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This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3
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Topic: Seniors and Kids
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Richard C. Wolfe
Master Film Handler
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Posts: 250
From: Northampton, PA, USA
Registered: Apr 2000
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posted 10-31-2004 12:03 AM
I've never come across sloppy seniors like you mention Ed, and I run a senior theatre... or so it seems. I start my senior price at 65, and the 65 and older crowd makes up 40% of my business. If you drop to, and include 50 and older... they make up 60% of my audience. If you go down to 40 and older, that's 70% of my patrons. Families with kids make up 20%, ages 30 to 40 is 7% and the final 3% are 13 through 30.
Like the others have already said, the seniors seldom buy anything. That's why my per capita averages only $1.42. They are very clean for the most part. Often after a show with 100 to 150 of them there is not more them one or two items to pick up, and nothing spilled to sweep up. However, they do bring in their little individualy wrapped hard candies and leave those wrappers on the floor. Not too many though, thank goodness.
From my experience, I'd say that your situation is quite unusal... you indeed must have sloppy seniors.
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Jim Bedford
Jedi Master Film Handler
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Posts: 597
From: Telluride, CO, USA (733 mi. WNW of Rockwall, TX but it seems much, much longer)
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 10-31-2004 12:45 PM
Yeah, those goddamned seniors...... Wait, I'm a senior too!
I know what I like and I don't like paying inflated prices for super-sized products. I don't eat popcorn at all that hasn't been popped in the last 15 minutes. I don't need a semi-tanker load of soda. I'd also much rather have a specialized candy, like Lindt or Tobler, and other than my theatre and a few specialized venues like Landmark has, such products are hard to find. Ah yes, and a good cappuccino too.....
I'm also often going to a film after dinner, not in place of dinner like many kids do. Guess what, I'm not hungry for food, I'm hungry for a good film and a good time.
What about marketing patron cleanup better? Do you have a cleanup trailer and signage asking for help with this? Do you have many, visible and easily accessable trash containers or just a few hidden away where they can't be seen or found? What about a smaller popcorn and soda container size that you can only buy if you show a senior ticket? What about rewarding a kid or a senior with a coupon for a free popcorn or drink when one is spied carrying trash out of a theatre?
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David Yauch
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 206
From: Mesa, AZ, USA
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 10-31-2004 02:45 PM
Jim may be a senior but I'm far more picky than he is. Ever since I had been working at the theater for about 9 months I stopped being able to eat any popcorn that wasn't fresh. By fresh I mean I wait until a batch pops and catch it from the popper before it hits the other popcorn. I only fill my bag 2/3rds of the way, then i salt it, shake it up so it's nice and even, and eat it with jalapenos(don't ask). I would be a shitty customer. Yes, yes I would.
As for clean-up trailers we don't use them, but we don't really expect patrons to clean up after themselves after paying 5.00 to 8.50 for a ticket. It's nice when they do, and usually they will fill a garbage can or two with trash after the big shows, but that's what we pay ushers for...
And as for seniors tending to not upsell, I've noticed they aren't even the biggest group that refuse. I used to think so, until I started opening at the theater and started noticing the group of middle-aged men who all want a medium size of everything and will get mad when you try to upsell or suggestive sell. My guess is that this is the unemployed group with no one to take on a date, but do we really need to feel the aftereffects of your failures in life? Perhaps less time at the moviews and a little more time in school/job hunting would do a little good. Or even pick up an application at guest services and we'll put you to work. At least the majority of seniors are nice about it!
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