Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Valet Concessions

This is topic Valet Concessions in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Matt Kerekes (Member # 2777) on 05-07-2006, 10:58 AM:

Has anyone tried having concessionists take orders in theatres and bring it to them in their seats? If so, what kind of advice can you give me if I were thinking about trying it. Any ideas such as menus, seating charts, etc? Thanks.

Posted by Adam Wilbert (Member # 1184) on 05-07-2006, 02:18 PM:

I've seen roaming concessionists only once, They used numbered tickets and gave the customers in the theatre a paddle similar to the ones used at auctions. The person would hold the paddle up when the concessionist returned with the orders to signal where they were and what order number they had. It was kind of a goofy system.

The only thing that I can see working pretty well is to take a "sports arena" approach and have the person carry a tray of candy or other easily caried items and some change. Soda and popcorn would still be handled at the counter.

Posted by Caleb Johnstone-Cowan (Member # 3710) on 05-07-2006, 05:44 PM:

We're starting this at the moment. Sold Coke and ice cream on trays during the ads and trailers. It went well financially. You can get Coca-Cola branded trays that look quite good.

Posted by Wayne Keyser (Member # 2420) on 05-07-2006, 10:20 PM:

A long time ago, I think it was first-run STAR WARS or some similar summertime blockbuster, I was at a theater in DC where the lines waiting for the next show reached halfway around the block and the crowd took forever to enter and get seated - vendors with sodas in stadium-style trays both outside serving the lines, and inside (pre-show) serving those who were reluctant to stand up and risk losing their seats.

Posted by Mark Hajducki (Member # 1732) on 05-08-2006, 10:11 AM:

A Previous discussion

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 05-08-2006, 11:58 AM:

At K-B theatres, it was quite common for us to have "Hawkers" that would sell soda and popcorn to people in line as well as in the theatres. This was particularly true of the theatres in the city. The K-B Cinema really did well with that. When you have 824 seats and only a short time to get the theatre switched around for another sold-out show...you make the most of the time you have.

One guy really did a show with it, Sam Ramsey...his tag line was always "By a hot popcorn and get a free napkin; buy a ice cold drink and get a free straw; what a deal folks!" It always got laughs and sales. Other creative guys also had their routines at various theatres. The ones that really got into it did notably better than those that just carried or pushed their carts.

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 05-08-2006, 12:08 PM:

Cinemark here used to have a couple guys with a snack cart visit the crowded auditoriums on weekends. They entertained the crowd with movie trivia questions and gave out some kind of small prize for correct answers (I think it was candy of some kind). They were pretty good at it, the crowd liked it, and they sold a lot of crap off those carts (which stocked only the LARGE sizes of drinks and popcorn).

Posted by Caleb Johnstone-Cowan (Member # 3710) on 05-08-2006, 06:43 PM:

To go back to the original post I wouldn't attempt to take orders from customers. You've got a window of 30mins max to sell to people before a film starts and running back and forth limits the time your staff can be selling in the screen.