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As I sit here on the 4th of July, bemoaning my very existance and wishing I was at a fireworks display with a jumpy girl who would cling to me after each explosion...

Whoops, get back to the subject.

I have always worked for large chains in competative markets. We only cancled one show each year. We don't run the last show on Christmas Eve.

Mike, you own a small theatre in a non-competative market. What days or shows do you cancle, if any?

I was thinking of no last show on July 4th, Christmas Eve, New Years Eve.

I also think it would be cool if we could leave the theatre dark for one day around the holidays. Perhaps a Monday in early December.

What are your thoughts?

On another related subject. Does anyone pay his or her staff time and a half for holidays? I want to, but I haven't run the numbers yet or decided which holidays. Do you have any thoughts or suggestions?

I worked all those holidays as a staff member and groused that management didn't pay extra. Now I'm the guy and I am still wrestling the same question.

Two members of my staff didn't show up this evening. But because the attendance declined, they weren't really missed.

Allow me to give my remarks even though the question was directed at Mike.

As an independent, and in the position to do whatever I feel like doing...this is what I do:

Dec. 24th - I run a matinee only...no shows on Christmas eve.

Dec. 25th - No matinee...run evening shows only! (I figure Christmas is over by 5 PM)

Dec. 31st - Last show is at 7 PM.

Easter Suday - No matinee (I used to, but hardy no one came!)

After the Thanksgiving weekend, I only run weekends - Fri-Sat-Sun until Christmas. there is no business during that period anyway...so I take that as my vacation.

AS TO HOLIDAY PAY: I pay straight time at all times. When I interview people for a job, I point out that we are a nighttime, weekend, and holiday business and they must accept that before taking the job. They are told that they will be required to work most holidays and at regular pay.

One time I had one not show up on Christmas day...did we miss her? YES...from then on!

The 4th of July!

Total Attendance = 388

Attendance After Dark = 41

How'd I miss this! It was slack for the same reasons here on the 4th. Big fireowrks two blocks away but it rained so we did some business.

We do a matinee on Christmas eve because we show a FREE Holiday Matinee series for 5 weeks before Xmas day and we show it on the matinee schedule for the 24th. We are 100% closed on the 25th. What can I say? I think the world can live without movies for one day.

Other than that: we go. No time and a half for holidays; most people seem to actually like working those days. Even Thanksgiving is festive.

I think closing for a day or whenever you feel like is fine; just let the customers know and be prepared for those who wouldn't read it if it was on a billboard on the lawn next door to their house.

I used to own a restaurant and we'd close for two weeks in the winter. Boy; it felt great!

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Mike Hurley
www.bigscreenbiz.com