A related question is, what's up with all the recliner theaters? When did that become a thing? I get the vibe that it's supposedly to make you feel like you're sitting in your living room, but is the business model really there? A theater that could have seated 200 people now only seats about 100, and takes longer to prep between shows. The dine-in theaters chew up even more real estate and add a whole bunch of workers that didn't even exist before. The food's tolerable, but it's not a desired end-point.
TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
IRStuff, if the shitty chairs sell 75 tickets, but having good chairs sells 100 tickets, the math is there.
I don't go to theaters with shitty chairs.
One of the theaters I like to go to has big cushy recliners, are set up in pairs with a small table between them, and there's bar service. THAT'S how you watch a movie on the big screen. They probably have seating for 100. I think it's 8 people per row, and 12-14 rows seems about right. Minus some seats here and there for obstacles.
IRStuff,
I have a project on my desk right now where we are adding a bar inside a theater. Now we're talking!
I would speculate that since most theaters have at least 10 screens, and show some movies non-stop, they are not worried about the extra seats. They just want that competitive edge to get people into theirs instead of the one down the block.
Another technological change in theaters- they are all digital now. No reels- just a simple projector, controlled remotely by an operator who may or may not even be in the building. It's amazing how empty projection rooms are now.
Actually, the AMC in Fullerton comes with a bar...
Projection rooms may be empty, and ushers a thing of the past, but the dine-in theater had 3 wait staff, X in the kitchen, and Y tending the bar. Presumably, they multiplex between different rooms, but still, they're not the cleaning staff, which has to be there.
The dine-in was NOT full, and the seats weren't fully reclinable, only partly.
They need to have more than 2x attendance to break even on the sunk cost and the maintenance; motorized recliners aren't exactly maintenance free.
TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
Theatres have to deliver an experience worth the cost of admission - even if the cost of admission has to rise. The dingy theatre with terrible seats competes with the pirate bay and a living room, at a cost of 0.
Thanks for sharing the bit about these lounge-style theaters, I'm going to have to locate one nearby. My wife and I havent gone to the movies much in recent years, unless we catch a lesser movie out in the sticks its seemed that cost vs experience simply hasnt been there in traditional theaters lately. OTOH, if I can spend a bit more for a comfortable seat and drink that's a game-changer.
I appreciated the points in the article that drew distinctions between engineers and scientists, particularly the observation that the character was called a scientist to assign prestige despite his role as an engineer; and those called engineers were considered disposable old white guy.
I agree with SandCounter. It's kind of like the difference between "engineer" and "engineering technician"- it's like they try to infer that scientists are superior to engineers, or that it's a step higher on some totem pole. That's definitely the message I got.
I don't really care - that's prevalent among many trades, disciplines, and occupations when "simplified" for public consumption.
I don't care a lick about the seating in a theater. I am 100% there for the video and audio performance that can only be achieved with tens of thousands of dollars (or more). Consequently, I only go to movies meant to use those capabilities (like Star Wars). Comedies and dramas are a waste of time at the theater in my book. I'll watch those at home.
The last place I lived had a truly world class IMAX theater, and I gladly payed $16 to see movies in there once or twice a month. Where I live now, the theater is trash by comparison. It's only $4 for a show, but I never go. My home theater is as good. Obviously not as big, but better sound and picture. That IMAX is one of the main things I miss about the big city, but I'd still never go back. Traffic jams and shootings in the news aren't my cup of tea.
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