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Author Topic: Seniors and Kids Edward Jurich Master Film Handler Posts: 305 From: Las Vegas USA Registered: Jul 2003 posted 10-30-2004 01:48 AM                     We are in our second week of "Shall we Dance" and the audience is about 70% seniors. I'm finding that seniors and kids have something in common, they leave a big mess. Soda spilled on the floor, leaving soda cups still full upside down in the seat next to them so it runs down the seat onto the floor, partly chewed candy on the floor. There has been more goo on the floor this past week than I've ever seen. Is this common or do we just have sloppy seniors here.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-30-2004 02:22 AM                        Most of our seniors never buy any concessions.  |  IP: Logged Dominic Espinosa Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1172 From: California, U.S.A. Registered: Jan 2004 posted 10-30-2004 11:35 AM                     Indeed. Our seniors rarely purchase anything more than popcorn and water with the occasional fountain drink. The kids on the other hand are well known for throwing, barfing, dropping, leaving stuff all over the place, etc.  |  IP: Logged Jason Black Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1723 From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 10-30-2004 04:18 PM                        Agreed. Most of our elderly patrons breeze right on by our stand(s). They rarely buy but when they do, there's nothing wasted. It's like they scraped together their last available funds to come to the show. Actually, you have to appreciate the fact that they, at least, realize the value of a buck. Kids, OTOH, haven't a clue!  |  IP: Logged Jennifer Pan THE JEN! Posts: 1219 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: Nov 2003 posted 10-30-2004 04:33 PM                        I remember when the Notebook was out which was a "senior" attraction and the cleaning for that showing was always a breeze. They either don't buy anything or they are considerate and clean after themselves. I like to believe the second part of that. As for kids, when that Yu gi yo movie whatever its called... I couldn't care less but they literally trashed the theatre. The wrappers of the collectible cards were everywhere. And I will shiver at the sight of "Kids Packs"(Kid meals) in every seat. Not to mention those "things" that the kids sit on to help them see the screen. It was in one of our smallest auditoriums and it took as long as cleaning a 400 seated auditorium(on a busy day).  |  IP: Logged Rachel Craven Madam Moderator Posts: 2190 From: Pensacola, FL Registered: Dec 2000 posted 10-30-2004 11:04 PM                     Back at the theater the only time seniors would buy concessions is when we had our senior discount friday matinees. They would buy a fair amount of concessions (all small items) but always brought them out and threw them away. The kids on the otherhand... yeah, no fun to clean up after them.  |  IP: Logged Ethan Harper E-dawggg!!! Posts: 325 From: Plano, TX, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 10-30-2004 11:36 PM                     IT'S YU-GI-OH JENNIFER! GET IT RIGHT!!!  |  IP: Logged Richard C. Wolfe Master Film Handler Posts: 250 From: Northampton, PA, USA Registered: Apr 2000 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.  |  IP: Logged David Yauch Expert Film Handler Posts: 206 From: Mesa, AZ, USA Registered: Oct 2004 posted 10-31-2004 01:15 AM                     The only sloppyness i notice is when the concessionists fill their popcorn too much and they make a habit of spilling a few kernels in the lobby. The theatres are usually pretty clean, however.  |  IP: Logged Chase Hanson Expert Film Handler Posts: 172 From: San Diego, CA Registered: Oct 2004 posted 10-31-2004 04:08 AM                     Our seniors pretty much only buy popcorn...and they apparently all need to have their bifocals checked. They seem to have a hard time with hand mouth coordination. That and they rarely if ever actually finish their popcorn, which is annoying enough as is.  |  IP: Logged Edward Jurich Master Film Handler Posts: 305 From: Las Vegas USA Registered: Jul 2003 posted 10-31-2004 11:16 AM                     I figured out it's mostly when we have seniors that are really up in age. The seniors here do buy some concession, usually a small popcorn or small soda. Bottled water is a big with seniors. We always pop fresh popcorn before each show so the lobby smell really temps patrons. Perhaps if we had little trash bins at each seat  |  IP: Logged Dominic Espinosa Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1172 From: California, U.S.A. Registered: Jan 2004 posted 10-31-2004 11:41 AM                     Yes. A little pocket on the seat in front of you that has a bright yellow sticker "Put your shit in here or else..." Realistically though...What is the logic if buying a large popcorn and not eating it?  |  IP: Logged Jason Black Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1723 From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 10-31-2004 11:53 AM                        Dominic, SO they can complain about the prices! I often wonder why we heer compolaints over pricing yet find som many drinks and bags still 1/2 full of product. I think a major part of it is the pyschological addiction for all things BIG in modern society. Or at least it modern Amercian society. Look at the way people buy cars (SUV's), homes, etc... BIGGER is BETTER, or so they claim. A bigger paycheck would definitely be better! A bigger ego would not...  |  IP: Logged Jim Bedford Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 597 From: Telluride, CO, USA (733 mi. WNW of Rockwall, TX but it seems much, much longer) Registered: Jun 99 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?  |  IP: Logged David Yauch Expert Film Handler Posts: 206 From: Mesa, AZ, USA Registered: Oct 2004 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!  |  IP: Logged

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