Business is 'just fine' at the theater
Posted by Reel Mountain Theater on Wednesday, November 4, 2009
How ARE things?
If
you own a business, or work at a local business you recognize that
question. It usually comes from other business people that are trying
to get a handle on what the health of your business (to compare to
their own). Usually, I think that they are looking for an opportunity
to commiserate about the decline in business or poor economy.
At the theater? Things are 'just fine'.
There are days where I can't carry all the money in one hand (OK, there was that one day), and there are days when we are seriously subsidizing entertainment in Estes Park (aka: opening the doors to be reliable with our hours, not make money).
We have come up with a solution, and it is: look at the whole year and answer the question that is posed every other day the same way based on the year. Fortunately, that answer is 'just fine'.
It's a strange world, movies. Unlike your home theater, we don't have the choice of all the movies at the video store, with a $3 risk. We have to commit to play a film on it's national break for 2-4 weeks, and agree to pay whatever percentage the film companies 'settle' the film rent at - after the film has played and is gone. So we try to plan which films we want 'on the break' and which we'll play after they have been out for a couple or few weeks. Even then, if it bombs on the opening weekend, we 'get' to keep it on screen for the rest of the week, we can't just take it back early and try a new one.
You know that time you went to the video store and couldn't decide on which film to get for yourself? Think of renting a movie for the whole community, and if it's no good, you have to keep pushing play until 7 days has passed. If those people that you have over don't like it? It's your fault. If they love it? You're the King of the world.
I'm happy to say that we are on the edge of the holiday rush, that will bring some exciting, fun movies to Estes Park. The film companies have had some time to offer filler movies between the summer block busters and the holidays... Oscars will come along soon, and our winter film programs get started after the new year...
So the season is changing, and we're standing by to bring you the next message (located in our 'Starting Friday' article, below).
At the theater? Things are 'just fine'.
There are days where I can't carry all the money in one hand (OK, there was that one day), and there are days when we are seriously subsidizing entertainment in Estes Park (aka: opening the doors to be reliable with our hours, not make money).
We have come up with a solution, and it is: look at the whole year and answer the question that is posed every other day the same way based on the year. Fortunately, that answer is 'just fine'.
It's a strange world, movies. Unlike your home theater, we don't have the choice of all the movies at the video store, with a $3 risk. We have to commit to play a film on it's national break for 2-4 weeks, and agree to pay whatever percentage the film companies 'settle' the film rent at - after the film has played and is gone. So we try to plan which films we want 'on the break' and which we'll play after they have been out for a couple or few weeks. Even then, if it bombs on the opening weekend, we 'get' to keep it on screen for the rest of the week, we can't just take it back early and try a new one.
You know that time you went to the video store and couldn't decide on which film to get for yourself? Think of renting a movie for the whole community, and if it's no good, you have to keep pushing play until 7 days has passed. If those people that you have over don't like it? It's your fault. If they love it? You're the King of the world.
I'm happy to say that we are on the edge of the holiday rush, that will bring some exciting, fun movies to Estes Park. The film companies have had some time to offer filler movies between the summer block busters and the holidays... Oscars will come along soon, and our winter film programs get started after the new year...
So the season is changing, and we're standing by to bring you the next message (located in our 'Starting Friday' article, below).
