Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Do you check bags???

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Posted by Andrew Bangs (Member # 4938) on 09-22-2008, 01:07 AM:

We have been trying to get our ushers to do a better job of checking bags for outside food and cameras. But they keep telling us they are scared of people getting mad at them. Well to that I said Pish tosh and I stood there and showed them how it was done after catching two ladies with Candy Bars and Bottles of water I figured they got the idea so I waited and let them ask one lady as I stood next to them, of course she said no, I then asked her why not she looked as if I just ran over her cat and demanded a full refund of her concession she had just purchased and of her tickets. (mind you while giving her the refund she opened her purse for her wallet and showed me she had nothing but still wanted her refund and swore she would never return) I am starting to wonder if it was really that necessary to check and then once the shock of what happened wore off I realize it is. One of her Complaints is that she has been to theatres in every part of the world and never had to open her bag before why should she now. Which got me to thinking. Who else out there Checks Bags?

Posted by Sally Ann Burgess (Member # 4746) on 09-22-2008, 01:34 AM:

Hi Andrew, well I'm pretty anal mainly about people bringing in hot food from outside, we've had people bringing in McD's, pizza, burgers etc. Those are a definite no-no. I always just ask the patron while I'm tearing their ticket, "Do you have any hot food or alcohol in your bag?" Older people mainly. With the young crowd, I always ask nicely if I can check in their bags and to date no-one has minded. I live in a touristy place so people nearly always have cameras with them. What really gets my goat are people using their mobiles during the film, in which case I flash them from the booth. With a torch, I hasten to add.

Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 09-22-2008, 01:40 AM:

She has every right to be upset if you ask me. This to me is a huge invasion of privacy. This isn't the airport, not a sporting event or concert. These people are not coming to your theatre to blow it up. They are Paying to see a movie in your establishment. Kudos to you for stopping somebody from bringing in a candy bar and a bottle of water.

To ask a 15/17 year old kid to ask a COMPLETE stranger to let them look through their purse or bag is really bad IMHO. Your putting that kid in a confrontation with your GUEST to maybe gain yourself 5 dollars.

If some one comes in with a doggy bag from an outside restaurant we will ask them to leave it at Guest Services and we will put it in the fridge for them till their movie is over. We allow outside water, (really now, who doesn't) and hot coffee(We do not sell this item) even if I saw someone with a candy bar in their purse, I'm not about to stop them because if they are going to sneak in a 99cent candy bar. Then they are most likley not goign to be buying candy from my stand. Win the customer not the PETTY argument

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 09-22-2008, 03:27 AM:

quote:
I'm not about to stop them because if they are going to sneak in a 99cent candy bar. Then, they are most likely not going to be buying candy from my stand. Win the customer not the PETTY argument.

This has been the longest argument in the theatre industry for quite the long time: people bringing outside food or drink when it's posted that this practice is not allowed in theatres.

Yet, the patrons REALLY don't know the reason WHY this rule HAS to be strictly followed.

They think that bringing in this 99cent candy bar is a simple resentment to the theatre's higher conc. pricing, but not knowing that its really the insurance company orders in posting those signage of 'illegal outside foor or drink' posted in obvious places in the theatre.

For if they snak on that candy bar and maybe the rest of it hits the floor, and when they get up to leave, step on the remains of the 'illegal' substance, slip and hit the floor, busting a tailbone, do they think that the theatre's insurance company gonna pay for that busted tailbone when the 'illegal' item isn't sold on the premises along with obvious posted signage to protect the theatre from any liability in the first place?

I know this to be a proven fact, for a good dozen years ago in a 4plex that I used to work at is when a bunch of teen-agers managed to sneak in a small pizza and one of our doormen didn't do a search as they handed them the tix, and some elderly couple sitting on the other side of row of seats, when leaving when credits were towards the end, managed to step in their remains and aced it pretty hard on the floor...and the halfway lights were on during credits.

There was a pretty hard lawsuit over that one in which we had to settle out of court, that doorman was fired and the search policy was enforced pretty heavilly.

Quite surprised that the "shoes required" wasn't mentioned in this post as well - for this also fits in this liability insurance area....

-Monte

Posted by Charles Greenlee (Member # 3856) on 09-22-2008, 03:37 AM:

That could've just as easily been a nacho cheese tray. Still same potential for slippage, and still posability for holding the theatre liable. As one can tell from reading one of my other posts, I've worked at a couple of bowling centers. Similar situation there. Captive audience, overpriced concessions, same policy on outside food and beverage. Curious thing is, they told me there, that supposedly is for liability due to food poisoning. Because they can't garantee the quality of the outside food. And, if the customer eats the outside food there, they, in turn, can possibly sue the center stating that they ate the food there. I don't know, still sounds silly to me.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 09-22-2008, 06:27 AM:

So....what do you do if the person that is "sneaking" in the candy bar has it in their purse for medical reasons...say diabetes? It is pretty common for someone on insulin to have a source of quick sugar in the event of an incorrect injection depleting the sugar too fast.

Steve

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 09-22-2008, 08:49 AM:

This sounds like a great way to annoy your customers and convince them to go somewhere else or stay home.

I can understand not allowing outside food with a strong smell (garlic, etc.) or which is noisy to eat (potato chips, etc.) or otherwise offensive or distracting to other patrons, but to disallow all outside food because it might (emphasis on "might") hurt concession stand revenue, especially if it gets to the point of asking to search customers' bags and purses, is invasive and is likely to do more harm than good.

I agree with those who feel that bringing outside food to the movies is pretty tacky and cheap, but that doesn't mean that exhibitors should stoop to the same level and start searching peoples' bags. Customers who are that cheap would probably not buy anything from the stand anyway.

One theatre I know has a sign that says "no prepared foods allowed in auditorium," which seems to address the pizza-and-sub crowd, without affecting the candy-bar-and-water people.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 09-22-2008, 09:43 AM:

We have a sign saying "Please finish outside snacks before entering the theatre" but we generally don't stop anybody from carrying stuff in anymore, except hot foods and ice cream. As noted, it would just tick them off and it's not worth the hassle. Many times, they still buy something from the concession anyway.

We don't check bags at all.

We had a family one timw who showed up with a pizza and were pretty ticked when I said they had to eat it outside, but they've been back since with no problems.

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 09-22-2008, 11:17 AM:

If any theatre I attended wanted to check my wife's or my bag, clothing or anything else, I would turn around, walk out and never attend that theatre again.

Posted by Galen Murphy-Fahlgren (Member # 4535) on 09-22-2008, 01:28 PM:

I would be opposed to doing bag checks, because serious "outside food or drink" issues can be headed off easily without them. It is pretty easy to see if someone is trying to sneak a pizza box in, and regular theater checks will alert the ushers as to anyone eating hamburgers or tacos in the theater. As others have said, it is only the large, smelly items that are a real issue, as they may be offensive to other patrons. I sure wouldn't want to sit next to someone eating a crave case of White Castle. This does mean you'd have to have people doing theater checks, but there are so many other reasons why you should that if you don't already you have bigger problems.

Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 09-22-2008, 01:47 PM:

If someone is bringing in a large backpack or a bag that obviously contains food or drink, I'll usually ask them to leave it in the car or check it at the front counter. But I don't feel like I have the right to inspect a person's bag just to see if they are sneaking in food or drink.

My position on the outside food or drink is that if I can see it then I'll say something. But if I can't see it, I'm not going to assume you might have something.

Posted by Michael Brown (Member # 890) on 09-22-2008, 05:19 PM:

I carry a back-pack with me most of the time and I've only ever had a check once at a cinema. The usher said he was checking for "cameras", but I did happen to know that this particular theatre had had a bomb scare the week before. The last time I went, no bag check.

Posted by Andrew Bangs (Member # 4938) on 09-24-2008, 10:34 AM:

quote: Justin Hamaker
My position on the outside food or drink is that if I can see it then I'll say something. But if I can't see it, I'm not going to assume you might have something.

This is how I used to feel as well But since management said go ahead and check bags That is what I have been doing and will continue till they tell me otherwise. They relate it to going to a sporting event or Amusement park where they have people at the entrance checking bags. Folks there don't seem to mind, so why not here at the theatre. I think it is because the folks checking at those places have a "uniform" even though it is usually a sewn on badge. Plus they are usually a bigger venue. Not to mention people are previously aware that their is a good possibility of being searched when they attend those events and are not used to the idea of having to do the same at a simple Movie theatre. As scary as it sounds times are changing. I have stopped a gentleman from bringing in what looked like a camera bag. He was upset that I would not let him in the theatre with it but he reluctantly left it in his car and latter told me the reason I could not look in the bag was because he had a concealed hand gun license. [Eek!]

My answer to that was well we definitely don't want you to bring that in here either!

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 09-24-2008, 11:46 AM:

quote: Andrew Bangs
told me the reason I could not look in the bag was because he had a concealed hand gun license.

That's why at the places I've worked there've been signage up saying "No weapons allowed." And if the person keeps the weapon (whether they have a license or not), you can have them arrested for trespassing.

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 09-24-2008, 11:56 AM:

quote: Andrew Bangs
They relate it to going to a sporting event or Amusement park where they have people at the entrance checking bags. Folks there don't seem to mind, so why not here at the theatre.

They don't SEEM to mind because they don't have a choice. If I want to see that concert, I have to put up with these tactics. There is only ONE place to see a concert and (usually) only one amusement park. What you DON'T see here are the people, like me, who will NOT go to any concert or event that searches people. I choose not to fly for the same reason.

There are many theatres around in most towns. I will choose to go to another venue if you want to search my things.

Actually, it might be fun to have some spring loaded toy jump out when the bag was opened. I'd just say, "Oops, I forgot that was in there."

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 09-24-2008, 12:39 PM:

quote:
Do you check bags???

No, I don't work for TSA!

Posted by Thomas Pitt (Member # 4322) on 09-24-2008, 03:57 PM:

The Leeds Light cinema went through a phase of checking bags, mainly for cameras (there were several big movies coming out) and for bombs (aftermath of a terrorist attack). They don't seem to have any kind of strict policy on outside food, but they don't like people bringing in McD meals or huge pizzas because of the mess they make.

The Bradford Cineworld has had a no outside food policy for a long time now. Their bag checks seem to be random - I've been able to take my bag in one week, then the next week I can't take it in! Instead of checking the contents of the bags, they just force you to leave the bag at the box office - which is be staffed at all times, so it's unlikely to get stolen.

Posted by Mark Hajducki (Member # 1732) on 09-24-2008, 08:55 PM:

At places I've projected detailed bag checking has only occurred for advanced screenings. In these cases a number of shaved monkeys (security contractors) were supplied by the distributer.

Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 09-24-2008, 10:02 PM:

We do 5-8 advanced Screenings a week at my location, and they sometimes do the bag check. But if you look at the pass that they are given, it stats that you may be subject to having your bags searched when you arrive at the theatre.

The reason they can get away with doing this and nobody says anything is because it states on the ticket that they are subject to one. If you were to post something on your window/door, on your actual ticket then you could probably get away with it. Not sure of what legal things you'd have to go through to get the ok to post that or print it on the ticket.

In the end it still comes down to invading some ones privacy just so you can stop someone from bringing in a candy bar or soda. You stop them but you have lost a customer 5 from your theatre for a long time. The 5 is for the people that that person is going to tell about how bad there experience was at your theatre.

Posted by Andrew Bangs (Member # 4938) on 09-25-2008, 12:51 AM:

quote: Mark Lensenmayer
There is only ONE place to see a concert and (usually) only one amusement park.

We are the only Theatre in town so if they want to go to another theatre it will be a long drive and with gas prices these days well I think they are more likely to stay home and rent the movie when it comes out. But that is their choice.

quote: Mark Lensenmayer
Actually, it might be fun to have some spring loaded toy jump out when the bag was opened. I'd just say, "Oops, I forgot that was in there."

Frankly I would love it if that happened. It would show a great sense of humor and after my heart starts beating again and I have a good laugh I will still ask to quickly check the rest of the bag.

quote: Kurt Zupin
In the end it still comes down to invading some ones privacy just so you can stop someone from bringing in a candy bar or soda.

Or Camera or Weapon. But yes granted we are far more likely to catch a higher percentage of outside food. My question is if you are at my theatre and a guy/girl pulls out a weapon in the theatre are you going to blame me for not checking his/her bag? Do you think someone else will? I realize this is a pessimistic question and a scary scenario because it could happen anywhere and so then why don't they check every where. Well unfortunately if you look around they are checking allot more than you think.

And now since I hate thinking about the nasty state of the world, how about those rainbows and kittens aren't they just so wonderful??? [Eek!]

Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 09-25-2008, 07:49 AM:

I wouldn't blame the theatre, you didn't bring the gun/knife or what ever in to the theatre and try to kill/hurt someone. If a person is bringing in a weapon to harm people in your theatre what do you think is going to happen when a 16 year old boy/girl trys to stop them from brining it in?

Using someone bringing in a weapon is not a feasible argument in my opinion.

Posted by Andrew Bangs (Member # 4938) on 09-25-2008, 01:39 PM:

Fair enough!

Posted by Jim Bedford (Member # 4) on 09-26-2008, 09:50 AM:

I'm with Mark L's comment 100%+ but please replace each "*" below with "fucking."

quote: Mark Lensenmayer
If any * theatre I attended wanted to check my wife's or my * bag, * clothing or * anything else, I would * turn around, * walk out and never attend that * theatre again.

Posted by Caleb Johnstone-Cowan (Member # 3710) on 09-26-2008, 05:38 PM:

I worked in the middle of London for ages and we bag searched for a minimum two weeks after any major attack or alert, mainly to reassure customers. We would only pull people up on outside food if it was hot in this case. Also did bag searches for the first morning Simpsons Movie shows just to make sure it wasn't our prints that got pirated! Think we got the film two days early and Fox emailed round asking people to do this. As mentioned above the only detailed checks I've seen are for previews.

Personally speaking, searching bags on a regular basis, especially for outside food, is something I would feel very uncomfortable doing. Especially since in my experience you never find any consistency between staff.