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Nothing like telling super salesmen that you will not be playing their big movie. When you book for yourself you get to hear their unhappiness directly. You can't play 'em all.

I am just learning this now, and considering going back to a booker for this very reason. We just made the move from 100% art titles to playing day and date on the break with the local plex, but with only 2 screens I feel a bit bullied. ("What do you mean you won't play our movie in 2D and 3D and nothing else at your theater for the next 4 weeks. at which point I have another 2D/3D title to take over your theater for another month!?)

This is very true they get mad at the film buyer not the theater.

Another reason I would avoid singles and twins. With 4 screens it cam happen once a year (Christmas) but only every other year at most.

not pleasant but it's the burden we bear. I never forget that the people I talk to have bosses and those bosses expect certain stuff from their employees and are just as hard on them also. Booking a 3 or a 2: you cannot play them all. And as to 3-D screen grabbing: that's why we are not getting it/ far more aggravation than it's worth.

There's also the fact that some owners, myself included, are probably not the most objective negotiators. There are only so many studios out there, and I can only imagine how some personalities can clash, given the factors that drive each side.

A booking agent does buffer those issues, and the more even-tempered... possibly the better

Speaking from the trenches, this is the time of the year where Booking becomes the chess game. It helps to have good relationships with your film companies and honestly, plan ahead with what you want to do. Another thing to do is, while we are all tempted if one film company has 2 really good films to play both of them and shut out the other guy, remember that you will be paying for it down the road when you want that "special" film later and can't get it. Once in a while, we have to take a bullet. Studio bookers have long-term memories. It's a bit of politics. But for the most part, they are all good people to deal with.