Welcome to BigScreenBiz.com

I read on a previous post that someone closes the concession 15min after the last show starts. Exact change only.

Something that works well for us is a $5 late night sales float. That way the person who is closing the concession can still sell something to the people who come out for a snack durring the late show.

The sales made that night just get rung in the next morning. We have a small sheet for the employee to check off the items sold.

We want to make buying (spending money) as easy as possible for the customer.


[This message has been edited by Mill (edited December 13, 2002).]

We also count late sales towards the next day. Never turn down a buck!

We close 20 minutes before the last show ends. We pull the main concession tray about 45 minutes before the last show ends and replace it with one for the next day. It seems as though people who close so early are missing out on several thousand dollars a year in revenues. We did a good amount of our concession sales on Harry Potter after the show had started. But I do understand that a multi has much more to clean than a single.

We have a simple policy the concession stand closes When the last patron have exited the lot. We usually have people wanting something for the ride home as we get lots of customers that travel 20-70 miles. We do clean up the stand approx 15-20 minutes after the start of the last feature.

At the multiplex I work for concession is closed 15 mins after the last movie goes in. All money is taken upstairs at that time. In the time it takes the concession people to clean and restock they usually turn anywhere from 5 sales on up. They really should rethink their closing time here, but a projectionist saying something would really have no effect in a cinema chain.

Carl

I agree with Tim on this. Why do you have to close early? If the money is still coming in then you should be there till the end. If its a slow night then go ahead and close it down. But I wouldn't make it policy.

We close when we close, we need to get the staff out of here by 11:00 PM. If we waited to close the stand till the movies were over, we wouldn't get out of here till, 12:30 AM to 1:00 AM. The volume of sales drips off to the point where it is economicaly unsound to keep the stand open. That moment comes about 1/2 hour after the last movie has started. By closing 15 minutes after the last film has started, there can still be some sales in the 1/2 hour. One $5 sale doesn't support two $7 per hour concessionists.

People buy concessions as they walk in or shortly thereafter. 15 minutes after the last show starts gives the people in the first of the last shows about 45 minutes to visit the stand. Since we usually get <20 people for the last show, that doesn't bode well for concession sales.

I'm with Tim. When the last person has exited the building, we lock the doors, and THEN close the concessions! We have 1 or 2 staff cleaning anyway. The lobby can't be left unoccupied. On a school night, we have 3 staff on duty, including the projectionist/manager. Make your hours for the convenience of the customer.

Does anyone still flash the screen overlay "Concession Stand Closes in 10 Minutes" during the last showing?

I only saw the overlay at the drive-in. I think at an indoor theatre it would be rude. You could place it over the last trailer, but not the feature.

IMHO, it's rude to disturb the screening in ANY theatre.

---

John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services
Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Eastman Kodak Company
Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Telephone: 585-477-5325 Cell: 585-781-4036 Fax: 585-722-7243
E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

I can't resist adding this tidbit of movie showmanship gone wrong.
The former operator of our single screen theater had a microphone in the booth. When he was getting ready to close the concession stand he would announce into the theater while the movie was running "The Concession stand will be closing in 10 minutes, The concession stand will be closing in 10 minutes." When customers told us about this bit we couldn't believe it. Needless to say the microphone was removed and shows are never interrupted by such crass advertising now.
Although you get the occasional crackpot who wants you to make an announcement into a running theater asking if there is a certain person in the audience.

Microphone and posting on screen " last chance for popcorn?" wow/ I wouldn't have the nerve!

---

Michael Hurley
Impresario

Just to add my AMEN! to those who said keep it open until the last customer has left the building. Hot chocolate or coffee for the trip home is a good idea, especially in colder locations.

---

Bob Allen
The Old Showman