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Topic: Theatre Dress Codes

Timothy Ervin
Film Handler

Posts: 84
From: Oklahoma
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 09-10-2001 02:51 AM

I was just wondering what dress codes everyones theatre has for floor staff and management. The theatre I am managing has no dress code, meaning employees can wear whatever they want as long as they look "nice" (no loose shirts, baggy pants, etc), managers can dress the same. I kind of like the idea and the staff seems to like it as well but I have always worked for theatres that had strict dress codes and employee uniforms, so in some ways this is odd for me. I was thinking of starting a dress code (maybe a polo type thing) for the staff and wanted input from others on the subject.

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Sean M. Grimes
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 247
From: Lunenburg, MA
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 09-10-2001 04:40 AM

I believe that floor employees should have a very uniform dress code - company provided to a certain point. But managers should not be pushed to company provided attire. Nothing less than a suit for management. Company appointed management attire just makes most customers think of, ahem, "Drones". Of course, nametags including "exact job title" for all employees (including management) are completely necessary - including projectionists. Certified projectionists (are there any other type?

) should also be attired in clothes that are "acceptable" work attire - i.e. no baggy pants (for a better description) "wife beater" tee-shirts. Still formally dressed. Anything else is in my opinion is not acceptable.

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Scott D. Neff
Theatre Dork

Posts: 919
From: San Francisco, CA
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 09-10-2001 08:19 AM

I liked what we had going at Cinema West. For most locations we had a polo shirt for all the floor staff, with our logo embroidered on the left lapel.

Management was supposed to dress up during key periods, a suit would've been nice but in theatres w/o air conditioning in the lobby/office, it wasn't very practical. But on slow days, where the manager might be doing all sorts of maintenance and cleaning, they were allowed to wear "business casual", ie. dockers and a polo shirt/nice t-shirt.

Things may have changed, but I think it worked out pretty well while I was there.

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Carl King
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 199
From: Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 09-10-2001 10:07 AM

Right on, Sean. You took the words right out of my mouth..or off my keyboard.

Employees should be readily identifiable to the patrons. This includes recognizable uniforms for floor staff and proper business attire for management (including name tags for all).

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Joel Michalec
Film Handler

Posts: 17
From: North Cape May, NJ, USA
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 09-10-2001 11:24 AM

My theatre circuit has a dress code. I certainly agree with a dress code but I do not agree with ours. First of all, I think that a suit for the Manager is great but the problem is we have to wear the ugly polyster blazers and the same "drone" colored pants, etc...

The staff should be dressed the same. I do not like the style or color choice that my circuit uses. I have been to other circuits where the staff dress uniforms were much more glamorous than ours.
Joel

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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 09-10-2001 02:07 PM

Projectionists should not have name tags. Rarely should they come in contact with the public. And when they do, it is usually because they are called down by management to explain something or other. Kepp your projectionist happy and they will give you their best at what they do, which works out better for everyone.

I agree that they shouldn't wear extremely sloppy clothes, though.

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Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 09-10-2001 03:31 PM

I've never understood the point of name tags in general. I mean, it's not as if customers are going to come up and address employees by name. I don't know...it just seems silly to me in many contexts (restaurants, retail stores, etc.).

On the other hand, I do agree that employees should be readily identifiable to the customers. This probably means uniforms for floor staff and a suit (or, at the very least, a tie with neat, clean shirt and pants) for the manager.

As for employees who do not ordinarily interact with the general public (projectionists, maintenance employees, cleaners, etc.), I would vote for "neat" but otherwise no specific uniform.

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Steve Scott
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1300
From: Minneapolis, MN
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 09-10-2001 04:59 PM

We're old fashioned: maroon vests with black pants & white dress shirts for the pee-ons, black vests & the same outfit for staff supervisors, & "business attire" (dress shirts, ties, slacks) for management. Projectionists' only restriction is to be wearing clothes upon arriving at work.

I, personally, don't like nametags. When I work on the floor, angry patrons will still identify unsatisfying employees with a description, not the name on the tag. We also have a huge problem with employees who lose their name tags while working, it's just too much of a hassle.

Thank god I'm anonomous in the booth!

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Mike Jones
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 108
From: Birmingham, MI, USA
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 09-10-2001 06:15 PM

My independent theatre has a rather strict dress code. Team Members are only permitted to wear tennis shoes, khaki pants or shorts, a black uniform issue shirt with company logo on the left chest, and a nametag.

While I agree nametags stink (luckily managers and projectionists don't have to wear them), they help me probably more than it does for guests. I don't work weekend matinee shifts that often, but when I do there is often an influx of very young new staff, most of whom I have never met. Nametags help me figure out who the heck these people are.

Either way, if you're going for a loose dress code, I would say khaki or dress pants are a safe bet in addition to either a plain colored polo or oxford shirt. Ties are just unnecessary...especially for projectionists. I don't see a reason for a projectionist to even have a dress code.

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Ky Boyd
Hey I'm #23

Posts: 314
From: Santa Rosa, CA, USA
Registered: Jun 99

posted 09-10-2001 06:21 PM

Being an arthouse and a small business, we provide our staff with t-shirts and ask that they wear pants of their choice, no rips, stains, tears or frayed hems. Noboby wears a nametag - it's just too corporate.

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Lance C. McFetridge
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 135
From: Penn Yan, New York
Registered: Jul 99

posted 09-10-2001 08:11 PM

While I agree that perhaps projectionist can be exempt from uniforms, I think part of the whole experience starts with well dressed, all in the same uniforms, staff meeting and serving the public.
Black vest, black pants, white shirts, red bow ties. The staff always gets a lot of compliments, and they all look nice. Heck, Gordon McLoud wears a dam suit when he aligns my auds.....
lance

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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 09-10-2001 09:43 PM

"Team Members?" Is everybody at that theater trying to win one for the gipper? Were they drafted fresh out of college? Are backups available in case of injuries? Are there contracts and salary caps?

I prefer the term "employees". Everyone is there to make money, not to join together as a team for one common goal.

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Timothy Ervin
Film Handler

Posts: 84
From: Oklahoma
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 09-11-2001 12:43 AM

Hey Ky:

What do your t-shirts look like? Do you have a pic of one you could send to me?

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Sean M. Grimes
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 247
From: Lunenburg, MA
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 09-11-2001 02:17 AM

Nope - everyone should wear name-tags. Even projectionists. I have met very many a projectionist that thinks they can wreak havoc on the floor and get away with it. People that were well versed in their job - but had no "respect" for a general manager that was not making them usher the god-damn theater. If anyone that had worked for me could not maintain a bit of professionalism ; i.e. being respectful to the point that they could wear their "name-tag" and be proud and most respectful of the customer that they bring this service to - then they had no part on my ship.

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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 09-11-2001 02:31 AM

I don't think nametags make for better behaved employees (or "team members"). Better hiring and better discipline from management make for a more well behaved staff. If a projectionist thinks he can dish out the BS for no reason, then someone needs to tell him that his attitude will not be tolerated. I think the same guy/girl would dish out the BS regardless of whether he/she had a nametag or not.

Nametags make a theater appear more like Target or some similar place. I do agree with Ky that nametags are "corporate" and can take away from the relaxing atmosphere. Of course Ian and Ky's theater is more of a personal experience than most places (even though I've never been there, but I do know Ian very well). Most theaters more resemble a fast food drive-thru. If that's professionalism, oh my.

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