Woooo Hoooooo...
Passed the class exam tonight!! I'm planning on taking the State exam for the 1st year sales license next week while it's still fresh in my mind.
While the class wasn't 'difficult' per say, it sure was a handful while working full time... It's a step in the right direction, regardless of how I look at it.
I miss the theatre.. right now I'd be kicked back screening The Longest Yard, but, then again, I wouldn't be off on Monday either, so it's not to difficult to say I'm gone.
I've already had a meeting with the Broker in Charge at the wife's office... and a few of the agents have inquired as to when I'd be out of class... Now is the time I begin to move to the next level, whatever that may be, when working sales events for their company. I'm excited.. it's been a huge chnage in my life, one that I didn't think I'd ever have the guts to make, but I did. I encourage anyone else who has had similar reservations about a career chnage after so many years in one business.. Take the plunge and do it! Life is too short not to sieze the opportunities that present themselves.
Thanks for listening! ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Posted by R. Andrew Diercks (Member # 1725) on 09-13-2005, 07:50 AM:
After eleven years, I have resigned as well. Not due to any unhappiness with my job or my employer, but because I am seeing my children less and less now that they both attend school. Time to get a regular job. I will be moving to within 5 minutes of my only brother and our children will see their cousins often.
I never thought I would leave this business, but family will always come first. I only hope this is the right decision and that I can be as happy in the auto industry as I was in the theatre industry.
Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 09-13-2005, 09:16 AM:
Andrew
Best of Luck for the future!
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 09-13-2005, 09:52 AM:
Good luck!
Some are fortunate enough to be able to maintain a good family life, while still working in the movie industry. Maybe you'll find a way to return someday. Good luck. ![[thumbsup]](graemlins/thumbsup.gif)
Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 09-13-2005, 12:13 PM:
Mike, Wishing you all good things for your future. I am very fortunate that I was able to spend 48 years before I retired in Motion Picture Exhibition.
I hope you will continue to check in with film-tech when your re-locate to a new position.
Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 09-14-2005, 01:09 PM:
Well I am contemplating a return to the industry, sort of. I just had a great showing in a competition at work, and it has not only exposed me to the executive leadership, it has also prompted me to believe that I can do whatever the hell I put my mind to.
I have always wanted to run a theater, one to four screens, that runs classic films, and has a live vaudville style show before hand. The employees dress up like they are going to church, and people can bring whatever damn food they want.
Of course there is a lot of research that will go into supporting such a notion, so heres to the next two years of putting the plan together.
Ciao
Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 09-14-2005, 07:56 PM:
Andrew,
Best of luck with whatever you choose to do. I can tell you one thing... adjusting to 'normality' won't come easy.. at least it hasn't for me.
I enjoy being home nights and I LOVE being off weekends and, most importantly, Holidays, but I do miss the theatre. Not a rainy day goes by that I don't wonder what's sold out and if all the staff showed up... ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
On another note.. my last post in this thread was back in May and I indicated that I was going to take the SC State Exam for my 1st Year Sales License... I didn't get around to doing it until last Saturday, 9-10-05. After studying for a week on what I thought would be my weaker areas (especially after three months), I took the test... AND PASSED!
So now, I'm going to speak with my wifes BIC about making yet another career change... again, for the better. And, as I always told my own employees, as long as decisions are made that will better yourself, GO FOR IT.
SO, all that aside.. Andrew, put your nose to the grindstone and make the best out of whatever you do. From what I've read into your posts, you'll be fine. Typically, those "good managers" will do well in whatever they choose to do. I think you're one of those few 'good managers' out there. And to leave to spend more time with the kids.. completey admirable!
Best of Luck....
Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 10-22-2005, 09:13 AM:
I figured I would add to this topic.
After 16 years in the theatre industry, Sunday, October 16th, 2005 was my last day in the business. My wife, my family, and I moved back to our beautiful home in Maryland (we built it last year). I am looking outside the crazy world of movie theatres for a job. As of Monday - I will be out of work for one week - and it is driving me insane. I have literally applied at over 100 different places and have been interviewed by numerous people. We will see what happens.
Has anyone noticed the complete cult-like decline of the industry? What I mean by that is this weird attitude that the big chains are starting to adopt - "We no longer hire managers from outside the company" - "We only promote from within". My assumption is that they bring in someone at minimum wage, making them work their way up to assistant - and then - when they get offered the "GM" position - the company is able to underpay someone significantly to run a multi-million dollar facility. Killing the operation. I see it (and have heard it). Also - the whole re-location thing. I lived in five states and thirty cities in my career. I am done with that.
Anyways - I am done with my rant. Thank s for reading it.
Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 10-23-2005, 10:35 AM:
Good luck Dennis....passion and doing it well should be an asset; but as more cinemas turn into Walmart villages the future appears not to be that promising. I love the radio ad of the apparently loyal but brain dead manager for Walmart...operating a $120,000,000 a year Super Center probably at a non-living wage.
Posted by Kelly Skaggs (Member # 1780) on 10-23-2005, 06:45 PM:
Good Luck Dennis, ![[beer]](graemlins/beer.gif)
you will find a good job with your experience as a manager. You will love the time off, I know I do weekends and nights off are a nice change ![[sleep]](graemlins/sleep.gif)
. As for Walmart managers, I know a few and am related to a couple and they pay at least 3 times what movie theaters pay, but they do work alot of the same shitty ![[bs]](graemlins/bs.gif)
theater hrs.
Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 10-27-2005, 11:21 PM:
Dennis..
Keep your head up.. Someone will realize the qualities you have and the fact that you will be an asset to their company. I, myself, have watched the trend of paying the 'new guy/gal' just a tad more than what they currently make in order to secure location managers. Oh, and the 'if you wanna grow, you have to move EVERY time we have a calling'... well, no thanks.
More and more of the GOOD theatre folks are leaving the business. Low pay, excessive hours, NO personal life, and the real clincher... having new policies implemented by folks whom have never even RUN a theatre, much less a 5-10 million/year operation...
Funny thing is.. I still miss it. When I say 'it' I actually make reference to my locals and regulars who were like family. In a sad way, I knew a lot of my customers better than some of my very own family... I saw them more... it happens.
BUT, life goes on outside the theatre. I've not gone back but about 1/2 dozen times since leaving. Just feels 'strange' going back into a place that I have forgotten more about than anyone else will ever learn about...
Good luck... good things happen to good people..
Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 10-02-2006, 10:19 PM:
Update to the update...
I have officially left my Property Supervisor's position and am now pursuing my real estate career with the development company my wife works for.
Has a GREAT first weekend..and I actually had FUN doing it. If all goes well, I truly think I've found something I'll enjoy doing while making great money in the meantime...
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Posted by Charles Greenlee (Member # 3856) on 11-19-2006, 04:40 AM:
On Friday, I rendered my resignation, effective Dec 1st. I love working projection and I had hoped to make a carrer in the field, specifically as a sound tech. Unfortunatly, this was based on working at Regal, which doesn't have projectionists, but manager/operators. This is where my problem is. As anyone in the Psycology field can tell you, there are alpha personalities, beta, and I think one other, with alpha's being the leaders. I am NOT and alpha, and it shows. I have been commended on several occasions for making the right choices, and for my effort, but where I fail is getting respect from the floor staff. I can be as firm and authoritive as I want, just means mor3 fristration on me. Everyother week there is at least 1 major altercation between me and an employee due to the employee not listening. The most recent had an employee screaming at me in the middle of the lobby (yet the employee wasn't fired, what does that say?)after I had firmly told her not to leave the scoop in the popcorn because it wasn't sanitary, and told her not to do it again. There was an event with a tazer involved, there again, with me being the attacked in the situation, and nothing I said, officially or otherwise, was taken seriously, everyone just laughed at my fear of being tazed. Events on this level have happened to me on an average of bi-weekly basis, with more minor (minor only because I was choosing my battles, and choose not to fight them) incidents on a daily basis. Add too it that I have been crapped on by people calling in, or simply not coming in several times in the last week along, leaving me, and if I'm lucky one of our special needs employees, to open and run the theatre; and manage, and run projection, etc.
I simply cannot take the stress anymore. When a job makes you seriously suicidal its time to quit, and I mean seriously, no joke. The sad thing is, by doing this, I am trowing away my carrer and everything I worked so hard for, not to mention finally being able to get much needed health insurance. So I either kill myself from depression, or from stress, there is no win here, so I choose depression in hopes of finding some releif, like winning the lotto or something, though it is not likely. I love working booth, and with the equipment, and that is mostly what've kept me going this far. I can always retreat to the booth to calm down and relax. I would stay if I could work strictly the booth alone, but that's not company policy, and thus impossible. I'm a technitian, not manager, and everyone picks up on that, for good and bad. It really breaks my heart. Not possible to go back to Carmike, they're all digital here, and don't use projectionists anymore, not to mention that there's no room for advancement except as a manager, which is out of the question.
Posted by Brian D. Whitish (Member # 825) on 11-20-2006, 04:38 AM:
Oh boy this is a tough one. I have been managing a theatre since 1982. And working in them since 1979. And I work for a pretty good company-Landmark, and I am looking to get out. The decline has accelerated in the last 5 years. Some one really hit the nail on the head when they mentioned that the people running these companies now have no more idea about showmanship than my a**. Its truly disgusting and sadly I dont think its just this business. I so want to go to a theatre and have a great experiance. Anf here in Seattle I am probably more likely than most places, especially with the Cinerama. I was one of the crew that got to run real three projector Cinerama. I thought I was going to cry the whole shift. I never thought I would ever see Cinerama much less project it. But even here it gets harder every day. And I told myself that when I wake up and dread going to work its time to find a new line of work.
Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 11-20-2006, 02:38 PM:
I feel for all of you. If you can find a way, be your own boss or work for a very small company that has the values you have. "Mom & Pop" don't have a lot of money, but they do try to do the best job they can. The big companies are "bottom line driven": and so small things like cleanliness and customer service are not iussues with them. This is becoming a critical time with theatre circuits due to not caring.
Certainly, this is true of our world lately, not just cinemas. Louis
Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 11-20-2006, 03:18 PM:
Louis, your are sooo right on target. It seems to be the "modern" trend for a lot of companies and managers to treat their customers and employees like shit and with little respect.
AND by the same token, many employees feel the world "owes" them a job even though they are lazy POS asses and have no self pride. God forbid a company would ask them to do a decent job.
AND don't ANYONE give me the lame excuse that they aren't paid enough to do a good job. It's about self respect and pride in one's self.
If ya don't like the pay, better yourself and do something else and STOP blaming the company for YOUR shortfalls.
I personally think it's a shame that one must give up the work they love for whatever reasons, I think all of us "true believers" will still be grounded in and love film.
I sincerely wish ya'll good luck!
Posted by Ron Curran (Member # 3631) on 11-20-2006, 07:10 PM:
Cinemas that try for quality over profit (within economic reason) attract a nicer audience and people who want to work with you.
If you only book films for the unwashed masses with big box office as the only motive, you can't get and keep good people. "Mom & Pop" indies with up to 3 screens can afford this luxury.
Also, it has to be easier to present a good show if you don't have 30 screens to maintain. When you operate a single, you can keep in touch with your audience. When they choose your little cinema over the nearby megaplex, it means that you AND your staff have their approval.
I think that the uture is in personalised, quality cinema, not in multibox videos.
Posted by System Notices (Member # 2357) on 07-17-2008, 11:29 PM:
It has been 605 days since the last post.
Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 07-17-2008, 11:29 PM:
And yet another update-
I have thought time and again that leaving the theatre was could have been a bad decision. I have learned quite a bit about a number of things in the last couple years.
I am at yet another crossroad in life. The sales just don't exist in the land sales business. At least not enough to continue to put food on the table,so I am now looking for something to do.
I've been given the advice of my broker, but, one thing I've learned in sales.. never believe nor trust a salesperson. at least a good one. They are selling you something every time they open their mouth. The people you think you can trust are the ones you can trust the least. Give everything you have to offer to an office.. and at the end of the day... no one cares.
I am bitter right now but I will chalk it up to a hard lesson learned. if I can find my way out of this quagmire I have created I can conquer anything, and my grandparents always told me.. "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." I'll be herculean when I get back on my feet.
Thank God I have my wife, even though I feel like I let her down in a huge way. I have my health.. and I am great with people.
Tomorrow is a new day. Wish me well.
Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 07-18-2008, 02:23 PM:
We do wish you well Jason! Follow your passion and the money will follow, so they say (obviously those people have never worked for either a theater company or an aviation company ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
).
I too am going through a similar situation... again. I resigned from Allegiant Air at the end of March after having been permanently denied a promotion. My career path had come to a dead end with no advancement nor pay increases in the foreseeable future. And the "petite" wages for that position were not something I could afford to endure long-term. What's the use of free airline travel when you can't afford to take it? Time to hit the silk.
Went through aptitude testing and interviews for starting positions (but still higher paying than anything at the airline) in a couple of totally different industries - rail transportation maintenance and mining operations. The testing and interviews went well. Now I'm waiting to hear a final "yea" or "nay" from both of these potential employers - both big household-name companies at the top of their industries, and both growing like gangbusters and paying "real" wages and benefits. As opposed to the airline industry which, even though I will always love it, is a low-paying and shrinking industry set to be in decline for what looks to be the rest of my working days (I'd like to be able to retire by 2022).
Anyway, last week I'm continuing my job search as usual, and I get a phone call. From Allegiant. Asking if I wanted my old job back. Things changed. Having nothing to lose, I talked to them. A couple of days later an offer letter came. It's still a low-ball offer compared to these other industries but quite a bit more than what I was making. Pending a TSA background check, I accepted.
But... there's a good chance the TSA will not let me come back to Allegiant since I've been out of work for four months with no unemployment checks or other published paperwork to document what I've been doing (TSA now requires such paperwork for all air transportation employees out of work for two months or more). But as long as one or both of these other things comes through, I guess it really doesn't matter. I'm especially drawn to the rail maintenance gig which starts 1 September if they take me. We'll see. Out of the blue, stuff happens.
So Jason, it's time to think deeply of simple things. Take a short break and figure out what you want. Some "commandments" my USAF F-16 pilot/civilian instrument flight instructor used to say:
"Thou shalt always go for it."
"When in doubt, press."
Take care Jason!
Posted by Michael Gonzalez (Member # 593) on 07-18-2008, 08:00 PM:
It is strange reading the different resignations on this thread. I must have missed this the first time around or I would have probably posted my own a year and a half ago.
I'll refrain from mentioning the name of the company as the owner is a member here and I still like the guy (he wasn't the problem). I guess it is mostly true that you don't leave a company you leave a person. I left because the person who was actually running the company turned out to be the worst kind of person I could have EVER have imagined working for.
The way I kind of think about it is that people like this guy are the reason that companies like Enron happen. That whole "no matter what it takes" attitude that I could not allow myself to be a part of. I wont go into details but I was ask/told on several occasions to do ethically questionable things and one outright illegal thing (which directly led to my resignation).
Like my last hiatus, it didn't take much time before I really missed the business. Through the good and bad it really gets into your blood. This summer especially with the movies that have came out, I really regret that I am not a part of things and dealing with the "hustle and bustle" of the whole thing. It really sucks when you allow someone to even momentarly take that passion from you. Though I do hope to have the opportunity to get back
Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 07-20-2008, 11:33 AM:
Some day, I envision returning to my job as projectionist at the Circle 25 Drive-In, in Lexington, KY, running carbon arc.
But, hey, that job doesn't exist anymore.
Oh, wait... that theatre doesn't exist anymore! ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
Posted by Brian Guckian (Member # 1678) on 08-05-2008, 01:32 PM:
LOL...I propose creating a new field of academic study called "Projection Studies", where in true post-modern fashion, everyone can theorise and lecture about the thing they used to actually do
Academia - that's where the money is today! At least it's way more than you'd get in the cinema industry.
I just quit my job last week after an attempt by my employer to drastically alter my terms and conditions of employment. Legally, I had no protection, and, in the absence of any compromise after lengthy negotiations, I took a principled stand and quit.
And, the sad thing is that what most people in the business seem to want is just to be able to pay the bills and have a decent quality of life. Is that too much to ask?
Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 08-05-2008, 02:02 PM:
For most employers it seems to be way to much to ask.
Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 08-06-2008, 07:24 PM:
Brian: time once again to issue my M.O.O.T. award: Master of Obsolete Technology;
This for transmitter meter readers at broadcast stations, elevator operators, stationary engineers (boiler watcher), and 2 machine, carbon arc changeover operators and others. Louis
Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 08-07-2008, 11:52 AM:
Louis! ROFL. You are too funny!! ![[rofl]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
Posted by Brian Guckian (Member # 1678) on 08-11-2008, 07:29 PM:
I'm assuming your M.O.O.T. Awards Louis consist of statuettes that can be conveniently melted down and sold for cash
Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 08-11-2008, 07:47 PM:
Probably just an intrinsically worthless parchment certificate! (like an advanced degree.) Louis
Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 08-17-2008, 07:40 AM:
UPDATE-
I was able to find a job within a few days of leaving the real estate office. A family/friend set me up with a job with a subcontracting company installing and setting up digital cable boxes.
I trained for a week and I went out on my on route last week. It's unnerving to say the least, but only because I don't have a full understanding of how the WHOLE setup works from the head end down to the subscriber level. I'm learning every day and I do like it so far. I drive an average of 125+ miles per day, so I'm gonna have to look for a more fuel efficient vehicle. (I'm responsible for my own vehicle/gas/etc due to being a subcontractor, but I get paid a considerable amount more per box than the 'in house' crew.
Right now, it's a job, which is what really matters. I've gotten so far into a hole hoping and praying that the RE market would have been better to that I've got a long way to go...
With the uncertainty in today's market, I'm just thankful to have a job that provides a weekly check! My wife also found a part time job the same week. I had hoped that the P/T would turn into F/T for her, and low and behold, her second day they asked her to go F/T... She'll get insurance, 401k and decent pay (for this area) and it's a solid and stable company (property management) so I don't have to worry about it being here today, gone tomorrow..
Things always get worse before they get better and it looks like we're turning the corner. I hope to see the tunnel in a few months and the light at the end within a year.
Posted by Robert E. Allen (Member # 1351) on 08-17-2008, 03:10 PM:
Oh C'mon Louis, There are still theatres operating with the changeover system and I personally (having come from that era) will pit a changeover system against an automated platter system (having worked those too) anytime. The thing I find annoying is today's techno-geeks who seem to prefer automation apparently feeling it is somehow superior to CO looking down their noses at that system and those of us who come from that era. I take pride in the fact that it required an operator to be a good "hands-on" showman too in those days. When I've worked platter systems I've had no control other than to push the start button and keep the thing focused. Please send me my certificate.
Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 08-17-2008, 07:25 PM:
Robert: I may have to actually print one of these some day soon! I, too, come from that era. I was with Altec; all we had to do was keep the sound operational then! Louis
Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 08-17-2008, 10:51 PM:
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
![[thumbsdown]](graemlins/thumbsdown.gif)
![[scream]](graemlins/scream.gif)