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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Author
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Topic: "Manager" - what does this REALLY mean?
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Brad Miller
Administrator
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Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99
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posted 12-22-2001 08:54 PM
I would be very interested in hearing what the term "manager" means in different theater chains and independents around the world. To me when someone says they are "manager", that means he/she is THE manager of the complex...end of story. Unfortunately for various reasons many theaters seem to give the term "manager" to someone who is for all practical purposes someone who is 17 years old, has 3 months of experience behind the concession stand and is nothing more than a supervisor.This is how I've always seen the breakdown: Manager Assistant Manager Supervisor/Chief (glorified floor staff) Employees/staff Some places seem to take on this breakdown Complex manager (the manager) House manager (assistant) Concession/usher/booth/ticket manager (supervisor) Assistant to above manager (assistant supervisor) Manager (floor staff) Supervisor (someone who has applied for employment) and so forth and so on. My guess is just to make minimum wage seem envious with a title. What is YOUR title and what does it REALLY mean? Be sure to list the people above you (names not necessary, of course).
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Sean McKinnon
Phenomenal Film Handler
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Posts: 1712
From: Peabody Massachusetts
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted 12-23-2001 12:13 AM
well at my 20 screen we have close to "100 Service Staff", about 10 "Service Supervisors", and 7 Mangement Personal.It goes like this: Managing Director (In charge of the entire complex) House Manager (Just about the same as MD) Managers My job responsibilities include: Hiring Cash Deposits/Close outs Policy Enforcement Customer Service Overseeing operations paperwork and basically just making sure things run right. I know what brad means though. My location does a million and a half people a year and really does need 7 or 8 managers IMHO. The supervisors make change, and do the nightly inventory.
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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!
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Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 12-23-2001 03:20 AM
Once upon a time, a long time ago...the chain I worked for it went thusly:At the administrative level (home office): Owner/Owner Vice President General Manager Operational Supervisor(s) (two of them) Concession Supervisor At the theatre level you had (in order of authority): Area Manager (called District Manager in some circles). An Area Manager is a theatre manager with more responsibility. They helped the Operational Supervisiors within their area (district) Theatre Manager: (runs the theatre, reports to operational supervisor) Relief Manager: (waiting to get their own theatre so they relieve) Assistant Manager: (could work at several theatres within the chain, not destined to get their own theatre) Chief of Service: (like an assistant manager but only worked one theatre, not nearly as popular as Asst. Manager). Head Usher: I saw little distinction between "head usher" and Chief of Service. The Head Usher was normally done by a manager that liked having one. So some theatres had them, some didn't. That was back in the days when you had ushers and they really and truely ushered! The head usher generally was the ticket taker, was paid a little more and could direct the floor staff when a manager was not present. Senior staff: Employees that know what they are doing and can direct other employees (at some parts of the job) and may work at several theatres though have one that is their home. Unlike Assit. Managers, they can't make policy nor do they handle the paperwork...in other words, they are not "managers." "Key Employee" This was only around for a couple of years and was used mainly as an incentive to achieving a raise. After all...how many tiers of employees does a theatre need? And Last...the Employee/Usher (depending on the year): This is where the typical applicant started and most lived their theatre "careers." I don't think any theatre had all the forms of management and employees at any one time. Most common was Theatre Manager, Asst. Manager (the number depended on the complex), Senior Staff (also complex dependant on the quantity), Employee/Usher. Since the Senior Staff and Asst. Managers could float around as needed, they were particulalry useful if a theatre was really busy, they could draw (temporarily) from another's employee pool. If say 4 theatres donate one senior staff for an opening weekend of ET, that busy theatre gets an immediate surge of experience staff that don't need much direction and can direct others, same with Asst. Managers. Steve ------------------ "Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"
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Jason Black
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Posts: 1723
From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 12-23-2001 06:04 PM
I find it quite entertaining reading the posts in this thread.Aside from a home office level, I see no reason for a theatre to have any other breakdown from below.. Any other positions are unnecessary and, to me, are considered to be "title only" positions for glorification purposes. Keep in mind, this is on an individual multiplex theater level. General Manager Assistant manager(s) Shift Lead (the one or two employees whom are trusted enough to help do inventory counts) Floor staff (be it concessionist, cashier, or doorperson/usher) Janitorial staff (which actually falls in line iwth the GM job, as it is as vital to overall operations as the head position) No theatre can run successfully on one person's ability alone. I don';t care WHO you are, WHAT you know, or HOW you do it. It simply WILL NOT HAPPEN. Anyone who disagrees, I would be glad to listen to your logic.. ![](http://www.film-tech.com/ubb/smile.gif) Corporate positions vary from chain to chain, but the basic jist is: Chairman of the Board Board Of Directors (think ENRON) CEO COO President / General Manager (often the same as COO) Vice President(s) for Concession/Technical/Purchasing/Etc Division Managers (over multi state territories) District Managers (over 25-40 theatres normally within two states) Then it's broken down into the local theatre level. Now, name that company.. LOL.. ![](http://www.film-tech.com/ubb/smile.gif)
------------------ The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!
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Zach Zagar
Film Handler
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Posts: 45
From: Jefferson City, MO
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 12-23-2001 08:38 PM
The breakout for my chain is-Manager (or GM whatever you wish, that's me, I'm in charge of my building solely) Assistant Manger (at my theater I have 2 salaried assistants) MIT (manager in training) The thoughts on this are, a training program to have more Assistants. Unfortunately, they don't just add an extra salaried position when someone is "trained". You either stay "MIT" until there's an opening at your theater, and you're ready, or you wish to move up to Assistant at another theater. I fully expect the MITs at my theater to be Assistant Managers w/o the title, and at an hourly rate. That way the transition is smoother. We also have a Housekeeping Manager, that is in charge of the overnight cleaners. This has been a God-send. I don't have to hire cleaners, or fire them. I just have this person take care of that for me, and gives me input, or requests supplies. Its hard to pinch the pennies on a salary person though, during spring & fall. Now was Brad asking what the word manager actually means to someone? That's a whole separate post.
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Trevor Bailey
Expert Film Handler
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Posts: 113
From: Woonsocket, RI
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 12-24-2001 08:22 PM
The chain I used to work for (for eight years) had the following structure:Manager(salaried) - This is a floor position. I was expected to work a floor position at all times except Thursday night and Monday afternoon. Also required to work Friday night, Sat open to close, Sun Mat (and Eve if Mon was a holiday). I was responsible for all aspects of the operation of the theater. On busy shifts I would usually work box or concession as the shows went in and door or theater cleaning as shows broke. It was also necessary to perform building maintenance and I spent many cold nights changing the marquee and shoveling the walkway that circled the building. Assistant Manager(salaried) - very similar to manager but with less experience and possibly still learning some aspects of operations. This person was hired by the District Manager not the Theater Manager. Assistant Manager(hourly) - one or two managers in training that would run Tue or Wed shifts and also help on weekends. These were hired by the Theater Manager...usually promoted from floor staff. Floor staff(hourly) - some work full time, some part time. They were not specificallly catagorized (Concession, usher, door, box office) as in some chains. They were generally cross trained as much as their abilities would permit. Booth work was generally performed by an assistant manager (hourly) and the manager would help when necessary. This chain was very tight on payroll as you might imagine by the above descriptions. Some theaters were permitted to hire a maintenance person (at a couple bucks over minimum) if they could prove the need. All theater cleaning (during non-operating hours) was subcontracted with an outside vendor chosen by the Distict Manager.
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Manuel Francisco Valencia
Expert Film Handler
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Posts: 151
From: Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 12-30-2001 01:07 AM
General Manager-GM, Head Honco, Boss, Go Explain Yourself To Him. Assistant Manager-AM, Don't Bother Me, Talk To The Floor Manager Assistant Manager Trainee-AMT, Don't Bug Them, Do As I Say Not As I Do Staff-Concession, Box Office, Usher, Restaurant, Projectionist, I Hate This F@*#+!G Job!That is a comical way of looking at it. I might add that a lot of chains are real picky about this. Customer Owner VP
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