Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Getting to know employees in large theatres...

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Posted by Ian Agar (Member # 4738) on 04-15-2008, 05:54 PM:

Hello,

I work in a two-screen theatre that specializes in playing indie and foreign films, although we occasionally get main stream films (Little Miss Sunshine for example). I love this place, and would not go to any other theatre to work unless there was some extraordinary benefit.

Although we play odd films, we are open 365 days a year and play shows from noon till the mid evening. However, we are VERY quiet most of the time, and have a handful of employees. This mix means we are all very close to each other, even though many of us have never met prior to employment here. It is natural: working here requires socializing, or else you'd quickly stand out like a sore thumb. I do not know any other way (nor do I want to, it makes going in to work a pleasure), so I was wondering if at the big theatres (the main stream ones with many screens and shows seemingly ALWAYS starting or ending), do the employees get to know each other well? Or is it less centralized and even months after an employee starts they may not know everybody's name? What is it like, in general, in terms of getting to know everybody socially?

A while back I read the online profile of an employee at a local MANN theatre, with 6 screens and main stream movies, and they were commenting to another employee that they "had a great time working with [the other employee] last shift." Considering the size of the theatre, and how employees are spread out all over, I cannot understand how such socialization exists. Therefore, I am here to ask what it's like.

Thanks,
-Ian

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 04-15-2008, 06:39 PM:

6 screens is pretty small and allows much socialization. That's how it was at my first theater, which is the world famous amazing Mann Kipling Place 6 Theaters, the most luxurious powerful spectacular theater ever squeezed out of God's vagina. Everyone knew everyone else all the way up to the end. When the theater was purchased and turned into a dollar theater, everyone else left and I was traded to United Artists Greenwood Plaza 12 which was far less impressive and had 12 screens. Even though I only did projection at this new theater, I still ended up knowing about half the staff fairly well, maybe even more. It was this way the entire time I worked there.

Later in a bold move, I was traded back to Mann Theaters (they had to give UA 6 employees to get me) to work as projectionist at The Mann Chinese 16 at Arapahoe Crossings. At this 16-screen theater, I barely knew anyone. I didn't care about anyone downstairs and rarely came out of the booth. Due to a dispute over performance-enhancing drugs, my career at Mann ended there and I signed a two year deal with the fabulous Madstone Tamarac Square 6 Theaters which had so much grandeur, spectacularity, amazingness, awesomeness, power and class that it required it's own zip code which was similar to the one that defines the finest part of Hollywood itself. This was only a 6 screen theater, but I knew most people while working here.

So it is definitely pretty easy to get to know people in a 6 screen theater.

Posted by Allison Parsons (Member # 2728) on 04-15-2008, 07:03 PM:

quote: Joe Redifer
with the fabulous Madstone Tamarac Square 6 Theaters

Ummm, I don't know weather to think a booth with a bathroom is a good idea or not. But funny, none the less!

Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 04-15-2008, 07:11 PM:

At one time booths had to have bathrooms.

Joe, the Mann's Kipling Place 6 auditoriums looks like GCC style and that CINEMA sign too. I never knew that Mann had places like that in the chain. I had the arm pits of the chain Mann's Hastings Ranch 3 (Pasadena, CA) and Mann's Huntington Oaks 6 (Monrovia, CA). I got to know the girl Asst. Manager well.

Posted by Allison Parsons (Member # 2728) on 04-15-2008, 08:02 PM:

quote: Bill Gabel
At one time booths had to have bathrooms

Was that because of a Union rule?

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 04-15-2008, 08:11 PM:

Who the hell would want to leave the booth just to unload 12-15 pounds of steaming poo from their ass? Not I. Public restrooms are lame.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 04-15-2008, 08:24 PM:

In Mass., each booth is required to have its own bathroom, according to public safety codes. About half that I have seen actually meet this part of the code. Some claim to get around this by having a bathroom on the same level as the booth, but I've never understood how this would meet code (the wording is rather clear that the bathroom must be _in_ the booth).

Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 04-15-2008, 08:33 PM:

quote: Allison Parsons
Was that because of a Union rule?

Yes, a long time ago. Now it depends on city rules for the building. When they remodeled the old Paramount Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. into the El Capitan Theatre and placed the booth on the main floor all it was equipped with was a sink.
But there is a regular handicapped restroom nearby.

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 04-15-2008, 08:34 PM:

quote: Allison Parsons
Was that because of a Union rule?

It's because the workers were usually required to stay in the booth throughout the run of a show, especially with changeover houses.

I didn't know about this when an old tech had a few people meet for a short training session at the, now closed, Southcenter Mall single screen in south Seattle. It felt odd seeing a toilet sitting at the end of the room not enclosed or anything.

And back on topic:
I knew most of the staff quite well when I worked at an 8-plex. Plus it was different that with that location they expected us to do regular shifts as well as booth. At the 30-plex I'm at now, they needed someone who knew booth more than someone who knew downstairs stuff so I've only had booth shifts; in fact, I don't have a log in for the concessions anyway. There are PLENTY of people there that I have no clue what their name is or what they do outside of work (granted, I'm bad with names). But I know booth people decently.

Posted by Allison Parsons (Member # 2728) on 04-15-2008, 09:21 PM:

quote: Joe Redifer
Who the hell would want to leave the booth just to unload 12-15 pounds of steaming poo from their ass?

...probably the poor soul who had to work with you up there...?

Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 04-15-2008, 09:30 PM:

In the early days with nitrate film and 10 minute reels a trip downstairs to the john was out of the question, there just wasn't time. In this city nitrate film was not allowed to be rewound or stored in the same room with the projectors. There was a fire door between the rewind room/storage room and the booth. The only nitrate film to be in the booth was the reel that was running and the reel on the next projector awaiting changeover.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 04-15-2008, 10:15 PM:

quote: Allison Parsons
...probably the poor soul who had to work with you up there...?

I can handle an entire booth myself.

Posted by Robert LaValley (Member # 4319) on 04-16-2008, 12:27 AM:

I haven't worked in a booth where there wasnt a bathroom! Heck even a single screen I worked at you had to go through the mens bathroom upstairs just to get to the fire door that was the entrance to the booth.

For me I've worked everything from a single to 18 screens with IMAX's hanging off of them and each location provided a different tone for how much of the staff I got to know and how much of the staff got to know eachother. Some of the bigger chains though with their fraternization policies and some phycotic GM's made it tough for anyone to really be anything but co-working people. I also found sometimes you run into a Management click and a Staff Click and neither like eachother and I've also had the pleasure of the polar opposite.

So really its tought to say its easier or harder to get to know people in the big theatres. I think it really depends on the GM and the assistants and the tone the set for the place. If people feel like they gotta walk on egg shells all the time I dont see it being an environment anyone is going to shoot the sh*t in.

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 04-16-2008, 12:40 AM:

What the hell does "shooting the shit" mean? [Smile]

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 04-16-2008, 12:46 AM:

quote: Joe Redifer
Public restrooms are lame.

Especially the men's room at that Mann's Chinese you worked at. When I was there, the room had been totally wrecked by vandals. (It was after you had departed, so possibly the damage was done by patrons who were disgruntled at not seeing Redifer-style projection of their movies.)

Posted by James Westbrook (Member # 3690) on 04-16-2008, 01:08 AM:

My 16 screen theatre has only 30 employees with minimal turnover. We are an older crew. Most of my co-workers are working full-time elsewhere and work at the Movies so they can see free movies.
We are also rather slow, business wise. (Then again...so is everybody else right now...)

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 04-16-2008, 01:53 AM:

quote: Robert LaValley
Management click and a Staff Click

You mean clique?

quote: Mike Blakesley
When I was there, the room had been totally wrecked by vandals.

How so? Why were you there? When was it?

Posted by Christopher Crouch (Member # 3784) on 04-16-2008, 05:28 AM:

quote: Ian Agar
Considering the size of the theatre, and how employees are spread out all over, I cannot understand how such socialization exists. Therefore, I am here to ask what it's like.

There is definitely a degree of difficulty in bonding with a great number of coworkers at a larger theatre. I once worked at a mega plex with 200 people on staff and didn't even know the names of many. In addition to there simply being "too many" people to get to know with any degree of familiarity, there were often individuals who always worked opposing shifts or areas. As such, you tended to bond with a specific group (i.e. you could still socialize/get to know/etc., just not with everyone).

On the plus side, a larger staff usually equates to a greater variety of personalities and interests, increasing the chances of encountering individuals who you might enjoy socializing with.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 04-16-2008, 09:41 AM:

quote: Joe Redifer
How so? Why were you there? When was it?

It was about 4 or 5 years ago. We were in Denver for a family reunion and we decided to take a night off from all the family "fun" to go to the movies. We went to the Chinese just because I thought it would be cool -- I'd heard about it but never seen it.

The restroom I went into had had one toilet completely ripped off the wall. A couple of the dividers between stalls were missing. Wallpaper was torn off in spots too. And, the room was strewn with trash. Couldn't tell how long it had been since the damage, so it could have been recent enough that they hadn't had time to fix it up.

The concession stand was a mess. Popcorn all over the floor, sticky countertops. I especially remember a large pool of red syrup or something on the floor, apparently leaking from a machine, that the crew was just walking thru.

HOWEVER, the most important part of the evening -- the movie presentation -- was flawless and the auditorium was nice with good seats. So it was a good/bad experience.

Posted by Robert LaValley (Member # 4319) on 04-16-2008, 01:38 PM:

quote: Joe Redifer
You mean clique?

<- yes. I have a tendency to spell phonectically at times.

quote: Chris Slycord
What the hell does shooting the shit mean?

<- To have a conversation about nothing truely important.

Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 04-16-2008, 05:41 PM:

To get back on topic and out of the shitter...

When I managed a 20 with about 150 employees I would like to think I got to know every single employee pretty well, some better than others but I always made the effort. I think as a manager it is a HUGE part of the job to get to know your employees no matter how many you have.

Posted by Robert LaValley (Member # 4319) on 04-16-2008, 07:27 PM:

quote: Sean McKinnon
I think as a manager it is a HUGE part of the job to get to know your employees no matter how many you have.

I find this is true however I also find that sometimes when people get a title they take themselves too seriously which makes them less approachable and further hinders socializing between management and staff.

Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 04-17-2008, 06:12 PM:

lol you are so right. I dont know why but that "too seriously" line reminded me of a time when I came up with a policy that I knew would be unpopular so to get the employees to go along with it I told them that "some idiot" came up with this "stupid, new policy" and that "I didn't like it anymore than they did" but that "you know it's my job and I am going to get in trouble if we don't follow this so I am going to have to enforce this" and "I would appreciate if you guys would help me out and just follow it" Worked like a charm! [Big Grin]

Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 04-19-2008, 02:28 PM:

I do not know any of our floor staff and have not mingled with a downstairs crew for probably 5 - 6 years. Its better that way when most of them are high school or college age girls. My wife would have a problem with that, I'm sure.

Besides, what is their to talk about, the prom?

[puke]

Posted by Robert LaValley (Member # 4319) on 04-19-2008, 09:19 PM:

quote: Aaron Mehocic
Besides, what is their to talk about, the prom?

At alot of the theatres I have been at the age difference between management and staff is VERY little. For example my GM is 23 years old and her assistant is also 23. I'm actually the oldest person on the staff being 30 not counting our sole senior citizen usher of 72 years young.

Most of the "talk" is really just day to day bs really. Its not like were talking deep conversations here. haha

Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 04-19-2008, 10:59 PM:

You're right, but I've had some deep discussions with staff in the past. Probably the most abstract was on Hamiltonian economic policy following the American Revolution. With that being said, however, the kid was having some trouble understanding it in school and sought me out because I teach it at the college level.

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 04-20-2008, 12:14 AM:

quote: Aaron Mehocic
I do not know any of our floor staff and have not mingled with a downstairs crew for probably 5 - 6 years. Its better that way when most of them are high school or college age girls. My wife would have a problem with that, I'm sure.

I completely understand where you're coming from on this. While I'm not married it felt weird when this girl staff member was constantly (when I ventured downstairs for a drink) starting up conversations with me and it didn't take long for me to realize she was hitting on me. The whole time I'm thinking "I'm WAY too old for her; doesn't she see I'm balding?" Then when she asked how old I was she was surprised I was 27 (28 now) and didn't speak to me again (likely realizing that I'm too old).

Seriously, I'd feel weird being in grad school and dating a girl still in HS even if there wasn't a policy against fraternization.

Posted by Robert LaValley (Member # 4319) on 04-20-2008, 03:13 AM:

quote: Chris Slycord
Seriously, I'd feel weird being in grad school and dating a girl still in HS even if there wasn't a policy against fraternization

I know I brought up "fraternization policy" in a previous post but over all staying away from the dating thing is probably a good idea. I think the whole topic of this is more of being friends with staff "AKA getting to know them" then really dating them. I think if we bring dating into the mix of this conversation were opening up a whole new can of worms.

I do think moral and the whole "team" vibe is hurt alot if a fraternization or no close relationship policy is enforced to the point where people get into trouble for being friends. Obviously management would be judged for the position they hold but over-all staff that find their management more approachable usually are more productive then when they feel management doesnt care about them or are A-holes. Hence why getting to know the staff in some ways is a good thing for business.

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 04-20-2008, 07:32 AM:

I think I'm pretty well approachable; I just have only have been scheduled booth shifts since transferring (they needed someone who knew how to do that stuff more than they needed me downstairs).

Heck, I've had a fair number of conversations with coworkers about my school since there are a lot of people who don't know anything about acupuncture or that there's a school for it a few blocks from the theater. I'll have to hand out some brochures to the ones who actually wanted to try it out at our student clinic.

Though, admittedly I imagine more staffers know about that part of me than I know things about them. My memory isn't the best anymore and I'm generally there ~20 hours a week.

Posted by Robert Throop (Member # 61) on 04-22-2008, 11:52 AM:

quote: Bill Gabel
At one time booths had to have bathrooms.

In New York state bathrooms are still required either in the booth or on the same level within 50 ft.
Bob

Posted by Chad M Calpito (Member # 3736) on 04-22-2008, 12:37 PM:

At my Gaslamp 15 location, as a booth operator, it's rare for me or my projectionists to have time to chat with others since we schedule only one projectionist per shift to run all 15 projectors. The booth operator has to go to both floors due to the fact that Theatres #1-#7 are on level 1 and Theatres #8-#15 are on level 2.

Posted by Robert LaValley (Member # 4319) on 04-23-2008, 01:57 PM:

quote: Chad M Calpito
The booth operator has to go to both floors due to the fact that Theatres #1-#7 are on level 1 and Theatres #8-#15 are on level 2.

This reminds me alot of the cinemark tinseltown I worked at in rochester. The booth was mulit-level. And actually just the size of the building and staff made it so certain groups of the staff got close but over all really didnt mingle with eachother.
We had East side ushers that really only hung out with east siders and same with the west side ushers. Box office hung out with management, Cafe were the artsy peoples, and concessions had so much turnover no one too close. As for the booth, it pretty much was the 35mm side hanging out with the IMAX projectionist. All in all a funny place to work. almost 200 people staffed at one point.

Posted by Ben Goodman (Member # 4770) on 05-04-2008, 12:35 AM:

Well, the AMC 16-plex I work at has no union workers, so the booth operators are regular hourly employees just like anyone else. There are three different perspectives here.

1. If you're regular floor staff or a supervisor, you get to know everybody. If you're a lead in the concession stand on the weekend, you see everybody, know everybody, and get up close and personal with everyone and their working habits. You get to see exactly who has more independent thought and initiative versus who needs direct supervision at all times. And the concession stand is ground zero for any gossip around the theatre as well, for a fun bonus and/or headache.

2. If you're in a management position that is not HR, there will be times when you're more aware of how many people you have versus which people. There have certainly been times where there have been waves of new hires and I haven't been able to recognize people for a couple weeks. Granted, on the busy weekends when I go back out onto the floor and shovel popcorn with the kids, that helps. The turnover is still relatively high, though, and that doesn't help. You do get to know other supervisors and managers very well, though.

3. Like I said, our booth operators are downstairs from time to time as well-- but our more experienced/regular booth operators really only cross the lobby to get to the other booth. Again, you get to know the management pretty well, but there's not a ton of interaction with the staff itself on your booth shifts, especially with 16 screens. There's always something to thread, something to start, something to break down, or something to clean.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 05-04-2008, 01:32 AM:

quote: Ben Goodman
the AMC 16-plex I work at has no union workers

NO UNION WORKERS???!!!! Are you from the moon?

[Razz]

Posted by Ben Goodman (Member # 4770) on 05-04-2008, 01:38 AM:

Depends on how lunar you consider Connecticut to be...

Posted by Reid Helford (Member # 4668) on 05-06-2008, 04:39 PM:

Sadly, it is not the moon. Less than 8.0% union membership amongst private sector workers in the U.S..

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 05-07-2008, 01:53 AM:

I don't see how lack of unions is suddenly a terrible thing.

Just like everything else, unions have both good and bad aspects.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 05-07-2008, 04:12 AM:

quote: Chris Slycord
unions have both good and bad aspects

Very, very much so since I've seen both sides of the membership of the I.A. .. but, that's a chapter of a novel that has already been read here in the forums and it doesn't need to be re-read again.

When I worked with MANN in the 70's and 80's, we employees had a great working relationship with other circuits in our community and with fellow MANN employees in other states.. kind of a "big family" one could say..

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 05-08-2008, 08:45 PM:

quote: Monte L Fullmer
When I worked with MANN in the 70's and 80's, we employees had a great working relationship with other circuits in our community and with fellow MANN employees in other states.. kind of a "big family" one could say..

Agreed. I worked for Mann in Washington. SRO was also a good company to work for.

Posted by Jim Cassedy (Member # 4115) on 05-11-2008, 10:01 AM:

The best way to get to know employees in a large multiplex?

1) Go around the side or back of the building.

2) Look for a bunch of 17-25 year old people hanging around an exit or access doorway who are dressed alike and smoking. (anything) Some of them may also be drinking from paper cups that say COCA COLA on them and have butter-stained waistbands, but this is optional.

3)Walk up and introduce youself.

JimC (with tongue planted firmly in cheek) [Big Grin]