hours old.
 

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Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 10-31-2004, 09:22 PM:
 
Edward...

That's a fact! Popcorn directly out of the popper is still moist from steam induced explosion it just suffered. It's ALWAYS better after it dries slightly. Pop it, bag it, transfer to the warmer and then it's just right... with layers of fake butter flavored oil..
 

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Posted by Adam Wilbert (Member # 1184) on 10-31-2004, 11:31 PM:
 
I always loved when people would complain that our popcorn wasn't fresh when they got a bag straight from the popper. "give it five minutes, then it'll be fresh!"
 

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Posted by David Yauch (Member # 2754) on 11-01-2004, 01:44 AM:
 
I agree that popcorn is better 30 minutes old than it is 5 minutes old, but nothing beats it steaming hot from the popper. Sometimes I wont even finish my small employee bag and the popcorn will be no good.

And don't worry Chase, one day you're an usher, the next day you are checking them out at the end of the night...
 

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Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 11-01-2004, 02:16 AM:
 

quote: David Yauch

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I started opening at the theater and started noticing the group of middle-aged men who all want a medium size of everything and will get mad when you try to upsell or suggestive sell. My guess is that this is the unemployed group with no one to take on a date, but do we really need to feel the aftereffects of your failures in life? Perhaps less time at the moviews and a little more time in school/job hunting would do a little good.

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quote: David Yauch

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Sometimes I wont even finish my small employee bag and the popcorn will be no good.

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That seems a bit extreme. If you try to pace yourself so your popcorn lasts through the feature, it must be absolutely repulsive by the end of the show!

I also tend to like my corn after it's "seasoned" a bit in the bin. However, I do get some customers that like to see it fly out of the kettle & drop directly into their tubs!

It might be a real shock for some of you to know that some theatres still buy their popcorn pre-popped! Some of that stuff used to be shipped down here from bulk-poppers in Canada (no offense)... then it sat in boxes for a couple of weeks or so before it was sold out of warmers.

In our area, AMC took over a GCC theatre that pops its corn upstairs in a double-kettle monster. They take it downstairs in bags & pre-fill their tubs out of warmers behind the counter. Yum!
 

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Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 11-01-2004, 04:54 PM:
 
Super-Pufft!!! They make the best Pink Popcorn and Caramel Corn.

I prefer popcorn right out of the kettle dripping of coconut oil. Usually in a 12 ounce Coke cup (that previously held some fountain pop and will again), often douced in creamy Kawartha Dairy butter. I'll probably drop dead by 30.
 

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Posted by Dean Kollet (Member # 1789) on 11-01-2004, 07:33 PM:
 
We NEVER have to worry about Seniors being messy, kids though are horrible. I remember cleaning up Finding Nemo (4-5 shows running at a time) and that was hell. One thing I've noticed about Senior Citizens, they buy popcorn by NO drink. Do they not get thirsty? I still can't understand it.
 

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Posted by David Yauch (Member # 2754) on 11-02-2004, 12:07 AM:
 

quote: Mike Blakesley

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That paragraph above is one of the stupidest things ever posted on this board. Please enlighten us as to how being middle-aged and male, and wanting a "medium" and not wanting to stand there and listen to a sales pitch when you already KNOW WHAT SIZE YOU WANT has anything to do with being employed, successful, and in a relationship, or not.

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First off, it was just a guess, and only in jest.

However I can't help but notice how unbelievably rude they can be. It's also ironic to note that at least at my theatre this ONLY happens with middle aged men and ONLY during the day and ONLY when they are alone. Perhaps they are all successful married businessmen, although most successful married businessmen(or women) i know don't act like they have a gigantic stick shoved as far up their ass as they could get it. Perhaps it's just my view on life, but as far as I can see it, anyone who is this pissed off every time they go to a movie has something wrong with them. That applies to all customers, not just these ones.

They are some good things though, for example there is nothing quite like having a customer complain to a manager while you are working concession that you upsold to them even though they didn't want you to. Usually it was followed by a pat on the back, some recognition, and maybe your choice of when you wanted to take your break.

quote: Dean Kollet

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We NEVER have to worry about Seniors being messy, kids though are horrible. I remember cleaning up Finding Nemo (4-5 shows running at a time) and that was hell. One thing I've noticed about Senior Citizens, they buy popcorn by NO drink. Do they not get thirsty? I still can't understand it.

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quote:

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In our area, AMC took over a GCC theatre that pops its corn upstairs in a double-kettle monster. They take it downstairs in bags & pre-fill their tubs out of warmers behind the counter. Yum!

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quote: David Yauch

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However I can't help but notice how unbelievably rude they can be. It's also ironic to note that at least at my theatre this ONLY happens with middle aged men and ONLY during the day and ONLY when they are alone.

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quote: William Hooper

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Many a true word may be spoken in jest, but almost all of them spoken in anger are true. The technique ticks people off, & the sales guys are finally on the other side of it, without any social obligation to endure it or pretend to just endure it to be polite.

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But you figure that if that's the situation, they MUST know what some dishonest employees may do with their popcorn, although I'd never let anything like this happen anywhere near me, I have known many people who have worked at many theatres where they were not so strict, let's just say I've heard some stories, and I really don't think it's above some of these people. At the very least, I at least wait until I have my food to be rude.
 

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Posted by Edward Jurich (Member # 1787) on 11-02-2004, 11:39 PM:
 
I'm beginning to dislike seniors Tonight this old lady (A.K.A. bat) comes in and gripes and gripes because we no longer have $2 Tuesday, something we haven't done since last year. A year ago the theater ran classics and had a $2 Tuesday. I tried to explain that with first run we could not charge such a low price, no matter, yak yak yak, I think our new senior price will be double regular admission
 

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Posted by Jeff Akin (Member # 1198) on 11-02-2004, 11:50 PM:
 
Don't get me wrong here, I love seniors. Hell, my Mom and Dad are seniors! Seriously, though, if I never saw another one in my theatre, I'd be happy.

We recently ran DeLovely. 98% of our attendance was at least 70 years old. My concession per cap dropped drastically (2.55 average to a 1.98), my average ticket price dropped, and I spent a small fortune trying to keep that auditorium "warm enough" for those cheap, complaining bloodsuckers.

Okay, maybe they're not cheap, or bloodsuckers, but they sure don't do a single thing for my bottom line.

quote: Edward Jurich

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I think our new senior price will be double regular admission

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Amen. Amen.
 

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Posted by David Yauch (Member # 2754) on 11-03-2004, 10:10 PM:
 
Eh, give 'em their damn discount and deal with them for now, some day you'll be one too and you'll be just as much if not more obnoxious then they can be. And you know you'll bitch if you don't get a discount.

And remember, not all seniors are bad at all. I was kicking a kid out of the lobby once and it required a little more yelling than I thought it would. The kid was swearing and what not and eventually left. I went over to an elderly lady standing by guest services who saw the whole thing to apologize that she had to witness such a thing and all she said is that she would've slapped him in the face as soon as he pointed a finger
 

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Posted by Anslem Rayburn (Member # 1267) on 11-04-2004, 02:42 AM:
 
Seniors don't buy anything at our theater. They do leave lots of little candy wrappers and used tissues when they leave, though.
 

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Posted by Edward Jurich (Member # 1787) on 11-06-2004, 09:08 AM:
 
Thank goodness "Shall we Dance" has left and thus the never ending line of seniors. I would have never thought this would have attracted so many old folks. I was getting tired of scraping half chewed candy off the floor. The last day was the worst, had an old lady come in that seems to have forgotten how to bath, smelled like a bag lady.
 

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Posted by John T. Hendrickson, Jr (Member # 849) on 11-06-2004, 03:00 PM:
 
Ah, the battle of the ages! It's been my experience that people don't change. If you were a pain in the ass patron when you were 20, you'll be one when you are 60.

If you snuck candy in to the theater when you were young, you'll prpbably try to sneak in coffee when you are old.

If you bitch about admission prices today as a senior, I'll wager you bitched about them 20 years ago.

If you are a senior and are always looking for freebees, I bet you snuck in to the movies when you were a kid.

Nice people are nice, and bastards will be bastards, regardless of age.
 

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Posted by Phil Blake (Member # 2012) on 11-08-2004, 09:54 AM:
 
I have found seniors to be the direct opposite to kids. At a recent film festival we had a large percentage of seniors, very little cleaning was required after over 100 seniors left the cinema, when the cinema was just about needing rebuilding after 20 kids watched Yu Gi Oh!!!!

In The land down under , I do believe the seniors have alot more respect for property than kids do.
 

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Posted by Chris Brown (Member # 2800) on 11-08-2004, 02:23 PM:
 
In my experience, seniors can have good or bad qualities. Of course, they kill your per-caps and bitch about sound levels. But I think of all types of customers, they are usually the most polite to deal with. They are the more likely ones, in my experience, to be courtious to you at concession or box.

Of course there are always exctptions to this that I'm sure we've all encountered. Like when they come to concession and ask how much a small corn or bottled water is, and then when you tell them, give you a look of disgust and walk away without saying anything. Or the ones who give you the old "I remember when popcorn was a nickel" or whatever. I can appreciate it to a degree, but this is 2004. I dont care how much things used to be back in your day. Things change...I dont get why they seem so shocked that things are more expensive nowadays. Its not just movie theatres...its called inflation.

Of course there may come a day when I'm saying the same type of stuff, 40 or 50 years down the line. All I'm saying though is dont give us grief about it just because time has inflated prices.
 

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Posted by Robert E. Allen (Member # 1351) on 11-12-2004, 04:10 PM:
 
The seniors at our house for "Dance" were very neat and did buy a fair share of concessions. The real pigs here are the "Gen Xers", the type that pack out "Team America", "Saw" and Grudge".
 

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Posted by Ramin Hashemi (Member # 2694) on 11-12-2004, 08:01 PM:
 
My seniors finish every Kernel. On the rare occasion that they may buy large, they take the refill home for dinner. I just hope they do not come back for another refill on their next visit. They do drop the per cap significantly (from 3.3 annual average to about 2.48)
 

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